Monday, December 23, 2024

“Making Room for Christ” (Matthew 1:18-25)

 

Jesus’ Quake

When Joyce and I were expecting our first baby, Lydia, we spent nine months preparing for her arrival. We wanted to make sure she would come into a safe and welcoming home. We removed all hazardous items and carefully chose a crib. We bought baby clothes, diapers, and supplies. We even decorated her room with love, expectantly counting the days until her due date. 

When we prepared for Lydia’s arrival, it wasn’t just the house that changed—our lives changed. We had to adjust our routines, our priorities, and even our future plans. Everything revolved around her needs and her presence. Her coming was not just a moment of joy; it was a moment of transformation

Now imagine the arrival of Jesus—not just a baby, but the King of Kings. His coming doesn’t just cause small adjustments; it’s life-changing. Tim Keller compares the coming of Christ to “a life-quake.” 

When a great big truck goes over a tiny little bridge, sometimes there’s a bridge-quake, and when a big man goes onto thin ice there’s an ice-quake. Whenever Jesus Christ comes down into a person’s life, there’s a life-quake. Everything is reordered… any view, any conviction, any idea, any behavior, any relationship. He may change it, He may not change it, but at the beginning of the relationship you have to say, ‘In everything He must have the supremacy.’ 

Jesus shakes the foundations of who we are and calls us to re-center our lives on Him. His quake might feel unsettling, even costly, but it eventually rebuilds us into something better and more aligned with God’s purpose.

 

Joseph and Mary

Joseph was an ordinary man with ordinary plans—marry Mary, start a family, and live a quiet, normal life. But then his plans were disrupted when he discovered Mary was pregnant, and he knew the child wasn’t his. As a righteous man, Joseph wanted to do the right thing. He decided to divorce her quietly, sparing her public shame. 

But then, in a dream, God sent him a message that completely disrupted his plans again: "Joseph, take Mary as your wife. The child she carries is from the Holy Spirit. He will save His people from their sins."

Imagine the weight of this command! Joseph had to let go of his future plans, his reputation, and his idea of a "normal" life. Yet, without hesitation, Joseph obeyed. He took Mary as his wife and embraced the responsibility of raising Jesus. He chose faith over uncertainty and obedience over complacency. He reoriented his life for the coming of Christ. 

Then there’s Mary. She was a young woman—perhaps in her mid-teens—with her whole life ahead of her. When the angel Gabriel told her she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit, her life was turned upside down. She must have understood the risk—how her family and community would consider her pregnancy adultery. According to Moses’ Law, she could have been stoned to death. 

Yet, by faith, Mary said, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be with me just as you have said." She willingly embraced the uncertainty, the risk, and the potential shame because she trusted God’s plan. Mary’s courage and obedience show us what it means to trust God, even when doing so could have cost her life.

 

No Little People

When we think about those God used for His great plans in the Bible, most of them were unlikely candidates. Jacob was a liar. Moses struggled with public speaking. David was the youngest in his family. Jonah was racist. Peter was an impulsive fisherman. Mary Magdalene carried a painful past. Timothy was timid. From a human perspective, these would not be the first draft picks. 

But they all had one thing in common: they were willing—willing to adjust, willing to make room for God, willing to give their whole selves to God. 

Francis Schaeffer wrote: “There are no little people and no big people in the true spiritual sense, but only consecrated and unconsecrated people. The problem for each of us is applying this truth to ourselves.”  Both Joseph and Mary were consecrated people. They were willing to take a leap of faith. They let go of their own plans, risk their reputations, and trust God completely. Then and now, God is looking for willing, consecrated people. 

 

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an unlikely choice. She was born a slave in Maryland, subjected to cruelty from an early age. At twelve, she suffered a severe head injury when a slave master, intending to hit another person with an iron weight, missed the target and struck her instead. The trauma caused migraines and seizures for the rest of her life. Yet, as a teenager, Harriet began to receive visions and dreams that she believed were from God. She was chosen and called.

If you were looking for a liberator to overthrow the evil of slavery, wouldn’t you pick someone powerful—a politician, a military leader, or a great intellect? But God chose Harriet—a woman with no status, no resources, and physical challenges. Why? Because she was willing. 

Harriet first escaped slavery herself and then returned to Maryland thirteen times, smuggling over seventy enslaved individuals to freedom—some accounts estimate as many as three hundred. Those she liberated called her “Moses.” During the Civil War, she served as a nurse, scout, spy, and military leader. Later, she became an advocate for women’s rights and the elderly, serving faithfully in the Methodist church. Harriet once said, "God’s time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens." 

Like Harriet, God calls us not because we are extraordinary, but because He is extraordinary. What He asks of us is our willingness to say yes. 

 

Making Room for Christ

Let me share a story about a boy named Wally. Wally was in 7th grade, and life hadn’t been easy for him. His mother had struggled with alcoholism when he was born, which left Wally with some learning challenges. But Wally was a kind-hearted boy. 

One Christmas, his Sunday School class decided to put on a Nativity play. Everyone was excited to take on roles—Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men. But no one wanted to be the innkeeper. So the teacher picked Wally, partly because he was the tallest in the class. His job was simple: open the door, say, “There’s no room here!” and slam it shut. 

