Title: Faith like ice-cold water (Proverbs 25:13)
Contents
Title: Faith like ice-cold water / Scripture Proverbs 25:13 / Space Daebok Church
***Introduction
It is truly a sweltering heat with mercury rising and falling 35 degrees every day. Plants that live in the sun are also drooping their leaves in the hot sun. People are looking for a cool place called ‘heat wave’. There is no air conditioning in this place of worship right now, so even sitting still seems suffocating. In times like these, the most desperate thing is 'coolness'. The short text of this hour speaks about the faith that gives coolness like ice-cold water in a sweltering harvest.
The harvest season in Israel, which has a subtropical climate, is hard work in the sweltering heat. What could be better than ice-cold water for someone drenched in sweat and thirsty for a burning sensation?! But there is something that makes God so cool. This is refreshing not only for God but also for people. Let's go into the words that refresh the spirit.
There was a missionary who worked in Africa for many years. The missionary did not reap the fruits of his mission despite all his zeal for many years. The missionary lost his beloved wife and two sons there. With a broken heart, I boarded the ship that was going back to my hometown. The ship was carrying the president of the United States, returning from hunting in Africa on vacation.
When the ship arrived at the port of “San Francisco,” the pier was greeted by a softly resounding military band, salutes, and a large welcoming crowd. And from the disembarking stairs to the exclusive car, a red pedestal was laid, and ministers and citizens greeted the president on the left and right. When the president got off the ship and got into the private car, the red pole was lifted and the trumpet sound of the military band stopped. Behind him was a missionary coming down alone.
The missionary said, “The president who goes on a hunting trip is welcomed like that, but no one welcomes me back from the mission field after losing my two sons and my beloved wife.” It was when I was walking. Then a voice was heard.
“My son! You haven't returned home yet. On the day you return home, the sound of the trumpet of the military band is not the problem, but I will greet you with the sound of the trumpet of an angel in heaven The red cast iron is not the problem, I will lay the golden glass road and meet you personally. Be faithful to the end, my dear son!”
The missionary was thrilled. He repented of his sins of not realizing the truth and not being faithful, and returned to Africa. And he became a faithful servant who was loyal to death until the end of his life.
Loyalty! Loyalty for life! This is the best coolness that the sender can give to the sender.
The dictionary translates the word ‘loyalty (忠誠)’ as ‘devotion that comes from sincerity’. The shape of the Chinese character also means ‘making words with the heart’. In other words, it means to carry out the master's command and will with a heart from the heart.
This loyal heart is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that Christians must bear, and it is the fundamental attitude of a group in charge of the promised crown of life. In Matthew 24:45, it says, “Who is a faithful and wise servant, who will be in charge of his master and give him food at the appropriate time?” You say. In 1 Corinthians 4:2, it is said, “What should be asked of those entrusted with it is loyalty.” The attitude of the person entrusted with the task is also loyalty. And in Revelation 2:10, it is said that the reward prepared for workers who are faithful beyond circumstances is the crown of life. “Be faithful until you die. Then I will give you the crown of life.”
The most realistic way to feel the word loyalty is in Luke 17:7-10. These words are what Jesus taught about the attitude of a servant. “Which of you has a servant who plows or shepherds the sheep, and when he comes back from the field, is there anyone who will immediately say to him, ‘Come, sit down and eat?’ Rather, wouldn't he say to him, 'Prepare my food, put on a belt, and attendant while I eat and drink, and after that you eat and drink.' Will you reward the servant for doing as he was commanded? In the same way, when you have done all that is commanded you, you will say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We just did what we were supposed to do.’ Let it be.”
It is a loyalty that transcends circumstances and circumstances. This is a faith like ice cold water in the sweltering heat that cools the heart of the owner.
But, how often do we not be sincere in the task given to us by raising our circumstances and circumstances? We use the excuse that the situation is not mature, and that it is not yet an opportunity. No talent, too busy, too tired, too cold, too hot, no money, poor health, etc. This is an attitude of unfaithfulness to God.
One of the many names on the hymn is ‘Fanny Jane Crosby’. He wrote numerous hymn poems. But Crosby was an unfortunate blind man who could neither see the sun nor draw beautiful nature. She became blind at the age of six months and had no meaning or hope in life. The best thing I could do was to just live my life comfy according to my innate destiny. Others didn't expect anything from her either.
But Crosby couldn't just live a comfy life and die. Crosby cried out and began a bloody prayer. Then Crosby began to be inspired and became a gem of a hymn. ‘Jesus leads me as far as I go’, ‘It is more precious than my eternal inheritance life’, ‘I was born again through the Holy Spirit and blood through Jesus Christ’, ‘Oh my wonderful Savior Jesus my Lord’, etc. There are about 20 hymn poems that have moved up to the hymn and moved many people.
Sister Song Myung-hee, a poet with cerebral palsy in Korea, is also changing people's hearts with heartbreaking poems of faith. In addition, from the early church to the present church, the church has been protected by faithful people who risked their lives to overcome all circumstances and circumstances. They did not just cool the heart of God. It has cooled the hearts of many people as it has been down for a long time. Now, it is your turn to become faithful servants who will follow in the footsteps of God and cool the hearts of many who have been prepared.
Then, what should we do now to cool God's heart and become a faithful person who cools people down?
Let's look at Luke 3:10-14. “The crowd asked him, ‘What shall we do then?’ And they answered and said, ‘He who has two coats will give to the one who has no clothes, and he who has food will do the same.’ And the publicans also baptized. He came to receive it, and said, 'Teacher, what shall we do?' And he said, 'You shall not be frivolous except for the appointed amount.' And the soldiers also asked, saying, 'What shall we do?' Don't be shy, don't be arrogant, let the charge you receive be sufficient.'”
These verses are the answers and questions asked by the crowds who came to John the Baptist about what they should do. Of course, these are the most basic things you can do to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and be baptized. But this question is also something we can ask the Lord now. It is worth noting that the answers to these questions are things that we always come across in the current situation of those who ask.
The allegiance that God requires of His people is not about things that are hard to do or things that are far away. That is, the closest and easiest things to do, for the present life of each of the saints. The following verses tell us what the saints are to do faithfully.
- Luke 16:10-12, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. If you are not loyal to unrighteous riches, who will trust you with the truth? If you are not loyal to others, who will give you what is yours?” 1 Timothy 3:11 “Women should likewise be modest, not accusers, temperate, faithful in all things” (1 Timothy 3:11). This is the qualification of a deacon.) / Titus 2:9-10, “As servants, obey their masters in everything to please them, not to speak against them, and not to take them apart, but to show good loyalty. This is so that in all things the teachings of God our Savior may shine forth.” (This is a reference to those who work for others, and at the same time why it should be so.)
The loyalty the Lord wants us to be today is about the things we are doing in the place of life where we are now. How faithful are you in your present life? It is not our outward appearance that the Lord sees and evaluates. He sees the sincerity without falsehood that he acts voluntarily from the heart.
This loyalty cools the heart of God who sent us to this earth, and cools the saints and many others. This is a faith like ice-cold water that makes you forget the heat and thirst.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will not only cool God's heart by working faithfully in the life given to you now, but also prepare for a crown of life in the name of the Lord.