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Friend Indeed: Lessons from Job on Compassion and Intercession · The Call to Women in Faith Podcast

• 0:00
  Hello there. I was reading Job as part of my scheduled reading this morning.
• 0:05
  No matter how many times I read Job, it appears that I cannot like his friends.
• 0:10
  Why are they so judgmental and bereft of compassion?
• 0:14
  Do you happen to know what Bill did?
• 0:17
  When I tried to understand Job's friends, it occurred to me that they are unaware
• 0:21
  of God's compassion and ability to forgive.
• 0:24
  They were hyper-focused on cause and effect.
• 0:28
  They assumed that Job's transgressions caused the misery he was facing.
• 0:33
  They totally missed God's instruction in Ezekiel. They did not realize God wants
• 0:39
  us to intercede for one another.
• 0:41
  Quote, So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the
• 0:48
  gap before me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it,
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  but I found no one. End quote.
• 0:57
  Ezekiel 22, verse 30. Many moons ago, when I was going through my firestorm, I had friends like Job.
• 1:07
  My fault for having friends like that, that lacked compassion.
• 1:11
  But in their defense, they have their heads wrapped around karma.
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  I'm sure that I reaped consequences for my iniquities, but not nearly as bad as I deserve.
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  Jesus bore it all, and he carried me out of the firestorm into the safety of
• 1:28
  everlasting love and everlasting life.
• 1:32
  That is how our one true God works. He carries us through firestorms,
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  sustains the burns, pains, injuries, and sets us on safe ground, unscathed.
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  For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you,
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  Fear not, I will help you. End quote.
• 1:55
  Isaiah chapter 41, verse 13.
• 2:00
  We have an awesome God. He gave us clear instructions to pray for one another,
• 2:04
  even pray for our enemies, he said.
• 2:06
  So I'm hoping that I will be a prayer warrior and not build ad when someone needs my compassion.
• 2:13
  Quote, I urge then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions,
• 2:21
  and thanksgiving be made for all people.
• 2:24
  1 Timothy 2.1. In addition, I want Jesus to know that I am behaving like his disciple.
• 2:34
  Quote, By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. End quote.
• 2:44
  John chapter 13, verse 35 Dear God, please grant me the goodness to pray for
• 2:50
  your children when they are in trouble.
• 2:52
  May your kindness and compassion flow through me and bring you glory. Amen.