Thought for the Week

Perhaps you have been or are going through a period of affliction. (I remind you a meaning for affliction is: physical or mental pain or suffering testing a person’s ability to function) Affliction can have benefits: One of these is found in Romans 5:3; “…Tribulation (affliction) works toward giving patience.” It can be dangerous to pray for patience because God might just use affliction or tribulation to bring patience into your life. Other benefits are found in Psalm 119:67 where the Psalmist tells us he was wandering away from God until affliction corrected him and verse 71 it helped him to learn and keep God’s word. A living example of these things is found in the Prophet Jonah who was running away from God and God’s assignment for him, then tells us (2:1-2) he cried out from the belly of the great fish, in great affliction where God heard and delivered him. I am certainly not accusing you of wandering or running away from God. But it is certainly worth considering. Jesus gives a parable of a young man (St. Luke 15:11-27) who ran away from his home, his father, and his responsibility. He ran into desperate times and circumstances, before he came to understand his own foolishness. He prepared his heart and his speech to acknowledge what he had done. It was then that he returned to his home, his father, and his responsibility. I’d say it is good for us to evaluate what is going on in our lives regularly. Certainly affliction could simply be a result of being human and living in a fallen, sin-cursed world. You can’t change that. But if Satan and his evil host are in the ‘attack mode’ and you are their target, it would be a good idea to check and be sure you are wearing the ‘whole armor of God’ The list is Ephesians 6:11-18. The Holy Spirit of God is never too busy to help you check and be sure you are in right relationship with God. Another good thing about affliction/tribulation is that they enable us to serve in ministry to others who are going through similar circumstances. (See II Corinthians 1ff) I’ve used this illustration: At a casket-side, I was fumbling for the right words of comfort and not doing well at all. I stepped aside feeling a failure. Behind me was a widow who had just recently lost her husband. She simply opened wide her arms and the two widows held each other and wept. She never said a word, but I know she brought more comfort in those hugs and tears than I could have brought had I preached my finest sermon. We have a high Priest (Jesus) Who feels the feelings of our infirmities and afflictions. (see Hebrews 4:14-16). When we truly feel the feelings of others, we can fulfill the Scripture that calls us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” I recall a story of two great men of God but I do not recall which was which: (G. Campbell Morgan and F.B. Meyer) One went with his wife to hear the other preach. After the service, the wife said to her husband, “Wasn’t he good.” The husband replied. “Yes, but after he has endured suffering, he will be better.” God calls His children to sympathize. Sometimes He call s them even deeper in order to empathize. Praying for and with each other is the right thing to do for it draws God into our equation. One of The Holy Spirit’s other names is ‘The Comforter’. He truly is that.