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“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10, NIV)

Praying for our friends (particularly when they have rubbed us the wrong way — as friends are in an excellent position to since they are close to us and know our crimes and inconsistencies) can be a difficult choice.

In Job’s case, his friends began well at the beginning of his afflictions: They came to Job and sat with him for a week, saying nothing, but being present just the same. Then, they began to give advice. It was sincere advice, but it wasn’t intelligent advice. Their advice grieved Job.

At the end of Job’s ordeal, it was time for reconciliation. Job could have borne a grudge but, in obedience to God, Job prayed for his friends.

We can do our friends no greater service than to take what all we know of their crises, burdens, fears, and joys to the Lord in prayer. (We impede the work of God when we choose to gossip, pontificate, and prognosticate about the situations of our friends.)

Pray for your friends, as only true friends can. – Luther

Tagged compassion, intercession, prayer, the book of Job

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“’Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.’” (2 Samuel 9:7, NIV)

Conventional wisdom tells us that we ought to invest only in our children and our grandchildren, that they may one day save themselves. However, God’s wisdom teaches that the good we do for others may, one day, be the salvation of our children and grandchildren.

Such was the case in today’s scripture, where Mephibosheth, the lame-footed son of Jonathan, was rescued by David because of what Jonathan had done for David years before.

Long after you and I have departed this earth, if we have invested our time in the lives of others, blessings will return to our children and grandchildren as surely as the seeds of an apple planted today will bless future generations with shade (shelter) and fruit (food).

Make haste to show kindness also to those who are not in your own household! – Luther

Tagged compassion, David, Mephibosheth, the book of 2 Samuel

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“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.” (1 Peter 3:8, NIV)

Whether in the human family into which we were born, or the spiritual family of God into which we both chose and were chosen; success depends on: (4) Showing compassion.

Nothing dries-up the wells of compassion faster than the notion that a person in trouble — or a troubled person, for that matter — deserves whatever it is that’s got them by the throat. The fact of the matter is that at one time or another, we’ve all been in a tough spot; and we’ve greatly appreciated it when someone — anyone — has been moved to give us a hand-up, or a hand-out.

Many of us are only a few bad decisions from poverty. All of us are only a heartbeat away from death. An honest look at our common, fragile condition may yet open again the wells of compassion. – Luther

Tagged compassion, the book of 1 Peter, tools for family peace and harmony