Title Stand as a historical figure
Contents
Hymn: 390 "Soldiers of the Cross"
Meditation: In order to stand as a person of the times, one must go beyond individualism and become a person who influences the world through one's duty.
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
Text: Judges 9:1~15
Word: Raising children well is a great blessing for parents. Parents are always anxious about 'how will my child do well' and raise their children, but it is not an easy task. Old people say that there is nothing in the world as difficult as farming for children. You can often see people struggling with ruining their child's farming. Parents are great, but often their children lead the wrong lives.
Such is the family of Gideon we met in today's text. Gideon is a war hero who saved Israel from the bondage of Midian. However, he fell in love with worldly success and failed to build a family in faith. As a result of focusing on the kingship rather than religious education, the complicated family relationship caused by several concubines and 70 children became a snare and fell. Trials came to Gideon, who failed to build a family of faith. Abimelech, the son of Abimelech, formed a solidarity with his mother's blood ties, and killed 69 of his half brothers at one place with the illegal funds of the temple of Baal and became king.
Among them, Jotham, who survived, tells Abimelech and the people of Shechem that it is more important to keep their duties than to have power through the “tree parable” (verses 8-21). When the trees of the forest gathered and asked the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine to be king, they refused because it was their greatest pleasure to serve God and others. But the poor thorns said, “Come into my shade and flee. Otherwise, I will burn it with fire” (verse 15). This characteristic of thorns is always ‘I am the first priority’. However, a ‘me-centered person’ cannot be used as a person of the times. The people of the times go beyond individualism and become like the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine who influence the world through their duty.
Do you want me and your children to stand as figures of the times? Then, you should stop your self-centered prayer life for your own health, business prosperity, and success for your children, and ask for permission to become like the olive tree, fig tree, and vine who exercise influence in the world through your duty . is.
Prayer: God, help me to live on this earth, not only for myself, but to become a person of the times who is faithful to the duty that God has given me and exerts a good influence on the world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lord's Prayer