text: ~Job 16:1-2 Then Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
  Poor Job! He lost all of his children, his cattle – everything except a wife who told him to curse God and die, and friends who he considered to be miserable comforters. 😦 What this dear man needed was someone with a kind word, not to be verbally kicked while he was down! It truly saddens me that usually the first ones to do this are those of the household of faith. 😦
  If the Christians who love to judge would take a “time out” of their self-righteous lives and study what God’s word has to say on the matter, it would be such a blessing to the dear brother or sister who really just needs simple encouragement! Our words have such an impact on other people’s lives. They don’t need encouragement when their lives are in order and things are going well! No! In fact, it is when they are at their lowest that those kind words can be most effective. Proverbs 18:21 says that our tongue has the power of death and life.
  ~Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
  Our mouths reflect what is in the heart (Matthew 12:34). If you are not right with God in your own heart, you cannot be of any earthly good to anyone else when it comes to encouragement and uplifting one who is down. In fact, when our hearts aren’t right with God, we say things that can be quite damaging to that person. We say things we don’t mean. We say things that do not uplift the person but tear him down.
  You know, there are times when a person just needs to be encouraged – nothing more. There are times when encouragement can be followed by exhortation. Giving someone advice and counsel from God’s word is only as good as the condition of the counsellor’s heart! The scriptures say that we shouldn’t open our mouths to give counsel if we are not right with God (Matthew 7:3). I believe this is where Job’s friends went wrong. I noticed that they were silent for seven days before they spoke. I can just see it now – this gave them plenty of time to think on Job’s life rather than humble themselves before God and ask Him to guide their mouths.
  I have a dear friend who has been battling chronic pain for 30 years. Oh how she was judged and continues to be judged by those who claim to be good friends, family and “the brethren.” Surely there must be sin in your life if you’re so sick, or She just doesn’t want to get better or help herself! 😦 How quickly we are to judge others! It breaks my heart!
  There doesn’t always have to be a reason for a Christian’s hardships. Job’s trials were not due to his sin or his lifestyle. He didn’t lose his children because he was a drunk and a horrible father. In the midst of his horrible trial, he needed a kind word. What would have been the outcome of Job’s account in scriptures if his friends had come to sit with him, hugged him, prayed with him and sat with him? A kind word goes such a long way. It is said that a person can live off a kind and encouraging word for a week! Wow!
  Our loving Heavenly Father has shown us how to encourage the down trodden by sending His Son to redeem our sinful lives! No greater love is there than this. (John 15:13) That’s compassion! While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) He didn’t sit there and berate us before He died for us. He didn’t make it a point to kick us while we were down. Sadly, Baptists are known for this very deed 😦 Why is that? Have they taken judging righteous fruit passed what God intended? I believe so. Remember Matthew 7:3!
  Christ would never kick someone while they are at the bottom of their “pit” in life. It is while they are in their pit that His compassion comes shining through and He rescues them! Where is that compassion in Christians today? Christ makes a difference in people’s lives and our compassion should make a difference in people’s lives as well. When we have a brother or sister in Christ who is going through hard times, get yourself right with the Lord and then go make a difference in that person’s life.
  ~Jude 1:21-22 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
  Once you sit with that person for a while (without a judgmental spirit, I might add), the Holy Spirit will reveal to you what to say. Take time to listen – take time to cry with them – take time to hold them. If we all waited on the Holy Spirit before opening our mouths, we would surely make a difference in people’s lives.
  If you are not going to be the one to exhort (give advice and counsel) this person, then be the one to encourage! Everyone needs a hug – everyone needs a kind word. No one deserves to be kicked like a dog while they are going through hardships. No one!
  Dearest sister, thank you for today’s devotional….how it blessed my heart. Words fail me in expressing my gratitude for the prayers you have brought before the throne of grace on my behalf through the years as I have battled the foes that accompany Fibromyalgia. Thank you for your exhortation, your comfort, your love, and most of all for reminding me that this life is but a vapor and that I am to live with eternity’s values in view and not for the here and now. It is true, this life is so fleeting…….time on this earth so very short! My most earnest prayer, above all, is that the LORD would teach me through each trial that I might grow and mature in my Christian walk. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME……NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE!!!
  Psalm 119:71-73; “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.”
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