HELPING THE HURTING

HELP THE HURTING

For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return. —Job 16:22

My spirit is broken; my days are extinct; the graveyard is ready for me. —Job 17:1

            Job is in so much emotional pain from his losses.   He knows his time on earth is short and is lived only once. He is a broken man. Not only was his animals and most of his servants destroyed, but his 7 sons and 3 daughters all died together at the same time in a storm. He feels like his time on earth is done and that the grave is ready to receive him. His heartache is unbearable and his friends add to his misery.

            There are people all around us who are broken. They do not need “friends” like the ones Job had. No, they need someone who will listen; someone who is more concerned for them than their own talk; someone who will serve them and help them in their need; someone who will share the truth of God’s Word in humility; someone who will enter their pain with them. Will you be that person?

            Yes, we live in a broken, fallen, sinful world where there are all kinds of problems. You yourself have experienced your share of difficulties.   Jesus told us this would happen, but that we can have peace in Him and that we are to take courage because He has overcome the world and so have we by our faith in Him (John 16:33; I John 5:1-5).   People need to hear the good news of why Jesus came so they can “come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (II Timothy 2:26). They need to flee from the “destroyer” —Satan and flee to the “Restorer” —Jesus.   But… we need to bring the message to them—

“For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” and “As you (the Father) sent me (Jesus) into the world, I have sent them (us) into the world… I (Jesus) pray also for those who will believe in me through their (our) message” —John 17:18, 20

            So as those sent my Jesus so that others believe as well, let us be faithful in our “going” to make disciples. Let us go to the hurting people of this world and proclaim to them the good news of salvation from sin and salvation to a relationship with our heavenly Father through His Son and then our ability to be empowered by His Holy Spirit to live a life pleasing to Him. Yes… let us go to them! Yes dear Father may this be so in my life by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYQ5yXCc_CA