Loving the Lord ... with all my mind

In Matthew 22 and Mark 12, we read about an expert of law asking Jesus what the greatest commandment is? Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40). The first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord my God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. In Mark, there is another phrase added as well: "with all your strength." (Mark 12:30). In Luke 10, the table was turned and Jesus asked an expert of law what is written in the Law about what he must do to inherit the eternal life. The expert answered similarly with the greatest commandments.

Many times in the Bible, when you see a list, the items in the list are not necessarily separate and distinct, but different descriptions of the same for emphasis. That is how Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh's dreams as well (Genesis 41:32). That might be the case here as well with the greatest commandment. But I would like to consider what is meant by "with all your mind" for now.

The Greek word translated as "mind" in Matthew 22:37 is "διανοια" (dianoia). This appears at least 11 times in the New Testament and is variously translated as mind, (inmost) thoughts (Luke 1:51), understanding (Ephesians 4:18, I John 5:20), and thinking (II Peter 3:1). In Korean Bible, this word was translated as "뜻". Importantly, that is where we used to be alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). That is also where, with the new covenant, God is putting His laws in His people (Hebrews 8:10) and what we have to prepare for action (I Peter 1:13). Our mind may be the battleground that Paul describes in Romans 7:21-25, where we wage a war against the law of sin.

If I am to love my Lord God with all my mind, my inner being, my inmost thoughts, my whole understanding, and my mind must be totally focused and absorbed in knowing the Lord. Paul confessed: "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:8). Everything else is just garbage and rubbish, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing the Lord. Our mind should be too occupied with Jesus to consider anything else as valuable, if we are loving Him with all our mind. We are to fix our eyes on our Lord (Hebrews 12:2, Psalm 141:8). One step further, we are to have the mind of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5).

When a young man falls in love with a young girl, his mind is totally absorbed in thinking about her. He is thinking about what she may be doing this instant, what she may be thinking, what he may do to try and please her, and so on and on. Likewise, my love of the Lord should be a total one. It should be a complete love for the Lord. My thought should be on what the Lord's will is, what He would be pleased with, and how I could please Him. If I am loving the Lord with all my mind, my love of Him should exceed that for a woman (I Corinthians 7:32-35). If love for a friend can exceed that of women (II Samuel 1:26), then surely my love of the Lord could exceed that as well.

Lord, I want to love you with all my mind. Let me appreciate the surpassing greatness of knowing You. Let me be fixated on You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Secrets of Jonathan Sperry

At the teachers' retreat earlier today, I was shown a movie entitled "Secrets of Jonathan Sperry." The movie is based on a real story about an elderly man in the last months of his life, who in the course of one summer introduces Jesus into the lives of young boys of the neighborhood and changes their lives for ever. One day he approaches a boy named Dustin and invites him to start mowing his lawn. He then invites Dustin and his two friends to a Bible study with a chocolate cake. His lessons of the Bible are not long discourses or exegesis, but are simply taken from life situations -- chocolate cakes, a trip to a local cemetery, and dealing with a school bully. Mr. Sperry's Bible studies change the boys, so that they begin to read the Bible on their own and tell their friends about the Bible. Eventually even the bully is changed by the Word. Though Mr. Sperry passes away before the summer is over, the boys are permanently changed, with Dustin becoming a pastor.

As a youth group teacher, I could not help wondering how effective I have been as a teacher, compared to Mr. Sperry. Mr. Sperry's method was to build a relationship with his boys and take advantage of life situations to point them to the Bible. The Word of God then did the rest, changing the boys. The wonders of the Bible do not depend on human wisdom to shine through. Paul confessed that he was not called to preach the gospel with (his) wisdom or eloquence, "lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." (I Corinthians 1:17). The gospel message is powerful in its own right. One only needs to share it without adding or substracting.

Mr. Sperry's method might have also been Jesus' method with His disciples. Jesus spent time with the disciples every day for three years. The disciples walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, watched him teach about the kingdom of God, asked Him questions -- they saw Him live His life on earth from a very close range. That prepared them for their ministry later.

In a scene from the movie, Mr. Sperry talks with Nick the school bully. Mr. Sperry tells Nick about his father -- how he became a Christian, how he was rejected by his wife who did not understand faith, and how he would have given the proper attention to Nick if he had been with him. The phrase "the proper attention" struck me like a bolt of lightning. What kind of attention have I given to my own children and my students in the youth group Bible study? A good Bible lesson has to be based on a good relationship; relationship building starts with giving a "proper attention." That is where I will start to improve.

Message of Christmas

As a youngster, I grew up learning some of the songs written by my mom's oldest brother, who was an elder and an evangelist. One song he wrote for Christmas goes like this:

"크리스마스 축하하러 가는 길에
사랑하는 나의 친구 셋을 만나서
회개하고 예수 믿기 결심하니
기쁜 중에 더욱 기뻐 춤을 춥니다.

오늘 날은 우리 구주 나신 날,
기쁘고도 즐겁고도 참말 좋은 날,
얼씨구 좋구나, 참말 좋구나,
닐 닐 니일 닐 닐닐닐..."

which may be translated as:

"On my way to celebrate Christmas,
I met three of my dearest friends,
Who repented and decided to believe in Jesus,
Giving me joy upon joy and making me dance.

Today marks the birth of our Saviour,
Today is a day of joy, delight, pure bliss,
How joyful, how blessed is today,
Lal, lal, la-al, lal, lal, lal, lal ..."

I think the song captures the true meaning of Christmas really well, The main message of Christmas is as sung by the heavenly host on the First Noel:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)

This good news of peace is referring to the peace that the believers get to enjoy with God -- peace that represents reconciliation between God and men, who are no longer separated from God because of their sin (Romans 5:1-11, Colossians 1:22). Jesus came to the world as a man, so that He can pay the price of sin and tear down the wall between God and His people. With His death, the curtain of the temple was torn in half from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), so that a new and living way was opened up for us to approach God (Hebrews 10:19-20).

Thus the true message of Christmas is our reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. With Christmas, the work of God, which is to believe in the One He sent (John 6:29), was begun.

Our job is to carry this message of peace and reconciliation to those who have not yet heard it. We are to be peace-makers carrying out the ministry of reconciliation (Matthew 5:9, II Corinthians 5:18). That is the good tidings of Christmas!

Jeroboam's sin

In I Kings 14, we read about how the Lord rebuked Jeroboam. Abijah, son of Jeroboam, became ill and Jeroboam sent his wife to Ahijah the prophet to inquire if his son might get better. Ahijah, as instructed by the Lord, rather rebuked Jeroboam of his sin and said that Abijah would die. Jeroboam's sin was that he was not like David, who kept the Lord's commands and followed Him with all his heart. Jeroboam sinned by not following the Lord with all his heart.

Similarly in II Chronicles 13, we read about Rehoboam's sin. It says in verse 14, "He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord."

Our Lord God says He is a jealous God. To love Him with anything less than all one's heart is not good enough. What He desires is not that He is Number One on my priority list, with other priorities following Him; what He desires is that He is the Only One that I love with all my heart. The psalmist confesses that his eyes are "fixed" on the Lord (Psalm 141:8). The writer of Hebrews admonishes us that we should fix our thoughts on Jesus (Hebrews 3:1) and fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Asaph's confession is the same: "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." (Psalm 73:25). Whether I go up to heaven or come down to earth, my thoughts, my desire, and my yearning are all to be devoted to the Lord.

I think the relationship between a man and his wife was given to us, so that we may better understand the relationship between Jesus and His church, between God and His people (Ephesians 5:22-33). As a man, would I want to be my wife's husband for only 75 % of her time and heart, with the remainder distributed to other men? If that were to occur, she would be considered unfaithful. Or, would my wife want to be my wife for only 90 % of my time and heart, with the remainder sidetracked to other women? If that were to occur, I would be commiting adultery and she would burn with anger and jealousy. A husband's jealousy is said to arouse his fury, so that he would show no mercy when he takes revenge (Proverbs 6:34).

If the message about jealousy between a husband and a wife is so clear, why should I not comprehend that God demands absolute devotion from me, that He wants me to love Him with ALL my heart, and that my thoughts and eyes are to be fixed upon Him?

Lord, I want to love you with all my heart, with all my spirit, with all my body, with all my strength, with all my life, and with all my will. I love you, Lord. Amen.

수요 예배 간증문

제게는 무슨 획기적인 기적 같은 것을 간증할 것은 없으나, 어떻게 보면 제 생애 전체가 기적의 연속이어 왔습니다. 제가 특별히 감사해 하는 것은, 신앙이 좋으신 부모님에게 태어나서 신앙 안에서 양육 받은 것이 얼마나 감사한 지 모르겠습니다. 저는 하나님 중심으로 사시는 부모님 밑에서 3남매 중 장남으로 자라났습니다. 저희 아버님은 젊으셨을 때에는 무역을 크게 하시어 당시 평양에서 손 꼽히는 무역상이셨지만, 6.25동란 중 피난 나오시고 30대 후반에 소명을 받으시고 목회의 길을 걷게 되셨습니다. 목사님이 되신 후에는 정말로 전심으로 하나님만 바라보시며 충성되이 섬기셨습니다. 매일 새벽 기도때에는 모든 교인들의 이름을 불러 가시며 기도하셨는데, 한 번은 밤새 폭설이 내려 교회가기가 어렵게 된 적이 있었습니다. 아버님은 물론 일찍 일어나셔서 강변길을 걸어 교회를 가셨는데, 새벽기도를 다녀오시자, 저희 외할머니가 오늘은 눈이 이렇게 많이 왔는데, 참석한 사람이 있었는가고 물으셨습니다. 아버님이 '예'라고 답하시자, 외할머님은 놀라시며 도대체 누가 왔었느냐고 되 물으셨습니다. 아버님은 대답하시기를, 예수님이 같이 기도하는 중에 계셨고, 하나님 아버지께서 기도를 들으셨다고 하셨다고 합니다. 저는 저희 아버님이 40대 중반에 얻은 장남이었는데, 저희 아버님은 목회자로서 기도하는 것과 말씀을 묵상하고 전하는 일에 전념하여야 하는데, 내 아기라고 너무 오래 안아 주고 시간을 보내기는 주님께 송구하다고 하시며 저를 안아주는 것도 가끔 잠깐 뿐이셨다고 들었습니다. 제가 5학년 때, 저희 아버님은 소천하셨고, 제가 장례식에서 들은 말씀 중 기억에 남는 것은, 저희 아버님은 진짜 목사님이셨다고 친지분들이 말씀하신 것입니다.

