BIBLICAL FATHERHOOD--THE GREAT NEED OF THE WORLD 7z-12) HE HAS A GENERATION MINDSET-- ROLE MODELING LOVE THAT "REJOICES NOT IN INIQUITY" (1 Corinthians 13:6) continued.

To rejoice when your persecutors are being judged would be iniquity. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

Proverbs 24:17-18 says, "Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him."

Psalm 141:5 says, "Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head, for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities."

Men, there are times when well-meaning, and even good men, will reprove us out of their own wisdom and understanding. At the time, it can often add more burden for our hearts to bear, like Job's so-called comforters. In reality, they were his discomforters.

Job could have easily rejoiced when calamity struck them, but instead he prayed for them. Job 42:7-10 says, "The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept... And the Lord turned the captivity of Job when he PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

Men, this is a great lesson for us to role model before our families of the love of God that rejoices not when trouble comes to our friends who have troubled us and who may have committed iniquity against us. God will repay in His time and when He does we must not rejoice with our family, but rather pray for them.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell