Message (03/30/08)

Driven By God’s Grace

Galatians 2:19-21

(To listen, please, click below)

Introduction: Is your life, a trolley or trawler? Trolley is originally a British word, meaning a handy carrier, shopping cart, that we can see in public places such as supermarket, airport, and some big stations [but, today it may mean more than that]. Trawler is a cruise or boat powered by engine. The difference is that you use your arm-strength to move trolley; but, in case of trawler, you just take a ride on it for it has engine-power. So, how is our life, lived and moved on our own strength alone or empowered with God’s grace and power (spiritual engine!)? To be empowered by God’s grace means that the Holy Spirit becomes the source of power and strength in us as He is here with us and also in us, ready to energize our lives to be full of strength and power. So, let us be driven by God’s grace, His power and strength.

A Life Owing Directly to God (v. 19): Paul, formerly called as Saul, was used to be a man driven by his own conviction in Jewish Law before. He was a well-learnt man, a pious Pharisee, and a man trusted by Jerusalem council of the time. However, final conclusion of this conviction led him to hand many honest Christians to execution, imprisonment, and torture. Therefore, knowing this tragic final result of his conviction, Paul declared that he now wanted to live a different life—from owing to Jewish Law to owing directly to God personally. Therefore, he decided to follow a death-road—a road to the cross by parting with Jesus Christ in life—in order to end his former life-style at the foot of the cross. The purpose is “so that I might live for [to] God.”

Put an End to Start a New (v. 20): To the Apostle Paul, the death of Jesus Christ (JC) on the cross is more than a historical fact. It means to him putting an end of his former lifestyle at the foot of the cross so that he would gain the real godly life that is a better one—even a new life. Therefore, he decided to put his former life, the first self-driven Saul, to an end at the cross, so that he would be free to live a new life with a new conviction, conviction in the great love of JC. With this new conviction [that is no more in strict Jewish tradition but in the saving love of JC], he felt dramatic changes in his life, thought, worldview, etc. For, there’s true life (liveliness) in this path, a path of ‘grace and love’ instead of strict rule and regulation, a path of ‘bless and forgive’ in stead of judge and condemn. Further, he felt that the resurrected Lord is living in his life by taking this path, and so the resurrection became so true and real—a very actual experience—in his life then.

Knowledge of God’s Grace in Jesus Christ (v. 21): In fact, to live this new life, a personal knowledge of God’s gracious salvation by the sacrificial death of JC is the basis. To change his lifestyle and religious value-system may be a kind of nullifying God’s special grace believed exclusively granted only to the Jews. However, in light of Christ’s great love to all, this is rather a confirmation of God’s unparallel grace and love extended even to the gentiles. This new and strong conviction has now driven Paul to value things differently from his Jewish heritage, to see broadly beyond his homeland, and to live a life that owes directly to God’s saving grace and love that is above of everything and anything else.

Sunday Worship Service Guide

Date/Time: March 30, 2008 (2:30 - 3:30 pm)
Praise/Worship: Berakah Team
Presider: Pastor Jonathan Kim

• Meditation (ODB): Sis. Sujan
• Invocation: Ps. Jonathan Kim
• Praise & Worship: Berakah Team
• Special Prayer: Deacon Lee ST
• Message: Ps. Thang
  "Driven By Grace" Galatians 2:19-21
• Announcement: Administrator
• Offering & Prayer: Presider
• Hymn/Special Song: (any)
• Benediction: Preacher

Bible Study & Reading Practice in English (Ephesians 1:17-19 "Prayer of Paul")

Message (03/23/08)

Life out of Grave!
Matthew 28:1-10
(cf., Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12, 50; John 20:1-10; 21:1, 18, 22)

(To listen, please, CLICK)

Introduction: We’ve four different gospels, having described the life-story of Jesus from their personal point of view. Therefore, sometime people find difficulty with some minor differences among them. However, this is not actually a problem. It’s just a need of re-arrangement of each story in their own rightful angles so that we’ll get a complete set of a single whole story. Accordingly, in spite of those minor different dramatized emphases of each, there’re more prevalent facts that they have together in common. Among many, let us focus the three similar motifs behind of making this resurrection story. First, they are in common in presenting the disciples’ struggle of faith; and, secondly, they are equally confident in claiming the actual event of the death/resurrection of Jesus Christ; then, thirdly, they seemed so inspired the same in calling their readers to come one step forward in faith.

Struggle with the Extent of Faith: The struggle of these disciples here is not about unbelief or rejection. They did believe in God, Jesus Christ, and even future resurrection; but, the problem is that they couldn’t put that faith in fitting with their present burning situation. Being the fact, they couldn’t expect to see this bodily resurrection beyond/after this tragic death—with this hopeless grave and folded garment. So were so much trembled and also surprised to see the empty tomb on the resurrection morning (cf., Mk. 16:8, 13; Jn. 20:5-9). Friends, let us not be surprised to see this empty tomb today! Let us say, “God can do it.”