저희 어머님은 일찍 부터 간호사로서 사회 생활을 하신 분이십니다. 1950년대 이미 미국에 교환교수 자격으로 미네소타대학을 두 번이나 다녀 가셨습니다. 자신의 신앙을 잘 추수리시기 위해 목사님이신 아버님과 결혼하셨다고 하셨습니다. 어머님이 직장생활을 하시는 동안, 저는 집에서, 저희 외할머님과 이모님을 통해 성경말씀을 배우며 자라났습니다. 매일 모든 가족이 가족예배를 항상 드렸고, 할머님이나 이모님은 때가 있을 때마다 제게 성경이야기를 하여 주셨습니다. 제 미국 이름을 디모데 라고 한 이유 중의 하나도, 성경의 디모데가 로이스와 유니게에게서 신앙으로 양육받은 것처럼, 제게도 저희 외할머님, 이모님, 그리고 어머님의 신앙이 큰 영향을 미쳤기 때문입니다.

조상의 신앙을 조금이나마 배운 관계로, 저는 어려서 부터, 하나님께서 제 아버지시라는 것과 예수님이 내 구주시라는 것을 조금도 의심하지 않고 자랐습니다. 동생들과 얘기할 때에, 우리는 항상 말하기를, 하나님이 우리 아버지시기 때문에, 우리는 아주 부자라 하며 자부심을 가졌습니다. 제가 어려서 자랄 때에, 제가 3 학년까지도 우리 동네 전체에 텔레비젼도 하나 없었지만, 궁핍하다고 느낀 적은 한 번도 없었습니다.

제가 중학교를 졸업할 때 쯤 되어서, 저희 가족은 미국으로 이민하게 되었습니다. 당시 한국은 유신 헌법 개헌 이후 학생들의 데모가 한창일 때이었는데, 저희 어머님은 제가 데모에 휩쓸리어 허송세월하지 않고 미국에 와서 마음껏 공부하기를 원하신다 하셨습니다. 저희가 미국으로 오는 날 공항에서 환송예배를 드렸는데, 그 때 당시 서소문의 평안교회 김윤찬 목사님이 설교해 주신 말씀은 여호와 이레의 말씀이셨습니다. 하나님께서 미리 저희의 갈 길을 가셔서 길을 준비해 주실 것이고, 모든 것을 형통하게 인도하실 것이라는 말씀이었습니다.

실로 저희의 이민생활은 여호와 이레의 은혜의 생활이어 왔습니다. 세 가지 예를 말씀드리겠습니다. 첫째로, 처음 미국 와서 California의 Bellflower라는 곳에 잠시 살게 되었습니다. 그 곳 고등학교에 한 달 정도 다니게 되었는데, 등교 첫 날 만난 역사반의 선생님은 제게 특별한 관심을 가져 주셨습니다. 나를 학교 끝난 뒤에 찾아 오라고 하시더니, 내게 교과서를 한 권 내어 주시며, 집에 가지고 가서 책에 한국말로 토를 달아 쓰고 공부해도 좋다고 하셨습니다. 그리고 제가 장로교회 교인이라는 것을 들으시고는 자기도 그렇다고 하시면서, 저희 아파트 근처의 장로교회에 저를 데리고 가셔서 그 곳 학생부 목사님에게 저를 소개해 주셨습니다. 곧 그 곳 교회 장로님들이 저희 집을 심방 오셨고, 아직 차도 없는 저희 가족을 위해 주일 예배 참석할 수 있게 ride도 주선해 주셨습니다. 그 선생님은 하나님께서 저를 위해 준비해 주신 분이셨습니다.

얼마 후 저희는 Princeton 을 거쳐 New York City로 이사를 가게 되었습니다. New York 시를 방문한 첫 날에 저희 어머니는 직장을 구하셨는데, 바로 일하실 병원과 같은 block에 아파트도 얻었고, 또 같은 block에 제가 다닐 고등학교도 있는 곳이었습니다. 그 곳 고등학교에서 저는 Mr. Weinberger라는 선생님을 만났습니다. 그 학교 과학과의 과장이셨는데, 제게 특별한 관심을 보여 주시면서, 제가 학교과정 외에도 더 공부할 수 있도록 길을 열어 주셨습니다. 시립대학에 가서 수학이나 과학과정을 공부하도록 해주셨고, 방과 후에는 따로 만나서 저는 그 분의 보조교사 역할도 하였습니다. 이런 배려 때문에 2년 후에는 예일대학에 입학할 수 있었습니다.

예일 대학 시절에는 마침 그 곳에, 저희 어머님과 친분이 있으신 전 연세대 도서관장과 학장을 지내신 한태동박사님 가족이 계셨는데, 제가 또 도움을 여러모로 받을 수 있었습니다. 가는 곳마다, 하나님께서 준비해 주신 사람들에게서 도움을 받은 것입니다. 그래서 4년 후에는 학사와 석사를 동시에 수여하고 좋은 성적으로 졸업하였습니다. 그 후 캘리포니아 주립대학에서 의과과정을 공부하였는데, 그 곳에서도 저희 어머님 친구 분의 동생이신 박은식 목사님 가정을 하나님께서 준비하여 주셔서, 제가 그 분들의 사랑을 받으며 4년을 보낼 수 있었습니다. 정말로 제 일생을 돌아 보면 하나님께서 미리 준비해 놓으신 복을 누리는 생활의 연속이었습니다. 특별한 재능이나 재산도 없이, 언어도 다른 이국땅에 와서, 하나님의 은혜가 아니고는 있을 수 없는 감사해야 할 일들의 연속이었습니다.

둘째로, 저희 부부가 결혼한 과정도 여호와 이레의 하나님의 은혜이었습니다. 당시 저는 California의 나성에 살았는데, 이미 언급한 김윤찬 목사님의 아들 김혜성 목사님이 목회하시는 교회에 다니고 있었습니다. 그 교회에 다니시던 아주 존경스러우신 권사님이 저에게 당신의 조카를 소개해 주셨습니다. 그래서 몇 번 편지 왕래를 해 보았으나, 당장에 관심이 끌리지 않아, 편지를 중단했었습니다. 지금 생각해 보면, 당시 그 조카되는 사람은 겨우 대학교 1학년인지라, 하나님께서 시간을 끄시려고 편지를 중단하게 하신 것 같습니다. 몇 년 뒤 제가 한국에 나가게 되었는데, 결혼할 상대도 없었으나, 무조건 반지를 준비하고 나갔습니다. 그리고는 다시 그 권사님의 조카를 만났는데, 이 때는 그 아가씨는 대학을 갓 졸업한 때이었습니다. 사실 저는 말주변도 없고, 특히 여자들 앞에서 활발하지도 못 하여서, 연애도 한 번 해 본 적도 없고, 제가 아가씨의 마음을 제 능력으로 얻는다는 것은 불가능한 일이었을 것입니다. 그런 저를 잘 아시는 하나님께서는 그 아가씨가 제게 "아니오"라고 할 수 없게 미리 준비를 다 해 놓고 계셨습니다. 그 아가씨는 대학 1학년 때 저와 편지를 두어번 주고 받은 적이 있었는데, 제 편지가 오기 전 날 밤에는 한번 만나지도 못한 저의 꿈을 꾸었다고 합니다. 그리고는 편지로 제 사진을 받아 보고는 꿈에 미리 본 사람이라 아마 하나님께서 정하신 사람이 아닌가 생각하였다고 합니다. 한 번도 아니고, 편지 받을 때마다 그런 일이 벌어졌기 때문에, 하나님께서 확정하신 것이라 생각하였다고 합니다. 그러나 당시 본인은 아직 대학생이라 하나님께 시간을 연기해 주시기를 간구했다 합니다. 직접 만나게 된 날, 자신이 꿈에 본 사람과 내가 너무 똑 깥아서 놀라웠다 합니다. 만나는 날, 우리 둘이는 권사님 동생, 즉 제 장인되실 분이 시무하시는 교회에 가서, 같이 기도하는 중에 제가 청혼을 하게 되었고, 아멘으로 대답을 얻고, 결국 같은 날 저녁에 약혼을 하게 되었습니다. 그리고 닷새 후인 토요일에 결혼을 하였고, 지금까지 살고 있습니다. 이전에 리브가가 아브라함의 종의 말을 듣고, 이삭과 결혼하기 위해 선듯 나섰지만, 그에 못지 않게 제 아내도 저를 만난 지 6일째 되는 날 저와 결혼을 하였는데, 하나님께서 그 마음을 미리 준비해 주셨기 때문이라 생각합니다.

셋째로, 금년 4월에 저는 심장 마비가 있어서 병원에 가게 되었습니다. 주일 아침 준비를 하고, 교회에 오려고 하는 때에 가슴에 통증이 오고, 잠시 안정하여도 없어지지 않아, 아내가 운전하여 병원으로 갔습니다. 마침 주일이라, 응급실도 복잡하지 않았고, 저는 도착하자 마자 검사를 통하여 제가 심방 마비 증상을 일으키고 있다는 것이 판명이 났습니다. 모든 사람들이 마치 제가 오기를 기다렸다는 듯이 신속히 움직여 주었고, 저는 곧바로 Cardiac Catherterization Lab으로 옮겨 져서, 우선 급한대로 막힌 심장 혈관 세 곳을 angioplasty하여 뚫고, 또 stents를 집어 넣었습니다. 제 상황이 좋아진 며칠 뒤에 또 세 곳을 더 뚫어, 제 몸에는 지금 여섯 개의 stents가 있습니다. 또 병원에 있는 동안, 제게 research study에 참가하겠는가 하며 제 응고력에 관해 검사한 것이 있었는데, 이것 때문에 stent안에 응고하는 것을 방지하는 것을 위해 흔히 먹는 약을 복용하지 않고, 몇 해 전에 일본에서 개발한 새 약을 먹게 되었습니다. 그리고는 그 다음 주일에는 주일예배에 참석하고, 성가대에도 설 수 있었습니다. 당시는 입원 중 출혈을 많이 한 터라 힘이 모자라, 찬송도 힘차게 나오지 않았지만, 그냥 주일 예배에 참석도 하고 성가대에 설 수도 있다는 그 사실 자체가 너무나 감사한 예배와 찬송의 시간이었습니다. 그리고는 그 이후로 그 전보다 더 힘있게 살 수 있게 되어 너무나 감사합니다.

