arbitration

Job 11-13

Note: if something bad happens to a friend of yours, don't tell them that it happened because they sinned.  Not only is it bad theology, it just makes your friend hurt worse.

But I love these words in chapter 9:

 ³² "He is not a man like me that I might answer him,
       that we might confront each other in court.

 ³³ If only there were someone to arbitrate between us,
       to lay his hand upon us both,

 ³⁴ someone to remove God's rod from me,
       so that his terror would frighten me no more.

 ³⁵ Then I would speak up without fear of him,
       but as it now stands with me, I cannot.

Heavenly Father, you are righteous and holy, and there is nothing I can do to earn your kindness or mercy.  It is only by the blood of Jesus Christ, God and Man, that I can be removed of guilt and your righteous wrath.  Thank you, Jesus, for bringing me into fellowship with the God of the universe, and that I can speak to Him as a son speaks to his father because He is my Heavenly Father.  I love you, Lord, and I want to know you and love you better.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.