Someone to Mediate

 Job 9:1-4, 32-35  Then Job replied: “…but how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed? … He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court. If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”

            From time to time I enjoy reading through the book of Job. I find the volley of conversation between Job and his friends so interesting and I always find something new to explore. For example, in the ninth chapter, Job is responding to Bildad with an explanation of the greatness of God and the limitations of man. Out of respect and reverent fear, Job does not dare to stand before Almighty God to plead his case alone. He recognizes a need for a mediator. And in Job’s time, that would have been the job of the high priest at the temple—a place Job could not enter due to his unclean condition. We can understand Job’s expression of helplessness.

            Ironically, under the New Covenant of our times, we have something Job did not have. We do have a mediator to help us in time of need. We have direct access to God’s throne of grace.

1 Timothy 2:5-6  For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

Hebrews 4:14-16  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the gift of salvation through your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you that Christ now sits at your right hand, and that we now have someone to mediate for us in time of need. Forgive our weaknesses and failures. Thank you for your faithfulness, mercy, and grace.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Someone to Mediate appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com