The big night arrived. The church was packed. When Mary and Joseph knocked on the door of the inn, Wally opened it, just as rehearsed.  Joseph said, “Please, sir, we need a place to stay. My wife is about to have a baby!” Wally confidently replied, “There’s no room here!” Joseph pleaded again, “Please, isn’t there anywhere we can stay?” Wally froze. He forgot his next line. The teacher whispered from behind the curtain, “No! Be gone!” Finally, Wally stammered, “No… be... gone.” Mary and Joseph turned sadly to leave, but then Wally did something unexpected. He called out, “Wait! Wait a minute!” The room went silent. Then, with tears in his eyes, he said, “There’s no room here, but you can have my room!” 

 

The Lord Is Near

Perhaps one of the most beloved, most sung Christmas hymns would be "Joy to the World." This song was written by Isaac Watts in 1719 inspired by Psalm 98. When Rev. Watts wrote this song, his intention was to celebrate Jesus’ seconding coming as King rather than his birth.

Often we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come.” But actually, he wrote: 

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Watts was not just writing about the past – the birth of Jesus. He was writing about the future return of Jesus. In Revelation 22 Jesus said three times, “I am coming soon.” May we be found faithful. May we be ready for his coming, joining heaven and nature’s unending hymn with all our hearts, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”  Amen.

Sunday, December 8, 2024

“A Time for Trials” (Luke 1:11-20)

 

Where Is God?

A couple had two mischievous boys, eight and ten years old, always causing trouble. Fed up, the parents asked a pastor to talk to them. The pastor agreed and called the younger boy in first. Sitting him down, the pastor leaned in and said sternly, “Where is God?” The boy froze. The pastor tried again, louder, “Where is God?” Still no answer. Finally, the pastor raised his voice and pointed, “WHERE IS GOD?” Terrified, the boy bolted home, ran into the closet, and slammed the door. His older brother found him and asked, “What happened?” The boy whispered, “We’re in big trouble this time. God is missing—and they think we did it!”[1]  It’s funny, but it resonates deeply when we face trials. In those moments, we too ask, Where is God?

 

Disappointments

In today’s passage we meet a godly couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth. The Bible says that they were “righteous in God's eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord's commandments and regulations.” (Luke 1:6, NLT) Naturally, we’d expect them to live “happily ever after.” Yet, verse 7 reveals their heartache: “But they had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. (v. 7) They were living with the stigma of barrenness. In their culture, this was seen as a disgrace (v. 25)—a sign of God’s curse or displeasure.

Can you imagine their pain and confusion? They prayed, waited, and longed, perhaps wondering, Where is God in all of this?

I think many of us in live in the tension between verse 6 (faith) and verse 7 (unmet desires). For some, it’s the loss of a loved one, financial struggles, or unanswered prayers. For others, it’s loneliness, depression, or broken relationships. While we might see God’s blessings in some areas, in others, we feel “barren” or hopeless, asking, Where is God?

 

Silence

In the midst of their waiting, Zechariah encountered an angel who brought the astonishing news: they would have a son. This child, John the Baptist, would prepare the way for the Messiah. Surely it was an answer to his prayers. (v. 13) But it was too good to believe. Zechariah doubted, asking, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (v 18). The angel replied, “Since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” (vv. 19-20) That day Zechariah entered a season of silence (nine months of silence) – a kind of “dark night of the soul.” It wasn’t punishment but preparation, a time for him to trust God’s word even when he couldn’t speak or hear.

In August 2007 TIME magazine had an amazing cover story titled “Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith.” Mother Teresa’s secret letters were made public by her mentor and colleagues. The letters show that she spent almost 50 years without sensing the presence of God in her life. In one of the letters that she exchanged with her mentor, Rev. Michael Van Der Peet, she says, “Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear…” In more than 40 communications, she compares the experience to hell, and at one point she says it has driven her to doubt the existence of heaven and even of God. As she was walking through the dark times, her constant prayer was, “Lord Jesus, come, be my light.”

 

Embracing Silence

So what’s the point of this season of solitude and silence? What’s the point of the dark night of the soul? God allows these seasons not to harm us but to draw us closer to Him.

If the purpose of God’s love is to make us safe or happy, he could do that. He could protect us from all dangers, diseases, sufferings, and disappointments. Please don’t get me wrong. God does care for our safety and well-being. But that’s not the ultimate goal of his love. God’s love is not that we be healthy or wealthy and live a long, comfortable life. God’s love is not God’s making much of us. No! God’s love is God’s saving us from self-centeredness, which is, the root of all sin, so that we may enjoy making much of God forever. In his great love God allows us to enter a season of solitude and silence – the dark night of the soul – so that we can be set free from self-centeredness, unhealthy attachments. John Piper rightly said, “God’s love is giving people God. God’s love is showing people God. God’s love is getting people to God. God’s love is helping people be satisfied in God and be willing to lay down their lives for God.” God’s love is God-centered, not self-centered.

