Sunday, July 16, 2017

God’s Message to His Afflicted Children


Since so many in our congregation are suffering on beds of affliction or caring for loved ones who are (which is difficult, even very painful itself) a message to God’s afflicted children should be timely.

   God’s afflicted children can find a three-pronged message from Him in Psalm l0:17. God’s first word to His afflicted children is that He hears their desire. For some of them that might mean comfort in facing terminal illness (either their own or a loved one’s). For others, it could mean recovering from a stroke or a fall, recovering from knee or hip replacement surgery or dealing with chronic back or other pain.

   Since God’s afflicted children know that He hears their desire they know two things are certain. They can be sure of His comfort and compassion. Isaiah writes, “For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.” (Isaiah 49:13) In their affliction they can sense God’s comfort and compassion enveloping and supporting them and their loved one. God promised Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5) When Moses knew he would no longer lead the Israelites he gave this word of instruction regarding the people they would face when they crossed the Jordan River: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) In Hebrews l3:5 we again read this wonderful promise, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” Whatever circumstances we face our Lord will always be right there with us.

   God’s second word to His afflicted children is His assurance of encouragement. Even in affliction His people have the assurance of knowing He is with them and their loved one. His people should never wonder if He cares—they should know He always cares!

    God’s third word to His afflicted children is that He hears their cry. Whether their cry comes in the form of tears, groaning in the spirit or lingering heartache God’s children know He hears and understands their pain. Unlike the foolish attempts of the prophets of Baal to obtain that false deity’s attention God hears every cry of His afflicted children. He knows every pain and cares for every afflicted child even more than the most loving person in their lives can.

    One more word to God’s afflicted children comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. He writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (2 Corinthians l:3,4) God’s children who have been afflicted comforted through that affliction and received healing have a ministry of comforting those who suffer affliction. In that way they share God’s ministry of comforting His afflicted children.

   Praise God for His comfort and for using us to extend comfort to other afflicted children.


By: David Oldfather

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