None Other than Living Evidences: In spite of their incapability to recognize, the writers of the gospels were so sure in the actual event of the resurrection. They had strong evidences beyond their belief/unbelief. First, they themselves are the eye-witnesses as they had seen the risen Christ with their own eyes (cf. Acts 4:20). The second evidence is the empty tomb itself. The tomb was locked, sealed and guarded, but was opened by angels in the presence of the guards; so, no one could lock it up again (vv. 2-4). Thirdly, the words of angles are clear explanation of this resurrection to the writers of the gospels (vv. 5-8; Lk. 24:4-7).

A Call of One Step Forward: In spite of their differences in naming certain locality, all gospels mention together a sense of movement—going forward to somewhere else (e.g., from Jerusalem to Galilee in Matthew, Mark, John; from Jerusalem to Bethany in Luke; to follow after Christ in John). What did the gospel-writers mean is not about the physical location itself, that’s something beyond it. The most important motif of all the gospel-writers at this point is to give a concept of “movement” —going further one step forward in belief/faith in the resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ.

Personal Reflection:

• What had made Jesus Christ to die on the cross? And what meaning deos his resurrection give me? There must be something to repent for and also something to praise God for.
• If the ressurection of Jesus Christ guarantees future resurrection of even my lowly life, how can I express this hope in my present life?
• Since it is a "life out of grave", what grave-like-situation am I encountering in my life, family, bussiness, educational career? How should I reflect that burning situation in light of Christ's victorious resurrection?

Backdated Sermon-Notes

Please, see below. This is a selected list of backdated sermon notes (January-February 2008).
1. Singleness of Christian Life
2. Priority of Life: God or Gold?
3. Priority of Life: Take My Yoke for Rest!
4. Priority of Life: It's a Choice!
5. Priority of Life: Life, Bread, and God
6. Meaning and Purpose of Life: Our Original Design
7. Watch Out Traffic Light!

Easter Sunday Worship

We're going to have our regular worship in our regular place at our regular time on Easter Sunday. Let us try to invite at least a new friend to celebrate the blessed Easter with us.

Easter Meditation Help

Please, take a view of this media help, released by the Christianity Today for this Easter.

Free Audio Bible Download

There's a special offer from Listener's Bible during Easter season. You can download the Gospel of John for free. Please, try at this link Listener's Bible.

Message (03/16/08)

Matthew 24:14
(cf., vv. 4-14)

When the Sun Set!

Introduction: When the sun sets, we pack up everything in hurry, and ready, to go home. It's the time to put all things an end for that day. Even so-called unintelligent animals know this. When the sun sets, they're also ready for home/manger. We're living at the final brink of human history. Everything is consuming itself into its final end. Ever growing environmental crisis, unpredictable global wars against terrorism, unsolved political unrests, worldwide economic downfalls, and the likes, are the sign of the time that the Son of Man is at hand to take us back home. So, what should we hurry pack up and finish to get ready for home?
Response to the Urgent Call of the Gospel (v. 14a cf., 14d): It's the time to hurry response to the Gospel-call, less everyone might be perished, for the end is soon coming. However, thing worth to note here is that we don't do hurry just to end, but we do hurry because it's ending. No more better time is left for another chance! The sun is setting down now, so we're hurrying up to bring the gospel to everyone and everywhere, in our workplace, school, home. Whatever our profession is, we should all response to this urgent call of the gospel to reach our own neighbors before getting dark. All things should be done before the Master's return!
Adopt a Global Perspective (v. 14b): In the original language of the Bible, the word for the "world" is a combination of two words that imply "a house where people abide together," meaning that we're people living together under one roof. Further, the word "whole" also implies one single wholeness of the world in need of the gospel. Yes, we're one single family in God's original creation, and also we're the same kindred in similar need of the gospel. In fact, it's the time to adopt a global perspective. It's not the time anymore for busy fighting that I belong to that and you belong to this. It's no more a time for busy defending this is "my" not "your". Time's running out very fast. We don't have another better time to marginalize within ourselves. So, it's the time to stand together on the ground "we" and "our" toward proclaiming the gospel. We need a global proclamation of the gospel now! John Wesley once said, "The world is my perish." It's the time to adopt the whole world as our mission-field and all nationalities as our target people-group! We aim at all nations!
Live a Martyr-Lifestyle Again (v. 14c): Here, a special word was used in original language, from which we get English word "martyr". The time has come for Christians to live a martyr-lifestyle again. However, martyr-lifestyle does not necessarily mean to always go under persecution and to ever seek suffering and poverty as a chance. It is about our attitude—attitude that is ever ready for God and for the gospel of Jesus Christ to do anything and give everything if needed (needed). So, while being successful businessmen, promising community leaders, home-staying housewives, or even while being a student, we can still live this life-style. We live this lifestyle with an opened eye always seeking a chance to reach our neighbors (in business, family, school, etc.) with the gospel and bring them to church, and serve God in our own capacity. So, we call it EVER-READY LIFE-STYLE!
Personal Application:

• During this week, how many times had I missed to witness Christ to my neighboring friend in office, apartment, school, etc? (Confess it!)
• So, why don't I try to bring at least one new friend to church next Sunday? (Make a decision and pray to God to give you best season)

In Search of the Theme of Ecclesiastes

THE 'FEAR OF GOD' AND THE SEARCH OF MEANINGFUL LIFE IN THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES^*

David Thangsan

Pastor, Sungan International English Ministry

No. 201 Phungsan-dong, Hanam City, Gyeonggi-do

SOUTH KOREA

(Abstract)

This article is a former paper of mine, presented in class for the course of Ecclesiastes at the Torch Trinity Graduate School of Theology, Seoul, Korea, in May 2006. This article mainly debates to advocate the 'fear of God', the theme of ancient Jewish wisdom literature, as the overarching theme of the book of Ecclesiastes. The advantage of this reading is twofold. It values the book of Ecclesiastes as an ancient Jewish wisdom literature and also confirms the literary unity of the book as a single whole. In fact, though the traditional perssimistic understanding of the book (cf., 'vanity' concept) or contemporary optimistic reading of the book (cf., 'enjoy' concept) still need proper attention, this article concludes that the didactic nature of the book should be given a more prominent place in one's exegesis on the book of Ecclesiastes, known as Qoheleth.

(For full article, please, contact Rev. Mung)

Preaching Apointment

This Sunday (03/16/08), SEM will join the Ohu worship service in main sanctuary. Therefore, everyone is invited to join this combine service at 2:30 p.m. A smultaneous interpretation in Korean will be provided during preaching. But, please, be reminded that there's no change with regular Bible Study & Reading Practice! It'll be in the same place and at the same time.

Leader's Reading of Mark 10:41-45

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SERVANT-LEADERSHIP CONCEPT OF MARK 10:41-45 IN ITS SOCIO-POLITICAL CONTEXT^*

David Thangsan^*
Pastor, Sungan International English Ministry
201 Phungsan-dong, Hanam City, Seoul 461-170
Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

Introduction

With an assumption of every word has its own context and story behind,¹ this article brings its major proposal. In fact, this article will be a history-reflected-exegetical study on the servant-leadership motif of Mark 10:41-45. However, a perfect historical trace for the background of the Gospel and this specific passage, for sure, would be very complicated [and be far-reaching]. Among many, major problem to encounter first, if doing so, would be the bi-literary-context of the passage as being the ‘later repetition of someone’ of the ‘original statement of the other one’.

Stated this, as Richard B. Hays correctly points out when he makes separate reading on each distinct theological-ethical teaching of the Gospels in his The Moral Vision of the New Testament,² special care should be given to the two apparent contexts of certain passages especially when dealing with the Gospels. Since either one is not more or less important than the other in their own socio-historical setting—to be articulated first in certain context and later to be referred it back for another situation—this article will simply assume that both is equally important to mention in the article of this kind.

Therefore, the passage, Mark 10:41-45, and its servant motif will be treated first in the historical context of the Jesus movement within the inner Judeo-Palestine boundary in the early first century AD. Then, the passage and the motif, being a later-narrated literary segment as seen in its present lexical-syntactical form,³ will be appropriately set in the historical context of the later narrator as he referred back to the story with a clear intention and purpose. Furthermore, when say historical context, specific attention will be given to the sociological and political situation of the context immediately concerned, and will not go further than that in order to restrict the article on the other hand.⁴

Accordingly, the article will be classified into three parts. The first part will introduce socio-political climate of the inner Judeo-Palestinian region with a special attention given to the Herodian dynasty, during which historical period the Jesus Movement was broken out and this servant-leadership motif was first articulated by Jesus Christ himself. The second part will then mainly deal with the wider Greco-Roman political environment. To defense the logical internal coherence of the article, even though the socio-political wave of the wider Greco-Roman world is generally seen as the historical setting of the later narrator, this wider context had more or less still affected the socio-political current of the Palestine of Jesus’ time also.⁵ In fact, second part will have some overlapping information between part one and the upcoming part three.

The third part will purely be historical studies on the particular socio-cultural setting of Markan Gospel and the passage (Mark 10:40-45), from which background the exegetico-theological studies on the passage will be reflectively made. At the end of part three, the servant-leadership concept of Mark 10:40-45 will be intensified in light of all related socio-political situations that cry for leaders of such motif and the crucial role of the servant motif of the passage in the whole Markan gospel in light of Jesus’ atoning death will be introduced.⁶

(For full article, please, contact Rev. Mung)

Message (03/09/08)

John 9:1-7

“Beyond this wall!”