What should we do while going through a period of the silence of God? The first thing we can do is to embrace it and go back to basics, instead of denying it or running away from it. Walter Wangerin Jr.’s The Book of the Dun Cow is an allegorical tale set in a world before humans, where animals speak and embody virtues and vices. Chauntecleer, the proud rooster, leads a coop of animals who face evil forces led by Wyrm, a serpent symbolizing darkness and despair. The animals struggle against trials, betrayals, and loss, but they find strength in their daily rhythms of prayer and community. Their faithfulness to the "daily office" (spiritual practices) sustains them and ultimately overcomes the chaos. 

This story beautifully illustrates how steadfast spiritual practices anchor us during life's darkest moments. Zechariah, though he was mute and deaf, didn’t become bitter; instead, he remained steadfast and returned to the basics. He kept praying, he kept serving, he kept holding onto God’s promises. Through these basic spiritual disciplines, he found strength to endure and carry him through this season. Recently, my father had to give up his job he had really enjoyed and was hospitalized for three weeks after a ruptured disk. He began a long recovery journey. When I talked to my mother on the phone the other day, she said, “Reciting the Bible verses is my lifeline and joy these days.” Returning to spiritual basic – prayer, scripture, and community – anchors us in life’s storms.

 

God Is with Us!

Nine months passed. The Bible says, “When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a boy.” (Luke 1:57, CEB) In time, God fulfilled what he promised. Zechariah and Elizabeth were not forgotten. Their time of silence was temporary. God’s timing is perfect – always better than ours.

When the time had fully come, God sent his Son. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. And he will make all things new. Imagine – no more sickness, no more death, no more sorrow, but there will be answers, there will be purposes, there will be fullness of joy in God’s presence.

The songwriter, Bart Millard of MercyMe, wrote the song out of his personal grief after losing his father. His father, once abusive, became a transformed Christian before his death from cancer, deeply influencing Bart's faith journey. At his funeral, Bart’s grandmother said, “I can only imagine what he’s seeing now,” sparking the song. The song reflects Bart’s heartfelt question: what would it be like to stand in Jesus’ presence? This question brought him peace and hope as he processed his loss over many years. The song was written in just five minutes, but it captures years of internal struggle, prayer, and silence:

 

Surrounded by Your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for You Jesus

Or in awe of You be still?

I can only imagine

I can only imagine

 

Are you struggling with doubts and disappointments? Are you struggling with the silence and emptiness? You’re not alone. You’re not forgotten. This too shall pass. Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready? Let us be faithful. Let us live by faith, not by sight. And let our hearts cry, “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!”



[1] “Where Is God?” https://christianfunnypictures.com/2017/03/god-joke-two-mischievous-brothers.html

Sunday, December 1, 2024

“A Time for Renewal” (Luke 3:3-14)

 

Change the Course

Frank Koch, in the Naval Institute magazine, shares a story. A battleship was sailing in thick fog. The lookout shouted, “Light ahead, on the starboard bow!” The captain asked, “Is it steady or moving away?” The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain.” They were on a collision course. The captain ordered, “Signal the ship: Change course 20 degrees.” The reply came back, “Advise you change course 20 degrees.” The captain, irritated, responded, “I’m a captain. Change course 20 degrees!” The answer returned, “I’m a seaman second-class. You had better change course.” Furious, the captain sent, “I’m a battleship. Change course!” Then the reply: “I’m a lighthouse.” The captain changed course. Sometimes, we need to change course. Not tomorrow. Today.

 

Prepare the Way for the Lord!

Today marks the first Sunday of Advent. Advent means “coming.” Many churches set aside these four weeks to prepare for the coming of Christ. For us, Advent is a very special season of preparation and anticipation, not only for Christ’s birth, but also for His second coming. 

If you lived in John the Baptist’s time, and a king were about to pass through your town, how would you prepare? You would likely fill every pothole, clear away obstacles, and smooth out crooked roads before the king’s arrival. Likewise, if Christ were coming today, how would you prepare? Would you remove the clutter in your heart? Would you make peace with others? Would you seek forgiveness?

John the Baptist calls us to prepare for the coming of Christ. He says, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight. Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth.” (Luke 3:4-5) Here the kind of preparation John calls for is “repentance.” Repentance means changing direction – turning from sin and turning to God.

 

Repentance Is Now

True repentance is not something we postpone. It is urgent. John the Baptist boldly preached a centuries-old message, “repentance”: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:2) People could easily have said, "I've heard this before" or "I'll quit sinning tomorrow." But John said, “The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be chopped down and tossed into the fire” (Luke 3:9-10). The tree may not know it; it is not even hurt yet; but it is about to be cut down. Here we could feel the sense of urgency. It’s an emergency situation, so John’s message is quite straightforward even harsh rather than indirect and tender.  

