Sharing is Caring

  Life of hiding       [Acts 5:1-11]     Why do stressed women want to talk?   In stressful situations, the spatial intelligence and logical reasoning of men's brains are actively engaged.   In contrast, women's language function becomes more active, leading them to talk more.   Therefore, when women feel stressed or upset, they seek out someone to talk to and pour out their thoughts endlessly in front of them.   Whether it's discussing problems with friends for hours or going over specific details one by one, it's not about finding a solution for women, but the act of speaking itself provides comfort and encouragement.   Why do women feel the need to express everything in order to feel relieved?   Men's brains are highly compartmentalized, allowing them to separate and store information.   As the day comes to an end, even if there are many problems, a man's brain can categorize them.   However, it's di...

  Life of sharing       [Acts 4:32-37]     There is a commonly heard saying that there are three types of people: those who are absolutely necessary, those who are of little consequence, and those who are better off absent.   How can we limit people to these three categories?   Nevertheless, it is necessary to reflect on this at least once.   Which category do we currently belong to?   In order to bring hope to the world, to give love to the world, to share with the world, we must become the person who is needed.   How noble and beautiful would our lives be if the world could brighten even a little and undergo a new transformation because of us?   Shout loudly to the world, "I am a person who is absolutely necessary" (Internet).   While meditating on Jesus' act of sharing, poet Hae-in Lee prayed as follows: ‘Lord, if only our lives were broken so thoroughly by a life of sharing, but how is it that our days a...

Day 30: Romans 7:4-6       A life bearing fruit of God     In Romans 7:4-6, Paul explains to the saints in Rome about two types of fruit.   The first fruit is for death (Rom. 7:5), representing the fruit we bore while living as slaves to sin before believing in Jesus.   We lived producing fruit for death, walking in disobedience and lawlessness.   This life under the law is what Paul refers to as living "under the law" (6:15).   This life is living in the lusts of impurity (1:24), driven by shameful desires, not living in the proper and natural way but contrary to it (v. 26), doing things that are not fitting before God.   The second fruit is for God.   This fruit is holiness, and the end of holiness is eternal life (6:22).   If we truly believe in Jesus, we must strive to live a holy life.   Holiness is living a life set apart for God, and the ultimate result of holiness is eternal life.   We have ...

  Day 23: Acts 23:1       A righteous life of faith     A righteous life of faith entails, firstly, serving God with a clear conscience in all things.  Paul boldly confessed before the gathering of priests and council members that he served God with a clear conscience in all things.  Like Paul, we should strive to have a good conscience every day.   Secondly, it means despising hypocrisy.  Paul referred to the high priest Ananias as a "whitewashed wall."  This expression means looking beautiful on the outside but being filled with all sorts of filth on the inside (Sang-seop Yoo).  In other words, it signifies a disconnect between outward appearance and inner reality.  We should disdain such hypocrisy.   Thirdly, it means being led by God's word.  We should live in obedience to God's word, not fearing people, but revering God.

  God of heaven   [Nehemiah 9:13-15a]     Christian A. Schwarz surveyed 1,000 of the healthiest growing churches in 32 countries worldwide and found eight characteristics (Internet): (1) Leadership that develops the spiritual potential of the laity, (2) Gift-oriented ministry given by the power of the Holy Spirit, (3) ‘Passionate spirituality’ rather than just fulfilling one’s religious duties, (4) Functional structure according to the mission of the church, (5) Worship that inspires the work of the Holy Spirit regardless of style and language of worship, (6) Holistic small group activities that apply the message to their specific daily lives rather than just discussing Bible passages, (7) Needs of non-believers focus on evangelism, not "manipulating", and (8) Relationships that do not talk about love, but practice Christian love.   How about our church?   In order for our church to become a healthy church established by the Lord, what our chur...