Introduction:

We’re born with a very poor eye-sight so that we can not see beyond this wall. So, we feel so many times like walking in a dark room—not knowing where we’re heading toward. However, when we come under God’s light, we start to see things and see even very differently. Yes, we got God’s light of eternity—a life beyond this wall—so things are totally different! This is what we call being “born again”. For, everything’s new, fresh and even totally different from the way we’ve seen before. So was Jesus, called himself the “light of the world” in order to give us this light—a new spiritual eyesight—that we may clearly see things in proper way.

Setting the Story: two kinds of blindness (vv. 1-2):

John, the original writer of the gospel, introduces the event with the physical blindness of this poor man—a man born blind. This is the way he’s born. No one could be blamed for this blindness—it’s a poor natural birth of this fellow (v. 1 “from birth”). However, on the reverse-side, there’s another blindness that John is trying to point out (v. 2). It is the spiritual blindness of all, that's unable to see things beyond this wall—wall of this man’s physical blindness. So, several questions in life, we got, that ask, “why?”. With this poor eyesight, we try to figure out all possible answers and come up with uncountable theories and self-contradicting philosophies. And the problem of this blindness is still unsolved even after thirty years had passed (cf., v. 23 “of age”). The only thing we’ve got after all is just a multiplication of unanswered “why”.

Visitation of God in Person: the light of God to save and bless (vv. 3-5):

Now, John is trying to introduce Jesus Christ as God’s manifest-visitation in person that is His gracious, favored attention to heal our blindness (v. 3 “to display/manifest outworking of God”). In fact, this is the call to work, to live, and to walk in his light—the manifest-visitation of God (v. 4 “do/be active”, v. 5 “light of the world”). Further, this is like kind of giving us a new measurement/ruler of life. For instance, to be active in his day-light means to live or walk by reflecting ourselves in Jesus Christ—the visitation of God in person. And, we know, that this visitation of God is His gracious, favored attention to save and bless us. So, we say that this is a new rule of life to reflect ourselves upon—reflect ourselves in the light of his power to heal, his love to embrace and forgive, his marvelous grace to bless us as displayed in JC.

Expected Response: simple faith (vv. 6-7):

Yes! ‘Grace’ is God’s key to bless us and ‘faith’ is our key to touch Him. Grace is God’s giving hand and faith is our receiving hand. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s love, grace, power in person and we response him with faith and trust. Here again, we see another test of faith—a test on how much this fellow trust Jesus, the divine-healer (cf., vv. 6-7 individual command “go and wash” to “Siloam”). Another question but need not to answer is left here that is that how this man born blind safely reached the pool to wash his face. For, John expects that every reader has already got that answer….

Pneumatology

CHRISTO-CENTRIC PNEUMATOLOGY:
A Theological Response to Current Spiritualities

David Thangsan^*
Pastor, Sungan International English Ministry
201 Phunsan-dong, Hanam City, Seoul 461-170
Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

ABSTRACT
This article mainly discusses about the emerging public interest of various spiritual practices in recent decades. Therefore, to redefine Christian genuine spiritual experience and biblical teaching on genuine spirituality, and namely Pneumatology, in the midst is the call of this short paper. In fact, the rapid growth of some spiritual practices of other world religions in our contemporary society and the rising popularity of extreme mystical software especially among teenagers are the best indicator of the time that alert Christians at large and Pentecostals in particular the need to defense and redefine theirs in light of biblical-theological teaching about the Holy Spirit and spiritual experiences.

(For complete article, please, contact Rev. Mung)

Master's Thesis

ABSTRACT
of my recent master's thesis, entitled "The cross as a theological basis of Paul's pastoral leadership in the Corinthians Correspondence,"
submitted to the faculty of the Torch Trinity Graduate School of Theology (Fall 2007)

The role of Paul as a pastor-leader in the ministerial setting of local congregation, especially in the Corinthian church, is a current interest. Though not having abundant publication like other Pauline topics, the later part of the twentieth century had but found growing number of publication on this subject. However, the observation of this thesis is that deeper reading on Paul’s pastoral theology and his leadership is still seldom done.

Therefore, by paying close attention to the two Corinthian epistles and as far as they can reflect at best, a deeper reading into Paul’s theological conviction that is the inner motif of his pastoral techniques and leadership practice is made in this thesis. On the course of this deeper reading, it becomes clearer that the cross [or VIhsou/n Cristo.n kai. tou/ton evstaurwme,non] is the very theological-ethical basis of Paul to spell out certain leadership concept and practice such a unique pastoral technique.

Certainly, various personal expressions of the apostle himself, such as his self-resolution (1 Cor. 2:2-4), his constant reference to the concept of diV o]n Cristo.j avpe,qanen in his every pastoral counsels (cf., 8:11), his personal preference to embody the death of Christ by taking weak [and even foolish] terminology upon himself, his persistent hope of resurrection [and even claim of more power and grace] in the midst of his present hardship that was rather claimed to be his resemblance of Christ in His death and resurrection (15:1-4; 2 Cor. 11; 13), are the best evidence.

