The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Job 10-13
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 1: The People: God calls a covenant people
Background Information: Job 10-13
Job doesn’t doubt God’s power or his right to do what he wants with that power, but he just wants to know why. He doesn’t even ask God to heal him, but he does ask God to tell him, why? God is silent while Zophar confidently speaks up. Now another friend has joined the fray, and this one has no compassion. He thinks that he has heard enough and unleashes on Job. He call’s Job’s honest lament “babbling.” This word implies that Job has mocked God. Jophar “knows” why Job is suffering: it is because of Job’s sin. His “sage” advice to Job is, “get right with God and everything will be okay.” Job unleashes on his friends. He is not going to passively take their foolishness, nor should he. He calls them worthless healers and urges them to just stop talking. “Job’s friends” have become an idiom for someone who offers empty comfort to someone who is suffering. We must not do this. When someone is suffering, we often just need to offer a ministry of presence. However, there does come a time when suffering people need to hear the comforting truth of God. We must neither offer foolish advice nor simply remain silent. May God grant us the wisdom to know when to speak and what to say to our suffering friends. We must never become one of “Job’s friends.”
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Pray for people in our church who are struggling with physical and mental illnesses. Pray that they would have endurance in praying for healing and faith to trust God’s goodness and purpose for their lives in the face of suffering.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.