Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit by Francis Chan

Author:Francis Chan
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religion, Christian Life, General
ISBN: 9780781403504
Publisher: David C Cook
Published: 2009-08-31T22:00:00+00:00

Esther Ahn Kim’s biography is among the most powerful

testimonies I have ever read. It was during WWII, and the Japanese

occupation of Korea, that Esther’s journey of faith really began.

She refused to bow down at the shrines set up in every corner of

her country and was eventually imprisoned for six years, from

1939 until 1945.

Knowing she was destined for prison for refusing to bow to

idols, Esther spent time training herself both physically and

spiritually. Each day she would find and eat food that was

decaying, knowing that was what she would be served in prison.

The discipline she demonstrated is humbling; how many of us

would choose to eat rotten foods?

While preparing for prison, she memorized more than one

hundred chapters of the Bible and many hymns because she knew

she would not be allowed to keep her Bible. She spent countless

hours seeking God through fasting and prayer. These times when

she read the Scriptures led to greater clarity, and she was able to

surrender her fear of being tortured.

Reading her story left me wanting more. M ore intimacy with

Christ. M ore love for people. M ore of God in my life. And to be

honest, more discipline. She was a well-disciplined believer, but

there was nothing self-righteous about her. Her obedience to Christ

only increased her ability to hear the voice of the Spirit, and

consequently filled her with overwhelming love for the people she

came in contact with.

When she eventually was taken to prison, God used her in

countless way. One night a young Chinese woman convicted of

killing her husband was brought in. She moaned incessantly and

beat on the doors until the guards tied her hands behind her back. It

was this woman that God called Esther to love and reach out to.

Esther held the woman’s feet at night to warm them, even though

the woman was covered in her own excrement. Though food

rations were small, Esther gave up her portions for three days to

this woman.

Over time, the Chinese woman began to respond, carrying on

conversation and eventually accepting the good news of the gospel.

The woman was later executed for her crime, but she went to her

death alive in Christ.

This is one of many people God used Esther to minister to.

M urderers and swindlers who were utter outcasts were changed

before all who watched as the love of Christ, through Esther,

healed their hearts and gave them hope. Even the jailers and

government officials noticed how Esther shone in that dark place.

She could have just endured her suffering like a good Christian, and

we would have applauded her for it. But she was not content to

merely endure. She was ready every day and every moment, asking

God, “Who do You want me to love for You today?”3

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