2024年10月

Emiri:
In this week’s Bible reading I learned from Elihu that if you know something is amiss it’s important to speak up no matter who it was to. Elihu spoke up against people older than him which wasn’t common at that time since older people have more wisdom, but he spoke up when he felt something wasn’t right. This week after my tennis match I was watching my teammates play their matches. While I was watching I saw that a ball land right on the line which is considered in in tennis, the girl saw it was a line ball but called it out and was able to win the game. I learned that it is important to speak up to no matter the person when I know somethings are not right.

 

Jun re Emiri:
I saw that a ball land right on the line which is considered in in tennis, the girl saw it was a line ball but called it out and was able to win the game. I learned that it is important to speak up to no matter the person when I know somethings are not right.
So did you speak up?話は最後まで書いてください。😅

 

むかい:
今回の聖書朗読では、知恵と悟りの価値とそれらが何なんか知りました。ヨブ記の28章に書いてある、どんな金のものでもサファイアにも銀にも変わることができないようなとても価値のあるものだということがわかりました。知恵と悟りはこれも聖書に書いているあるに、知恵は主を恐れて主にしたがって行くことであり、悟りは周りの環境や罪の誘惑などの闇から遠ざかり神様の臨在に入っていくことだと書いてあるため、私は神様から出るとても高価で値段のつけようがないくらいの知恵と悟りを得て行きながら神様の臨在に入り自分の霊と共に信仰を深めていきたいと思います。

 

Jun re むかい:
ここのどこに具体性がありますか？毎週書いてるよね。どうして、やろうとしないのですか？言い方きついかもしれないけど、むかいのような感想は、言葉を並べてるだけです。自分でも書いてる意味わかってないはずです。具体的に書こうとするときに、わかっていないところに気がついたり、自分のよくないところや間違った考え・価値観を発見して、そこを直していくための、聖書通読です。

むかいが言ってる言葉は２８：２８だね？「主を恐れること、これが知恵である。悪から離れることは悟りである。」むかいは、日々の生活で、どうやって神を恐れて生きてますか？悪から離れる、というのは、どうやってやるのですか？（罪を犯さない、だけが、悪から離れるという意味じゃないね？もちろん、それも含んでるけど。）

来週の感想は、この答えを具体的にに書くところから始めてください。具体的な答えは、むかいにしか書けない言葉のはずです（むかいの人生で起きてることだから）。宗教的な言葉を並べないように！

 

Yoshiya:
今回の聖書通読にて、29章のヨブが健やかな時代では、人々がヨブの正しい行いを賞賛してヨブは尊敬されていた。しかし、30章ではヨブが病んでから、嘲られ罵られるようになった。この世の人の態度が山の天気のように変化する事を意味している。エルサレムでのイエス様と同じで興味深かった。そんな地上の人からの評価なんて限りなくゼロに近いので、気に留める必要などない。

 

Jun re Yoshiya:
Good, Yoshiya.
そんな地上の人からの評価なんて限りなくゼロに近いので、気に留める必要などない。
ヨブはおそらく災いが起きる前から、友達がそんなもんなんだ、と知ってたはずです。だから、揺るがなかった。気に留めない、を超えて、人間の軽さ・悪どさを知っていながらも、その人たちが困ったときは、哀れみを持って、助けることが出来たら、本当に神の器だね。ヨブはそれができた。（最後、ヨブは彼らが神様から罰を受けないようにと、祈ります。モーセと同じです。）

 

Timothy:
In Job 31, Job lists sins he did not commit (lust, falsehood, injustice) because he knows God sees everything and will judge him. Though once blessed in his relationships with God and others, Job lost it all, and his suffering includes feeling spiritually disconnected. In chapter 28, he asks, “Where does wisdom come from?” and answers his own question, concluding that “the fear of the Lord is wisdom” (v.28). Applying this, I need to be more consistent in Bible reading, as I tend to prioritize school and my personal free time. For wisdom and a closer relationship with God, I need to read more in depth.

 

Jun re Timothy:
In Job 31, Job lists sins he did not commit (lust, falsehood, injustice) because he knows God sees everything and will judge him.
Yes, but don’t forget that Job did more than “not sin.” In various places, you read how he helped the fatherless and widows (meaning he used his own wealth and resources to help them), how he used his influence and high social standing to uphold justice for those who could not do so for themselves, as well as probably many things not mentioned. Otherwise, would God say “there is no one on earth like him?”

In chapter 28, he asks, “Where does wisdom come from?” and answers his own question, concluding that “the fear of the Lord is wisdom” (v.28).
Chapter 28 is actually inserted by the author, and not Job’s own words. It is interesting that the exact description of Job used in 1:1, 1:8 and 2:3 (the latter two given by God himself) is the very definition of wisdom: “he (Job) feared God and shunned evil.” In other words, Job already had wisdom even before his trials. So don’t interpret chapter 28 as “oh, so Job had to go through hardship in order to gain wisdom.”

Applying this, I need to be more consistent in Bible reading, as I tend to prioritize school and my personal free time. For wisdom and a closer relationship with God, I need to read more in depth.
Good, but you’ve already mentioned this several times, so as the Bible says (Matt 5:37), “simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes.’”😆 (Just follow through.) Also, I think you’re (not just Timothy, but all of you) still approaching the Bible as something to be studied with your brain, just as you would study any subject in school. Instead, approach it as you would a friend. Get to know God by not just reading the word, but living with him every day. As you go through your day, do you sense his guidance in your heart? Are you reminded of some verse you read recently as you go through your day? Do you greet him as you open your eyes in the morning, and speak to him about your day as you get ready to fall asleep? God is a living being. The only way to know him better, is to live with him.

 

Tomas:
In Job 32, Elihu mentions that even though he didn’t agree with what the other three spoke about to Job, he kept silent and was patient for them as well as listened to what they said. Applying this to my life, in my home, I sometimes get annoyed by what others do around me even by the smallest things they do and I usually do not think during these situations since I am just mad. However, instead of doing this, I can just tell them what happened or what I found what was wrong instead of making a big deal out of it since that will just lead to more problems in my family.

 

Jun re Tomas:
Ok, Tomas. Interesting application😄!
(Make sure you also read what I wrote to others as well.)

Tomas
In this week’s Bible reading, I learned about how Job chose to stand in what he believed in, which he did nothing wrong towards God and chose to not disobey him even though his friends kept trying to scold Job. Applying this to my life, when I am struggling on work or sad, I should pray to God since like Job, God is with me.

