S) "4 “I too could speak like you,
If I were in your place.
I could compose words against you
And shake my head at you.
5 “I could strengthen you with my mouth,
And the solace of my lips could lessen your pain."
Job 16:4-5 (NASB)
O) Job is frustrated because he's looking for comfort, but his friends are acting more like scoffers. He points out that he could do the same thing in their place. By contrast, he also points out that he could comfort them, too. As I read this, it almost seems like there's a missing "it would be easy to..." in front of verse 4 and in front of verse 5 it seems it should be prefaced with something like, "but it would be better if I..." He's definitely pointing out that one is more helpful than the other, but I think there's an undertone that shows it's more difficult to do the latter.
A) There are certainly going to be times when God wants me to speak up and say something along the lines of a rebuke. I also know that there are times when a warning is needed, too. I've been in the uncomfortable position to do both. Having said that, there is also a time, I think, where I don't have to find the root cause of some one's pain. I've seen people hurt by their own mistakes, and even been confused about how the disaster or tragedy fell upon them, but I think sometimes it's best to leave that part alone - at least at first. Sometimes, I think there is a lot of comfort, solace, encouragement and strengthening to be done, before beginning the process of sorting out how a person's life has become a mess.
P) Father, You know what's needed and when. Holy Spirit, lead me as I minister to people. Whether that's my kids, or some one I'm mentoring, or a brother, help me to see with Your eyes, to know if I should be showing them where they went astray, or if I should simply be focused on lifting their spirit. I want to help people in Jesus' name, God. I want to magnify You in the work that I do. I want people to see that You are a good, real, practical God - because of their time spent with me. I want to be a positive reflection of You, Lord. So, let me be an effective tool in Your hands, mending where mending is needed, or dissecting where dissecting is needed. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
A) There are certainly going to be times when God wants me to speak up and say something along the lines of a rebuke. I also know that there are times when a warning is needed, too. I've been in the uncomfortable position to do both. Having said that, there is also a time, I think, where I don't have to find the root cause of some one's pain. I've seen people hurt by their own mistakes, and even been confused about how the disaster or tragedy fell upon them, but I think sometimes it's best to leave that part alone - at least at first. Sometimes, I think there is a lot of comfort, solace, encouragement and strengthening to be done, before beginning the process of sorting out how a person's life has become a mess.
P) Father, You know what's needed and when. Holy Spirit, lead me as I minister to people. Whether that's my kids, or some one I'm mentoring, or a brother, help me to see with Your eyes, to know if I should be showing them where they went astray, or if I should simply be focused on lifting their spirit. I want to help people in Jesus' name, God. I want to magnify You in the work that I do. I want people to see that You are a good, real, practical God - because of their time spent with me. I want to be a positive reflection of You, Lord. So, let me be an effective tool in Your hands, mending where mending is needed, or dissecting where dissecting is needed. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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