저희 가족은 콜럼버스 한인 교회에 지난 여름부터 나오게 되었는데, 지금 생각해 보면, 이것도 하나님의 배려하심이라 생각합니다. 저의 가족이 이사를 여러번 나니면서, 여러 교회를 접해 보게 되었는데, 각 교회마다 특별히 잘하는 강점이 있어, 제가 배울 점을 찾을 수 있었습니다. 그런데, 제 생각에는 콜럼버스 한인 교회는 강점이 여럿 있겠지만, 그 중에서도 기도에 열심하는 것이 강점이라 생각합니다. 주일 예배 중 최소 한 두 번은 전 교인이 통성으로 기도하는 교회는 저로서는 처음이고, 심지어는 목사님 아드님 결혼식 중에 통성기도로 전 하객들이 축복하였는데 참으로 교회의 특성에 맞는 일이라고 생각하였었습니다. 왜 이런 것이 하나님의 배려하심이라고 생각하는 가 하면, 제 일생 사는 동안 늘 하나님께서 인도하시고 미리 준비해 주시고 이끄시는 것을 경험하며 사는 동안, 제가 하나님께 매달려서 애타게 간구하는 것이 너무나 없어진 상태였기 때문입니다. 하나님을 찬송하는 것과 말씀 공부하고 묵상하는 것은 즐겼지만, 하나님께 기도하는 시간이 너무나 짧아진 제 생활이었습니다. 하나님께서 기도하는 생활을 다시 배우라고 제게 배려해 주셨다고 생각합니다. 하나님과 대화하고 교통하며, 하나님께 더 가까이 가게 되기를 바라고, 그렇게 기도하고 있습니다. 제 눈이 하나님의 눈으로 세상을 보고, 제 귀가 하나님의 말씀에 경청하여 순종하고, 제 입에서 나오는 말이 다른 사람들을 세워 주고 덕을 끼치며, 제 숨은 하나님을 찬양드리는 데에 쓰이고, 제 손은 하나님께서 원하시는 일을 하며, 제 발은 평안의 좋은 소식을 전하는 길로 달려가며, 제 마음은 전심으로 하나님을 사랑할 수 있게 되기를 기도하고 있습니다. 그리고, 기도하다가 조금하고 낙망하지 않고, 계속 하는 것을 배우기를 바랍니다.

Repentance

In Luke 15, we read about the parable of the prodigal son, who took his inheritance from his father to a distant land and wasted it all away. While longing to fill his hungry stomach one day, he thought of how the servants in his father's household would be faring better than he was, and decided to return home. Upon return, he told his father, "I have sinned against heaven and you." (Luke 15:21).

Jesus told an expert in the law that all the Law and Prophets hang on two commandments: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39). Since sin is breaking God's law (I John 3:4), when one repents, he must repent of sins of breaking these greatest commandments. He must repent of sins against God and against people, just as the prodigal son repented of his sins against heaven and his father.

As for the sins against God, the primary sin is not loving Him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. Because of this lack of love, I may have committed the sin of worshipping other gods or making an idol to bow down and to worship (Exodus 20:2-6, Deuteronomy 13:1-5); the sin of worshipping money (Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3;5, Matthew 6:24); the sin of misusing the Name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7), instead of using the Name to remember Him (Exodus 3:15), to call upon and worship Him (I Chronicles 16:29, Acts 2:21), and to praise Him (Psalm 8:1,9, 9:2, 18:49); and the sin of not returning to God what is due to Him, whether it is time (Exodus 20:8-11), honor (Malachi 1:6-9), or tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-11).

The second greatest commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself." When the expert in the law asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?", He told him the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): As a man was going down to Jericho, he met robbers, was beaten and stripped. A priest and a Levite passed by him on the other side, but a Samaritan took pity on him and took care of him. Jesus then asked, "Which one of the three was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?" Applying to the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself, I think the question becomes "Whom can you be a neighbor to and love as yourself?" The answer, of course, becomes everyone around me.

So, as for the sins against my neighbors, I need to repent of sins committed against all people, starting with those closest to me -- my parents, my spouse, my children, my relatives, my friends, my coworkers, etc. I may have committed the sin of not honoring or respecting; the sin of hatred and murder (Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13); the sin of seeking unjust gain (Exodus 20:15, 17, Proverbs 20:10,23, Micah 6:11), not being content with what I have earned (Luke 3:12-14); the sin of false testimony (Exodus 20:16) or any sin committed with my tongue (James 3:1-12); and the sin of not looking after those in need (Matthew 25:41-46).

As I review the list, what I recognize is that all these sins are essentially sins against the ultimate law-giver, who is our Lord God. Committing any one sin amounts to committing the whole list of sins; breaking one law amounts to breaking all the laws, because neither can be tolerated by our holy and just God (James 2:10). In repentance, I must be thoroughly purged of all sins, confessing fully to the sins committed against God and men and asking for forgiveness. But in so doing, I have the assurance of forgiveness by the Lord (I John 1:9).

Heavenly Father, I am like the prodigal son. I have committed sins against you and people around me. Forgive me and purge me of all evil on account of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Why wilderness?

When you are going through a period of hardship, when there seems to be no hope of ever escaping from it, it is difficult to maintain your hope and faith that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) and to thank Him in all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:18). If you knew there is a way of shortening the period of hardship, you would probably do it.

When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they went through the wilderness for forty years. The period could have been a lot shorter, if they did not disobey the Lord at Kadesh Barnea (Deuteronomy 1) and went to capture the land of the Amorites. Instead they were afraid and did not believe, except for Caleb and Joshua. They had to wander in the wilderness until all those who did not believe and did not obey died in the wilderness. Moses summed up this period: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2). I think the answer to what can be done to avoid having to wander in the wilderness for such a long time lies in this verse.

God's purpose in leading the Israelites through the wilderness was to humble them and to test them in order to know what was in their hearts, whether or not they could keep His commands. At the point where one enters the wilderness, I think that the best thing one can do is to be(come) humble and to obey, thus fulfilling God's purpose. With His purpose fulfilled, God will have no more reason to keep us in the wilderness, so to speak. One should kneel and confess his sins with a broken and contrite heart. One should confess how worthless his life is without God in him. And one should obey and follow His commands.

Even after passing through the wilderness and entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were admonished to be careful not to "forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees" (Deuteronomy 8:11). The humility one learns in the wilderness is that one "does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3), that is, one's life depends on the Lord. This is true both while one is in the wilderness and afterwards. Every day that I live, every blessing that I enjoy, every breath that I take -- I owe it all to the Lord God, who sustains me and gives me life.

Lord, I acknowledge you. I acknowledge that your ways are higher than mine and that your wisdom is far, far superior to mine. My blessing is to stay in your favor and to obey and follow your commands. Lord, you are my King, my Creator, my Absolute Sovereign. Look down on me with mercy, though I am a sinner and come far, far short of your Glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Total victory of God's people

The book of Esther records the story of how the Jews were saved from the plot of Haman, "the enemy of the Jews." Haman rose to be second in command under King Xerxes of Persia. His hatred of and enragement against Mordecai the Jew who refused to bow down to him was extended to all the Jews, whom he labeled to the king as so different from all other peoples under his rule that they disobeyed the laws and were not beneficial to the king's interests. Haman even offered to spend his own money to help kill the Jews. This massive destruction was about to happen with the king's approval, until Esther, Mordecai's cousin, petitioned for her own life and that of her people. Haman's scheme was then exposed and a counter-order went out from the king to allow the Jews to defend and protect themselves and to kill their enemies. Haman and his ten sons were killed as well as thousands who were enemies of the Jews. Upon this, "many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them" (Esther 8:16).

The victory that God gives to His people is total and complete. His people do not just barely survive the hardship, but they utterly overcome it and annihilate the enemies. Upon hearing how God dried up the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk away from the Pharaoh's pursuit and how God and His people completely destroyed the two kings of Amorites on the east side of the Jordan, the people of Jericho reacted with their hearts "melted" and everone's courage failed (Joshua 2:11). When Joshua later completely destroyed the 5 kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, even commanding the sun and the moon to stop, all the remaining Canaanites were so distraught that "no one uttered a word against the Israelites" (Joshua 10:21). In Korean translation, the expression is even stronger: "혀를 놀려 이스라엘 자손을 대적하는 자가 없었더라" ("no one dared to move their tongue against the sons of Israel.") This is truly a description of total fear and awe of the Israelites, so that their enemies could not muster enough courage even to say a few words against Israel even in their private camps. David sings in his famous psalm: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5). The celebratory table and the anointing are taking place in the presence of the enemies, who have to participate in the celebration either grudgingly or willingly.

While on earth, we Christians are like strangers and aliens (Hebrews 11:13). Although we live in the world, we are not of the world (John 17:15-16). Because we are not of the world, we may be misunderstood, mistreated, and even hated by the people of the world -- sometimes seemingly for no good reason. It is a fact of life that while in this world, we will encounter trouble. But Jesus tells us, "take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Because the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world, it is a foregone conclusion that we will overcome the world (I John 4:4).

Lord, I do believe that you have overcome the world. As a result, I will overcome the world as well. Let me not be disheartened with a short-term trouble, but have faith and hope in you and the ultimately victory you will bring to us. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Day of rest

"TGIF", short for "Thank God, It's Friday", is a welcome introduction to a weekend, when one does not usually have to work, but can rest away from the demands of gainful employment. If there is a holiday as well, often the weekend turns into three consecutive days of potential rest. I cannot even imagine what it would be like without weekends.

Our Lord God, who created us, knows exactly what is needed by our body. Our body is not a machine, but a physical body that can exert itself for a while, but needs to be rested and recovered before another round of exertion. Lord God gave us a commandment to rest on the Sabbath, just as He rested on the seventh day after Creation. He said, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)

The commandment extended not only to the people of Israel, but also to the servants and animals (Deuteronomy 5:12-14). All were to rest on the Sabbath and keep the day holy. Even the land was to be rested (Leviticus 25:2-6) and whatever the land yielded without being worked on was to be the food for all in the Sabbath year. If the land was not rested, it would be forced to become desolate and deserted with the people taken away to the land of the enemies (Leviticus 26:34-35).