 

Jun re: Tomas:
I learned about how Job chose to stand in what he believed in, which he did nothing wrong towards God
This was something he knew, rather than something he had to choose to believe in (he knew what a blameless life he had lived so far), and this was his hidden strength, like I wrote before. Your daily lifestyle, the words you speak with your friends, the way you act around them, how spiritually pure you are maintaining yourself—these things really affect how strongly you can believe that God will listen to your prayers.

Applying this to my life, when I am struggling on work or sad,
Again, try to write specifically each time you write about application (e.g. when I was struggling with such-and-such, I did/said…then this happened…etc., or I was sad this week because…so…etc.). You will learn much more if you do this.

 

Emiri
In this weeks Bible reading when Job prove that he is right and he clearly says what he believes/thinks and explains to his friends that he is right though they don’t listen to him. This week in the yearbook I was designing a page and my partner and I divided the work between the two, where she interviewed and I did the design. But later when I rechecked the page she had altered the design in various places making it distorted. I was annoyed at her for changing the design but afterward, I realized that I didn’t say what I thought was good for the page and when we discussed about the page I wasn’t clear in what I said and I was vague about what I wanted the page to look like. So I learned that I should express what I think more clearly.

 

Jun re: Emiri:
Ok, Emiri. 先週書いたことに関しては、返事なかったけど、、どうなの？

何年間に渡り、同じ話題が問題として出るということは（えみりに限らず）、やっぱり、そこがまだ分かってないということだから、できればそこを解決してあげたい（乗り越えて、成長できるように＋わかっていない所はちゃんと理解できるように）と私はいつも思うけど、私が一方的に同じ答えを何回も言っても、みんなが理解できてるのか、できてないのかが、返事ないとわからないです。

 

むかい
今回の聖書朗読では、ヨブ記23の11
「私の足は神の歩みにつき従い、神の道を守って、それたことがない。」でこれは神様が進む道を用意してくれていて、それが変わることがない。他にも、神様は神様の計画のために自分を使わしているということがわかりました。
これらのことを生活で見ていたらある出来事がありました。それは、私は最近中学科の生徒会役員に立候補したのですが、その立候補には落ちてしまったということです。僕はこの立候補のためにこれまでの生活ではよくしていたことを生贄とし神様に捧げていました。しかし、この立候補では選ばれることがなかったので、それが神様が用意してくれた道であるのではと思いました。ですので、これからの生活で神様ご定められた神様の計画の上でそれのために生きていきます。

 

Masami re: むかい
生徒会又トライしたら良いんじゃないの？
良い勉強になるよ。

 

Jun re: むかい
ヨブ記23の11
「私の足は神の歩みにつき従い、神の道を守って、それたことがない。」でこれは神様が進む道を用意してくれていて、それが変わることがない。
聖書読む時は、自分に都合がいいように読まない事（もちろんむかいだけに言ってないです）。そういう読み方を癖にすると、学ぶことが本当に少ないです。
ここの「神様の道」というのは、一人一人の人生にある計画のことではなく、神様の戒め（神様の言葉）のことです。神様からの戒めをヨブは全部守ってきた、ということです。

僕はこの立候補のためにこれまでの生活ではよくしていたことを生贄とし神様に捧げていました。
１）こういうのも、出来れば、具体的に書くといいです（何をやめていたのか）。
２）「生贄として神様に捧げていた」というような言葉は、軽々しく使わない方がいいです。具体的に書いてないので、わからないけど、「生贄」や「捧げ物」はまず、清いものであり（清いものしか生贄にはなれません）、自分が持ってるもののベストです。自分の願い事を神様に聞いて欲しいから、やりたいことをやらないとか、、というのは「生贄」じゃないです。自分のためにやってることでしょ？

しかし、この立候補では選ばれることがなかったので、それが神様が用意してくれた道であるのではと思いました。
先週も書いたけど、やたら、神様が定めた道、みたいな事をすぐ言わない（考えない）方がいいよ。上に書いたことと関連してます。自分がやってみたいと思って、やったことなんでしょ？良いことです！まさみが書いたように、また来年も挑戦したら良いです！今年選ばれなかっても、その体験を通して、何か学んだんじゃないの？人間も大きくなったんじゃないの？<—こういう所です、強いて言えば「神様の道」が現れてくるのは。生徒会役員は、ただ人が決めることです。神様は、その遥か上に行く方です（当たり前だけど😅）。ある意味、選ばれるのか、選ばれないのか、なんか気にしてないです。それより、そういう挑戦を通して、むかいがどれだけ、成長して、自分（神様）に近づいてくるのかを見てます。

 

Jun
テモテとヨシヤ今週の来てないよ。分かってると思うけど、間に合わなかったから、出さないより、遅れても出す方がベターです。忠実に何でもやりましょう。

 

Masami
忠実さは愛です。

頭がいい（学校の勉強ができる）。
体が大きい（背が高い、スタイルがいい）
スポーツができる（普通より）
音楽ができる（普通より）
アートのセンスがある（普通より）
先生や親のいい子を演じてる（ごめん言い回しです）
これに意味がないとは言いません、ある意味大事なことでもあります。

が、人間（動物ではなく神のかたちとして宇宙を守る神の代理人として）にとって一番大事なことは、「動機が神様への純粋な心か？」です。

出せばいいわけでもないですね。
内容が空っぽで形だけの通読は意味ないです。

毎日仲間と連携で同じ神様の言葉で繋がってる「距離感があっても所属してる場所が色々でも、毎日驚くほどいろんなことが自分の周りにおき、時として人間の歴史が２０年に満たない新しい人類である君たちにはキャパオーバーで『どうしよーー！』『くるしー』『理解されてない悲しい』『力足りてない、もっとパワーが欲しい』などなど、、、いろんな感情にも能力的にも一杯一杯になってる日もあるだろう！？

でも、だからこそ、たった一章、時間にして６−７分（２４時間のうちの）が意味を持って働いてくるんだよ！
がんばれ！

忙しくてできない時は純に今週はこんなことがあって頭がいっぱいいっぱいだーって書いておいで！！
それだけでも助けが来るよ！父、子、聖霊の神からとコーチの純から！

仲間は君たちが学校の友達のように自分で選んだ仲間ではないよ、神様が組み合わせた「ダヴァールジュニアみことば通読の会」だから、サタンは退くよ！だろ？

 

Emiri：
メールの返事遅れてすみません。
From last weeks application I think sometimes when I talk I come out meaner or harsher then what I actually mean and applying that to what learned last week from the way the friends talked harshly to Job I think it’s important for me to be careful on how I talk to the people around me. Like last week on another day when I was rushing Juri again my dad scolded me for talking to Juri angrily which I didn’t mean to say so harshly but it sounded mean to other people but he also told Juri to get ready faster and I was able to get to school on time. From this I learned to be more careful in how I talk from Jobs friends.

