Title: People who inspire us
Contents
Genesis 50:15-21 People who inspire us
The two young men fell in love and were lucky enough to get married. The man told his fiancee that the land he had inherited and a very large apartment had already been prepared. The fianc e was just as happy as she was choosing a bridal piece to fill in that big, fancy apartment. But suddenly, the business run by the woman's father went bankrupt and the situation became difficult.
The shock caused the woman's father to collapse and be hospitalized. One month before the wedding, the man wept and held the hands of the woman who would become his beloved wife and said: “Dear Go Geum, the apartment we were going to get married in didn’t really belong to me. The real estate that I said was registered in front of me was actually not mine.”
Then the fianc e also cried and said: "It's okay. Now I can't even prepare a single household to fill the big apartment.” In the end, the two married frugally, got a small room and started living as a newlywed. Men had a low salary, but women lived happily ever after.
A little over a year later, my father, who had collapsed, and his bankrupt business recovered, making more money than before. From then on, the woman began to think that she was living an unhappy life. Because her father's business was prosperous, he could buy as many bridal items as he could now, but he didn't have a big apartment that he had shouted about that he had.
In the end, the woman even thought it was unfair to think that she had been deceived by the man who said she had an apartment before marriage. And I started to hate my husband. One day, I complained to my mother-in-law. He said that it was unfair to marry a poor man by being deceived. Then the mother took her daughter's hands and wept. “Actually, Seobang Kim told you not to talk, but now seems to be the time to tell you.”
And the mother told a hidden story. Before getting married, the young man who will become husband sells the apartment and real estate to pay the light of the future father-in-law by disposing of the apartment and real estate, knowing that the fiancee will not be able to make a bridal affair when the fiancee's father fails in business. paid until Because of that, the business could be restored and my father's health could be restored.
Ladies and gentlemen, after realizing the truth of this husband, wouldn't the wife be infinitely grateful to her husband? And don't you think that a wife would have dedicated herself to her death for such a husband? Gentlemen, it's easy to impress people for a while with sweet or eloquent or humorous words. And it's easy to instantly win someone's heart with an expensive jewel or gift. But it is the truth in our hearts that touches our hearts forever.
The truth impresses us deeply, even if we do not brag or brag about ourselves. It was during the Japanese colonial era when Teacher Ham Seok-heon was teaching students. One day, a group of students stormed into the office. It was that one teacher who had many problems would not be left alone. Upon hearing this news, all the other teachers ran away, and only Master Ham remained, bowing their heads in prayer.
The excited students mistook Ham for the teacher in question and beat him. Only later did the students learn that they had done something wrong and beg forgiveness. And I asked him why he kept his head down like that. Master Ham replied: "If I opened my eyes and got hit, wouldn't you know which one of my beloved disciples hit me? And you will know me, then how will I stand in the church, and how will you see me?"
It is said that the students were deeply moved by these words, and they sincerely respected and followed Mr. Ham. Ladies and gentlemen, this kind of truth exerts tremendous power to change people. When a superior moves a subordinate, the subordinate will be loyal to him for the rest of his life. Also, when a subordinate impresses a superior, the superior is happy to give everything to him.
Everyone, in the Bible, a man named Joseph is mentioned. As you know, he faced the tragedy of being trafficked and enslaved by his ten half-brothers, jealous of him. And because of that, he was framed unfairly and spent several years in prison. From the point of view of ordinary people, those ten half-brothers were the most bitter of enemies for Joseph.
But in today's text, Joseph tells his brothers his truth like this. "You tried to harm me, but God turned it into good so that as it is today, you might save the lives of all people. Do not be afraid. I will raise you and your children," and comforted them with earnest words." (Genesis 50:20-21)
Ladies and gentlemen, this sincere heart of Joseph finally moved God. So, God did not leave this true Joseph, so Joseph could always live a life that was moved by the Holy Ghost. And through Joseph, who was moved by the Spirit of God, many people who were in the midst of a famine at that time were able to live.
Ladies and gentlemen, is there not a sincere person among us who is moving the heart of God like this? So, isn't God giving revival and blessing to our church through such a sincere person? And because of someone who moves God like this, isn't it that your whole family is living happily in this foreign land?
The great men of the Bible are those who have always touched the heart of God. They had true faith, true loyalty, and true sacrifice and love. God was moved by their sincerity. Therefore, God could not leave them, and He was always with them and saved their families, their people, and their country in difficult times.
