TODAY’S
WORD FOR TUESDAY JUNE 25, 2013.
AFFLICTIONS
DEFINITION:
A
depressed or painful state; misery; a cause of mental or bodily pain as
sickness or calamity; great suffering that produces sorrow.
SCRIPTURE:
My
heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; days of affliction confront me. Job 30:27
This
is my comfort in my affliction, for your Word has given me life. Psalms 119:50
For
our light affliction, which is for about a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory. II Corinthians 4:17
Oh
Lord my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of affliction. Jeremiah
16:19
KNOWLEDGE
AND EXPERIENCE:
One
of life's great concerns for us has been to see children, young people and
adults who are suffering afflictions in their lives. All of us react when an
affliction affects one of our family members, but do we show concern for those
in far of areas of our world that may have even greater afflictions? The
definition of the word "AFFLICTION" refers to the mental or body pain
one may have in a sickness or a calamity.
God
has given us the privilege of traveling throughout the world. Our life time
ministry has centered on children. We began our married life in Korea just
after the Korean war ended. It was our responsibility to place literally
thousands of children in orphanages. These were mostly what they called G.I.
babies, fathered by foreign soldiers. They were not accepted by the Korean
society. Our hearts were broken as we established over 145 orphanages but
ultimately thrilled because we left them with people who loved them and cared
for them --- Korean Christians.
Down
through the years we have ministered to children with cancer, children with
single mothers, children living on garbage dumps in third world countries and children
hurting badly right in the heart of our American cities.
When
sin entered the world through the fall of Adam and Eve, affliction entered as
well. Our minds and our bodies are now subject to suffering and pain. Some
suffer greater afflictions than others. It is heart wrenching to see children
born with physical and mental challenges as well as people suffering with
cancer and with other diseases. Just as sad is to see whole families living in
poverty and who do not have food to eat. This is affliction as well. No matter
if the affliction is large or small it is so easy for the victim to fall into
despair and, as Job said, the "heart is in turmoil."
As
believers in Jesus we face affliction with a different attitude than those who
do not know Him. As Christians we can look beyond our affliction in this life
with the hope of a life without affliction when we are in heaven with our Lord.
Our suffering in this life is temporary.
It
is usually the case that when we are going through the tough times in life with
our greatest afflictions that God does His greatest work through us.
Afflictions should increase our reliance on the Lord. This gives us an
opportunity to share with others the strength of our faith and allows God to
demonstrate His power through us.
God
has allowed us to go through real times of affliction with the death of both of
our parents, a daughter-in-law and a sister. Numerous dear friends have also
passed on with diseases and accidents. Several years ago we had a dear friend
who was afflicted with lung cancer. She used this time of affliction to testify
to others of her faith and trust in the Lord. What a blessing and encouragement
she was to us and many others. All who knew her learned so many lessons as to
how to live with affliction. She is now home with her Lord and Savior and free
from all suffering and affliction.
We
continue to ask God daily to make us sensitive to those that are going through
a time of affliction. Do you have that caring spirit and attitude? Almost daily
a situation comes our way and we wish we could do more to help. We are limited,
as you are, by our finances and even with enough time to respond. But one thing
we can do is pray and be a friend to that person who is hurting.
It
may be a relative or friend with cancer, a child without food, a man or woman
that lost a job or a family that lost their house and is now homeless. The list
can go on and on, but remember, we can pray, we can love, we can encourage and
we can care.
When
you are facing an affliction in your life, look for opportunities to let others
see Christ in you. You will be surprised to see how much God will bless you and
ease your affliction because you are thinking of others and not yourself.
LEARNING
:
Our
memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.
In
the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
PRAYER:
Help
me today to have a heart that shows concern for those facing affliction in
their lives. Help me to praise You throughout this day for the many blessings
You have given me and my family. Give me strength to live this day looking for
the one place where I can make an impact on another person's life that is
hurting and needs Your love.
