Rest in the Bible

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: ‘I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.’" (Ezekiel 37:5) Ezekiel, who was taken to Babylon during the first deportation in the 6th century B.C., prophesied through visions and revelations, speaking of God’s judgment alongside the hope of restoration. He proclaimed the sins of the Israelites, who had lived as God's chosen people but were now living as captives in a foreign land. Yet, at the same time, he prophesied that God would breathe life into them—even though they were like "dry bones"—and they would live again. Just as God breathed His life into man when He created him from the dust at the beginning of creation, He promised to breathe His spirit into them once more. "Dry bones" represent creatures that were once alive but have reached the end of their lives, rotted away, and disappeared. Through this vision, the Lord declares once again that He is the One who brings something ...

  For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ....  That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.  (1 Corinthians 12:12, 25, 26)  Lord, we thank You for calling us to be one body in You. Forgive us for the times we forgot that Jesus is our Head , and instead tried to make ourselves the center of this body. Forgive us for the times we looked lightly upon other members and failed to treat them as the precious souls they are. Forgive us for the times we failed to truly share in the sorrows and joys of our brothers and sisters. Lord, our hearts are heavy when those who have grown with us as one body move on to other churches. Yet, we thank You that they remain within Your Great Universal Church , and we pray that we would never forget our...

  " Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.   Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no on e on the road. Whatever house you en ter, first say, 'Peace be to this hous e!'"   Lambs among wolves, but with a Shepherd O Eternal King,   You are the Beginning and the End, existing simultaneously in the past, present, and future. Lord, we cannot see the vast "Grand Picture" that You see.  We cannot hear the desperate, soulful groans of the many people that You hear.  We cannot begin to fathom the immense love You feel for every single soul. Yet, I pray today with the hope of being Your servant—one who relies solely on You and obeys whenever and wherever You call.  Even if You call Your sheep into the midst of wolves, we are safe as long as You are with us. I confess...  I am scared.  I am afraid.  I am...

  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man,  "God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability,  But with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape,  that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)  I am His child, and there is nothing I cannot overcome with Him.  I confess that everything is in His hands—including this temptation, these struggles, and my hardships.  All I can do is believe that He provides me with every ability, especially the endurance to overcome this trial, and that He will provide a way of escape.  Recently, Hannah helped me make Dongchimi (radish water kimchi). As we cut the radishes, added the seasonings, and prepared the starch porridge, she simply had to follow my lead. There was a period of patient endurance required in that obedience; occasionally, when my child acted without direction, I had to offer a gentle correction. However, by persevering through th...

Luke Chapter 4, which describes how Jesus—being full of the Holy Spirit—was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, connects deeply with the story of Job. Just as Job was tested by the devil under God’s sovereignty while remaining blameless and upright, our Lord also faced the tempter. The devil constantly challenged Jesus’ identity, saying, “If you are the Son of God…” He demanded that Jesus "prove Himself" by turning stones into bread, worshiping Satan for worldly power, or throwing Himself down from the highest point. In those moments, Jesus did not focus on Himself or His own defense. Instead, He declared only the written Word of God: “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”    “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”   “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”   Only then, after finishing every temptation, did the devil depart from Him until an opportune time. Lord, I confess that the only thing I can do is stay ...

   "For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church." (1 Corinthians 4:15-17) In these verses, we see three distinct roles: the Guides (co-workers like Apollos and Cephas), the Father (Paul), and the Child/Imitator (Timothy). Paul points out a profound truth: there are many teachers and helpers in the world, but it is rare to find a father. There is a vast difference between a teacher and a parent. A teacher shares information, but a parent shepherds with unconditional love. A spiritual father or mother loves their people "anyway"—they accept them anyway, they stay with them anyway, and they care for them anyway. Timothy became a "reminder" of Paul’s life because he was an im...

FAST from self-concern and FEAST on compassion for others. FAST from discouragement and FEAST on hope. FAST from suspicion and FEAST on truth. FAST from thoughts that weaken and FEAST on promises that inspire. FAST from gossip and FEAST on purposeful silence. FAST from problems that overwhelm you and FEAST on prayer that sustains. FAST from criticism and FEAST on praise. FAST from self-pity and FEAST on joy. FAST from fear and FEAST on peace. FAST from resentment and FEAST on contentment. FAST from jealousy and FEAST on love. FAST from pride and FEAST on humility. FAST from selfishness and FEAST on service.

  Paul, that amazing spiritual leader, struggled between two different worlds. In his mind, he deeply wanted to serve the Lord, but his body could not keep up with his spirit. He failed, and he fell. He felt he couldn't reach his goal of becoming like Jesus. Jesus saw this same struggle in his disciples. They wanted to pray with Him, but their bodies were exhausted, and they fell asleep. He said, 'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.' Every morning, I meditate and pray. I especially pray for my character, for patience, and for a peaceful, relaxed heart. However, every night when I write in my journal, I find myself repenting for my weaknesses. I see where I hurt others or caused them to feel dismayed. Lord, I cry out like Paul: 'Oh, what a wretched woman I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!' So then, in my mind, I serve the law of God, but in my flesh, I struggle with the law of sin. Only throu...