In the Old Testament, there is a woman who moves us greatly. She was not the chosen Israelite of God. She was not from a good family or wealthy. She was a Moabitess, a Gentile woman whom the Israelites were reluctant to. At that time, when there was a famine in the land of Israel, there was an Israeli family who immigrated to Moab and married to that house.
But soon after, her husband fell ill and died. Not only that, but in the family, her father-in-law and her mother-in-law (uncle: her husband's older brother) also fell ill and died. In other words, suddenly there were three widows in one family. Moreover, there were no children of hope to pass on to these families. What a great misfortune befell this family.
In the end, a woman named Naomi, the mother-in-law of these families, left her husband and two sons buried in a foreign land and emigrated to the land of Israel. Then a woman named Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law: "Children, what will be the pleasure of you following this old mother-in-law to the land of Israel? So, wouldn't it be better for you to remain in Moab, your country, and make a fresh start?"
Then the eldest daughter-in-law named Orpah left her mother-in-law and went back to her people. It was also because it was obvious that traveling with an elderly mother-in-law to a foreign land without a husband and children would be a much more difficult road. Moreover, God did not bless the families of the people of Israel who said they believed in God, but caused three men to die, so their faith in God all fell.
Then Naomi, the mother-in-law, said to Ruth, the younger daughter-in-law, "My child, go back with your brother-in-law." But Lot replies: "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die and be buried there. If I leave my mother except to die, the Lord will punish me and bring more” (Ruth 1:16-17).
Her daughter-in-law, Ruth, who had such a filial and disciplined faith, greatly moved her mother-in-law, Naomi. So, when Naomi returns to the land of Israel, she makes a detailed plan to get a husband again for the happiness of her daughter-in-law Ruth. And God was greatly moved by Ruth's heart. So God gave a woman named Ruth a wonderful husband named Boaz, who would become the father of Jesus Christ.
Everyone, how wonderful it would be if we had true faith, true loyalty, and true love that move the heart of God even if we believe in God. And how great would it be if there was a sincere person in our church who moved God's heart like this and God is blessing and guiding our church? And how happy and good it would be to live a life of faith together while watching someone who moves God like this.
A sincere person who moves God is moved by the Bible and understands grace. And even when they sing hymns, there is a calm or overwhelming feeling. When they come to church and worship, they sometimes shed tears of gratitude because of their feelings and emotions toward God. And we are always thankful for the amazing grace of the Lord who saved a sinner like me, and we have the image of true faith by sacrificing and devoting ourselves even if others do not recognize it.
However, if someone compels you to make a dedication without being truly touched, or if you commit yourself with personal greed, you will end up harming yourself as well as others. It is a tragedy to believe in Jesus without a sincere heart. It is hypocrisy to make a confession of love or show an act of love without being moved by the power of true love. It's a derailment. The Lord wants a sincere heart, not a fool who is deceived and moved by hypocrisy.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are people who have received precious grace and love from God. Therefore, even if we believe in God, we want to sincerely believe in Him. I want to believe honestly and honestly. How true the grace the Lord has given me is that we also want to stand before the Lord in a true form. Even though I am ugly and lacking in appearance, I do not want to be hypocritical before the Lord. Even if my love for the Lord is humble, I do not want to exaggerate my love in front of him.
As you all know, the life of our Jesus was never glamorous. Rather, He forsook the throne of heavenly glory and chose a lowly and lowly manger. He wore nobility and did not show off. Because of the many miracles he had performed, Jesus fled to the mountains alone, fearing that people would make him king. And he threw himself to death on the cross, where the Jews thought that those who were cursed by God would be hung on a tree. Thousands of people cursed, spit, and mocked. And he was so distressed, "God, why have you forsaken me?" and struggled.
But now we no longer mock Jesus. Because we know his truth. We know how much he loves me. And that true love moves us deeply. So we make this promise. “Lord, I will do my best to accomplish your will in this foreign land.”
Gentlemen, we are not people who do the Lord's work by force. These are not people who have taken this path for my own honor or gain. But I am doing this with gratitude because the love of the Lord is moving me today. And looking at us who worship and work with these emotions, the Lord is satisfied and pleased with a gentle smile. And seeing the Lord like this, we are moved again and we live with happiness. I pray that such a happy life that moves the Lord and is moved by the Lord continues in this foreign land.