The other day I received a call from an agency asking me to visit an elderly man in hospice care struggling and seeking some spiritual guidance. He was depressed, lonely, and estranged from his family. He had suffered an accident in June. He was still recovering but not improving. Though he had two houses and a new car, they brought no comfort to him. He had three children (one son and two daughters), but their relationships were strained. He was bitter and hopeless. As we talked, I asked, “Are you at peace with God?” He hesitated and replied, “I think so… but I am not sure.” Sensing the urgency, I spoke directly. I said to him, “We are all sinners. We cannot save ourselves. We need a savior. Jesus is God’s way of salvation. Turn to him. Repent. Receive and believe in Jesus, and you will be saved.” I asked him three questions, “Do you renounce your old ways and repent of your sins?” He said, “I do.” “Do you believe in Jesus as your new Master and Savior?” He replied, “I do.” Then, I asked, “Will you let of earthly things and forgive your children?” He said, “I do.” Tears filled his eyes. Then he smiled. God’s peace filled his heart.

 

Repentance Is a Verb

True repentance is an action. It bears the fruit of obedience. The people asked John, “What should we do?” He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must share with the one who has none and whoever has food must do the same.” (Luke 3:11) Then tax collectors asked, “What should we do?” He replied, “Collect no more than you are authorized to collect.” (Luke 3:13) No extortion. No greed. Soldiers asked, “What about us? What should we do?” He answered, “Don’t cheat or harass anyone, and be satisfied with your pay.” (Luke 3:14)

Repentance requires honest self-examination and leads to visible change in our lives. Recently, I saw one of my pastor friends featured on the cover of a local magazine, titled, “A True Shepherd.” When I saw the cover, I felt ambivalent. At first, I was happy for him, because indeed he was a great person. But at the same time, I felt skeptical, because he doesn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus; instead, he teaches that Christ’s resurrection is symbolic, and we can attain a similar state through meditation and gook works. All day, I pondered, “What is a true shepherd?” In Ezekiel 34 God rebukes Israel’s self-serving shepherds, and says, “I myself will be their shepherd. I will seek out the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the wounded, and strengthen the weak.” (34:11, 16) In John 10 Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep… I know my own and my own know me.” (John 10:11, 14) Then I realized that I, too, fall shorts of being a true shepherd. I repented and resolved to change course.

 

Repentance Is All of Life

As we begin our Advent journey, the most important preparation is “repentance” – to see where we are right now and change the course. Repentance is not just feeling or saying sorry; it’s a way of life. It’s not a one-time event but a continuous part of our Christian life. In his 95 Theses, Martin Luther’s first thesis writes this way: 

“When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Matthew 4:17), he willed that the entire life of believers be one of repentance.”

Repentance is a lifelong practice. Every single day, we turn away from sin and turn back to God. We repent of our sins and rejoice in God day by day. When Martin Luther struggled with doubt or temptation, he would look into the mirror and say to himself, “Martin Luther, you are baptized. Don’t forget.” Baptism is once for life, but we need to remember our baptism every day. In baptism, our old self dies with Christ, and our new self rises with Christ. In baptism, we repent of our sins and receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. Let us remember our baptism, and be thankful. Let us repent – change course now – and times of refreshing will come as God promises. Let us pray… 

Lord, I renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, 

         reject the evil powers of this world,

         and repent of my sins.

I confess Jesus Christ, as my Savior,

         put my whole trust in his grace, 

         and promise to serve him as my Lord,

              in union with the church

              which Christ has opened to people

              of all ages, nations, and races. Amen.

 

 

Monday, November 25, 2024

"Tychicus the Helper” (Ephesians 6:21-24) - Belong IX -


Do You Have Such a Person?
This morning I want to open with a Korean poem by Ham Sok Hon titled, Do You Have Such a Person? The following is a rough translation:

Do you have such a person,
A person to lean on when all fades away,
A person who stands firm when all turns to chaos?

Do you have such a person,
One who doesn't crumble even when others turn away,
One who, even when betrayed,
Endures silently and still loves?
...
If you have such a person,
Even if the world abandons you,
Even if the darkness covers the earth,
You will have hope and strength to rise again.

Do you have such a person?

Having such a trustworthy friend is one of life’s greatest blessings. The Apostle Paul, though he faced so many trials, was blessed with godly, true friends who sustained him, especially in times of crisis.

Tychicus: A Beloved Helper
Tychicus, in today’s passage, was one of Paul’s most trusted friends and helpers—a true partner in ministry. Paul calls him a “beloved brother” and a “faithful minister in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:21). These words reflect the deep trust Paul had in him. Tychicus wasn’t just a letter carrier; he was someone Paul trusted to share updates about his life and ministry. In Paul’s time, private letters were carried by faithful messengers like Tychicus, who delivered not just the words but also the heart behind them.

Paul sent Tychicus with an important purpose: to encourage the church and keep them from being disheartened by Paul’s imprisonment. Later, Tychicus might have returned to Paul with uplifting news from the Ephesians, refreshing Paul’s spirit. Tychicus was a bridge person—someone who faithfully connected and strengthened the body of Christ.

Do You Have a Helper in Your Life?
Do you have a “Tychicus” in your life journey? In The Pilgrim’s Progress, God provides Christian with "helpers" at crucial points in his journey, guiding and encouraging him to stay on the path to the Celestial City. First, Evangelist helps Christian turn to God and begin his pilgrim journey. Interpreter prepares him for the road ahead by showing him spiritual truths through vivid illustrations. Faithful, a fellow pilgrim, walks with Christian, encourages him, and ultimately lays down his life as a martyr. After Faithful’s death, Hopeful becomes a steadfast companion and helper, walking along with Christian through trials and doubts.

