Title Principle of Concentric Circles of Blessing
Galatians (5) The principle of concentric circles of blessing (Galatians 1:18-21)
< Overcome failure >
If you want to rise to a higher level of blessing, you must not be afraid of failure. Only when we go to the field of failure and overcome the situation in the field can we achieve dramatic progress. Some people make a commitment to themselves because the memories of failures in the past keep coming back to them. “Forget about that!” However, forcing one to forget is a proof that, strictly speaking, it is not easy to forget. Therefore, the resolution “Let’s overcome it!” is better than the resolution “Let’s forget about it!”
In 1989, while I was a missionary in the United States, I had a major car accident on the driveway into Flushing, New York, where the church I served was located. At that time, the car I was driving slipped on the icy road and was called the police and insurance companies as the cause of the seven-fold collision. In the end, the driver of the car that slipped has a moral responsibility for providing apologetics to others, but is not legally responsible. Rather, the driver of the car that collided from behind is responsible for not keeping a safe distance.
For some time after that, the memories of the accident dominated, avoiding the ramp where the accident occurred, driving further to the next ramp, and then back again. So a waste of manpower, time and finances was not uncommon. Eventually, after a while, “Hey! I do not know! I can't do it again after buying it! There is also a saying, ‘If I die, I will die!’ I used the driveway again with the mindset of “I will get out of an accident! So it was possible to reduce the wastage of manpower, time and money.
Because you are more careful where an accident occurred, there is less chance of an accident happening again than in other places. Then you just have to go through it. And if you pass a few times without an accident, you will be able to overcome the memory of the accident. However, if you keep avoiding the area where the accident occurred, the memories of the accident will not be easily forgotten. In the end, it is more important to ‘overcome the memory of an accident’ than ‘to avoid and forget the memory of the accident’.
Don't be too afraid to fail. After you prepare, try again and overcome that failure. When you go to the beach, some people run away because the waves are coming, while others find joy in riding the waves when they come. In such a situation, some are terrified while others are delighted. What matters is the ability to overcome failure. Create a more blessed life through the ability to overcome such failures.
< Principle of Concentric Circles of Blessing >
After passing through Damascus, the Apostle Paul went to Jerusalem to visit Peter (Cepha) after three years, and then went directly to Syria and Cilicia to preach the gospel (verse 21). At that time, Paul's ministry was in the early stages, and it was a very wise move to choose Cilicia as the center of his early ministry.
For a blessed life of faith, always remember the principle of concentric circles of blessing to fulfill the roles of light and salt from where you are. In Acts 1:8, we read that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you are to be witnesses of the Lord in ‘Jerusalem’, ‘all Judea’, ‘Samaria’, and ‘to the ends of the earth’. If we prepare those words for our case, it means that we must become the Lord's witnesses in 'Bundang', 'all Korea', 'North Korea' and 'the end of the world'.
Just as concentric circles grow when small concentric circles are managed well, God makes great works when small concentric circles are managed well without neglecting them. So if you are in a small place right now, don't be discouraged by it. The important thing is to make that little thing like a jewel. What is the most precious part of a diamond ring? It's a small piece with diamonds in it. Even if it is small, it needs to have a core, content, and purpose.
People like to be extraordinarily big, but don't get hung up on being too big. A life of doing your best is more precious than a life of being the best. Where does the best life come to be? It is revealed through whether you can handle the given task well in the environment of the lowest concentric circle given to you.