Title: Faith and Love of Choji-il-gwan
Faith and Love of Choji Consistent
Text: Galatians 3:3
“Are you so foolish? Have you begun with the Spirit and now finish with the flesh?”
The president of a transportation company gave special instructions to his employees. Since the ship arrives late on Saturday night, everyone was told to come out and unload the ship on Sunday. Then a young man came up to the boss and said,
"boss! Because tomorrow is Sunday, I cannot work.” The boss said he couldn't work with a person who disobeyed his instructions, and told him to choose between quitting the company or going out to work tomorrow. The young man expressed his feelings like this: “Even though I have to take care of my elderly mother, I can’t work on Sundays!”
After that, the young man wandered around for three weeks, looking for a job, but did not find it.
One day, the governor of a certain bank in the city asked the president of a transportation company to introduce him to someone he could use. One more branch needs to be opened, but no one deserves it. The president thought deeply and recommended the young man he had fired. When asked why the governor recommended him, the president replied:
“Of course I fired the young man. He must have done it because he could never work on a Sunday. But, wouldn’t it be possible to entrust money to someone who doesn’t change their beliefs and principles according to their circumstances?”
Eventually, the young man got a better job than his previous job.
“But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
Among the characters in the Bible, Saul, the first king of Israel, is a typical example of a good beginning but a bad end. He was really humble at first. However, as he grew more and more arrogant, he invaded the realm of the priests, did not obey God's word, and when he was pointed out wrongdoing, he continued to rationalize and make excuses, and eventually, he was abandoned by God. Of course, it is ideal when both the beginning and the end are good. But a bad beginning but a good ending is far better than vice versa. God is pleased with such a person. The life of the saints should improve even little by little. We must become more and more like Jesus. We call it the journey of holiness.
What was your appearance when you first met Jesus and entered the path of faith? You should be radiating the fragrance of Jesus much more now than then. And from now on, we must emit a much stronger fragrance and bear many beautiful fruits of the Holy Spirit. That is right faith.
“I know your work, your love, your faith, your service, your perseverance, that your last deeds are greater than the first” (Revelation 2:19).
A couple was celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The couple, who liked Geumseul, invited the villagers to a small party. People all sincerely congratulated the couple on their anniversary and brought many gifts. When the atmosphere of celebration was ripe, the couple entered the room and came out with a small vase. The vase was not only very old, it was already broken. People wondered why they came out with the vase. Soon the wife took the vase and said to the people.
“It has been exactly 51 years since my husband proposed to me. When I first proposed to my husband, I was so shocked that I broke the vase on the table. That vase is this vase. And I've lived through this 50-year marriage, looking at this vase, reflecting on the love and heart of when I first decided to get married.”
Those present could learn the secret of how the couple had been able to maintain a good relationship and love for more than 50 years.
Just like the couple who did not forget the emotion of their first love through the vase, we must not forget the emotion of our first love with the Lord. Just like the couple who always kept the broken vase, always keep the cross of the Lord in your heart.
“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4).
A disciple of Socrates said, "Teacher, I want to gain knowledge." Then Socrates said, “Follow me,” and took the disciple to the seashore. Then he plunged the disciple's head into the water. The disciple was choking and desperately tried to pull his head out. The mighty Socrates pulled the disciple out of the water and asked, “What did you want while you were in the water?” The contemplative disciple replied, “I wanted to breathe air.” Socrates said, “If you desire to breathe the air with all your might, and desire it as much as you have tried, you will surely obtain it. Just as you yearn for air under water, you must have a strong desire for success to be successful. Success is absolutely impossible with an attitude of just doing it slowly and if it doesn't work, it's enough.
what do you really want to do Why do you really want to do it? Think seriously about what you are going to do from now on and why you should do it. Write it down once. Write once, write again, and start writing over and over. Little by little the reason begins to become clear. When the reasons are clear, we can move toward what we want. We don't stop when things get difficult. We keep moving forward towards a single goal. If you fall, get up again and move forward. Eventually we can get what we want. We can accomplish the mission God has given us.
Trees change all year round. Change clothes according to the season. It shakes in the wind and gets drenched in rain and snow. But the tree never leaves its place. Be sure to keep the first place. A tree that constantly seeks change and growth, but always keeps its place! Let's become such a tree-like faithful believer.
When God made peace on all sides, and the war was over and the country was at peace, David lived in the cedar palace, thinking about God first and building a temple for God. Then we can see that God was pleased with David's beautiful faith and love for God and blessed him infinitely. Some people give up their faith and love for the Lord in the midst of extreme trials and tribulations. Others can see their faith and love for the Lord tarnished because of God's blessings and successes.
Dear saints, I pray that your faith and love for God will never change under any conditions, any circumstances, and any passage of time. Then the Lord will see your faith and love as precious as gold. And for the kingdom of God, he will use it as precious as David and Daniel.
*Prayer: My most precious God, let me live with the faith of unwavering consistency. Help me to carry out your will with all my heart, mind, and soul, no matter how big or small it is. May I be faithful to death so that I can repay even one tenth of your great grace. May I always look forward to the unchanging love of the Lord. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
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