Each helper reminds us that God uses His people to guide, comfort, and encourage us. More importantly, these helpers point to the ultimate Helper—the Holy Spirit.

The Helper
Throughout the Old Testament times, God sent helpers like prophets, judges, and kings to his people. Jeremiah was one of the God-sent helpers. At that time, Israel didn’t follow God’s ways (“the Ten Commandments”), and everyone did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. God’s verdict on human hearts was this: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9, NIV) Jeremiah warned of God’s impending judgment (“exile to Babylon”) and urged to repent. He also brought messages of hope, called a New Covenant:

“But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day,” says the Lord. “I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’ For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already,” says the Lord. (Jer 31:33-34, NLT)
But sadly, the Israelites did not turn back to God. And eventually, they were exiled to Babylon. But God didn’t give up on his people. Even in those darkest moments God sent another helper, Ezekiel, who delivered this message of restoration:

“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezk 36:26-27, NLT)
This wonderful promise was fulfilled through Jesus Christ. During the Last Supper, Jesus said to his disciples, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26, ESV). On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in God’s people. The same Holy Spirit still comes and lives in everyone who believes in Jesus today. The Holy Spirit strengthens us, helps us, and sustains us in every season.

Joy in Suffering
At the end of his life, Paul faced imprisonment and abandonment. He wrote, “At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength… So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.” (2 Timothy 4:16-17, NRSV) Even when human helpers were absent, the Holy Spirit, Paul’s ultimate Helper, gave him strength to endure.

William Wilberforce, the English politician who fought against slavery, is another example of someone sustained by the Spirit. In his later years, Wilberforce faced financial ruin. As a respected politician, Wilberforce was once wealthy. But he sacrificed much to support his oldest son’s business. He sold most of his stock and even his boyhood home. Despite his efforts, the business failed, and they lost everything. In his seventies, Wilberforce was essentially homeless and had to live alternately with second and third sons. Those around him were deeply moved by his response to these trials. In the midst of loss and hardship, Wilberforce still rejoiced and gave thanks in the Spirit. He wrote:

The loss incurred has been so heavy as to compel me to descend from my present level and greatly to diminish my establishment. But I am bound to recognize in this dispensation the gracious mitigation of the severity of the stroke. Mrs. Wilberforce and I are supplied with a delightful asylum under the roofs of two of our own children. And what better could we desire?

Not Alone
The Apostle Paul ended his life alone in prison. When all human help had faded away, the Holy Spirit gave him the strength to stand firm. Paul declared with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) Then he added, “From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all eager for his coming” (v. 8).

The Holy Spirit is available to everyone who loves Christ and his coming. The Holy Spirit empowers us to stand firm, no matter the circumstances.

I’ll close with this poem, Ordinary days by Missy Buchanan. This poem beautifully captures the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the mundane into extraordinary:

There’s a slow, steady rhythm to ordinary days.
Uneventful kind of days that follow a simple routine of meals, medications, and favorite TV shows.
During this time, empty squares march across the calendar.
One day feels like the next.
In truth, I like days that are uninterrupted by crisis or sudden change.
I am thankful for the repetition.

But Lord, it’s easy to get lost in the monotony.
Save me from the emptiness that comes with too much time to think and too little to do. It is fertile soil for negative thoughts to grow.
And if I hold too tightly to rigid routine, remind me that I may miss out on a wonderful surprise.
Help me rediscover the abundant blessings in my life.

Today I will turn the pages of an old photo album, and I will give you thanks for my life stories.
I will pray for my loved ones, calling each by name.
O Lord, show me the extraordinary joy in ordinary days.

Come, Holy Spirit, come, be my Helper! Amen.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

“Ambassadors in Chains” (Ephesians 6:10-20) - Belong VIII –

 


Spiritual Warfare?

What comes to your mind when you hear the words “spiritual warfare”? The French poet Charles Baudelaire once wrote, “The devil’s finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist.” As C. S. Lewis echoed this idea in the Screwtape Letters, saying people tend to fall into two extremes about the devil: either ignoring his existence completely or becoming obsessed with him. Neither is helpful. As Christians, we are called to have a balanced, biblical understanding of spiritual warfare.

As followers of Jesus, we know the devil is real. Recognizing the enemy is the first step in the battle. His attacks come in different ways. Sometimes it’s obvious, like persecution of Christians. Other times, it’s more subtle—distracting us with meaningless debates, false teachings, or temptations like money, power, and selfish desires.[1] We wrestle daily with some of these whether we like it or not. Paul reminds us that our struggle is not with human beings (“flesh and blood”), but with evil spiritual forces. We must be ready to face these battles.

 

The Full Armor of God

God has given us what we need to win. Paul describes it as the full armor of God. In his time, people often saw Roman soldiers, so this analogy was easy to understand. The armor includes six parts:

  1. The belt of truth
  2. The breastplate of righteousness
  3. The boots of the gospel of peace
  4. The shield of faith
  5. The helmet of salvation
  6. The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

This armor is not something we put on physically. It’s a picture of our relationship with Jesus. Just as a soldier wears armor, we “wear” Christ. Just as a soldier’s armor becomes a part of him, our lives must be completely united with Christ. When we stay close to Christ, we are protected.