Besides providing a day to have physical rest, the Sabbath was given as a sign that we are God's people whom God made holy (Ezekiel 20:12,20). It is a day to remember the Lord God as our God. We are to remember that if we keep His commandments and decrees (starting with the commandment to rest), we will live; but if we don't, we will surely be destroyed.

The only work to be done on the Sabbath was God's work -- work that saves lives and work that represented doing good. Jesus declared that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) and legitimized doing good and saving lives even on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10-12, Mark 3:1-4, Luke 6:6-9, Luke 13:14-16).

Ultimately, God's people can look forward to the eternal Sabbath-rest that they will enter in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 4:9-11). This rest is not just the rest that the Israelites enjoyed on the seventh day, nor in the land of milk and honey that they conquered with Joshua, although these all symbolized the ultimate Sabbath-rest to come. The ultimate rest will come when the obedient will enter the New Jerusalem in the heavenly kingdom of God, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4).

Giving us weekends to rest in is a sign of God's mercy. He knows our weaknesses. Having a day of rest that we keep holy is also a sign that we are His people, whom He made holy and who can look ahead to the eternal rest that we will enjoy in heaven. Thank you, Lord, for the day of rest. Thank you, Lord, for the eternal rest you will give us.

But even if He does not, ...

In Daniel 3, we read about the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge golden image in Babylon and ordered all men of every language to fall down and worship the image. But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three Jews who were overseeing the affairs of the province of Babylon, did not worship the image, even at the threat of being thrown alive into a blazing furnace. They said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

Their faith shines brightly, not only because they believed that God would be able to rescue them even from a blazing furnace, but all the more because they believed that even if God did not, they would only serve Him and not bow down to the image.

Often when we pray because we are in a situation of a need, we pray to be relieved from the situation. As we pray, we certainly believe that God is able to come to our rescue. What we often forget is that even if He does not, He is still doing what is best for us. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). It is not up to us to dictate what the goodness means; whatever God chooses to do is good, because He is good.

Earlier this year, I had an episode of a heart attack, a totally unexpected event for someone of my age and medical history. Even as recently as two years ago, I had a negative stress test, but at the time of the heart attack, I ended up requiring 6 stents for multiple blockages in the coronary arteries. Then a few months later, my wife was found to have a breast cancer and is now expected to undergo a long series of treatments, including surgery, radiation, and perhaps even chemotherapy.

Experiencing all these is certainly a life stress. One might even ask, "Why is it happening to us? Is God not caring for us any longer?" To ask such a question and doubt God's love would be exactly the wrong thing to do. I believe in Him and His faithfulness to me and to my family, whether we stay in perfect health all the time (which He is certainly capable of granting to us) or we become deathly ill and suffer through the treatment processes as well as any ill effects of the diseases themselves. I am certainly willing to wait and see how God chooses to display His work through all these events (John 9:3). Whether healthy or ill, I praise the Lord and His faithfulness. Hallelujah!

God's seal

My wife and two boys are currently on a short-term mission trip to Peru. I miss them. While she is away, I am wearing the wedding band and at times look at the ring, which is a reminder of her. Whereas a husband and a wife can wear rings to remember each other while they are apart, God, who is our husband (Jeremiah 31:32), uses something more than a ring to declare that we are His.

The Holy Spirit Himself is the seal that affirms our status as the Lord's bride and God's children (Ephesians 1:13-14, II Corinthians 1:21-22). We are marked with the Holy Spirit, the seal of God's ownership. When God sees us, He sees the Holy Spirit dwelling in us (I Corinthians 3:16, 6:19) and knows that we are His. We are His bride, His children, His heir, who has a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. The Holy Spirit is like an indelible imprint that is in us.

As if this is not enough, God says that He has engraved us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). Sometimes I write things on my hands, because that is the most convenient place to look up and find. When something is engraved on the hands, there is no chance of forgetting it. God has engraved our name on His palms, where He will never forget us -- never forget that we are His.

A contract between men may be breached. Even a marriage covenant is sometimes broken. But the covenant God has with us is sealed with the Holy Spirit and backed up by inscription of our names on His hands. It is an everlasting covenant that will be kept.

"Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name." (Revelations 3:12)

Using a physician's help

It has been said by some that the first medical specialty was anesthesiology, that was followed shortly by surgery -- both practiced by the Lord God Himself. "So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man." (Genesis 2:21-22). Jesus compared Himself to a physician who needs to attend to the sick (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31), rather than the healthy. The gospel writer Luke was also a doctor (Colossians 4:14) and his keen sense of observation and documentation of details come through in his writings (Luke and Acts).

Yet, seeking help from a physician for one's illness is seen by some believers as equating to lack of faith or having little faith. They would ask, if one can pray to God and He can heal you, why should you bother to seek human medical help? Christian Scientisits are infamous for often forgoing medical treatment in favor of prayers only, although their official position is not to condemn medical treatment.

In fact, I have not found any Biblical basis to forgo medical treatment. In II Chronicles 16, we read that King Asa had an ailment in his feet and though the disease was severe, he "did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians." (v 12). It is implied that this was another indication that he was not relying on the Lord. But the problem with Asa was not so much the fact that he sought help from the physicians, but the fact that he sought help ONLY from the physicians, without seeking help from the Lord. We know that Joseph the patriarch had a whole group of physicians working under him (Genesis 50:2). Gilead was known for its balms and physicians (Jeremiah 8:22). With His comparison of His own ministry to that of physicians attending to the sick, Jesus in a way justified the medical profession and its function.

What are we to do as Christians when we become sick? First, of course, we should pray. James specifically admonishes that if anyone is sick, he should call on the elders of the church to pray and anoint oil on him (James 5:14-15). David prayed even when their enemies became ill (Psalm 35:13). God is our Lord and Helper. It is only right and natural that we should seek help from Him, when we are sick.

At the same time, we should also seek appropriate medical help. This may mean, among other things, taking medications, seeing a physician, undergoing a surgery, receiving radiation treatment, and/or, when appropriate, getting non-Western medical modalities such as acupuncture or herbals. The physicians are using God-endowed wisdom and knowledge in applying their learnings to maintenance and restoration of health and treatment of ailments and, as such, are professionals in their trade. They need to be respected as such and their orders and instructions for treatment should be followed. If a physician is instructing you to take two pills of a certain medicine twice a day, it is not ok for you to decide to take only one pill once a day. Without following instructions, your treatment may not only be ineffective, but may even be harmful.

It is not a sign of strong faith to forgo appropriate medical treatment. It may rather be an act of putting the Lord God to the test, which we are not to do (Matthew 4:7). Jesus spoke of signs that will accompany those who believe in Him (Mark 16:15-18). "In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." We note that one of the signs was to pick up snakes without getting harmed and this sign was exemplified with Paul shaking off a viper's bite with no ill effects (Acts 28:3-6). God is able to work that miracle as a sign among believers. But this does not mean that one should go around and pick up vipers and see if he may get hurt -- that would be putting God to the test. That is not a sign of faith. Analogously, when God has made medical help available to us, we need to use it wisely and appropriately. God can certainly heal us without the use of medical help, but can also work through medical care. It is up to Him to decide how He will manifest His mighty works and wisdom in our lives, not up to us to dictate to Him.

God is our Creator and our ultimate Physician. He can heal us physically and spiritually. He has also given some people the profession of being physicians, so that they can help those who may become ill. God's wisdom and authority is beyond measure and I praise Him for that. Praise Him!

Journeyman

In Hebrews 11:13, it is said that the patriarchs of faith lived as aliens and strangers on earth. Their true home was in heaven and their abodes on earth were considered temporary. With no place on earth worthy to be called a permanent home, they were on the move quite often. Looking back on my own life, I can count at least 21 moves I have made; that is almost a move every two years. The longest I stayed in one place was for thirteen years and the shortest was for less than a year. According to the US Census Bureau, Americans move to a new home every 5 years on average (http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/85673.html) or about 16 times over their lifetime. It is not surprising that as an immigrant, I have been moving more than the average.

Despite the frequent moves, I think one of the most difficult decisions of life has to do with whether one should stay in the same place or move to another. How should the decision be made?

The simple answer to that is that one should take the lead from the Lord. As the Israelites journeyed in the wilderness for 40 years, they were led by a pillar of cloud and fire of the Lord (Exodus 13:21-22). "In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels." (Exodus 40:36-38).

The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire -- the guiding presence of the Lord -- determined two things. First, the pillar determined the time to move and the time to stay put. In the Bible, a recurring theme is that of the appointed time. At the appointed time, God's promise of a son for Sarah was fulfilled (Genesis 18:14). At the appointed time, the Israelites were to appear before the Lord to celebrate the Feasts (Exodus 23:15, 34:18, Leviticus 23, Numbers 9). God chooses the appointed time (Psalm 75:2) and directs man's history according to His appointed times (Daniel 8:19, 11:27, 29, 35). Jesus' redemptive ministry was according to the appointed time (Matthew 26:18) and His judgment will occur at the appointed time as well (I Corinthians 4:5). God is in charge of history and of my life's timeline. The best course is to follow His timeline. Second, the pillar determined the direction of move, serving as a guide to the Israelites. The Lord guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3). As He guides us, He will turn the darkness into light before us and make rough places smooth (Isaiah 42:16). Even if we should be in a sun-scorched land, He will satisfy our needs and we "will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11). Now the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth (John 16:13). This God is our guide for ever and ever, until the end (Psalm 48:14).

In deciding whether to move or to stay, the decision becomes easy if we leave it to the Lord and follow His lead. The decision should not hinge on worldly concerns like wealth, fame, and pride. Rather the discernment is about whether it is the right time according to the Lord's timetable and whether it is in the direction that the Lord is taking us.

Lord God, You are my Shepherd and my Guide. You lead me to green pastures and still waters -- bread and drink for my spirit. I will follow You, wherever You lead me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

A Helper's Reward

Every Sunday, my pastor and his wife drive 1 1/2 hours to serve at a small church, that is not financially independent and is not able to support a pastor of its own. Usually it is the pastor's wife, who drives for 3 hours. The other day, as I was talking with her, she half-jokingly said, "When I go to heaven, I will be a driver there, too." As I listened to her half-joke, I pondered whether she will be rewarded as a driver, --- or more.

