It has been said that no one in all of Scripture, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, suffered like Job did. It has also been said about Job's friends, that with friends like that, you don't need enemies. What we read in Job 19:21 is one of the saddest statements made in Scripture. Job is desperate as he cries out for his friends to have pity on him. What stands out to me about this verse is the total lack of compassion and mercy shown by Job's supposed friends.
What about us today? There are people in our churches today who are suffering. Are we willing to show them mercy and compassion and really be there for our brothers and sisters in Christ when they need us? There are also multitudes that are lost without Christ in our culture today. Are we willing to speak the truth in love to them? Are we also willing to show them mercy and compassion by showing them the love of Christ that they desperately need? I'm so afraid that those in the church, as well as in the world, think that we see them only as a number. "We have led this many to Christ this month. We have given this much to missions this past year or we support this many missionaries." You and I must be willing to invest ourselves into the lives of those who are in need, whether those needs be spiritual, physical, or emotional. We must be willing to cry with others, to share their hurts, and cry out to the Lord on their behalf.
It seems to me today that way too many Christians are in the category of Job's supposed friends. They are merciless, they are without compassion on those who are hurting and in need. Too many times we spend so much time condemning others that we fail to show them Christ's love, mercy, or compassion. Now I am not saying that we accept their sin and overlook it, I am saying that these people who are hurting need someone to just love them and show them Christ.
Will you show mercy, compassion, and the love of Christ to those that are hurting? May God break our hearts especially for those that are lost in the world and desperately need Christ to save them before it is eternally too late!
Prayer For Today:
Heavenly Father. break my heart for those around me that are hurting and desperately need Your love! Please forgive me for my failure to show Christ's love to these people. Help me to show mercy and compassion to those in need, whether they be in the church or in the world. May I make a difference in the life of someone else for Your honor and glory! In Jesus name, Amen!
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