In an agreement, the first chapter of this thesis describes the pastoral function of Paul’s theology of the cross in the Corinthian correspondence. In the literary context of the correspondence, the cross [the theological concept of “Christ the crucified”] is a new pattern of life and ministry to Paul, and as it is the motivating force of his life and ministry also. In chapter two, as various metaphors were richly employed in the letters, Paul’s self-understanding as a pastor-leader expressed in those metaphors is examined. At each conclusion, the concept of the cross is read as the evident and coherent theological-ethical language of Paul beneath of all those expressions. In chapter three, a more detail reading on the two epistles is made while giving special attention to how the apostle had devised his deep theological conviction of the cross to meet the urgent needs of the church and make his pastoral instructions [counsels, advices] on those burning situations.

At its conclusion, therefore, this thesis inaugurates Paul the apostle as an exemplary pastor-leader, who left a living tradition of Christian leadership and pastoral practice by living out the tradition of Christ, and also as a pastoral theologian, who practically lived out what he deeply believed. Further, while calling for further reading on pastoral voices of even the whole New Testament as its academic concern, this thesis also invites church leaders of all time to find their way back to the Gospel-lifestyle that always say that eivde,nai eiv mh. VIhsou/n Cristo.n kai. tou/ton evstaurwme,non. This is the other concern of the thesis to the cry of Christ’s church for Christ-like leadership after all.

Message (03/02/08)

Psalms 105:4

(cf., Matthew 15:21-28; Hebrews 11:6)

Meaning and Purpose of Life: "His face and His strength"

Introduction: The Bible is full of imageries and illustrations. A simple explanation is that this is the book that tells us about the holy, amazing God and His wonderful plan for our lives. Since it is too high to reach and too deep to understand, the Bible has no other way to express the truth about God except in this plain way. When the composer of Psalms says "His face", it means God's favor; and, "His strength" or "His mighty arm-strength" means God's mighty power that saved the people of God several times in their history. So, as the people of God, there's no better choice in life except to seek God's favor and His mighty saving works. This is the exhortation of the composer of Psalms in this passage. However, our question here is that, which one is the first to seek, His face or His strength, His favor or His blessing?

I'm fine but no medicine: There's a missionary (Dr. Erick H. East). And he is also a medical doctor. So, thinking to use his medical skill, he distributed pills and tablets to local visitors to let them stay longer in his tent so that he can preach. However, the locals, not knowing his purpose, just left after they received medicine. So, missionary, thinking to change his tactic, decided to distribute the medicines only after preaching. The next day, people gathered again, greeting him while lending their hands in hope of medicines like the other day. But, this time the missionary replied, "Yes, I'm fine, but no medicine!" This became like a saying in that region. Friends, so many times in our lives too, knowingly or unknowingly, we switched this back and forth—His face and His strength, His favor and His blessing. Actually, it's a major switch between the GIFT and the GIVER!

Winning God's favored attention: Yes, we NEED God's gift—His blessing and helps. But, His face or favor is the first thing that we've to SEEK in life. So, what do we need for God's favor in our life? Except our faith and trust in His son, Jesus Christ, nothing can please God. There's a country woman from Tyre (Matt. 15:21-28). She is a Canaanite by birth, meaning no right to sit at God's table together with Israel according to the ritualistic law of the time, so was the reply of Jesus in verses 24-26. However, her strong faith in the Son of God has overridden her to insist, even not caring about the ritual, the tradition or culture, or even bitter rejection at her first attempt (v. 27). So, was turned God's favored attention to her dying daughter then (v. 28). Her daughter was completely healed "from that very hour"!

Persistent faith: A man once asked St. Augustine, "How much can your God doth for me?" He simply replied, "As much as thou believest!" 'Grace' is God's key to bless us and 'faith' is our key to touch Him (Hebrew 11:6). Grace is God's giving hand and faith is our receiving hand. Sometime, God puts us in a test—test of faith—on how much we really expect Him to bless us, or how much we really feel we need His help. In fact, the more we feel we need God, the more we tend to beg His favor. The more we expect God to do something in our lives, the more we pray fervently/persistently. That's what we call persistent faith like this poor Canaanite woman. The measure of our expectancy—faith in His graciousness—will push us to go forward until we get at least something! In that persistent faith, no matter is human rule and regulation, no matter is culture and tradition, and no matter is His first unattractive impression/response. That great faith prevails, winning God's favored attention—attention to visit our families, our churches, our countries, and our loved ones and heal.

Four Spiritual Laws

CLICK to view

Watch-out Traffic Light!

Genesis 12:1-5

Meaning and Purpose of Life: “Watch out traffic light!”