I think the biblical answer is that she will be rewarded the same as her husband.

In speaking of rewards to be given to someone who receives a prophet, Jesus said, "Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward." (Matthew 10:41) When we get to heaven, it is not just those who served as prophets or famous preachers who will receive accolades and rewards. Anyone who receives and serves them because they are men and women of God will also receive the same rewards. What an encouragement to all those who stay behind in their home country and financially and prayerfully support those who are at the missionary front! This is the reward system that the Master has decided and there is no argument about it. This is fair to all involved, including the prophets and their supporters, because the Master has the right to do what He wants with His property and because any reward that He gives out is out of His generosity (Matthew 20:15).

The story of David and his men in I Samuel 30 can be understood in the same vein. The story occurred while they were living in the land of the Philistines, to escape the pursuit of King Saul. When David and his men returned from the war front to their hometown of Ziglak, they found that the town had been raided by the Amalekites and their wives had been taken captive. They decided to pursue the Amalekites, but on the way at the Besor Ravine, two hundred men were too exhausted to contiue and stayed behind, while the remaining 400 men continued the pursuit. David and the 400 ended up not only recovering everyone and everything, but also plundering the Amalekites. Upon their return, there arose a dispute as to whether the 200 who stayed behind should take part in the plunder. Although the "evil men and troublemakers" among David's followers said that the 200 should have no part in the plunder, David's response was different. He said, "No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us. Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike." (I Samuel 30:23-24). This became a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day on. Note what David acknowledges. The plunder is not what they earned, but is what the Lord has given to them. The Lord has given generously and all who are in the Lord's family have a share in the inheritance.

In Genesis, we read that God created woman to be a helper for her husband (Genesis 2:18). Though the man of the house may go out to toil and earn an income for the family, the woman of the house who stays behind and maintains the house is doing a work that is just as worthy. One cannot do what he or she is doing without the other doing her or his part. The helper's work is as important as that of the one being helped.

Likewise in the church, all the belivers are parts of the same body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:14-27). Some may function like an eye, some may function like an ear, some like a mouth, some like an arm, and some like a foot. No part is dispensable; if any is missing, the body is no longer whole. Every part doing its portion for the sake of Christ will be receiving its reward in heaven. While the work of a minister may be honorable, if I serve him because he is a minister of God, then I would also get the minister's reward in heaven. Wow, what an amazing reward system that our Father has for us!

Whatever task the Lord assigns me to do in the church, my job is to be faithful to the task. "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." (I Corinthians 4:2). When the Lord returns to hold me accountable, what He will look for will be whether I have been a good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:14-30), rather than how much I have accomplished. In the end, what I accomplish or do matters little to the Lord; what He wants to see is whether I have loved, honored and respected Him to obey Him faithfully. Even if I accomplish little, if I am faithful, I will be rewarded as a good and faithful servant. If I am faithful as a servant and a supporter of the important task that the minister carries out, I will be rewarded like the faithful minister. No sense in trying to promote myself to become a deacon, an elder, or a minister for my personal glory and gain; rather in whatever position the Lord has put me in, I should strive to be faithful and serve those who have been placed in positions of leadership and seeming importance.

Lord, let me be a good helper to your minister, because he is your minister. Let me be a good and faithful servant in all that You have assigned me to. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Fully Committed to the Lord

"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him." (II Chronicles 16:9)

The description of being FULLY COMMITTED to the Lord is used only thrice in the whole Bible (NIV). All three uses are in connection with King Asa of Judah. In chapter 15 of II Chronicles (and chapter 15 of I Kings), we read about the first 35 years of King Asa's reign, when he was fully committed to the Lord. Chapter 16 of II Chronicles is about his later years, when he strayed from the Lord.

When Asa was fully committed to the Lord, he listened to the Lord's prophet, Azariah son of Oded. Listening to Azariah, Asa took courage and rid the country of all the detestable idols. Asa was so thorough in this task, that he even deposed his grandmother Maacah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive Asherah pole. He was making a complete severance with sin and became dead to sin (Romans 6:11). Then he repaired the altar of the Lord and brought his people together to make sacrifices to the Lord. In worshipping the Lord, Asa and his people entered into a covenant that they would seek the Lord with all their heart and soul. They swore an oath to the Lord wholeheartedly and rejoiced in doing so. They sought the Lord and He was found by them. The country had peace for 35 years.

When Asa strayed from the Lord, he sought his own ways, rather than the Lord's (Isaiah 55:9). When Judah was invaded by Baasha king of Israel, Asa did not turn to the Lord, but chose to deal with it by a treaty with Ben-Hadad king of Aram. Asa did not remember that the Lord had delivered Judah from the invasion of a vast army of the Cushites (II Chronicles 14). When Hanani the seer came to rebuke the king, Asa was enraged and put the seer in prison. Later when Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet, he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians. He ended up dying two years later.

As I seek the Lord, I must examine whether I am fully committed to Him. Full commitment in a marriage has two components: (1) I must not adulterate with any women other than my wife. (2) I must amorously love my wife and only her. Likewise, as Asa's life demonstated, full commitment to the Lord has two components: (1) I must repent of my sins and be dead to sin. (2) I must seek the Lord and love Him with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Lord, I do love You. Help me be fully committed to You. Let me be truly dead to sin and alive to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Always pray and do not give up

In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable to teach His disciples that they should always pray and not give up. The parable is of a widow who petitions an unjust judge to grant her justice against her adversary. Although the judge dismisses her for some time, in the end he is worn out and accedes to her request. Jesus concludes that if the unjust judge is willing to hear the widow, how much more would God the Father listen to our pleas? Would He keep putting us off?

This parable was told right after Jesus told about the Coming of the Kingdom of God. The justice the widow is seeking is probably representing the ultimate justice the saints of the Lord are seeking (Revelations 6:9-11), the justice that will come about with the Second Coming of the Lord. But the persistent prayer that we are to raise to the Father without giving up or fainting or being discouraged is probably not just about the ultimate justice.

Jesus taught us to pray with confidence that our Heavenly Father would give us the good gifts that we ask for: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:7-12). Luke makes it clear that the good gift that Jesus is referring to is the Holy Spirit: "If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13).

Lately, I have been praying for the Holy Spirit to be poured down on me and to empower me with His presence and His gifts. I have not felt that my prayers have been answered yet. Though the Holy Spirit certainly dwells in me and guides me, I am not experiencing His power in my life. At times, I even ask the question, "why is God putting off granting me the good gift?" Why, Lord, are you waiting?

Is it because God's time for me to be empowered with the Spirit has not come? I should nevertheless not despair, but persist in praying continually. Or, is it because I am not ready to be empowered by the Spirit? A new wine is not to be put into an old wineskin, but into a new one, so that it will not burst and be ruined (Matthew 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37). Perhaps I need to become a new "wineskin." Perhaps I need to be transformed by the renewing of my mind and offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:1-2). My life must be a continual act of spiritual worship. But this transformation is also an act of the Spirit, not my own.

Lord, as you promised, I am seeking the good gift of the Holy Spirit and Your empowering presence in my life. Do not let me conform to the patterns of this world, but let me be transformed and be a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You. Help me persist in praying without becoming discouraged. Lord, have mercy on me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

National Consciousness

The 2010 edition of the World Cup is being played in South Africa this month. 32 countries from around the globe have been fortunate and skilled enough to qualify for the main event. Koreans are represented by both South Korea and North Korea at the World Cup. As an ethnic Korean, I cannot help rooting for the team from South Korea, while harboring some sympathy and hope even for the team from North Korea. This morning when I woke up, the first news I checked was what happened to the game between South Korea and Greece. I was overjoyed upon learning that Korea beat Greece by a score of 2 to 0. (My second-generation son in California told me he got up at 3 AM to watch the game.) I kept reading any and all articles about this game, even though I already knew all that there was to know about it, because I wanted to bask in the victory. Is such nationalist consciousness (some might even call it nationalism) consistent with the Bible?

There is no question that all nations and peoples descended from one man, Adam -- more specifically from one of Adam's descendants -- Noah after the great flood (Genesis 10). Greeks or Koreans, we are all related to one another. Human genomic studies also prove that despite differences in outward appearance, all men and women are more than 99.9 % the same in their genetic makeup. And, "there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, also see Colossians 3:11). As a Christian then, should I insist on maintaining my ethnic and national identity and root for my own nation above others?

I think the answer is a resounding yes. Paul spoke to the citizens of Athens, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:24-27). God is the author of the multiplicity and diversity of nations. He allowed this to happen. When people rebelled against His command to "be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1 as well as Genesis 1:28) and tried to build a tower so as not to be scattered over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:4), God confused their language and scattered them (Genesis 11:7-8). God made them into different nations and is sovereign over the rise and fall of nations (Daniel 4). God gives authority and power to whomever He is pleased with and He sets the times and boundaries of nations (Acts 17:26), so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out and find Him (Acts 17:27). His sovereignty over nations and His works in man's history are one way His divine nature is manifested to mankind (Romans 1:19-20). And the diversity of nations is not just for this world, but will be maintained even in the New World, New Jerusalem (Revelations 21:22-26).

Paul, who preached that we are all one in Christ, maintained a strong love of his people, the nation of Israel. He wrote, "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel." (Romans 9:2-4). This is, of course, reminiscent of Moses' intercessory prayer after the Israelites made a golden calf and worshiped it: "please forgive their sin — but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written." (Exodus 32:32).

God's creation is all the more beautiful because of the diversity, including the diversity of cultures and nations. His glory and majesty is more appropriately revealed in the diversity, rather than in monotone and uniformity. I need not be ashamed or guilty of my national consciousness. While my Christian love would extend to all nations, peoples and ethnic groups, I should and will maintain and sing of my cultural heritage and distinctiveness.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children.

As a father of three children, I often struggle with this verse from Ephesians 6:4. "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Where is the right balance between bringing your children up in the "training and instruction of the Lord" and disciplining them on the one hand and being overbearing in my attempt to discipline them on the other? What is really meant in the command, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children"?

Much of what I am writing in the rest of this blog is taken from a sermon by David B. Curtis of Berean Bible Church of Dublin, OH (Reference: http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/colossians/3_21.htm). Berean Bible Church is a nondenominational church that is Bible-centered, reformed, orthodox in theology, and Presbyterian in church government. (I am not a member of the church by the way, but have found the sermon instructive.)

