|
by Esther Swyer
August 2, 2003
Judges 10:16, Isaiah 63:9
As I was reading my daily bread, and some verses in Judges 10 this morning, this sentence in verse 16 was emphasized - "And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel." In my Bible there was also a cross reference to Isaiah 63:9 which says, "in all their affliction He was afflicted." As I thought about these verses, I realised that it was Israel's disobedience and worship of false gods that caused their misery - and that it was God's Father-heart of love that caused Him to share their affliction, and over and over, caused Him to show His mercy to them.
As I sat thinking about it, I also began to think about us today - as individuals, and as churches, and then as the church in general - the whole church. How much our disobedience and worship of "other gods" must hurt Him. Many might ask, "How have we worshipped "other gods?" Or, "In what ways have we disobeyed Him?"---especially those who attend church regularly, who are active in many areas of church work - they may even teach Sunday School classes, sing in choirs, etc. They may pray and read their Bible regularly, or at least the few verses that go with whatever devotional book they use.
But the thought that comes to me is "How much of our church activity" or our "personal devotions" is still only on the surface of our lives? How deep does it go into our soul and spirit? How much do we really think about what we read in our Bibles? Does it change our thinking about who we are, what we do, how and why we do it, whom we do it for? Do we take part in all these things because it is what Christians do, or because of what we are and who we are, and most of all because of Who we belong to and because we love Him? Whom are we trying, or hoping to please with whatever we do or say?
If we can't honestly say, with our whole heart, that we do or say everything because of Him, then we are not obedient children - and even worse, we are guilty of worshipping false gods. Those gods are named self-will, self-satisfaction, greed, laziness, disinterest, compromise, comfort, complacency, non-involvement, my way, - and so many others. How much we must hurt the God Who loves us so much, and Who has done so much for us. And if this is true in an individual Christians's life, how much more must it be so with a church full of such children -- or multiplied over and over by His church - everywhere.
So often we have become so comfortable at whatever level we're at, that we don't even know we are "afflicted" or miserable - or if we do, we don't know why. How can we then know how much our Father God is afflicted in us, and because of us? How much more must He endure for us before we recognise our sin, (for that's what these things are) and turn to Him in repentance, confessing our need for His forgiveness, and asking for His strength to be the people He wants us to be, the people His Son died for?
I am pointing no fingers when writing this - rather I am too well aware of the three fingers that point back at me. It is out of conviction of my own needs that I write - but I believe we, as His church, have much to think about, and answer for, and repent over, in these areas, if we really want to see revival take place. We need the power of His Holy Spirit to live our whole lives for Him. And we need to ask God to give us the desire to do so, and make us willing to risk the cost of opening up to Him, and to each other. We need to become His people through and through, in deed, as well as in word.
about the author
Esther Swyer was born in Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia. The eldest of eight children she married at twenty-one and promptly had six children. She became a Christian in October of 1958 at the age of twenty-five and was baptised in December of that year. She began teaching a Sunday School class of a dozen nine to ten year olds in 1961 or 1962 and has been teaching various age groups ever since.
Esther began teaching adults and leading Bible studies sometime in the seventies. She became involved in WMS in the late sixties and held various positions over the years, then in the early to mid-seventies she started serving on the Association Council. On top of all that she was involved for many years in ladies retreats serving as small groups director for around twenty years. Currently Esther is president of the WMS on the Association level, treasurer of her church, adult ladies class teacher, and is completing her third year as a church deacon.
Her first marriage ended after twenty-two years. She re-married thirteen years later in December 1988 and was widowed in June of 2000. She has eighteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Esther has just published a book about her spiritual journey.