8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord‘scoming is near.
8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. - P57
11 As you know, we count as blessed those who havepersevered. You have heard of Job‘s perseverance andhave seen what the Lord finally brought about. TheLord is full of compassion and mercy.
11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you knowabout Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him atthe end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. - P57
The rich who have accumulated wealth at the expense of others will weepover the misery that will come upon them. - P57
Believers must wait patientlyuntil the Lord‘s coming, like a farmer waits for the land to yield its crop. - P57
Theprophets and Job are good examples of patience in the face of suffering. TheLord is full of compassion and mercy. - P57
James unleashes a scathing rebuke against rich and powerful oppressorswho have exploited the poor while living in luxury. - P58
Among their wickeddeeds is the failure to perform the simple duty of paying their workers!
Just as the blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground, theseunpaid wages loudlytestify against these
self-indulgent sinners. - P58
TheLord will surely bring justice to His faithful ones when He returns, butthey must patiently endure suffering without grumbling, following theexamples of Job and the prophets who risked their lives to speak God‘swords. - P58
In this world, justice is often perverted by the powerful andcorruption threatens to overwhelm the poor and needy. - P58
But we lookto a kingdom that is coming, where Jesus Christ reigns as the supremeand perfect Judge. - P58
He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and we will enjoy His glorious
presence forever. - P58
Dear Jesus, thank you for using even our suffering to strengthen our faith. - P59
Maywe be encouraged by the examples we read in Your Word of believers who haveremained patient through hard times. In Your name, amen. - P59
Azerbaijan
Capital: BakuPopulation: 10,4 millionMajor Religions: Muslim 97.3%
Azerbaijan is the largest nation in the Caucasus region, and its diverse landscapes rangefrom vast mountain ridges to plains and lowlands. - P58
The nation has a history of violent conflictwith its neighbor Armenia, and despite repeated attempts at peace, there remains ongoingpolitical tension. - P58
Amid this volatility, God has raised up the Azeri church from only fortyknown believers in 1991 to an estimated ten thousand believers today. As the church grows,
however, it faces intensifying opposition from the Muslim majority. - P58
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