All-Prayer

How do we put on the armor? Through prayer. After describing the six main pieces of the armor, Paul tells us how to put the armor on, saying, “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication” (v. 18). Prayer connects us with Jesus and equips us for the fight.

In Pilgrim’s Progress Christian defeats Apollyon the dragon with his sword. But then, he enters the valley of the shadow of death. In that valley you hear things like a continual howling and yelling; discouraging clouds of confusion hang over the valley; the pathway is so dark, that you can’t see where your next step would land. The sword is no help. He switches to another weapon called All-prayer. He cries, “O Lord, deliver my soul!” And God answers him.[2]

We too face times when the enemy attacks subtly but persistently. He whispers lies like, “God doesn’t care about you,” or “Why does a good God allow suffering?” In those moments, we fight back with prayer. When we feel unworthy, we pray, “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” When we feel confused, we pray, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). When we feel afraid, we pray, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3). Prayer helps us stay close to God and overcome every attack. By All-prayer, we win the battles.  

 

Stand

God provides the armor and does most of the work in our battles. He strengthens us, sustains us, helps us. But he asks one thing of us: to stand. Paul says “stand” four times in Ephesians 6:11-14: Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to standStand therefore. Stand, stand, stand, stand. That’s our part. God provides all the means to overcome, but we must be willing to stand, and persevere.

In the Old Testament, we see this principle in the story of King Jehoshaphat. When the Moabites and Ammonites came against King Jehoshaphat for battle, Jehoshaphat was afraid. But he resolved to seek the Lord, praying, “O our God… we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” God answered, “Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf” (2 Ch 20:17). Early the next morning Jehoshaphat and his army went out, marching and singing to the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever!” As they sang, God caused their enemies to turn on each other. Israel won the battle by standing firm in faith. So how did Israel win the battle? By standing. God did all the work, but still Israel had to stand firm, hold their position by faith.

The story of Dick and Rick Hoyt shows what it means to stand. Rick was born with cerebral palsy and cannot walk or talk. Yet, he and his father have completed over 800 races, including Ironman triathlons. In these races, the father pulls, pushes, and carries Rick. The father does all the work, but Rick must endure the cold, wind, and exhaustion. In one race, when their bike broke, Dick knelt beside his shivering son and asked, “Do you want to keep going?” Rick nodded. Together, they finished the race. This is a powerful picture of standing in faith. God carries us, but we must remain willing.

 

Ambassadors in Chains

Paul knew what it meant to stand firm. In Ephesians 6:20, he calls himself “an ambassador in chains.” What a paradoxical truth it is! Ambassadors usually travel freely, representing their king. But Paul was imprisoned for the gospel.

Paul might have thought his education and background made him perfect to preach to the Jews, but God had a different plan. Paul was sent to the Gentiles. He was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned. Yet, he remained faithful. From prison, he wrote at least four letters, including Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, and throughout his life he wrote about half of the New Testament* (*He wrote 13 letters out of 27 books in the NT). He also planted at least 14 churches, and influenced many more through his disciples and co-workers. Paul was willing, standing firm, praying always. Paul was an ambassador in chains for Christ.

When I began ministry, I thought that if I gave my very best, the church would grow and flourish. Yet, over time, I’ve learned that it doesn’t always work out that way. Our church, like so many others in the UMC, is facing challenges. Every empty pew makes me think of those who have gone before us and those who have left, and I often feel the weight of it. But through these trials, God is teaching me to trust Him more deeply and embrace humility and compassion. I am beginning to understand the heart of a true shepherd—that one soul is more precious than the entire world.

Let me close with a prayer known as the Creed for the Disabled:

 

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

 

I asked for health that I might do greater things.

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

 

I asked for riches that I might be happy.

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

 

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

 

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

 

Are you willing to stand? Will you trust God, no matter the battle? God has already given us everything we need. Let’s say “Amen” with our lives. Amen.



[1] N. T. Wright, Ephesians (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. Location 867 of 1084.

[2] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, Aneko Press. Kindle Edition. 69-70.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

“Life in the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-21) - Belong VII –



New Life

Once, John Wesley visited factory workers in Epworth. In his journal, he described their behavior as “profane and loose to the last degree.” But Wesley didn’t give up on them; he kept visiting and praying with them. Over time, a remarkable change took place. In three factories, profanity and lewdness disappeared, replaced by worship and encouragement. “God put a new song in their mouths,” Wesley wrote, “and blasphemies were turned to praise. Those three I visited today, and I found religion had taken deep root in them. No trifling word was heard among them, and they watch over each other in love. I found it exceedingly good to be there, and we rejoiced together in the God of our salvation.”

