Today’s poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post “A Trace of Faith”. Just a little faith leads to something big. We learn that it grows in our heart and soul to eventually overpower the negatives that limit our potential.
Take inspiration also from today’s song Angels Among Us which was inspired by a true story and recorded by the country group Alabama.
My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend. – Job 16:20-21
It’s hard to accept the old adage “pain is gain” in many circumstances we face in life but as pointed out in “Second Wind”, the tone can change as it did for Job when he sought an advocate for his predicament.
Today we know that our advocate … our friend is Jesus who came in the flesh from up above to down here on earth. He understands our situation, He suffered on the Cross, and all who believe in Him will be saved.
So today, be inspired by the song What A Friend We Have In Jesus by Alan Jackson. For trouble anywhere or sorrows you can’t bear, take it to the Lord in prayer. Our weaknesses will be replaced with His power. We will be given the second wind to go the distance and finish the race victoriously.
Running long distances can be a struggle as the body gets tired and it feels that every stride becomes harder and harder. Many long distance runners talk of getting a second wind that pushes them on to victory.
Reading today in Job 16, we note that Job is worn out, his household has been devastated, and he believes God has deserted him. His friends do not understand his situation and Eliphaz blames Job for his hopelessness … saying that his sin has brought it on. Job’s friends compounded rather than eased the problems by not listening and showing sympathy.
Job counters the accusations of Eliphaz by letting him know that the advice he is giving could be said by anyone but without ever actually going through what he has gone through, there is no understanding. Job tells Eliphaz that his advice doesn’t help his situation at all.
Job has gone through much pain and it’s hard to accept the old adage “pain is gain” in many circumstances we face in life but as we read today’s passage, the tone can change as it does in verses 18-21 as Job seeks an advocate in his predicament. An intercessor to plead for mercy and a friend that will make things right before God.
Today we know that our friend is Jesus who came in the flesh from up above to down here on earth. He understands our situation, He suffered on the Cross, and all who believe in Him will be saved. Our weaknesses will be replaced with His power. We will be given the second wind to go the distance and finish the race victoriously.
Lord as we read today’s passage, this broken world can be discouraging and wear us down. We face health issues, financial problems, broken relationships, and loss of loved ones but You have given us a second wind with more power than we could even imagine. You bring recovery and hope to become forever better. We can endure distress because we know You will bless. You took it all on and the cross fulfills the plan to step ahead to victory. Amen.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God – Romans 15:7
The post “Sympathy” had some thoughts about reacting to people going through difficulties like Job was going through. We can’t see the heart and we don’t know the reasons for their problems so we shouldn’t assume that they are being punished by God.
We should accept one another because all who say yes to Christ as Savior are received by God as the song Forgiven by Crowder points out. This day with God, let us bring praise.
There is one common thread that binds us; the power of Christ in what we believe and how we live. This day, let us accept the stream of grace that keeps flowing and have sympathy for those in need. That brings us together as we start our day with reflection. Today, we are reading Job 15 and reflecting in order to gain lessons that we can apply in life.
We note that Eliphaz criticizes Job but as learned earlier in our study of this book, he doesn’t understand why Job is going through the problems before him. Job became a target of Satan because Satan believed that God gave Job all he had but God knew who Job was so he allowed Job to be tested. Satan was allowed to cause bad to happen to Job so Job lost his family, his livestock, and his property. Then, he is afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (Job 3:7).
In a deep state of despair, Job is going through anguish and misery. Eliphaz makes the mistake of seeing Job in this difficulty and thinking he is being punished by God. Like Eliphaz, we can’t see the heart of someone else. What we should assume is that everyone is forgiven and accepted by God through the love of Christ.
Eliphaz believes the wicked suffer but is that really true? In this world, it seems that sinful activities do not bring suffering but many times bring short term gain to some as they live out their time on earth in luxury, fame, or wealth.
What is essential to know is that the gain is only in the short term. Moral shortcuts were taken to gain rewards during their earthly life but they end up not getting to the final destination. To get to the final destination, there is only one way and that is to accept and follow Jesus.
This day with You Lord, we set out to build up and encourage. We want to unify around Your winning game plan in which grace has entered in. We accept Your mercy and the blood of Christ sets us free. Amen.
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