Introduction: A professor once noted, “It’s better to be little late than die”, referring to his friend, who tragically died from an accident in an attempt to catch green light. In times like today when everything’s running—pali-pali—we want to keep up our steps with those running hours. So, many times we rush and run even ahead of God. Today, from the life-story of Abraham, we would like to remind ourselves to watch out the traffic light—what God is saying to do next. If God says “stay (red)”, let us rather be little late. Or, if God says “go (green)”, let us move though no one’s moving. So, watch out your traffic light!

The Call & Demand (v. 1): When everything’s seem going fine/OK to hang on, God’s personal call suddenly came. Now, Abraham has to move; green light from God is coming. Yes, God is PERSONAL God—not just a being—who can talk, speak, and even direct our path. To Abraham, all of his personal life-goal and dream came from this God. The same way, men/women of God!, to watch out to this spiritual traffic light is so much important in our life to know when to go, where to go, and what to do next. All our dreams and purposes should come from God, the original designer of life. He knows best! However, every good things are never cheap. The call from God is actually a demand to do something even to leave our comfort zone. Yes, men of faith/vision never stop striving; they never hang on easy way if a call from God comes. This is our calling too, if to take a walk with God.

The Promise & Guarantee (vv. 2-3): In faithful obedience to God’s calling, there’s always blessing. The blessing is not only about “you will be blessed” but about even to become a “key to blessing.” For detail, his obedience to fulfill God’s call even by leaving his comfort-zone means to Abraham, first, to become a bearer of all blessing (v. 2) and, second, to become even a custodian/keeper of blessing of all nations (v. 3). Though it’s in the midst of potential danger of threat from those nations, he’s a KEY to blessing…if you bless him, you’ll be blessed; and if you despise (not even a curse) him, you’ll be cursed (more than despise). In another sense, it’s a kind of protection for Abraham who left his own safe-zone for God’s sake. Therefore, not only being blessed (bearer of blessing) but also a blessing he himself will be (keeper of blessing)…Key for blessing!

The Adventure of Faith (vv. 4-5): What is faith? This is our response to God’s call and is our receiving hand for what He’s gonna give us. However, this faith doesn’t have any other substantial evidences except “God said”. Therefore, this is kind of adventure in believing the unseen God. Yes, Abraham did not have map or any direction to where he’s going except “God said ‘go’”. However, completely believing in God and trusting His personal direction, he began leaving his safe-home to reach the place he’d never seen. This is a new beginning of life in trusting God. At that time, he was seventy and five. Friends, never too late nor too old to start a new life in trusting and obeying God.

Personal Application:

• How many times did I counsel God [prayer and His word] for the plan/project that I’m presently carrying out? If none, please, take a short time—you’ve got a ‘red light’—to confess your rushing nature that runs even ahead of God, and pray for His direction?
• What obstacle or difficulty are you currently encountering in your life, family, business though you thought started with God? Don’t be afraid! You’ve got ‘orange light’ to wait for God’s timing until you see final result.

Purpose and Meaning of Life: Our Original Design

Genesis 1:1, 26-28; 2:7

Meaning and Purpose of Life: Our Original Design!

Introduction: “Who am I?” is one of the questions that we always ask. Yes! We want to know about ourselves much. For instance, to see how our face looks like is always our first intention whenever we check group pictures. To pay respect to the mirror at least once is our regular practice before we leave the room. Asking that “how’s my preaching today” is a habit of every preacher. Playing back their own video-tapes several ten times is the tradition of every movie-star. However, we can find our true self and true image, our original form and appearance, only when we reflect ourselves in God’s light, the creator of life. Therefore, to know God is to know self. For, He (God) is the original designer of life!

Originated from God: In the world of business, filled with strife and competition, everyone claims their copy-right for any thing that they stress out first to do it, e.g., emblem, logo, name, and even slogan. However, the Bible says that God is the only one who could claim this copyright at the very beginning. For, everything that ever exists is only God’s creation (vv. 1-3a). And the creation is out of “nothing” that means that He doesn’t owe to anyone or anything else, but we, everything, owe to Him instead. Understanding this magnificent past gives us a bright future that we have to start now. That future is “to come back home” to God for a time of harvest in our lives! Yes! We have to come back home to God daily!

Designed in God’s Image: When we come home to God, we will be reminded again with our original design—how’re we originally designed and for what? Our original design is more than being a superman! It’s even to be the image-bearer of God himself (vv. 26-30). In another words, we’re supposed to be photo-copy of God himself—that’s beyond natural law. In this likeness to God, the right to rule (v. 26), the community to join (v. 27), the grace to increase (v. 28), and the privilege to enjoy all creation at full (v. 28) were included. No one will complain for this!! These are our birth-right as we redefine our life, self, future in light of God’s original design. So, we are special! So special in God’s sight!