 

Jun re Emiri：
私が聞いた質問は、これに似た適用をよくエミリからも、ねーちゃん達からも、聞いてきたけど、どのような返事・教えをしてきたか、覚えてるかな、と言う事です。その答えになってないね😆。まー多分あまり記憶に残ってない？と言う事だね。

ここに全部今まで教えてきたことを書く事は出来ないです。えみり自身が自分は言いすぎたと思ったなら（親が言うからじゃなくて）、そうなのでしょう。その辺はもちろん、実際にいない私がどうもこうも言えないし、いう権利もないです。ただ、今回読んだヨブの箇所にも出てきたように、主を恐れることは知恵の始め。子供は、自分の上に置かれてる人を恐れることから、神様を恐れることを学びます。人を尊敬しないで、上の人の権威に従わずに、神に従い、神を尊敬することは不可能です。ジュリは、えみりに叱られて、少しは凹むべきです。その気持ちから、今度はちゃんと準備しようとか、えみりに喜ばれる妹になりたい、と成長するべきです。

Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading Job’s friends condemns Job even more harshly then their previously. They get too caught up in trying to prove their point that they don’t really listen to Job and just keep repeating what they said over and over again, which is Job is a sinner and he deserved we hat he got.
This week I got irritated at Juri for not getting ready by the time we had to leave even though she woke up early. I was caught up in trying to prove that I was right in saying she was slow, and lashed out on her. After reading how the friends talked to Job I feel like I talked to Juri in a similar matter of repeating the same things harshly which she didn’t listen to. I realized that I shouldn’t get my irritation to change the way I talk.

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読では、神様は定められた道に
試練を置かれることがわかりました。
神様は定めた目的の為に自分にとってのよくないこと、自分で言う、誰かから罵られたり自分の大切なものが奪われたらするようなものだよ思います。しかし、神様はその後にあるものを大切にしているため最後には私にとって良いことが起こります。それも天の御国に入るためのものだと思います。
これを今までの生活で見ると僕はあまりテストの点数が取れずにバカにされていましたが、今はそれをバネとして自分の勉強に活かすことができました。このように、神様は定められた道に闇を置きますが、それも僕のためだということがわかりました。

 

Timothy:
In this week’s Bible reading, they continue their arguing, with Job’s friends still convinced that Job had done something “wicked,” and that this was his punishment. In their arrogance, they failed to see what was really going on and criticized Job for something he didn’t do. Nevertheless, Job remained adamant that he was innocent and did not do anything wrong. I learned that it is good to speak up about what I believe/know to be true even though the people around me tell me otherwise. For example, this week, I did a coding project with a friend, and there was something wrong with the code. My friend thought that my code was wrong, and even though I was pretty certain that mine had no problems, I didn’t say anything and tried to debug for about 10 minutes. I ended up checking my friend’s code and found that he had put commas instead of “+” signs, which was why it wasn’t working. I should speak up more when I know that what other people are saying is wrong. However, I should know my place, and listen to people who are higher level than me (spiritually, academically, etc.) so that I don’t end up being like Job’s friends.

 

よしや：
ヨブとその友人らの問答に於いて、興味を持った言葉は、「彼らは神に向かって言う。 「ほうっておいてください。 あなたに従う道など知りたくもない。 なぜ、全能者に仕えなければならないのか。 神に祈って何になるのか。」 だが、彼らは財産を手にしているではないか。 神に逆らう者の考えはわたしから遠い。」ヨブ21‬:‭14‬から16‬の神から離れた人々についてヨブが語った言葉である。ヨブは持っているものを失いまくった一方、財産を持つ神に逆らう者がいる。つまりヨブが神に罪を犯したから財産を失った訳ではない。それにもかかわらず、友人達はヨブを非難した。彼らは彼のことについて何も知らない。人のことを人は知らないのに、人の弱いところを突いて、偉そうな説教や知ったような態度を取りたくない。

 

Tomas:
In this week’s Bible reading, I learned about how Job continued to get mocked and scolded by his friends and yet continued to speak about. Applying this to my life, just like Job, I sometimes face disagreements with friends in my classwork or projects. Like Job though, I shouldn’t let these things turn me down, but rather not be discouraged by this and tell them my way of doing the work.

 

Jun re: Emiri:
言いたいことはわかるけど、適用が少しズレてるね。この例えだと、ジュリ＝ヨブ、えみり＝ヨブの友達になるけど、ジュリはヨブみたいに、何も悪くないのですか？

そして、ほとんど同じことを何回も（本当に何回も🫠おねーちゃんたちからも）聞いてきましたが、私やまさみはいつも、どうやって教えてきてる？覚えてる？

Jun re: Mukai:
今回の聖書朗読では、神様は定められた道に
試練を置かれることがわかりました。
いつもどこからそう思ったかということを、説明してください。

「定めた道」とか「定めた目的」という言葉がよく出てきてるけど、大抵の場合は（よっぽど特別な人以外は）、人間が選んで進みたい道に進むんだよ。何から何まで、神様（あるいは、サタン）のせいにするのは、おかしいよ。むかいがそうしてるっというわけじゃないけど、ちょっとその傾向を感じる。

最後には私にとって良いことが起こります。

今はそれをバネとして自分の勉強に活かすことができました。
むかいだけじゃないけど、自分がどうやって、もっと祝福されるか、ばかり考えないで、もっと自分がどうやって神様に使われる器になれるかを考えるといいです。

神様は定められた道に闇を置きますが、
神様は光です。今それを毎週土曜日学んでるよね？！光なるものが、闇を置くことは、不可能です。

Jun re: Timothy:
Good, Timothy!👍I really hope you will continue to grow in this aspect (being bolder in expressing to others what you are thinking and what you believe so God can use you more). From my own experience in school, it is usually those who don’t have anything worthwhile to contribute that speak up needlessly and waste time, while those who do have something to contribute often stay quiet. In the end, we are all just vessels. This is what helped me be bolder when I was growing up. Getting out of the mindset of me being the one who has to speak or do something, but rather, God being the one who speaks and does his work through me.

Jun re: Tomas:
Disagreements with friends about projects is a little different than what Job was facing. Learning to work through disagreements, while also speaking your mind is part of growing up. Do you want to know what’s the best way to (usually) get people to listen to you, though? Being the most prepared (always) and being one of the best students in class will usually be enough to silence disagreements, because in the end, most kids just want to get a good grade and are more than happy to let students who are better than them do most of the work 😏.😁

Jun re: Yoshiya:
Welcome back Yoshiya!

