Sharing is Caring

With the word of God ...     With the word of God, we must strengthen those whose hands are weak, encourage those who have fallen to get up, and give strength to those whose knees are weak (Ref.: Job 4:3-4).

We must realize the end of the wicked!     How do you think Haman felt when he had to take the royal robes and horse, dress Mordecai, and lead him through the city streets proclaiming, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor,” as commanded by King Xerxes? (Esther 6:11) Haman, ashamed and unable to show his face, hurried home with his head covered and told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him (vv. 12-13). Then his wife and his wise friends said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him— you will surely come to ruin!” (v. 13). Surely, they were the same people who had previously advised Haman to have a pole set up, reaching to a height of about 23 meters, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself (5:14). Yet now they were saying that “sinc...

We should praise the Lord.     We should praise the Lord because He has already blessed us generously (Ref.: Psalms 13:6).

The reason we look to the Lord with hope ...     The reason we look to the Lord with hope is because the Lord is our help and shield (Psalms 33:20).

The reason we can sing of the Lord’s salvation even in times of trouble is ...     The reason we can sing of the Lord's salvation even in times of trouble is because the Lord becomes our refuge and protects us. Even during times of trouble, the Lord guides us, teaches us the path we should take, watches over us, and guides us (Ref.: Psalms 32:7-8).

Why we praise God …     We praise God because, in our suffering and even in the danger of death, when we cried out to Him, He heard our voice and listened to our cries for help, and He saved us from that suffering or danger (Ref.: Psalms 18:3, 5, 6).

When we do not confess our sins ...     We should be thankful that when we do not confess our sins, the Lord presses heavily on us with His hand and our strength weakens. The reason is that at that time we decided to confess our sins and confessed all our faults and sins to the Lord without hiding them. Because the Lord will forgive all our sins (Ref.: Psalms 32:3-5).

We should find out why our loved ones are sad.     Esther instructed Hathak, the king's eunuch attending her, to find out why Mordecai was so distressed. Mordecai told Hathak about everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. He also gave Hathak a copy of the edict issued in Susa for their annihilation, to show to Esther and explain the situation to her. He urged Hathak to instruct Esther to go to the king and beg for mercy and plead for her people (Esther 4:5-8). When I meditate on these words, I learn the lesson that we should find out why our loved ones are sad. Additionally, our loved ones need to open their hearts and share honestly why they are sad. And when they plead with us, we should listen attentively to their requests.

아버지의 입장에서 사랑하는 딸이 삶과 죽음의 기로에서 살고자 애를 쓰는 모습을 볼 때 그의 마음(심정)이 어떠할까요? 저는 아버지가 사랑하는 딸에게 'you can let go'(놓아도 된다)라고 말했다는 것은 하나님을 전적으로 믿고 천국에 소망이 없이는 그렇게 말할 수 없다고 생각합니다. 이러한 믿음과 소망을 가지고 자녀를 하나님의 사랑으로 사랑하고 싶습니다.

The truth we must keep in mind!     I don’t know why a severe disaster heavier than sighing came upon us (Job 23:2), but the truth we must keep in mind is, “After he (God) has tried me, I will come out as pure gold” (v. 10).

Our God turns our sorrow into joy!     God rescued the Jews from the hands of their enemies, turning their sorrow and tears into joy and celebration. On that historic day, Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of the Persian Empire, instructing them to annually observe the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar (the days when the Jews gathered together and defended themselves against their enemies, killing 75,000 who hated them) as days of feasting and joy, of giving presents to one another and gifts to the poor. Thus, the Jews followed Mordecai's instructions and celebrated these days as an annual festival called "Purim," meaning "lots" or "destiny" (Internet). (Ref.: Esther 9:16-23). This festival of Purim commemorates the day when the Jews, under threat from their enemy Haman who plotted to destroy them by casting lots and choosing the 13th day of the month of Adar, were instead saved b...

Why does God make us helpless and put us in trouble?     Job considered them to be the children of fools, the lowest of society, even younger than himself, who were as contemptible as guarding dogs, and they did not hesitate to ridicule, mock, and despise him from a distance, even spitting in his face. He thought this showed that God had made him powerless and brought him into distress (Job 30:1, 8-11). Why does God make us powerless and bring us into distress? Could it be that God wants us to fully realize how helpless we are as human beings? Is it so that God might compel us to rely entirely on His omnipotence?

Why doesn't God punish the wicked?     Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? Why do their children thrive and their descendants prosper? Why is their house secure, free from fear, and why do they live without trouble? Why do they spend their days in prosperity, rejoicing in their wealth, and why do they die without suffering? Why does God not punish the wicked? (Ref.: Job 21:7-12)

If our foolish spouse does not support and help us in faith ...     Covered in painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, Job sat among the ashes, using a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself. Seeing him, his wife said to Job, "Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job replied to her, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Despite all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 2:7-10). When I reflect on this passage, I think about how Job maintained his integrity even in extreme suffering. It shows that he valued maintaining his integrity more than his own life. Usually, our instinct is to value our own life more than maintaining our integrity. If we experience extreme suffering, we might succumb to Satan’s temptation, compromising our integrity to protect our life, and end up speaking and acting falsely. Especially if our foolish spous...

How did Job not blame God even after losing everything?     After losing his ten children and all his possessions, Job worshiped God and said: 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.' Despite all this, Job did not sin or blame God (Job 1:20-22). When I reflect on this passage, I wonder how Job did not blame God even after losing everything. If he had been a believer who pursued a prosperity gospel, he surely would have blamed God. However, Job praised and worshiped God even after losing all his children and possessions. I believe he was able to do this because his faith was based on knowing who God is and recognizing God's sovereignty.