Breathed-in with God’s Life: Further, there’re more than this image-bearing. The Bible says that we’re breathed in with the very life of God, so we’re “living” (2:7). This is about to live (be alive). The same concept was again proclaimed in NT (John 3:16; 10:10). There’re many times in life seem we’re dead—e.g., dying-out of our dream, business, hope, family-life, etc. But, God gives us His life to live—i.e., power to subdue threats, strength to stand on, reason to survive. This is all what we can experience when we decide to come back home to God from Moab, our wilderness wandering, by taking Jesus Christ as our Savior and also as Lord, not only one day in the past but, in our daily life.

Personal Reflection:

• There’re many proposals that reject this creation history. However, until this present time, no other teaching or theory can give better meaning, value and purpose of life than a faith in the creation and the Creator who cares. So, to enjoy a meaningful life, full of purpose and beautiful dreams, what should we better choose today?
• How does my once-time confession of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord really effect such as my attitude [to life, family, business], my dealing with others, my life-goal/purpose? Or, what changes should I make to those to reflect my faith in JC?

Priority of Life: Life, Bread, and God

1 Ruth 1:1-7, 22

Priority of Life: Life, Bread, and God”

Introduction: There’s a life-question that philosophers ask—“live to eat or eat to live?” Even though we don’t live just to eat, ‘bread/food’ is but a very basic need of life since we’re created this way—to feel hungry and eat. So, deep thinkers would say, “we eat to live.” However, Jesus said to the tempter that “man does not live on bread alone” (cf., Matt. 3:4). Therefore, from a very Christian perspective, God must be in between of this couplet—life and bread. Then, we’ll get this new paradigm—bread for life, but God for bread. For, God is our cheerful bread-Giver! So, what is our life-principle “in God we trust” or “in bread/food/gold we trust”?

Lack of Food and Challenge of Life (vv. 1-2): There’s a big famine in the land of Judah, the territory that God gave to Israel. This devastating starvation did not leave even Bethlehem, called ‘the house of bread’ probably for its rich harvest production in the past. However, the fame and glory of the past can not save the land from this famine. This is a sign from God to call his people back home to Himself, the Giver of their bread, from their lawlessness (cf., v. 1; Judges 21:25). In the midst, there’s a family, not knowing God’s calling voice, planned to flee to Moab, the land of pagan worship and spiritually-unprotected-land, to ease their hardships. As times passed by, their plan of short stay became kind of long settlement in pagan land (vv. 1-2, 4). Where do we find protection in times of crisis—in God or in Moab?

No Better Life in Unprotected Territory (vv. 3-5): In total contrast to their expectation, life in spiritually-unprotected-land, though seems OK at first, ends in death and deep sorrows to the family—first, the death of family-head (v. 3). It’s a first blacken-out of family’s dream that is to make a better life. No better in unprotected land! So, to replace this sorrow and grief, the family planned a merry marriage of the two young sons but to foreigners since there’s no choice. This is man’s best effort to mend his/her defections (v. 4). But, not soon after, the death of two sons followed (v. 5). This is final breakdown of family’s pride and family’s hope. No more except three poor widows in the room was left behind. Only incurable scars and sorrows of life are at the end of man’s strife and struggle. When we miss God in our life, we miss all. Yes, we’ve missed all!

Well-timed Homecoming to God (vv. 6-7, 22): However, there’s another happy end, when the broken family learnt to come home to God on-time. The motivation behind this is [not about the land (native) or the bread (food) anymore but] about God that He visited His people again (v. 6). Naomi and her broken family came back home not to Bethlehem of Judah but to God, the Giver of bread! And there’s a bright hope for this right decision that is that God is giving bread now! Further, what a more surprise to us is that when the family arrived back home, there’s exactly happened the right time for harvest (vv. 7, 22). The time we came home to God is always the very hour we begin to harvest—harvest of joy and peace!

Personal Application:

• There’re more than bread that always frighten us in life-journey. So, what is frightening and even driving us away from ‘trusting in God alone’? Make list of them and read out aloud before God in your private prayer. God knows!
• What kind of attitude, mindset, habit, and practice should I develop in my life that reflects my continual trust in God and His strength?

Priority of Life: It's a Choice

1 Peter 5:5-7
“Priority of Life: It’s a Choice”

Introduction: Life is full of choices! Every step of our life is a choice. From things to eat this morning to things to wear this afternoon are all abound to decision and choice. Actually, many options to choose [to make a choice] in life is not the problem of life—it’s a component of life and even is blessing!—but to make the right and proper choice is the risk that we’re taking on. As one single wrong decision can cost our whole life, one single correct choice can also save our life and even change our whole future. To trust God always and put His will (and agenda) first in our lives is a choice that we have to make on daily basis. It’s a choice!