「彼らは神に向かって言う。 「ほうっておいてください。 あなたに従う道など知りたくもない。 なぜ、全能者に仕えなければならないのか。 神に祈って何になるのか。」
私もこの言葉が目につきました。あ〜何千年経っても、人が言ってることは、全然変わってないんだ、と思いました（笑）。現代クリスチャンでも、思ったり、言ったりすることじゃないかな？ヨブは、イエス様が来る前に生きていた人なのに、こういう言葉を言わないどころか、苦しみの中、もっと神様に近づきたい、神様のこと知りたい、直接会って、話したいと願ったところがすごいと思わないか？すごい、というか、そこを神様が愛したんだろうな、と思います。あとで、病気も治って、祝福された時、こういう言葉を言ってた人たちは、神様の栄光をはっきり見たはずです。私たちは、ヨブよりよっぽど神様の近くに行けるの知ってるか？ヨブは羨ましく思ってるはずです。その特権を無駄にしないようにしましょう。

Emiri:
In this week’s Bible reading Job wasn’t swayed by what his friends around him said. He strongly had hope in God and believed that he was innocent even if his friends continually kept on saying that he was in the wrong, he knew he wasn’t and kept firm. Applying this to my life it is important to not be swayed by what others say or do when you know something is not right. This week in tennis the opponents forgot their score and my partner tried to hide the score. I told her that it was wrong but she kept on pushing me that it was their responsibility for not tracking the score so I didn’t retaliate as much since I wasn’t confident of the count as well, but after the match, I did a recount, and she did hide it. Though they won the set I should have stood more firmly on what I knew was right like Job rather than letting it slide.

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読で学んだことは、ヨブ記15章の5.6節の「それは、あなたの咎があなたの口に教え、あなたが悪賢い舌を選んでいるからだ。
あなたの口があなたの不義を定める。私ではない。あなたの唇が、あなたの不利な証言をする」
このところで、この部分では自分の罪が自分の口から発せられると私は思います。
自分で放った言葉はそれが罪の言葉であるならば、他の人にも罪が移ってします。そして、ここでは自分では唇が変わらず、無意識で変わってしまうため、普段の生活で自分の咎が生まれてこないように日頃から神様に委ねていきながら、自分の発する言葉に気をつけていき生活していきます。

 

Tomas:
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about Job and his friends who continued to scold Job in a bad way. Applying this to my life, Job’s friends are like an example of someone to be to my friends, family members, and others since I wouldn’t know what problems they have, similar to how Job was struggling with everything going on in the Bible.

 

Timothy:
In chapter 13, Job asks, “Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him? Will you show him partiality? Will you argue the case for God? (7-8). Instead of comforting Job, the friends start to argue with them on behalf of God, and Job calls them “worthless physicians” (13:4) and “miserable comforters” (16:2). In chapter 19, Job says if the roles were switched, Job could disagree and “make fine speeches against” the one who is suffering, but will still encourage and comfort them (16:4-5). Applying this to my life, whenever someone’s having trouble with something, even if I disagree, I should try to comfort them. It is not my job to judge and argue, but God’s; I shouldn’t speak on behalf of him.

 

Jun re: Emiri:
Good specific example, Emiri.👍 It is interesting that the right team did end up winning.

He strongly had hope in God and believed that he was innocent even if his friends continually kept on saying that he was in the wrong, he knew he wasn’t and kept firm.
Yes, good point. But why was he able to do so? We often think of holding on to our faith as a sheer test of will and perseverance, but actually, the hidden strength of each person’s faith is in his or her daily life and how faithful he/she has been in doing God’s will (often in the little things). If we know we have not been doing or saying what we should have, it is impossible to have faith.

Jun re: Tomas:
Try to go beyond the surface level of what is written. Ask God what he wants to teach you as you read each chapter. There should be a new discovery each week—you will know when that happens, because you will sense your spirit and soul getting excited. Actively seek that out.

As I wrote to others, be specific in your applications. You should be writing about something that actually happened to you or is going on in your life right now.

Jun re: Timothy:
Applying this to my life, whenever someone’s having trouble with something, even if I disagree, I should try to comfort them.
Give at least one specific example! What kind of trouble? What did you disagree with them about? How did you comfort them?

Since you guys usually don’t write specifically when it comes to applications, I need to guess what you mean and what kinds of things you guys are experiencing or facing in life. You should be providing this information so my replies can be succinct and helpful to you. Otherwise, I can only reply in a general way, which is not really helpful to anyone.

Some common examples that come to mind are when kids complain about how teachers or parents are treating them (or how difficult a test was), or something similar to what Emiri wrote about this week (her tennis partner wanted to hide the opponents’ score). In all of these cases, it is your conscience prompting you to disagree with them and it would be wrong (a sin) to remain silent, let alone comfort them.

It is not my job to judge and argue, but God’s; I shouldn’t speak on behalf of him.
Be very careful about painting in broad strokes. God very often does require that we speak on behalf of him. In fact, if Christians remain silent, how do you expect God to speak to non-Christians?

It is true that we should not judge, but be careful how you define the word “judge.” For example, Proverbs 31:9 says “speak up and judge fairly.” Lev 5:1 says, “if anyone sins because they do not speak up regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.” Or that quote from Esther that you all liked, “if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place”…imagine if Esther had felt bad for Haman and tried to comfort him?

As a general piece of advice, I would say at your age, it much more vital to learn to speak up, rather than trying to comfort or encourage others. Comforting / encouraging is much more difficult and requires age and experience. Someone who is spiritually below cannot comfort or encourage those above. Jobs’ 3 friends would not have been able to comfort or encourage Job, even if they had wanted to.

As you continue to read, you will see that there is a 4th friend who appears. He is the only friend who is not condemned by God later on. But he definitely does not try to comfort Job, and you could say he does “judge” Job, too. But God does not condemn him. Why?