Where there is the Holy Spirit, there is new life. The same transformation was happening in Ephesus. People who turned to Christ left behind their old, pagan ways. They put away sexual immorality, greed, and anger. In chapter 5, the Apostle Paul calls the Ephesian Christians to “walk as children of light” and says, “Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” (v. 18) Here, Paul highlights the responsibility believers have to be open and receptive to the Spirit’s work in their lives. We choose to drink alcohol, and we can also choose to seek the Spirit’s filling. While we can’t create the Holy Spirit’s work ourselves, we can welcome and invite the Spirit into our lives. And that choice—this decision to open ourselves to God—leads to joy, peace, and freedom. 

 

Singing

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit? Today’s passage gives us three ways, beginning with singing. Verse 19 encourages us to “sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.” Singing is a spiritual practice that keeps our hearts and minds fixed on God. Many hymns come directly from the Bible, especially from the Psalms. When we sing hymns, we’re not just saying words; we’re giving the Holy Spirit space to fill and strengthen us.

Eric Liddell, the Olympic athlete and missionary, experienced the Spirit’s filling in this way. Liddell faced many trials, starting with the 1924 Paris Olympics, when he refused to compete in the 100-meter race scheduled for Sunday. He endured public criticism for his decision, but he stood firm. Later, he served as a missionary in China, where he lived in constant danger during the Japanese invasion. As conditions worsened, he had to send his wife and young children to safety in Canada, staying alone in China. Eventually, he was sent to a prison camp, where he suffered from a brain tumor, migraines, and depression. Through it all, Liddell stood firm, often singing the hymn “Be Still, My Soul,” which is inspired by Psalm 46:10 (UMH #534):

 

Be still, my soul, the Lord is on your side;

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;

Leave to your God to order and provide;

In every change, God faithful will remain.

 

Be still, my soul, your best, your heavenly friend,

Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end.

 

By singing, Liddell kept God at the center of his life. He enthroned God in his heart. When we sing hymns, we also set our minds on God and are filled by His Spirit.

 

Giving Thanks

We are filled with the Spirit when we give thanks to God. Verse 20 encourages us to “give thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Pastor Charles Spurgeon once said, “Be thankful for moonlight, and you shall get sunlight: be thankful for sunlight, and you shall get that light of heaven which is as the light of seven days.” Some of us may feel we have little to be thankful for, but Paul, by the Spirit, urges us to give thanks in all circumstances, even for small things.

One powerful story of gratitude in difficult circumstances comes from Corrie ten Boom. Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to a Nazi concentration camp for hiding Jews. Conditions in the camp were unbearable, and the sisters had to fight off fleas every day. Corrie struggled to endure it, but Betsie reminded her of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” Together, they counted their blessings, thanking God for being together, for having a Bible, and for the opportunity to share the gospel. Betsie even thanked God for the fleas, though Corrie resisted, saying, “The fleas! This was too much. Betsie, there’s no way even God can make me grateful for a flea!” But later, they discovered that the fleas kept the guards away, allowing them to hold Bible studies freely.

Giving thanks opens our hearts to the Spirit. The more we thank God, the more we recognize His presence and love. By this, we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

 

Submitting

Thirdly, we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (v. 21). Submission is important to God, even though it’s often difficult, especially under “unjust” authority. Why does God allow us to experience challenging relationships with difficult parents, spiritually immature church leaders, mean bosses, or incompetent politicians? It’s often to test our hearts and help us grow in humility.

Pastor John Bevere shares a story of learning submission in his book Under Cover. As a young pastor, he was given permission by his senior pastor to start a home cell group program. After months of preparation, however, his pastor announced that the plan was canceled. John was angry and felt sure he was right. But as he continued to meditate on his frustration, he sensed the Holy Spirit saying, “John, when you stand before me in judgment for the time I had you serve this pastor, you will not first give an account of how many youth you led to salvation. You will first be judged on how faithful you were to the pastor I’ve put you under.” These words changed his heart, leading him to repentance and reconciliation with his pastor.

If we don’t submit to the people we can see, how can we submit to God, whom we cannot see? (1 John 4:20). The Holy Spirit is a humble Spirit, and as we practice submission, we become more teachable and receptive to the Spirit’s direction.

 

Life in the Spirit

In Ephesians, Paul shows us how the gospel transforms our relationships. When we are filled with the Spirit, our marriages, homes, and workplaces are redeemed. Paul emphasizes that being filled with the Spirit is not a one-time event but a continuous experience, a privilege to be renewed daily through spiritual practices.

Recently, I had a meaningful conversation with my father. For 14 years, he had a strained relationship with someone, but God showed him his own pride and led him to seek reconciliation. So my dad reached out to that person and asked for forgiveness. I could feel the freedom, joy, and peace that this brought him. It was a reminder of how the Spirit can bring healing and transformation to our lives when we are willing to be filled and guided by the Spirit.

My prayer for each of us is that we would be filled with the Spirit every day, becoming more like Christ through singing, gratitude, and humility. May the Spirit work in our lives and our relationships, guiding us toward freedom, joy, and peace. Amen.

Monday, November 4, 2024

“Our Church Speaks” (Eph 4:11-16) - Belong VI -

 



Who Are the Saints?