First, the command means that fathers play an important role in upbringing of the children. Unlike what some feminists may declare, children raised without a father do much worse in the society than those raised with a father. Human fathers are to exemplify the relationship that our heavenly Father has with us. Our heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and in fact demonstrated His love for us while we were still sinners by sending His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us (Romans 5:8). His love did not just stop there, but He continues to love us through all our failures and shortcomings. As a father to my children, I must demonstrate such love, so that they will know that no matter what the circumstances may be, they can count on me to love them. Our Father in heaven is faithful and is forgiving, when we confess our sins (I John 1:9). Likewise, I must be forgiving to our children, when they turn away from their mistakes. Not only seven times, but even seventy seven times (Matthew 18:22), or even more. Our Father in heaven also knows our needs and always provides for us (Matthew 6:25-34). As a human father, I must provide for my family or be God's instrument in providing for the family.

Second, the command is for fathers not to exasperate the children. This word "exasperate" has also been translated as "embitter", "provoke", "irritate", or "excite in a negative fashion." This is clearly something that happens when the human father is not acting in likeness of the heavenly Father and is misrepresenting the image of the heavenly Father. Elder Curtis offers some examples of when a father may exasperate his children:

1. when the father or parents are overly "protective" with far too strict rules that cannot possibly be kept (and that the parents themselves could probably not keep when they were children). Such over protection communicates to the children that they are not trusted by the parents.

2. when the father has no standards or applies them inconsistently, thereby providing no guidance to the children, who then feel insecure and unloved. (This is the flip side of #1 above.) The children are to be brought up in the training and instructions of the Lord. Such upbringing must start from the early childhood. "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

3. when the father refuses to listen to what the children have to say or, worse, neglects to spend time with the children. The children may then feel unloved and unimportant and may develop a deep-seated resentment.

4. when the father fails to show affection both verbally and physically. This discourages and alienates the children.

5. when the father sets unrealistic goals for the children, sometimes in an attempt to achieve something vicariously through the children. They may become frustrated and unapproved.

6. when the father shows favoritism, whether knowingly or unwittingly by comparing a child to siblings or friends. Jacob might have frustrated Joseph's brothers with his favoritism for Joseph. Isaac and Rebekah each had a favorite son, Esau and Jacob, who ended up becoming each other's enemies.

7. when the father is overly critical, not constructively critical. According to Elder Curtis, Haim Ginott, the famed child psychologist, wrote: "A child learns what he lives. If he lives with criticism, he does not learn responsibility. He learns to condemn himself and to find fault with others. He learns to doubt his own judgment, to disparage his own ability, and to distrust the intentions of others. And above all, he learns to live with continual expectation of impending doom" (Between Parent and Child [New York: MacMillan, 1965], p. 72).

8. when the father's "discipline" is excessive, with verbal abuse -- saying things that he would never say to anyone else or saying things out of anger.

9. when the father indulges the children, giving them whatever they want. Instead of gratitude, such indulgence may rather create a sense of misguidance and resentment.

Third, the result of exasperation is the children becoming discouraged (Colossians 3:21) (Greek word "athumeo"). When exasperated, they may become disheartened, dispirited, and broken in spirit. Rather they need to be encouraged and built up. In the church, we are to encourage and build each other up (Ephesians 4:29, I Thessalonians 5:11); how much more should a father do so within his own family, towards his own children?

As Elder Curtis points out, when fathers realize that they have failed this commandment and they cannot keep it on their own, but are in need of God's grace, that is precisely where God wants them to be -- where the fathers fall on their knees and seek God's help and grace. I am right there. Lord, You are my heavenly Father. Although I should have been a good reflection of You in my relationship with my children, I have often failed. In fact, I realize that I have often exasperated them and sinned against You. Forgive me and help me to be a better father, a better reflection of You. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

The weaker partner

After God created Adam, He said, "It is not good for a man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Genesis 2:18). Taking a rib from the man, God created a woman. Adam called her "bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh" and gave her the name Eve (Genesis 2:23). Thus she became the first wife. This accolade was short-lived, however. After eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam blamed it on his wife, who tried to shift the blame to the snake. As punishment, Adam was to toil the soil all his life and Eve was to be ruled by her husband. Thus began the often uneasy relationship between the husband and wife. Even though the spousal relationship was meant to foreshadow the relationship between Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:25-33), husbands have never really loved their wives as Christ loves the church. Nor have wives respected their husbands as the church would look up to Christ.

Yet it is in the self-interest of the husband to love his wife. First, the wife is really the bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. Loving her is the same as loving himself (Ephesians 5:28, 33). As the weaker part of his body, she is indispensable (I Corinthians 12:22). Without her, he is not whole. With her glorified and beautified, he is honored. A wife of noble character is her husband's crown (Proverbs 12:4).

Second, the husband's physical well-being depends on his wife. The husband and the wife really belong to each other. "The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer." (I Corinthians 7:4-5). The pleasure and joy of the earthly life depends on a harmonious relationship between the two. The husband is to "rejoice in the wife of (his) youth" (Proverbs 5:18).

Third and perhaps most importantly, the spiritual well-being of the husband depends on how considerate and respectful he is towards his "weaker partner". Without that, his prayers will be hindered (I Peter 3:7). Without a healthy relationship with his wife, his channel of communication with God is blocked. His prayers would not be answered. God emphasizes sound earthly family relationships, in order to have a sound heavenly family relationship. One is not excused from having to honor his parents, even for a "devotion" to God (Mark 7:9-13). Anyone who does not love his brother cannot love God, either (I John 4:20-21, I John 3:10). Likewise, anyone who does not take care of his wife will be hindered from praying to the Lord.

God has given my wife to me as a weaker partner to protect and to cherish, to keep as my fountain of joy from the youth (Proberbs 5:18), to remember Christ's love of the church by, and not to be alone without in my journey to the heavenly home. She is worth far more than rubies (Proverbs 31:10), because she is a gift from the Lord (Proverbs 19:14). Amen.

The gift of tongues

One of the "envies" that many Christians, including I, have felt at times is that of someone else who has received the gift of tongues. No matter that it is the last and maybe the least of gifts of the Spirit that Paul lists in his letter to the Corinthian church (I Corinthians 12:28). It is nonetheless one of the most compelling and telling gifts, as if it provides evidence of the Spirit working in you. All the Apostles and the others who were praying together in the Upper Room of Mark on the day of Pentecost received this gift (Acts 2:4), which was the first manifestation of the Holy Spirit working in them. When Cornelius and his household received God's words delivered by Peter, they too received the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues (Acts 10:45-46). Even though Paul asks rhetorically "Do all speak in tongues?" (I Corinthians 12:30), many Christians who have not received this gift cannot help wondering "why not me?"

But what is the big deal about this gift of tongue?

Paul wrote that he spoke in tongues more than others (I Corinthians 14:18) and implied that there might be tongues of men and tongues of angels (I Corinthians 13:1). There certainly seem to be multiple kinds of tongues.

The gift of tongues in Acts 2 was not the same kind as the gift of tongues that Paul refers to in I Corinthias 12 or 14. In Acts 2, Apostles who spoke in tongues were not only intelligible, but also were understood to be speaking in the native tongues of many peoples from many nations -- 15 listed in Acts (Acts 2:4-11). This was a reversal of what happened at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). In the plain in Shinar, people were building a tower to reach the heavens in rebellion against God and were scattered so that they could not conspire against God. In Jerusalem after Pentecost, on the other hand, the Holy Spirit was bringing His people back together through the Apostles speaking in tongues that were intelligible to all, so that they may now repent and be reconciled with God.

What happened in Acts 2 has not been (recorded to be) replicated ever since. Whether tongues of men or of angels, it seems that one who speaks in tongues is generally unintelligible, because he "utters mysteries with his spirit" (I Corinthians 14:2). In fact, in praying in tongues, he edifies his spirit, but his mind "is unfruitful" (I Corinthians 14:14). That is, the words are unintelligible even to himself, unless he receives the gift of interpretation, which he should pray for (I Corinthians 14:13).

Why then is this unintelligible utterance a gift of the Holy Spirit? Why is the Spirit pleased to hand out the gift to some/many of the Christians? (I Corinthians 12:11). The gift of tongues certainly has benefits. In praying in tongues, one speaks to God and utters mysteries to his spirit (I Corinthians 14:2). One gets to pray what God wants him to pray and thus according to His will. The "work" of praying becomes much easier and enjoyable. In the process, he edifies himself (I Corinthians 14:4) and, if there is interpretation, he can also edify the church (I Corinthians 14:5). Receiving the gift of tongues will aid in my own spiritual edification and growth and in my communication and fellowship with the Lord. For this reason, I need to feel no shame in "envying" for this gift and asking for it. Even Paul says that he "would like every one of you to speak in tongues" (I Corinthians 14:5). The gift of tongues, though the least of the gifts, is like the most basic of the gifts that I should seek. Then with interpretation added, I may get a glimpse of what the Lord has in mind, what He wills for me, what He cares about, ... Oh, what a wonderful gift! It is certainly a big deal!

Lord, I seek this gift of tongues. I want to be able to fellowship with you better. I want to pray in spirit in accordance with what Your Spirit wants me to pray. I also want to understand and interpret, so that I may praise and pray to you in spirit and in mind. Lord, grant it to me. Amen.

When I am weak, then I am strong.

Having had a myocardial infarction and two angioplasties with six stents and going through a cardiac rehab program, I am made all the more aware of my own weaknesses and frailties. Though I have been moving about as if I would live a thousand years, in actuality my life hangs on a little clot or lack thereof. If a clot were to develop within one of my coronary stents, I would probably have another MI and may even die. If God were to snuff out a smoldering wick that is me, then my days on this earth would instantly come to an end, but He does not or has not (Isaiah 42:3).

But I am comforted by Paul's confession that he will not boast about anything except his own weaknesses (II Corinthians 12:5), because when he is weak, then Christ's power may rest in him and he is made strong (II Corinthians 12:9-10). By tradition, it has been said that Paul was short in stature and suffered from chronic eye ailments -- what he refers to as a thorn in his flesh (II Corinthians 12:7). Though he wrote forcefully and powerfully, he was not always eloquent in speech, but "timid" (II Corinthians 10:1, 11:6). Yet through this weakling of a man, God chose to inspire nearly half of the New Testament and to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles of the then-known world around the entire Mediterranean (Acts 9:15, 22:21, Galatians 1:16, 2:8-9).