Jun re: Mukai:
毎回具体性が全然ないよ。どうしてみんな具体的に書けないのかな？自分の人生と全然関係ないところで、「聖書の勉強」しても意味ないです！

自分で放った言葉は
例えばどういう言葉を放ってるんですか？

他の人にも罪が移ってします。
他の人って？罪がうつるんですか？どうやって、何が？

無意識で変わってしまうため、
無意識に変わっちゃうの？例えば、どのように？

神様に委ねていきながら、自分の発する言葉に気をつけて
なぜ神様に委ねるのですか？自分が発してる言葉なら、自分が変えるしかないです。

Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading Jobs friends continue to accuse Job of sinning to God, which they say was the reason his blessings were taken from him. They question Job on what he could have done to have all of these bad things happen to him. In the way Zohar questioned Job he talks down on Job and is exasperated with what Job was saying and claiming he knew better and how Job deserved the punishment. Applying this to my life I should not be a friend like Zohar that who looks down on others but to encourage the people around me, like if my friends is going through a tough time by encouraging them under God.

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読では、「神様を怒らせた人は相手の不幸を笑う。のところ神様を求めている人はその人たちに笑われる。」ヨブ期 12章4-6
このところで、これは神様を求めている人はそのような環境には目を向けていないで、調子を合わせないと思う。ですので僕もこれからこのようだれかに笑われていようが、神様を求めていきます。

 

Timothy:
In Job chapter 9, in his despair, Job says that he wants a mediator between him and God; “someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more” (9:33, 34). As a “mere mortal,” he feels that there is no way for him to communicate with God and that his suffering will not end. However, it is mentioned a few times in the Bible that through Jesus, we can confidently and boldly enter God’s presence (Eph 3:12, Heb 10:19). Job’s despair comes from feeling distant/powerless before God, but through Jesus’ sacrifice, that gap is bridged and we can enter his presence without fear and sin. Applying this to my life, whenever I feel overwhelmed or depressed, I should remember that God is with me and I can ask God for help, through Jesus.

 

Tomas:
This bible reading, I learned about how Job was judged and looked down upon by Zophar. Applying this to my life, I am just like the people around me, like my friends and family and I should treat them with respect. For example, when my parents ask me how my day was or when I need something or need help, I should ask them since that for me is a sign of respect to them rather than just saying nothing to them.

 

Jun’s comment re: Emiri:
I should not be a friend like Zohar that who looks down on others but to encourage the people around me, like if my friends is going through a tough time by encouraging them under God.
「具体的に」っていう意味が良くわからないのかな？こういうことを適用で書くとき、漠然と書くのではなく、友達がこう言ったとき、、あるいは、今週こういうことがあって、、というふうに書かないと意味ないよ。それに対して、自分はどういう言葉を言ったのか、どういう行動をしたのか、、上の場合、どういう「励ましの言葉」をえみりは「神様にあって」話せるのですか？

あと、私が色々返事で書いてることに対して、もっと答えてくると、成長できるよ。９９％みんなスルーだね。😅

Jun’s comment re: Mukai:
今回の聖書朗読では、「神様を怒らせた人は相手の不幸を笑う。のところ神様を求めている人はその人たちに笑われる。」ヨブ期 12章4-6
どこにこんなこと書いてあるかな？むかいはまず、ちゃんと聖書を読むところから始めてください。あと文脈もちゃんと頭に置きながら読むこと。毎日一章づつ読んでる（それ以上１日に読もうとすると、無理だよ）。

Jun’s comment re: Timothy:
The fact that these verses stood out to you (9:33, 34) shows that you have a good sense of what God wants to say through the book of Job. Also, good for finding the exact verses that talk about how we can now boldly enter God’s presence.

Applying this to my life, whenever I feel overwhelmed or depressed, I should remember that God is with me and I can ask God for help, through Jesus.
Yes, and start by living with him every day (not just when you need help or feel overwhelmed). Come to know God as a living being, just as you come to know and love other people or pets. Eat with him, study with him, have fun with him, speak with him. Praise him from your heart. This was what God wanted from Job. He wanted a personal relationship with Job, and not to be treated as some sort of vending machine for blessings.

Jun’s comment re: Tomas:
For example, when my parents ask me how my day was or when I need something or need help, I should ask them since that for me is a sign of respect to them rather than just saying nothing to them.
Did this happen last week? 😄 Learning to communicate and express yourself to others is important, and I feel in this day and age, when so much of our time is spent dealing with machines (computers, cell phones, etc.), that skill is lost. You are lucky to have parents that care about you and ask how your day was, so take advantage of that and you might be surprised how talking about what happened helps cement what you learned that day and helps deal with any problems you may have encountered. Don’t bottle things up inside. And also ask your parents how their day was. 😉

Emiri re: Jun:
メールありがとうございます。
For my application, last week we had a test for history class and my friend didn’t do very well on it. She was really down about her grade and didn’t talk much in the classes afterwards either. I tried to encourage her by telling her that it was just one test and there were other things to makeup for that test but it didn’t really help her since I tried to encourage her with my own stregth, I didn’t look down on her but I wasn’t able to help her either, I felt that in order to be able to help people I need to be living with God all the time, at school and home.

Jun re: Emiri:
I didn’t look down on her but I wasn’t able to help her either, I felt that in order to be able to help people I need to be living with God all the time, at school and home.
肝心なところが具体性ないの、わかる？日々生活の中で神様と共に生きる必要があると、書いてあるけど、実際にじゃあ、どうやってこれをやるのか（やってるのか）書いてないです。「聖書をもっと読む」とか「もっと祈る」という答えが帰ってきそうだけど、これ、答えじゃないです😄（何回もシェアの時、教えてるよね？）。

そもそも適用が少しズレてるね。この場合、この子を励ます意味ありますか？

このことより、えみりに必要なことは、前の週に書いたことです。ヨシュア１：９を自分の中にキープして、学校や家でも神様が共にいることを忘れない、と書いてたけど（証でも同じこと言ってたし、土曜日のシェアでも、同じこと言ってたね）、、これ、働いてないみたいだね？周りの人の言葉や行動（意地悪されてるみたいな、、実際的なことあまり言わないから、細かいこと知らないけど）結構長い間、えみりはこれを引きずってますね？ヨシュアは、この言葉を神様からもらって、本当に勇敢で強くいられたけど、なぜエミリはなかなかできていないのか？みことばの上に立つということは、実際、どうやってやるのか？親たちも、このへん、もっとエミリの話を聞いてあげたりして、生活の中で教えてあげてください。

Masami’s comment:
えみのシェアの返事を純がわざわざ不得意な日本語で書いてる意味は、親にも読んでほしいからと思います。

親たちが子供や他の子供らにサジェスチョンあったらその辺じは（ズレてると困るから）純だけにお願いします。

子供はその週のみ言葉が今ひとつ理解できなかったり、少し要点からズレてたり、理解できなくて普通です。
理由は子供だからだから教え、コーチがいるのだからね。
ジュンのコメントは裁いているのではなく、成長のため、君たちがもっとイエス様の心を受け取るためのものだから否定的に取らないように！

