Critically Wrong Image of God

[S] John 19:7 --
 ⁷The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law He ought to die because He made Himself out to be the Son of God."

[O] These Jews were so sure of the image, or concept, of their God and His Son such that they were confident Jesus was pretending to be the Son of God.  Although the Jews original intentions began with the right motive of sustaining their relationship with God as His chosen people, their image of the true God had warped into something they had fabricated through their self-righteousness and that led for them to such a lethal position of denying and killing the true Son of God.  This shows how critical it is for me to have the right and accurate image of God in my heart because when I miss that baseline, my life is going to be total mess, ending up ripping apart other people's lives even with a totally good intentions.

[A] So crucial for me to retain the clear picture of who my God is and what He desires for me to do on daily basis.  This is not some degree or certification that I cram for to achieve it but a daily adjustments of my own life based on His word for me.  This is also a path that may be lonely as mentioned in John 19:17 as God calls me to obey and follow.  It is not some glorious martyrdom either.  It is a simple walk every moment immersed in His guidance through the Word and relationship developed through prayer.

[P] Dear Father, allow me to slip into such a relationship so tight and close in order for me to understand the accurate picture of Your purpose and the message for me on daily basis.  Let it be the purpose and vision for my life and family.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

The Word of God is not Imprisoned

[S] 2 Timothy 2:7-9 --

 ⁷Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
 ⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
 ⁹for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.

[O] Don't we often feel like we're imprisoned to the surroundings we live in?  The job, school, family, volunteering jobs, friends, etc.?  In fact these are the areas the word of God is to be lived out in its full potential.  Verse 7 mentions how God will provide understanding in everything, so even though what I started to write here may not have an answer, per se, we can truly rely on the understanding God will provide to us as needed because even though I may be or feel imprisoned, the word of God cannot be imprisoned at all.  So, the main take away for me from this passage is: Don't try to carry the word of God, instead let the word of God carry me.

[A] Since I returned from Korea, everything seemed to have been piling up and it's been a non-stop movement.  My LIFE Journaling had been sparse and the word of God definitely was not at its full potential through my life.  If my life is "stuck" then the word of God is stuck through the channel called Yoon.  So, I must let the word of God flow through my life first before I can be freed to be used to carry God's word.

[P] Dear God, I want to go back to the daily appointments with You to dig into Your word.  Please grant me the peace and the margin in my life to do just that.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

From Word To Visions

[S] Jeremiah 1:11-12; John 10:37-38 --
¹¹The word of the LORD came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree."

¹²Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."

³⁷"If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;

³⁸but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father."

[O] In Jeremiah 1:11-12 what caught my eyes was the fact that when the word of the Lord came, Jeremiah gained vision into what God wanted him to see. Normally word is audible and seeing is visible and they are not necessarily connected. However, God's word has the power to make me see and thus I need to keep treasuring His word in my life in order for me to see the path He leads me through. Furthermore, in John's passage Jesus claims to the Jewish leaders about validating His claim of begin the Son of God. It is simple: If His works display God's prophesied actions, then regardless of their comprehension, they should believe. From these two passages I gather that the sequence of God's working in my life to the point of my actions displaying His will is: 1) Hear God's word; 2) See His visions; 3) Do/Carry out His will; 4) Be the billboard revealing God's power. If people are aware of God's word, then they should acknowledge the source of my actions and believe that I belong to God's ministry team.

[A] Keep reading His word daily. Keep exercising seeing His visions. Continue to carry out His ministry to the fullest.

[P] Dear God, thank You for revealing and re-affiming once again that my visions originate from Your word and so I need to dig deeper into Your word daily. I am looking forward to studying the Book of John in BSF this new year and anticipate hearing what You have for me. Please shower upon my family members Your word such that they too will see Your visions. In Jesus' name. Amen.

I Got Milk! What's Next?

[S] Hebrews 5:14 --
¹³For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

[O] The age restrictions for purchasing certain items like alcohol assumes that older or mature person can better discern good vs. bad and thus will not abuse these items. In our spiritual walk, there is a similar marturity level where we have attained a sense of discernment and based on this passage, that comes from those able to take the word of righteousness -- deeper understanding of His Word. One of key aspects of this is that we must all have the desire to grow out of our infancy into the mature ways of living. But many of us are content with our infancy happily enjoying the milk we're fed.

[A] Eat more solid (spiritual) food and practice what I intake.

[P] Dear God, thank You for leading me through BSF in last 4 years to dig deeper into Your word and I desire to move further in that direction. Please allow me the environment to grow further and to have others feed me more solid food. In Jesus' name. Amen.