God's power and greatness has always been manifest, without dependence on man's strengths. God chose a man named Abraham, who was "as good as dead", to produce a multitude of descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore (Hebrews 11:12). When Gideon gathered Israelites to go out and fight the Midianites, there were initially 32,000 men. God said, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, 'Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.' " (Judges 7:2-3). After all those with fear left, there were 10,000 left and were still too many. After a test at the water, only 300 men were left and considered few enough to fight the Midianites and Amalekites who were as "thick as locusts" and whose camels "could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore." (Judges 7:12). Of course, the result was a resounding victory for God and His chosen 300. When David went out to fight Goliath, David was "only a boy" whereas Goliath was "a fighting man from his youth" in Saul's assessment (I Samuel 17:33). Yet this mere boy, going out in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, struck down Goliath, a champion over 9 feet tall, and cut off his head.

As the heavens are higher than the earth, God's ways are higher than ours and His thoughts higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9). God's way of accounting is vastly different from and superior to ours. When Jesus saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He tested His disciples by asking how they would buy bread to feed the crowd, numbering 5000 men and probably as many women and children (John 6). The disciples' way of calculating led to an answer that they would need 8 months of wages or 200 denarii to buy enough bread for everyone to have a bite. Jesus' way was to see what was already there -- 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread -- and, after giving thanks, to distribute it to all those who were there. Everyone had as much as he or she wanted and there were still 12 basketfulls of left-overs. God wants to work through us, not because He needs us or what we have, but so that He can declare His majesty and omnipotence and He wants us to see it and believe in Him.

I am weak and barely amount to a smoldering wick and bruised reed. Yet I can rejoice and be confident in the knowledge that in my weakness, God's strength will be manifest and His power may rest in me. His grace is amazing and praiseworthy. Amen.

Obeying God, Loving God

One of the Bible stories that I learned growing up was that of King Saul and the Amalekites (I Samuel 15). The Lord commanded him to go and utterly destroy all that belonged to the Amalekites, whether people or animals. Saul was victorious in his war against the Amalekites, but chose to spare the fattest of the animals. He was unwilling to destroy the best of Amalek, choosing to disobey the Lord in the process. Samuel came to Saul and told him, "To obey is better than sacrifice" (I Samuel 15:22). This phrase "To obey is better than sacrifice" was taught to me over and over and has been firmly ingrained in my thought and perspective.

When Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you," (John 15:7), I simply thought in terms of obeying His words to remain in Him. That is, I thought in terms of keeping all His commands and following them. Like the rich young man that once came to Jesus and asked what good thing he had to do to get eternal life (Matthew 19:16-23), my attitude was that if I keep all that God commanded, then what do I still lack? I equated obeying His words with loving Him.

But in order for me to truly obey, I must be loving first. In loving, my obedience is not only to the letter of the law, but actually more abundanctly and overflowingly than that. That is what Jesus is teaching in His sermon on the mount. Jesus was fulfilling the Law (Matthew 5:17). In fulfilling the Law, He taught that if someone forces you to go one mile, then go with him two miles (Matthew 5:41). Do more than merely what is required, but do so out of love. That is what Macedonians practiced when they gave their offerings and alms (II Corinthians 8:1-5). The Macedonians were experiencing severe trials and extreme poverty, yet they gave with overflowing joy beyond their ability. They even pleaded with Paul and the apostles for the "privilege" of sharing with other saints. Giving was not just something the Macedonians were doing as a matter of duty and responsibility, but they considered it their privilege and so did it beyond their ability. It is like the proverbial ajumma (아줌마, Korean mother) who wants to not only fill your rice bowl, but pile it with a double portion of rice as an outpouring of love and generosity.

No question that I must obey the Lord and all He commands. I can only do so truly, only if I do it as an outpouring of love and with a generous heart, going all out with overflowing joy for the privilege of being able to obey what God commands me to do. Oh, Lord, enable me and endear me, so that with the love and power I receive from you, I may be able to fully obey you with an outpouring of love and generosity. Amen.

New creation

Apostle Paul writes in II Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" What characterizes someone who is a new creation is explained in the verses that precede and follow this verse.

In verse 16, he writes, "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer." First of all, someone who is a new creation has a new view, a new perspective of the world and all that is in it. The world is no longer the be all and end all. It is no longer the pride and joy of life. The life in this world is a brief journey, a mere stopover, that is incomparable to what is to come. By faith, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter and regarded the treasures of Egypt and the pleasures of sin to be inferior to the reward that he was looking ahead to (Hebrews 11:24-26). Paul, the best educated of him time under Gamaliel and socially prominent, considered all of that to be but a loss and a rubbish (Philippians 3:8). In Korean translation, the last word is actually 'dung'.

This new view of the world is because of the new creation's new view of the Christ. Jesus Christ is not merely what the people of the world say he is. He is not just a teacher, a wise man, or even a saint. He is not just another prophet or even John the Baptist, as many in His days considered Him to be (Matthew 16:14). He is much, much more than any of that. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, as Peter confessed (Matthew 16;16). He is my personal Savior! Knowing Jesus to be so is so surpassingly great that everything else is but a loss and a rubbish (Philippians 3:8). Knowing Jesus to be my Savior gives me a new perspective, because I can now look ahead to resurrection and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. What is in this world is dishonorable, corruptible, and time-limited; what will be resurrected will be honorable, incorruptible, and eternal (I Corinthians 15). Knowing this, how can the new creation choose the dishonorable and the corruptible over the honorable and the incorruptible? He can't and shouldn't.

With the new perspective of who Jesus is and of what the world is really like comes the realization that the new creation has a new responsibility. It is the realization that we became new creation because God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and that God wants us to be agents of reconciliation, delivering to others the message of reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 5:18-20). We have been appointed as God's ambassadors, imploring the people of the world to repent and be reconciled with God.

How precious is this saying! How surpassingly great it is to know Jesus as my Savior and Christ and to have hope in resurrection and eternal life through Him! How overwhelming it is to know that now He considers me His agent, His ambassador, His messenger, and His representative, delivering His message of reconciliation to this world! Praise the Lord, Amen!

What God wants vs. What God does

The Bible is clear in stating that God does not want "anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). He "wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 3:4).

Yet, it is also clear that faith, by which salvation comes, is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) and this gift has been given to some, but not all men and women. Jesus said that the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to His disciples, but not to others in the crowd who heard the same parable from Him (Matthew 13:11). In His prayer, Jesus clearly spoke of those whom the Father has given Him and who belong to the Father, different from those who are of the world (John 17:9). When Paul and Barnabas were preaching in Pisidian Antioch, it was those who were "appointed for eternal life" that believed (Acts 13:48). Those who become God's children have been chosen before the creation of the world and "predestined" to be adopted to be His children (Ephesians 1:4-5, 11).

If God wants all men to be saved, why did He not choose and predestine all men to be saved? This has been a perplexing question for many students of the Bible.

I find my answer to this question in Lamentations 3:32-33: "Though He brings grief, He will show compassion, so great is His unfailing love. For He does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men."

It is not God's will to bring affliction or grief to the children of men, but He does bring grief. It seems that God sometimes does, though not willingly, what He does not want to do -- like bringing grief. It seems that God does not always do what He wants to do in His compassion and love.

He has decreed that the price of sin is death: "And the LORD God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.'" (Genesis 2:16-17). Adam sinned and all men after him became sinners, all deserving of death. God is faithful to His words and must exact the price of sin from the sinners. It is not, however, that God predestined us to become sinners and to die of sin; we became sinners on our own.

God still shows compassion to sinners. He shines the sunlight and sends rain to all men, whether righteous or not (Matthew 5:45). And He has given a special gift to some men, whom He has chosen before the creation and predestined to be His adopted children.

Obviously it is not known to us as to who has been chosen and who has not been. We only know who has been chosen, once he or she believes -- even here, most of us would not know for sure, until we meet each other in heaven. It is not our responsibility to try to figure out what has not been given to us. What is our task is to rejoice in salvation and glorify the Lord's name.

Black, white, and other colors

I remember the discussion I had at Yale with one of the seminary students about Ludwig Wittgenstein. According to the seminary student, Wittgenstein would hold that the earth could be flat or round -- without there being an objective truth that it is one, but not the other. This same Wittgenstein has been labled as one of the most influential philosophers of the 20th century and may have shaped many of the ideas held by the secular relativists of today. I certainly did not like Wittgenstein, as he was presented to me.

On the other hand, are we as Christians to hold an absolutist view on all matters? Is everything just black or white? Aren't there any colors in between? Does the Bible allow for any diversity of ideas?

Certainly there are absolute truths in the Bible. There is only one God who created heavens and earth (Deuteronomy 6:4, I Samuel 2:2, I Samuel 7:22, I Chronicles 17:20, Mark 12:29, Romans 3:30, I Corinthians 8:4, I Timothy 2:5). All men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). There is only one Savior that God has given to man and that is Jesus Christ our Lord (I Timothy 2:5, Acts 4:12). By believing in Him, we are saved and reconciled with God (Romans 5:1-2). As believers, we are now a temple of God, with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and guiding us (I Corinthians 3:16, I Corinthians 6:19).

While these are absolute truths, the Bible does seem to allow for shades of ideas on certain other matters. In Romans 14, Pauls calls these "disputable matters" (Romans 14:1). One example of such disputable matters is what one does with food (Romans 14:2). Some people will eat everything, while others will avoid certain foods, such as meat that has been offered up to an idol. This was a question that vexed the Corinthian church. Meat sold in the marketplace was often/usually meat that had been offered as part of idol worship. If a Christian man was to visit a non-Christian, who served meat, should the Christian eat it? There wasn't anything inherently wrong about eating the meat, since all food was given by God. So, Paul's advice was to go ahead and eat it, but without asking where it came from (I Corinthians 10:27). But if he was then told that the meat had been offered as a sacrifice to an idol, he had better not eat it, for conscience' sake -- the conscience of the one who told him so (I Corinthinans 10:28).

There are many other such "disputable matters." Should a woman wear a dress or pants? Should she put on a make-up and wear jewelry when going to the church? Should Christian children go to public or private schools or do home schooling? As a physician, should one work on Sundays or arrange for coverage by a non-Christian physician? Can I fill my car with gas on Sundays, when I know I could have prepared and filled it with gas ahead of time? Can a Christian drink alcohol -- beer, wine, etc.?