いいこと、うまいこと、適当なこと、持ち上げ書いてもこのグループの趣旨からは外れますから、そこを子供もわかってお互いにシェアしよう。
神様との個人的な交わりは大人も子供も関係なくあります。
清さがあれば神を見る事もできる、神様との個人的な交わりがある子供にだけです。
力を受けるのも神様との個人的な関係がある子にです。
十字架の言葉は信じるものにしか働きません。

学校や世の中で受けることのできない物、人間として一番大事なものは、神の言葉（神の心）です。それをどこまで神様との交わりの中で受け取っていくかで天国への道が変わります。
新幹線の特等席で座って行くような道もあれば、大雨の中、泥水の中を裸足で歩くような道（人生）もあります。

神の言葉、世の言葉どちらかを選んで君たちは毎秒生きているのです。

人生は主にあって喜びであり美しい物です。
自分の道に荊棘を（いばら）生やさず、毒麦を育てないように！
このシェアも自分なりに聖霊様の導きで楽しみながらやって行くといいですよ、冬のキャンプでまた一つの心で顔と顔を合わせて神様を体験しよう。

Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading I learned that even when there is hardship and it seems like nobody is watching over you, like what Job felt when he was inflicted with diseases and when his friend’s blamed Job, himself, for the misfortune, it’s especially important to remember that God is always with us in those situations. I can apply it by always keeping the scripture inside of me (Joshua 1:9) and not forgetting that God is always with me, at school and at home.

 

Tomas:
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about how Job believed that God had forsaken him since he gave offerings to God and expected for God to give him blessings but rather disease came upon him. But God used this as a way to teach Job and didn’t want Job to just rely on offerings for blessings but have Job love him and pray to him. Applying this to my life, I know that God watches over me, and I should pray to God for guidance in things I need help on such as my history projects, math work, and also my reading assignments.

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読ではじぶんで耕した種は必ず自分で刈り取らなければ行けないことがわかりました。
ヨブ記の４章の「私の見てきたところでは、不法を耕して 害悪を蒔く者が、自らそれらを刈り取るのだ。」のところでした。
このことを生活に取り入れると自分が放った言葉などは自分で回収しないといけないので、良い言葉を放ちそれを刈り入れるようにしていきます。

 

Timothy:
In this week’s Bible reading, we see Job and his friend (specifically Elipaz)’s reaction to his hardship. Job is understandably depressed, wishing to be dead and expressing his despair and hopelessness. Rather than trying to comfort his friend, Elipaz essentially accuses Job of sin, and in God’s righteousness, he is getting what he deserves; “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty” (5:17). He exemplifies his confidence/arrogance and holier-than-thou attitude when he says, “We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself” (5:27). However, we know that Job’s suffering is not the cause of Job’s wrongdoings, but is the test of his faith. Elipaz acts as though he understands God’s plan, speaking on behalf of him, and we see his lack of empathy throughout his speech. He offers judgment rather than kindness (Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty, 6:14), making Job feel worse than he already did. Applying this to my life, I should not judge anyone and stay humble.

 

Jun’s comment re: Emiri:
it’s especially important to remember that God is always with us in those situations.
Is there anything more you learn? Did God just want Job to learn that even in misfortune, God is with him? That’s all?

When you guys do the Bible reading, don’t just look for confirmation of truths you know already. Likewise, don’t just latch on to “words of comfort” (words that make you momentarily feel better about yourself). Look for the hard-to-understand truths and things you don’t know already.

I can apply it by always keeping the scripture inside of me (Joshua 1:9) and not forgetting that God is always with me, at school and at home.
You mentioned this also in your testimony, but it seems like it’s not quite working (you don’t quite feel strong and courageous like Joshua was able to be). Why do you think that is?

Jun’s comment re: Tomas:
God wanted Job to live a blameless life not out of fear of God, but out of love for God. A parallel to your life as a student, would be studying hard and doing well in school not out of fear of parents/teachers, or to get good grades and enter a good university (and eventually land a good job), but to do all these things because you love studying and learning new things, because it brings you closer to God (the more you know about the world he created, the more you come to know God) and makes you a bigger vessel to be used for his purpose.

Jun’s comment re: Mukai:
今回の聖書朗読ではじぶんで耕した種は必ず自分で刈り取らなければ行けないことがわかりました。
ヨブ記の４章の「私の見てきたところでは、不法を耕して 害悪を蒔く者が、自らそれらを刈り取るのだ。」のところでした。
確かに害悪を蒔くものは、それを刈り取る時が来るけど、この言葉はヨブの友達が勝手に話してる言葉だとわかってるね？（神様がヨブのことを、どのように評価しているか覚えてる？１：８と２：３をもう一回読んでください。）

このことを生活に取り入れると自分が放った言葉などは自分で回収しないといけないので、良い言葉を放ちそれを刈り入れるようにしていきます。
ただし、行いが伴ったいないと、言葉は働きません。いくらいい告白をしても、行いと日々の生活が伴っていないと、サタンに笑われます。

聖書通読やってることは、すごくパワーになるよ！むかいはやっぱり、聖書の全体の知識がないから、穴だらけの状態です。続けてやれば、だいぶ成長できます。

Jun’s comment re: Timothy:
Overall quite good, Timothy.

However, we know that Job’s suffering is not the cause of Job’s wrongdoings, but is the test of his faith.
Yes, you can say it is a test of faith, but not in the sense of, “let’s see how strong you stay, when I throw all these misfortunes at you.” That is Satan’s stance, but not God’s. God allowed Satan to attack Job, only because there was something he wanted Job to learn, and God knew Job was strong enough to withstand Satan’s attacks. So it is a test in the sense that God wanted Job to pass and rise to the next level, so that he could be an even bigger vessel for God (and with that, came even bigger blessings as we will see).

and we see his lack of empathy throughout his speech.
I understand what you’re getting at, but be careful of putting too much value on empathy. Empathy is meaningful only if it is in line with God’s truth and perspective. Empathy on a merely human level can be dangerous and often gets in the way of God’s will. Another way to put it is, we should strive to have empathy with God, rather than with other humans. Eliphaz’s mistake was not so much a lack of empathy, but arrogance and a lack of understanding concerning his own place and level (i.e. much lower than Job’s). One can also surmise that Eliphaz was probably jealous of Job and how blessed he was, so was secretly a little happy about how Job was now suffering. It is important to know that this is how friends of the world usually are.

Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading Mordecai writes a letter concerning Purim. They explain how it should be celebrated, on that day it should be a day of feasting and joy and giving to one another or sharing your blessing. It also says in the end that this day should always be remembered and observed so they won’t forget the blessing God gave them. Applying this to my life I learned through this the importance of not forgetting the blessings I received, and to give blessings to the people around me since I also received them. Like during kids club, to take care of the kids with sincerity since I was also taken cared of, I want to do the same for the people around me.

 

Tomas:
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about how loyal to God Job was no matter what. Even after Satan sent curses down on him and suffered greatly because of this. Applying this to my life, like Job, we should always be with and rely on God no matter what trials we are going through and no matter what other people say about going with God. Also, God uses hard times like what Job was going through as ways to learn, improve, and teach his ways because he disciplines those he loves like Job. For example, I have a lot of assignments currently and I now have to memorize a song for my up-coming concert. Even though these things seem hard, God will use these experiences as ways for me to improve on my learning as well as being able to play the viola.

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読ではヨブ期の1章1節の「ウツの地に、その名をヨブという人がいた。この人は誠実で直ぐな心を持ち、神を恐れて悪から遠ざかっていた。」の部分でヨブの神様への信仰の凄さについて学びました。ヨブはサタンに何をされようとも信仰を捨てることはありませんでした。これを自分の生活に当てはまると周りが自分に神様への信仰を止めさせようとしても、神様の訓練として感じこれからの生活でもっと神様への忠誠を誓います。

 

よしや：
ハマンが倒された後に、ハマンが倒していたユダヤ人の力が強くなることが興味深かった。神様は自分たちが困難な状況を潜り抜けたあと、必ず自分たちをさらに強くしてくださるということは明白だ。ユダヤ人たちはこれを覚えて、プリムの祭りとして祝っている。神様が窮地から助け、そしてより良くしてくださることを覚えておくべきということだと思う。ヨブは、災いが自分に降りかかっても、決して神を罵らなかった。このようなヨブの強さは、見習わなければならないと思う。

 

Timothy:
The last part of Esther focuses on what happened to the Jews after the execution of Haman. They went from fearing death by Haman’s edict to “a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor,” with Mordecai becoming second in rank to the king. Even after Haman’s death, Esther begged the king to put an end to Haman’s plans. What stood out to me was that she stayed very humble, despite the king always listening to her requests (he even said that he would give her half the kingdom if she wanted in chapter 7). She did not grow arrogant and kept her attitude the same. She did the right things and passed the “tests” that God gave her, she understands that she needed God to save her people. Applying this to my life, I should always be thankful, and when something good happens (such as getting a good grade on an assignment/test, etc.), I should always remember that I God helped me and I didn’t do it by myself.

 

Jun’s comment re: Emiri:
to give blessings to the people around me since I also received them. Like during kids club, to take care of the kids with sincerity since I was also taken cared of,
Yes, but just as the Jews gave “gifts to the poor” (rather than simply “gifts to friends and family”), who are those that are “poor” around you? Especially spiritually poor? Probably not the kids in church, but rather those outside—your friends and classmates who don’t have a relationship with God yet. That classmate in chemistry class (I don’t know what exactly she did or said to you but) she too is also spiritually poor if she acts meanly towards you—do you see that? If you can, it will change your mindset 180 degrees and you can act towards her with God’s love (not our love) and be a wonderful witness of Christ to her.

Jun’s comment re: Tomas:
Also, God uses hard times like what Job was going through as ways to learn, improve, and teach his ways because he disciplines those he loves like Job.
Yes, but it’s also important to see what the specific lesson was that God wanted Job to learn. It wasn’t just “discipline” in a general sense.

God wanted Job to do all the good deeds he was already doing and live the godly (pure) lifestyle he was already living, for a different reason (motivation) than he had at the outset of the story. Job was doing these things because he wanted to be blessed (and his family to be blessed). The flip side is that one can also say he was doing these things out of fear of punishment. God rather wanted Job to love him, and to live a good life out of love for him, and for no other reason.

This is a very important truth that is very much easier said than done (easy to understand with your head, but not easy to do, because it is a matter of the heart and not something that can be physically seen).

Jun’s comment re: Mukai:
今回の聖書朗読ではヨブ期の1章1節の「ウツの地に、その名をヨブという人がいた。この人は誠実で直ぐな心を持ち、神を恐れて悪から遠ざかっていた。」の部分でヨブの神様への信仰の凄さについて学びました。
ここはただの出だしですよ。スタートラインです。さっきトマスにも書いたように、この次のステップに神様はヨブに上がって欲しかったのです。
＊いちいち全部日英に訳す時間ないので、自分でGoogleとか使って、訳してメール読んでください。私はいつも、一人の人に対して書いていないので、自分への返事しか読まないと、だいぶ損します。

これを自分の生活に当てはまると周りが自分に神様への信仰を止めさせようとしても、神様の訓練として感じこれからの生活でもっと神様への忠誠を誓います。
神様に忠誠誓っても、「それがどうした？」と多分言われます。実際、何をするのですか？（適用はいつも、具体的に！）

Jun’s comment re: Yoshiya:
Good. クリスチャンにとって、試練はいつも、強くしてくれるものです。嫌なことが起きたり、苦手な人・ことに出会った時、頭に置いとくといいです。また、これによって、ステップアップできる！と思えば、試練も喜びになります。

エステル書を読んでる時（まぁ、話を最初から知ってる子が多いけど）、最後の方になって、ハマンが負けるなーとわかり始めた頃、、一つ思うように話が進まないところなかったですか？王様はエステルが頼むことなんでもやってあげます、と何回も言ってるし、ハマンがどんな悪いやつかと、王様も明らかに分かった時点で、最初の法令（ユダヤ人全員殺していいという法令）が取り消される（べき）かと思わなかったですか？もし自分が物語書いているとしたら、多分そういう話にするよね？でも、取り消されなかった。２番目の法令は、ただ単に、殺されるはずの日に、ユダヤ人は、自分たちを守っていい（戦ったいい）と許しを得ただけのことです。

ここから何か学びますか？私たちへの適用はなんですか？難しくないから、分かるね？

クリスチャンは、ただのいい子、優しい子、では、役に立ちません。戦うこと（挑戦することも含まれてる）を知ることは、本当に大事です。戦わないと、勝利を得ることもできません。喜びは、立ち向かって、戦い始めた時に、流れ始めます。

Jun’s comment re: TImothy:
Ok, good Timothy.

Everyone, use Google translate (or something similar) to read all the emails if you don’t understand Japanese (or vice versa). When I write replies, I am basically writing to everyone (hoping it will be helpful to all of you), so please read the emails I’ve sent to others as well.

