Title Become a mature saint (John 15:16)
Contents
Become a mature saint (John 15:16)
When a shabby old man came to a large inn in the United States and asked for a room, the owner said, “There is no room,” and rejected it with Handami. But I thought it was a familiar face, and it was President T. Jefferson. I chased after him and said, “Sir, I have a room. Welcome to." So I said, "In an inn that doesn't have a room for a shabby old man, there shouldn't be room for the president either." If you had known that the old man was the president, how much would you have loved him?
Today, there are times when people who do not believe in God do not know, hate, and ignore our believers because they do not see God in our hearts. Knowing that we are in communion with God will force us to bow our heads before us.
But it doesn't matter whether the world knows it or not. It is enough if only our God knows.
“Even if people in this world don’t know me, even if people in this world don’t know me, I won’t turn back”
How painful must Joseph have been when he was in prison after being falsely accused of trying to rape the wife of his master Potiphar? People treated him as a sinner, but it was his belief that “God knows . . .” that he was able to overcome his painful gaze.
Because their personality has not yet matured, they become angry and quarrel with even the smallest things, become disappointed and spit out. He knows only himself and does not try to harm himself for himself. It's very selfish. Everything is self-centered (children). It is because there is no iron.
Then, when a person matures, he/she will go beyond his boundaries. The way you behave is different, and the way you think has depth. It is evidence that you have matured and matured mentally.
The same goes for faith. Faith is just like an immature child until it matures. As you go through life, you may be misunderstood in many ways. Billion, but be patient. Even if people do not know it, our God knows everything about the global village. If we live clean and right before God, misunderstandings will be resolved. Amen.
When your faith matures and you grow up
1. There is a confession that “God has chosen me”.
In the text (John 15:16), you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you. The apostle Paul says, “You chose me from the womb of my mother,” (Galatians 1:15). Jesus called and established several disciples, including Peter and John. Or they were called by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22) or from the customs office (Matthew 9:9) and made disciples of Jesus.
There is a story like this when George Washington, the first president of the United States, was young. Washington's father planted red and white poppies in the garden, and they were in full bloom and were beautiful to look at. his father said ‘Washington, go up that hill and look at this flower garden.’ As his father said, Washington went up to the hill not far from the flower garden and looked down at the garden. The words G.W. were written in white flowers in the flower garden.
Washington asked, 'What the hell happened to you, Dad?' My father answered, 'I sowed white flower seeds in the soil with a letter of G.W., and God gave me rain and sunlight to do so.'
George Washington is said to have never forgotten this during his lifetime. The fact that my father loved me deeply, the grace that protected and nurtured me, and the fact that I was in my father's utmost concern, I lived courageously.
It is said that among the dogs that pull sleds in the Arctic, when they become ill or become weak and become useless, they are thrown away in the snowy field. Needless to say, the dog freezes to death. We must know that if we are forsaken before God, we will die forever. If so, how fortunate and grateful to be chosen by God? This is the way to live and the way to happiness. Amen.
2. There is a confession that says, “Do God’s will.”
It is said that someone prayed such a prayer. One day, this man crossed a long wooden bridge. When I climbed the single wooden bridge and looked down, it was a deep cliff. There is a strong current flowing there. Just looking at it is terrifying.
As the man carefully crossed the bridge halfway through, the wind blew and the bridge shook violently. For a moment, I felt dizzy. If I fell, I thought I would die. So this man prayed with an urgent heart. “God, just let me cross over safely. Then, on the next Sunday, I will donate 1 million won as a thank-you offering.” After that, my mind became more stable and the wind calmed down. So this man carefully crossed almost all the bridges.
But at that moment, I felt that the money was wasted. I regretted that I promised to donate a million won when I thought that I was almost all over. So this man changed his prayer. “God, I didn’t think about the promise of 1 million won earlier, can’t we just pay 500,000 won? Do you understand my heart?” he prayed.
Then the wind picked up and blew again. Again, the wooden bridge began to shake. It looked like it was going to fall off soon. It is said that at that time, this man sat down and held onto a single wooden leg and complained, “God, are you kidding me?”
In fact, this is what we are. How often do we make too many promises to God when we are in dire need? And how urgently did you pray a lot? Then, when the urgency goes away, all the problems are solved, the sickness is healed, and the lights in our feet go out, what did we do then? Everyone is so urgent that they often forget the promises they made. Doesn't keep promises. Because they are all iron free.
So, there is an old saying that when people grow up, they think of their parents only. It is said that only when a person matures can he learn to understand the deep feelings and thoughts of his parents and understand their meaning.
Martin Luther said that at the end of every prayer, it must end with, “Not my will, but God’s will.”
When your faith matures, you will first understand and understand the will of God. And you will obey it. That is maturity and development. Amen.
3. There is a confession of “bearing fruit”.
The text says, “This was chosen so that you might go and bear fruit.”
He did not choose us to sit still. I chose to go and work.
There is a story like this that has been passed down from time immemorial. The feast day has come to the rich house. Many livestock gathered in the house and had a debate as to which animal would die and go to the banquet. The cow said, “I cannot die because I am plowing.” The dog says, 'I must protect the thief, so it must not die'. A chicken cannot die because I have a responsibility to announce the dawn. But the pig sighed and said, ‘I eat, sleep, and gain weight, so I don’t do anything, so I will have to die in the end.’
Existence is not precious, but having value is precious.
Andrew Carnegie, who produced a quarter of America's steel as a refusal of the United States, paid an annual salary of $1 million to an employee named Charles Sweb, who helped him, not because this man was superior in steel content or technology, but to Carnegie. He was a necessary person, so he was treated well. It has to be someone who is needed, someone who is useful, and someone who shouldn't be missing out on that meeting. We must become such necessary people before God. As the text says, we must become “one who goes and bears fruit.”
Dear Oh Geum Family,
Where does the joy of true faith come from? It is only attained, discovered, and felt when we work so hard, devote ourselves and make sacrifices.
Therefore, mature believers are not afraid of suffering, persecution, or sacrifice. Rather, it is accepted with joy.
A mature person does not have to work hard for someone else. It's up to you to figure it out yourself. Because they are mature believers.
Let's all become mature believers together. - Amen -.