Set a mentor!

1 Samuel 19:18 When David had fled and made his escape, he went to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.

David trying to avoid Saul who tired to kill him went to Samuel. And David told everything that Saul did to him to Samuel.

Young David might have received much teachings from aged Samuel who served God.

He might have been taught the attitude in suffering and how he should serve God.

Likewise, a person who has a holy mentor who one can freely talk to and shares the difficulties with is a blessed one.

If you have a holy leader around you, make that person your mentor. If you do not have one make many holy people in the Bible as your mentor. Especially, make Jesus Christ as your mentor and receive his guidance.

Shalom and God bless!

God protects the life! 1 Samuel 19:1-17

10 The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand

When Saul tried to kill David, he was protected by Jonathan defending him.

One day, Saul threw a spear at David, he avoided it and got away from the danger.

Once, Saul sent his servants to kill David, Merab let him got away from it.

Though Saul really tried to kill David but he couldn’t.

It’s because David was in God’s hand.

Even one sparrow would’t die, if God doesn’t allow. God is the one who counts even our hairs. (Mt10:29, 30)

Therefore, rest in God who absolutely protects us.

Shalom and God bless!

The result of fear 1 Samuel 18:12-30

12 Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.

If Saul knew that the Lord left him and was with David, he just needed to repent and let God be with him. But Saul did not try to fix himself but was afraid of David.

And in order to kill David, he tricked David to kill 100 Philistines and then he would give his daughter Merab as David’s wife.

However, David killed 200 Philistines and became king’s son-in-law and Merab also loved David. Saul was afraid of David more and became David’s lifelong enemy. (28, 29)

If we are afraid of people, we would trick people. However, if we are afraid of God, we would live a holy life.

If there’s a person who God is with, respect him. And take his example. And get away from the jealousy and have a clean and pure heart like a child so that God will be with us.

Shalom and God bless!

Friendship 1 Samuel 18:1-5

1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

After David killing Goliath, Jonathan was drawn to David’s heart and loved him as himself.

And he gave the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (4)

Jonathan was older than David and had more authority and more possessions. However, he did not evaluate David with David’s possessions or position but with his character.

The friendship between Jonathan and David was truly beautiful one. Their hearts were connected and loved each other like themselves. They shared the weapons that were like life to them.

Make a friend who you can truly share your hearts to. Make a friend who you can love like your own self. Make a friend who you want to share the most precious thing to. Make a friend who you can walk together to heaven eternally.

Shalom and God bless!

Concentration 1 Samuel 17:48-54

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.

As Goliath got closer to David, he ran quickly towards Goliath and slung a stone and struck him on the forehead and won the victory.

Around David, there were many things that distracted him such as Goliath, many people holding shields, Israelites and Philistines, but the thing that he focused on was Goliath’s forehead.

Around us, there can be many thing that distract hs, such as entertainment, games, shopping, new information or sensational pleasures.

Either a battle, study, business, work or mission, if we do not concentrate but are distracted, we would fail.

Focus on what you can take the responsibility for. Just like the sunlight that goes through a magnifier can spark fire, through our concentration, there will be the sparks of victory.

Shalom and God bless!

Experience and faith 2 Samuel 17:33-37

36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

When Israelites were in fear of seeing the huge Goliath, little David showed up to Saul and said that he will kill this Philistine.

To Saul who couldn’t believe in David, David told him that he protected his sheep through killing lions and bears. Likewise, David had the experience of protecting his sheep.

And he had the faith that God who saved him from lion and bear would save him from the hands of Goliath as well.

The one God uses is the one who is prepared with his own efforts and the faith of relying on God.

Therefore, train yourself for the expansion of God’s kingdom. Fully rely on God who will make you victorious.

Shalom and God bless!

Shining morning of the resurrection Mt 28:1-10

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

On Sunday morning, two women came to Jesus’ tomb and saw the surprising scene.

Because of a great earthquake, an angel sent by God moved the stone and was sitting on it.

When Jesus was hang on the cross and died, angel did not appear. It was more like darkness that God ignored.

Jesus volunteerly chose the cross.

Then God gave him the shining morning of resurrection as a gift.

Walking on the path of cross is our choice and the glory of the resurrection is God’s rewards.

Choose the path of cross following Jesus who is the first fruit of the resurrection.

Shalom and God bless!

A true disciple Mt 27:57-66

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.

Jesus passed away around 3 pm on Friday and the day is dawning. His dead body was hanged on the cross. At that time, Joseph who followed Jesus’ teaching without showing, asked for Jesus’ dead body from Pilate.

He was a member of Council (Lk23:50) but he did not fear that his position and honor would be ruined. As a Jew, he was not afraid of the accusations of breaking the Sabbath and breaking the law of forbidding to be close to the dead.

And he took Jeuss’ body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb.

The reason why he was able to be courageous and pay for the cost at such important moment is because he loved Jesus and he was looking forward to the kingdom of God. This is a true disciple.

Shalom and God bless!

The pain on the cross Mt 27:32-44

42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.

Jesus whose body was fully flogged and had a thorny crown on his head and He was laid on the cross and His both hands and feet were nailed.

When the cross was put straight, Jesus’ weight was focused on the nails and His skins were torn and His blood flew.

At this time, the high priests, teachers of the law, and elders said to Jesus “He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.”

They became tools of Satan and lured Jesus not to take the cross, but in their ignorance, they said the Truth.

Jesus saved others but did not save Himself. Because if He did not take the cross and saved Himself, He couldn’t save others.

The life of following Jesus is not to save ourselves in order to save others. That is the way of sacrifice.

Shalom and God bless!

The glory of the second coming

Mt 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

It is estimated that Jesus gave the teaching of Mt 24 and 25 regarding the second coming of Jesus on Tuesday.

Jesus knew that how great the ridicules and the pain on the cross were going to be.

However, Jesus did not just look at the cross but the glory of resurrection over the cross and the glory of the second coming.

We tend to consider the thing that we focus on greatly. If we focus on the suffering, sufferings would look great. If we focus on the glory, glory would look great.

Focus on the glory that the Lord will give and be victorious. There will be great glory that is incomparable with the present sufferings.

Shalom and God bless!