Yakumo said he doesn’t want to do Bible reading, so please leave out his email from now on.
文雲は聖書通読やめたいと、言ってきたので、このメールグループからは抜いてください。

Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading, chapter 3, when Haman came people bow down to him and honored him, even the nobles around Mordecai bowed down and honored Haman, but Mordecai refused to do the same. Mordecai didn’t care about what people around him did or said about him and would not be swayed by their words, but he kept on doing things that was right in God’s eyes. Applying this to my life, I shouldn’t go along or try to match the people around me since they are not always right. In tennis practice a lot of people try to take shortcuts or cheat out a point and since everyone is doing it, the majority cuts their practice to make it easier for themselves and to win, I learned that even if it’s hard it’s important to do it completely and not going along with people around me just to win.

 

よしや：
「この時にあたってあなたが口を閉ざしているなら、ユダヤ人の解放と救済は他のところから起こり、あなた自身と父の家は滅ぼされるにちがいない。この時のためにこそ、あなたは王妃の位にまで達したのではないか。」
‭‭エステル‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬
神様に選ばれたのにも拘らず、神様の意思を無視するならば、神様は他の人を遣わす。そしてその分の祝福は無くなる。もしも困っている人がいるならば、助けにいかないとならない。王妃エステルの行動は死罪の可能性を孕んでいたのにも拘らず、王の元に参った。私にはそのような覚悟はまだ不可能であるが、保身に走って神様の意思を無視するようなことがあってはならない。
そして、自分が崇められないと気が済まないハマンは、些細なことで腹を立てて、モルデカイの民族であるユダヤ人を絶滅させようとした。彼の企みは阻止され、そして断罪された。ハマンのように腹を立ててはいけないと思った。

 

Tomas:
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about Haman’s pridefulness and was easily offended when Mordecai didn’t bow to him. He would try to conspire to kill Mordecai, but instead, that plan would backfire and Haman would get killed himself. Applying this to my life, I should not be prideful of myself or think of what I think is right but rather listen to God, pray, read the Bible for guidance, and be open to his Word.

 

Masami’s comment re: Yoshiya:
ヨシヤはいつも、みことばを神の言葉と受け止め、主に対する自分の信仰、自分の考えを発表する、とても興味深い。

Timothy:
In chapter 4 verse 14, Mordecai says, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” In other words, there is a reason why Esther became queen while Haman made the law about killing all the Jews. Due to her position as queen, she was in a place where she could go to the king. However, due to the laws, it was illegal to go up to the king without being summoned, so, the Jews fasted for three days. Esther went up to the long, which eventually resulted in stopping Haman’s plans and his execution. From this, I learned that God has a plan and there is a reason for everything. Like Esther, we are to be bold and do what we are supposed to, trusting in God. Applying this to my life, this reminds me that I am in my current situation for a purpose, just like how Esther was in a position to influence the king. Although I don’t know for sure specifically what I need to do, I should keep in mind that God is giving me opportunities, like Esther’s position of queen saved her people.

 

Jun’s comment re: Timothy:
In chapter 4 verse 14, Mordecai says, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” In other words, there is a reason why Esther became queen
Have you guys also thought about why Esther was chosen in the first place by King Xerxes out of all the beautiful girls brought to the palace and why Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem, treated her with special favor? Don’t think that just because it was God’s plan, Esther would have been made queen no matter what. Just because God has a plan for you, doesn’t mean it will happen automatically. There are small tests all along the way—when you pass one, you step up to the next one and so on. If you give up, that’s the end of God’s original plan for you.

Think about how Esther acted—brought as a very young girl to the palace and thrust into a completely new world (the harem) where anything she could possibly want would have been given to her, she did not change her lifestyle and personality at all. She continued to obey Mordecai (who was not even her real father, but only a cousin) and did not ask for anything special (全然チャラチャラにならなかった）。If you were in her place, do you think you would have been able to act in the same way? It doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl. Imagine you were suddenly adopted into a king’s family and given servants whose job is to wait on you and give you whatever you ask for. Would you be able to not change at all and act as a Christian in a non-Christian culture?

Esther never explicitly mentioned her Jewish identity until the end, but she showed God’s glory in the harem even before she became queen, and before she saved the Jews. Something was different about her and that’s why the king chose her as his wife. She gives us a good example of how to be a good witness wherever you are, even if you don’t get the chance to explicitly tell others about Jesus. Of course, when the chance comes, you need to be bold and speak, just as Esther did.

Although I don’t know for sure specifically what I need to do,
There are many things we told you (not just Timothy but all of you at various times) already—work on those so you can be a bigger and better vessel that God can use. Ultimately, how much God can use you comes down to your character—for Timothy (for example), work on expressing yourself more freely and being bold.

 

Jun’s comment re: Emiri:
In tennis practice a lot of people try to take shortcuts or cheat out a point and since everyone is doing it, the majority cuts their practice to make it easier for themselves and to win, I learned that even if it’s hard it’s important to do it completely and not going along with people around me just to win.
You do realize that you wouldn’t be doing yourself any favors by taking shortcuts or cheating, whether it be in sports or academic studies. No one who cheats learns anything or improves their skill so ultimately, such a person is only putting themselves at a disadvantage later on.

Also, let’s aim a little higher. This application is only at the level of not sinning vs. sinning.

 

Jun’s comment re: Yoshiya:
Very good, Yoshiya.いつもこのぐらい書いてきて。ヨシヤの心がよく言葉の中から読み取れます。

むかいとやくもはどうなった？やくもはまだ、一回しか書いてきてないけど、まだ入っている意思はあるのかな？

 

むかい：
今回の聖書朗読で学んだことは、エステル記 4:16の「行って、スサにいるユダヤ人をみな集め、私のために断食してください。三日三晩、食べたり飲んだりしないようにしてください。私も私の侍女たちも、同じように断食します。そのようにしたうえで、法令に背くことですが、私は王のところへ参ります。私は、死ななければならないのでしたら死にます。」この部分でここでは主の計画で死ぬ必要があるなら死ぬと書いていてここで、神様への信仰がわかる気がします。
最終的にはどんな状況でも神様が助けてくれたんですけど、このような信仰がなかったら神様に助けてもらえなかったのかもなと思ったので、半端な気持ちで神様を信仰していくのではなく完全なる気持ちで信仰していきます。
どんな状況だろうとも神様への信仰をとださないようにする　環境を見ない　調子を合わせない

 

やくも：
連絡が遅れてしまいすみません。一度抜けさせてもらいます。