Give Thanks For Them

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” [Job 42.1-6]

Here it is: the place Job should have started out - in humility and repentance!

Not enough is said about silent contemplation when trials hit.

I am currently considering something the Apostle Paul taught about prayer...

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. [1 Timothy 2.1]

What if Job's friends had exercised this? What if they had asked God to help Job, asked God to forgive Job (interceded for him), and given thanks for Job?

What does it mean to give thanks for another? One this day, this has meaning to me like never before. What if "to give thanks for someone" means not only to be thankful for them, but also to be thankful on their behalf? In other words, God loves the world - so what does it look like for me to thank Him for that on behalf of another. Let's say I am praying for a bad person... If I ask God to help that person, that is good, right? If I ask God to forgive that person, that is Christ-like, right? Of course it is. But what if I thank God for the forgiveness He has made available to that person even though that person is unaware of it himself or herself? BOOM! Think about this!

How might Job and his friends better fulfilled God's love for one another had they been grateful for God's love for one another? Hmm.

Yes, it appears Job would have been much better off (at least better off quicker) had he and his friends all kept their mouths shut a little longer and then only opened them in humble repentance... And here's a point for consideration... what if they each had asked God for help and forgiveness for each other from the beginning? What if, on behalf of each other, they had given thanks to God for that which He has given to all?

Father, help me, help us, to understand really what it means to give thanks on behalf of another person. May we begin to see the power of Your forgiveness manifest in our prayers as we pray correctly!