Pride of Youthful Strength Vs God’s Grace to the Humble (v. 5): Full growth of power and strength is the sign of youthfulness. Therefore, youth are active, dynamic, and capable to perform many extraordinary things in life. This fact, however, leads many to undesirable end on another side—i.e., strife, revolt, activism, arrogance, etc.—if not properly controlled. This is the point of Peter in encouraging young men in the church to be humble and submissive. However, the implication is not only for the youth of this age-group (16-25). It is also for us all—who are still very youthful in showing of our self-competency [strength, education, position, wealth] instead of humbling ourselves before God, who graces the humble [by giving up all ‘ours’ and coming near to God as nothing]. Which one should we choose today, God’s grace or our arrogant strength?

Men’s Strife for the Best/Top Vs God’s Honor at Due Time (v. 6): Do you notice a truth of life—we always strive but never catch? Actually, God alone has the right to give us a ‘catch’ (cf., Rm. 9:14-16). So, it is better to be humble down before God, waiting for His “due time”, than making busy ourselves by striving without avail. Actually, since God has His own “due” time for us, to be humble before Him is the most restful way and surest way to success. And God’s “due time” means nothing except the time when we can really rely on His strength, taking away all our arrogant self and strength. In another sense, this is ‘being humble [nothing] before God’. That’s the very hour, in which God approves us for success in life, promotion in business, and healing in our family by the help of His mighty arm-strength (calming down all our storms and waves). Let us choose to take rest under His mighty wing by casting away all big “I” that only makes us tired and busy.

Our Anxiety for Life Vs God’s Personal Care (v. 7): Too much self-centeredness is the root-cause of our anxiety! In fact, ‘to cast away our anxiety’ requires to put off our big self away and to change our attention/concentration/focus from the big “I” to the great “God” who cares. So, the Bible gives us a proper direction when we cast our anxiety that is ‘toward’ God like we roll the ball to next person in playground. It’s the time to roll the ball to God, our next person, quickly less the enemy may overpower and we lose the game!

Personal Application:

• What things cause me too busy not to make proper time to pray to God, read the Word, and meditate on His unfolding goodness to me on daily basis?
• What recent problem or new plan is being drawn in my life, my family, my business? How can I ask and find God’s timely help in that hottest or burning situation?
• How does God want me to live in my school, office, and business this week?

Take My Yoke for Rest

Matthew 11:28-30
Priority of Life: Take My Yoke for Rest!

Introduction: Yoke is an ancient tool used to balance one’s position when carry heavy load. In Biblical history, yoke has never been a good sign. It’s a sign of slavery, forced labor, and even captivity (cf., Jer. 27-28). In fact, the invitation of Jesus Christ to take his yoke means another slavery [service to God]; but, the uniqueness of this new slavery is that it gives rest in place of our strife and struggle.

Different/Various Yokes of Life (v. 28): A proverb says that a new baby was born with a big cry, describing life—full of tears. When we were young, we wish to get old very soon—hope that we would make a better life. However, when after we were grown up, we longed for our childhood again, knowing life is not getting better. Yes! There are uneasy yokes of life to bear for different stages, and in different situations, of lives. Beneath this uneasy and heavy ladened life, there’s still an unrecognized [but the cause of all problems] slavery that is a slavery to our own self. That self is wise and learned enough even not to need God in life (cf., v. 25). Therefore, this is the call of Jesus to come to him, who recognized themselves as little, weak, burdensome, and even lost in life-ocean. So, let us say that there’s the God who knows our uneasy and burdensome life.

The Lord of a New Slavery “Yoke” (v. 29): The “yoke” is not used here in a very favorable form, i.e., to ease and help balance the burden, as some commentators might say. It is a borrowed of Old Testament image—image of slavery, forced labor, and even captivity. So, to take upon his yoke is not just a simple call but a challenge—to take up another slavery and service that Jesus Christ was also taking upon himself. In another words, this is like an addition of another load to our own heavy-enough-burden. Therefore, this is really kind of entering into a narrow gate and taking a narrow road. However, there’s a promise of pasture inside (John 10:9)! By-pass those who don’t know but stop-by you who know this!

The Yoke that Lightens (v. 30): There’s no light burden or yoke! Each load has its own weight. However, the secret of Jesus is to see REST within that YOKE by heading upward to heavens and making everything of life for God's sake. This is the only way to lighten up our burdens of life—taking God and His Kingdom sake first in our lives. This is the point of Jesus here. By taking his yoke in our lives, the promise is that it would not make us more burdensome but bring perfect rest instead. Therefore, this yoke is rather the yoke that will lighten up even our own burdens of life with heavenly endowed power and strength. So, we should say that there’re sometimes in life that some load of burden gives another big relief oddly.

Personal Reflection:

• What is in my life that preoccupied me even not to need (or ask for) God's help in my life?
• What is the proper way to approach to God in the midst of my burdensome life?
• What is the present situation of my own life, in which I can serve God's will and glorify Him in any possible way?