While there is not one clear answer to many of these disputable matters, it is not as if the Bible provides no guidance on them. It is not that one can do whatever one wants to do with regard to the disputable matters. Even on these disputable matters, the Bible does provide guidance on how one should approach them. The first rule of guidance is that whatever one does, he must do it with faith and clear conscience between God and him (Romans 14:22-23), so that with his choice, he may glorify God (I Corinthians 10:31). If I believe in my conscience that drinking beer is detrimental to my faith life, I should not drink it. I should not do something, while believing that it is contrary to my worshipping and serving of the Lord. If a lady wants to dress with modesty to show her humility before the Lord, she should not be wearing extravagantly with all kinds of make-up; but if she believes that she needs to be presentable to the Lord, she may use her make-up to her advantage. What I do on these disputable matters without faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Second, whatever I believe about these disputable matters, I am to keep it between God and myself (Romans 14:22) and should not use my belief to pass judgment on others (Romans 14:13 ff). I should not put a stumbling block or an obstacle in my brother's way, but promote peace and mutual edification. If I believe that drinking wine is un-Christian-like, I should abstain for my clear conscience. But when I see someone else drinking it, I should not pass judgment on him and make it a stumbling block that hinders his salvation or spiritual growth. (But I may need to advise him on drinking on other grounds -- physical health, addiction, effect on family and others around him when he drinks, financial stability, etc.)

But this does not mean that I am to use this freedom to indulge and fall into debauchery. "Everything is permissible", but not everything is beneficial; "everything is permissible", but not everything is constructive (I Corinthians 10:23). I am to ask whether my action on a disputable matter is good to others and builds them up. I should seek what is good to others.

The world God created has white, black, and many other colors. The Bibilical view is neither just absolutistic nor relativistic. There are certain absolute truths that we must adhere to. But on other disputable matters, there is room for variations. Variations may be allowed as long as they don't impinge on and are not inconsistent with the absolute. We should choose in ways that show our love of the Lord and of our neighbors.

Jabez's territory

Jabez's prayer that appears in I Chronicles 4:10 has been made famous in a book by the same name by Bruce Wilkinson. The book sold more than 9 million copies and created a sensation among many people, including many Christians. In the prayer, Jabez cried out to the Lord, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." This prayer was in a way very appropriate because his mother had given birth to him in pain and that was why he was named Jabez, meaning 'pain.' So he prayed that he would be free from pain, probably both the pain that he may cause on other people and the pain that he may suffer himself.

The other part of his prayer was that the Lord would bless him and enlarge his territory. This prayer request was granted to him by the Lord (I Chronicles 4:10). So we know that Jabez's territory was enlarged in some way. But the Bible is not very specific on how that happened, except for a few hints here and there. Because Jabez is mentioned in the genealogy of the tribe of Judah, we can surmise that he was himself probably of the tribe of Judah, although his father's name is not mentioned. Furthermore, his name appears among the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and the (grand)father of Bethlehem (I Chronicles 4:4). So it might be that Jabez's territory was in or near Bethlehem, which was, of course, the town of Jesse, of David, and later of our Lord Jesus Christ. In I Chronicles 2:54, there appears a place named (after) Jabez, where some of the descendants of Salma, son of Hur and father of Bethlehem, lived. These people were scribes and of the house of Recab. The Recabites may be the same clan that was singled out and complimented by the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 35), because they followed their forefather's commands. The Lord blessed the Recabites that they "will never fail to have a man to serve Me." (Jeremiah 35:19).

Putting these all together, I think that enlarging Jabez's territory amounted to expanding the domain of the Lord's reign, where people follow His commands and serve Him. In New Testament terms, it amounts to the kingdom of heaven "forcefully advancing" (Matthew 11:12). At the individual level, the kingdom of heaven is upon a person, when the Holy Spirit comes into him (Matthew 12:28)

In many ways, it is most appropriate that the name Jabez is associated with expanding the kingdom of heaven. To establish His church, our Lord endured the pain of the cross. Similarly, Paul wrote to the Galatians that he is "in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you" (Galatians 4:19). To find a lost soul and restore him to peace with God may take the painstaking efforts of childbirth, but just as a woman forgets the pain of childbirth because of the joy that follows it (John 16:21), the pain in gaining a lost soul is incomparable to the joy of welcoming a new member to God's household, His kingdom of heaven. Jabez's life and prayer is an embodiment of pain turning to joy because of God's redemption and blessing.

Lord, thank you for forbearing the pain and shame of the cross to give me a new birth and a new life. Enlarge your territory and may Your kingdom come into my life and may You be my King and my Master. Let me share in Your joy and be free from pain. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Going to the deep end

In Luke 5, there is a story of how Jesus called Peter to be a fisher of men. Peter had toiled all night long without catching any fish. As was customary, he had been working in the shallow waters, where there are schools of fish teeming. Then Jesus told him, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." This was something that did not make any sense to a long-time fisherman that Peter was. Yet, Peter said, "because you say so, I will let down the nets." When he did that, such a large number of fish was caught that the nets began to break. Partners in the other boat had to come over and help.

Jesus is calling to me to put out to the deep end as well. It is time for me to step out of the ankle-deep water (Ezekiel 47:3). I need to get into water that is knee-deep, up to the waist, and then deep enough to swim in. I need to be totally immersed in the grace of the Holy Spirit.

This will happen, when my response to Jesus' calling is "even though I tried everything and failed, because you say so, I will do whatever you tell me."

Lord, whatever you tell me to do, because you say so, I want to do it. Take me to the deep end and plunge me into the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Soak me in your grace. I am no longer afraid. I trust you will lead me to what is best. I seek the best gift, the Holy Spirit. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

If and when hearing God

A few weeks ago, I wrote about hearing God. It was mostly about how I may discern whether it is indeed God who is speaking to me. But suppose He actually speaks to me and I hear Him. How should I respond to that? How should I react to that?

One night, as the boy Samuel was lying down in the temple of God, God called him (I Samuel 3). Samuel did not initially recognize that it was God calling him. After Eli recognized what was happening, he told the boy that if God calls him again, he should say, "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening." And indeed that is how Samuel responded the next time God called him.

If God speaks to me, then what else is there to do, besides listening to Him as His servant? Listening to Him as His servant means that I am ready to spring to action of obedience -- to do whatever the Master tells me to do.

When Jesus called on Peter, Peter had been fishing all night long without catching any fish (Luke 5). Jesus then told Peter to go to the deep end and let down the nets. Peter responded, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." The important phrase here is, I think, "because you say so." Jesus is the master and whatever He tells me to do, whether it makes sense to me or not, I must obey and do.

In my prayer last night, I recalled a prayer I had as a junior high school boy. I said something like, "I offer myself. Receive and use me." In my prayer last night, I said, "Lord, tell me what to do and I will do it." The moment I said this, I felt as if the Lord said to me, "정말 그렇게 할래? (Really? Is that what you will do)?". I got scared at the enormity of implications and I hesitated. I knew that once I spoke a commitment ("Lord, tell me what to do and I will do it."), I could not retract it. I asked the Lord that if He is speaking to me, He would speak to me clearly; I could not be satisfied with a vague feeling that He might have spoken to me. I wanted a confirmation. Asking for confirmation was, however, a hedge on my part, probably because I was not ready to fully obey. I was not ready to go to the deep end and be immersed in the grace of the Holy Spirit.

I need to be able to say what the boy Samuel said, "Speak, your servant is listening." I need to be able to say what Simon Peter said, "But because you say so, I will." Lord, speak to me clearly and in no uncertain terms and help me obey You. Amen.

Being a leader

If one applies for a position of responsibility and leadership, one question that he might face is what his leadership style is. Many different answers have been given to this question, perhaps because there may not be one right answer. Many books have been written about leadership styles as well, often extolling the virtues of one leadership style or another. In the recent times, people have talked about a resonant leader, a servant leader, an inspirational leader, a charismatic leader, and a visionary leader, among others. What does the Bible say about a leader? What kind of person or what kind of character would God want to see as a leader?

In rejecting King Saul and selecting David as the leader of His people, God testified that David was a man after His own heart (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:12). David was chosen because he was after God's own heart. This quality of a leader describes what kind of relationship the leader has to have vis-a-vis the Lord. First, the leader has to recognize that his authority or position of leadership originates with the Lord God. King Nebuchadnezzar was driven out from his throne and driven away from people, until he recognized and acknowledged that "the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." (Daniel 4:32). That is the fundamental wisdom that any ruler or leader must possess. Even as He was being tried by Pilate, Jesus told him that he would have no power "if it were not given to (him) from above." (John 19:11). Second, the leader has to work to please the Lord more than anyone else. Actually I think this applies to anyone, whether in a position of great responsibility or less responsibility. Whether you are a leader or a underling, your ultimate Master and Leader is the Lord Himself (Ephesians 6:9). We are to work not to win favor of men, but "with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord" (Colossians 3:22). The first criterion that Jethro recommended to Moses in selecting leaders of the people was that they have to be "men who fear God" (Exodus 18:21). A leader must have the right relationship with the Lord and work to please Him and be after His heart.

When the sons of Zebedee and their mother came to Jesus and asked to be placed on either side of Jesus in His kingdom, a dispute arose among the disciples (Matthew 20:20-28). Basically they all wanted to be leaders in positions of power and authority, rather than to be servants. Jesus then said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:24-28). This quality of a leader describes what kind of relationship he must have vis-a-vis those whom he is leading. The leader has to serve them. How? In the same way that Jesus served us. The leader has to have in mind the interests of those whom he is leading, rather than his own, and has to be willing to sacrifice himself and his own interests. A leader has to be trustworthy and hate dishonest gain for himself (Exodus 18:21). A leader is not a wolf or a robber of the sheep, but a shepherd, a good shepherd who makes sure that the sheep "may have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). A sacrificial leader who serves to further the interests of the followers would be willingly followed.

Even though I am a follower of Jesus, it is no secret that I aspire to be a leader among men. If I am to be one, I must be after God's heart and serve those that I want to lead. I must be on my knees, praying to the Lord and checking if what I am doing or about to do is pleasing to Him. I must be on my knees as a servant, respecting others and seeking ways to further their interests. Can I drink that cup? If the Lord is willing, then I will be able to ...