Are You Helping Or Harming?

Good Morning,

Job 16:20-21, "My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!"

As we continue to read through the book of Job we see over and over again the failure of Job's friends to minister to his needs.  They have failed to be what they needed to be to help this brother in time of trouble.  Notice his words:

• "My friends scorn me..."  They are speaking in terms of arrogance and mockery.  They are not relating at all to where he is coming from.  We need to listen well to insure that we minister to people at their point of need.
• "But mine eye poureth out tears unto God"  Job is overwhelmed and grief stricken.  He is weeping tears of grief, tears of need, tears of distress.  He is looking to God and others for help, but can't put things together at this point in his trials.
• "Oh that one might plead for a man with God..."  This is the part of the verse that really struck me.  To plead means to argue a case.  Job is looking for someone who in empathy will bring his case in prayer before the God of heaven.  I believe we need to do more pleading with God.  I need to plead my own cause, but I also need to be an intercessor for others.  Prayer is powerful and I need to pray more for God's power to be manifest in my own life, and in the lives of others.

May we become men and women who understand the needs of others and may we plead for them before the God  of Heaven! 

God bless and have a great day!

Your friend,

-- 

Pastor Mike Abbott