Many of us find inspiration in The Upper Room devotional, and I want to share a story from October 10 that particularly touched me. In this story, the author and his wife took a summer hike through New Mexico. The landscape was brown, dry, and desert-like. But as they walked, they noticed a few green trees standing out against the dry land. They found out these were juniper trees. They have a special root system that goes as deep as 25 feet and spreads up to 100 feet wide to find water. These roots allow them to survive even in drought.

This reminds me of the beautiful truths written in Psalm 92:

 

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

In old age they still produce fruit;

they are always green and full of sap,

showing that the Lord is upright. (vv. 12-15a)

 

Today, we remember our saints. Who are the saints? Saints are the ones who believed in us, invested in us, and helped us grow in faith. Who are the saints? Saints are the ones who took us under their wings and guided us. They taught us, prayed for us, and lived out God’s love in such a way that shaped us.

When I think about the saints in my own life, I see the faces of several people who have deeply impacted me. My grandfather stands out as a hero of faith. Through his life and his actions, I learned how precious Christ is. Through his preaching, I came to faith when I was 12 years old. My mother is another hero. When I was in high school, I went through a season of spiritual drought. I felt like my prayers were just words hitting the wall. The Bible felt like a book of fairy tales to me. I shared these struggles with my mother, and she listened carefully, then shared her own faith story—how she grew up in a pastor’s family and encountered the living God. Her story and her steady, persistent prayers helped sustain me through that time. 

I also remember my 8th-grade Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Won. At that time, I wasn’t very interested in Christianity. But I could tell she was praying for me and each one of her students. Her godly life made a lasting impression on me, even when I didn’t realize it.

 

Called to Equip the Saints

I am sure you have those heroes of faith. Each of these saints in our lives acts like stepping stones along our journey of faith. God has sent us saints – apostles (spiritual leaders), prophets (those correcting us), evangelists (those preaching the gospel to us), pastors (those shepherding us), and teachers – to help us grow. Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants.” In the same way, we are standing on the shoulders of saints today.

Now, we are called to do the same for others. We are called to equip other believers – potential saints, the next generation. Perhaps they may be skeptics or seekers. They may be new believers. They may be our own family members or neighbors. Whoever they are, God calls us to equip them for one purpose: to build up the body of Christ, strengthen the church and God’s kingdom. Some of us in this room may feel unprepared, thinking, “I don’t know what to do.” But every of us can do three things for others right now: we can love them, serve them, and pray for them. We never know how these simple actions might change their lives.

Have you heard of the name Edward Kimball? Probably not. But his story shows how even a “nobody” in the world’s eyes can make an incredible impact when they care about others and God’s kingdom. Edward Kimball was a Sunday school teacher in Chicago in 1855. One day, he visited a teenage student from his class at the shoe store where the teen worked, and there he shared the gospel with him. Kimball then helped nurture the young man’s faith through his Sunday school class. That young man’s name was D.L. Moody.

1.      Moody shared Christ with a man named F. B. Meyer.

2.      F. B. Meyer’s preaching led to the conversion of J. Wilbur Chapman.

3.      Chapman’s preaching led to the conversion of Billy Sunday.

4.      Mordecai Ham was converted at a Billy Sunday meeting.

5.      Billy Graham was converted at a Ham meeting.

6.      Graham preached the gospel face-to-face to more people than anyone else in history.[1]

 

This whole chain of faith began with one Sunday School teacher who simply cared enough to do his part and share the gospel according to his gifts.

 

Small Things Like These

Mr. Holland’s Opus is a movie about a dedicated music teacher who dreams of becoming a famous composer. He does not have those gifts and, instead, makes an impact he does not fully appreciate in the lives of a generation of students in his high school music program. Mr. Holland never writes the musical opus that will make him famous but pours himself into the young people before him: a redheaded girl with pigtails who struggles to play the clarinet, a football player who cannot keep rhythm but needs a band credit to keep his game eligibility, a street kid who is mad at the world but who discovers the beauty of his own soul in music.

As the movie concludes, Mr. Holland is fighting budget cuts for the survival of the high school’s music program. He loses. And he retires. The last day of school he cleans out his desk and, with shoulders slumped down, walks the school hall for the last time. He feels defeated, as if this life’s work was wasted. But as Mr. Holland walks, he hears noise in the auditorium. He goes in to see what is happening and faces a packed auditorium of students and alumni thundering an ovation and chanting his name. The little girl with pigtails is now the governor of the state, and she addresses Mr. Holland from the podium. “Mr. Holland, we know that you never became the famous composer you dreamed of being. But don’t you see it today? Your great composition is what you did with us, your students. Mr. Holland, look around you. We are your great opus. We are the music of your life.”[2]

One of my Korean clergy friends recently visited some of her Sunday School teachers to express her deep gratitude while visiting Korea. It was a way of honoring those saints who poured into her life. Today, you may feel like you don’t have much to offer. You may feel like you are planting in dry soil. But let us remember God’s promise and be encouraged. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58) Let us remember the words of missionary C. T. Studd and be encouraged, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Amen.

  



[1] Kenneth Boa and Jenny Abel, Recalibrate Your Life (pp. 200-201). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Bryan Chapell, Ephesians (Reformed Expository Commentary) (pp. 195-196). P&R Publishing. Kindle Edition.