Job wanted to argue with God. After all, he was innocent, so why should he suffer unjustly?

Perhaps we have wanted to argue with God at times. The fact that the world is a mess, and maybe even our own life, disturbs us and we want answers. But Job was overwhelmed at God's immensity, power, and awesomeness. God did not need to justify himself before humans, and in the end, Job had to trust in his deliverance. Answers only begin to come when we are patient and accepting of our experience and seek to understand spiritually.

To be a follower of Jesus is not a part-time activity and is not a matter of comfort or convenience. As he turned towards Jerusalem, he raised the standards of discipleship. Some made what seem to us reasonable requests, but he brushed them aside. The demands of family or custom were not to interfere, and those who thought it would be an easy life were encouraged to look elsewhere. Most of all, it was a lifetime commitment. Anyone starting the journey and turning back was not worthy of the kingdom of God. To us, it sounds rather harsh and uncompromising, but Jesus felt a particular urgency. Today the world that we face calls us to a similar sense of urgency.