Title: Our Attitude Before the Gospel
Contents
Bible: Exodus 3:1-8
───────────────
The person who is most popular as a general lecturer in the church these days is Lee Eo-ryeong. After he became a Christian, he wrote a book called “From Intelligence to Spirituality.” In this book, it is said that this man entered Christianity out of curiosity, and that he came to believe in Jesus.
In John 1, we see Philip who became a disciple of Jesus. After meeting Jesus, Philip learns that Jesus is the one prophesied by the law and the prophets. So he said to his friend Nathanael, “I have met the Messiah prophesied by the Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament. He is Jesus from Nazareth.” Hearing this story, Nathanael had a negative view of the Messiah, saying, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” But Philip says, “Come and see.” So Nathanael goes to see Jesus. When Nathanael came to Jesus, he also brought it with him out of curiosity.
Also, in John 3, there is a man named Nicodemus, who was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. However, he was curious to hear of Jesus' special interpretation of the law, which was different from the traditional interpretation of the law, and also to see many sick people go to Jesus for treatment. And I went to see Jesus.
We can see Moses' curiosity in the words of Exodus 3 that we read today. A fire lit a bush that can be seen everywhere in the wilderness. Moreover, the fire was not easily extinguished. So I got curious. And he came closer to the bush.
Today, when many people ask what motivated them to come to church, 71% said that they came out of the church because of a recommendation from those around them. It was because I was curious about the reason the person making the invitation goes to church, so if you invite someone around you, you will be drawn to the church and leave the church. Especially, people around you who have made a good change are more likely to come to church if you are invited.
In today's text, God calls Moses, "Moses, Moses," to Moses who went near the burning bush with curiosity. And then he says. “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” God is not something to be studied or explored out of curiosity, but a holy One who has to take off his sandals from his feet, a being I must obey.
There is something we must remember. What the Bible precisely states and teaches us is that we cannot know God unless He has revealed Him. We should not think of God as an object of investigation and study. When God reveals Himself, we can know Him.
In Noah's day, sin was rampant. No one and nowhere could see God. But Noah met God. It was possible because God came to visit Noah. It is necessary to examine how many people of faith appearing in the Bible are meeting God. All of these people were able to meet because God Himself sought them out.
They also try to understand God with a human mind, but they cannot. The burning thorn bush was supposed to be put out, but it did not go out. What could explain it? God's appearing is not a phenomenon that we can understand with our ordinary minds, but a so-called strange phenomenon, where God appears as a special phenomenon. When we come to church to worship, we must come before God with an attitude of obedience to God's word, just as we stand on holy ground where we have to take off our sandals.
After Moses had removed his sandals from his feet, God said, “I have heard the cry of the afflicted people of Egypt. I am going to bring my people out of Egypt and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey.” This verse tells Moses why God appeared to him today. God's presence has a clear purpose.
There was a clear purpose in Jesus coming to this earth in the flesh. He came to deliver us from the agony of sin and death. Also, if we have various problems during this worship service meeting with Jesus, the Lord has come to solve them. Also, if there is a person who does not have certain faith in Jesus, Jesus came to this place of worship today to give that person certain faith and the assurance of salvation.
Another important thing is that Moses, who met God, changed from a mere shepherd to a great leader in Israel. Those who met God in the Bible will see these changes.
We want you to have a clear purpose of coming to church and worshiping and meeting Jesus. And I hope that our problems will be resolved and that this time of worship will come to an end when you will be transformed into a noble person by meeting God who comes to meet you personally through worship. May these blessings be with all of us, in the name of the Lord.
2010-12-21 14:49:47