On a television program, a university professor once spoke about the Korean language and writing. One might wonder what could possibly be difficult for a Korean person about speaking Korean. Yet recently, reading comprehension—the ability to read and understand written text—has become a major social concern, which caught my attention.
Considering that language skills form the foundation for understanding knowledge in various fields such as science, mathematics, and social studies, and that they are also the basis for expressing one’s thoughts clearly and communicating effectively, it is indeed an essential ability for everyone. The professor suggested “word collecting” as a way to improve one’s Korean skills, saying that if you collect words one by one and keep them in your pocket, they become your treasure.
“Words in your pocket are treasures . . .”
Those words suddenly reminded me of something a pastor once said when I was practicing truth presentation with my brothers. At the time, we were struggling to memorize Bible verses for preaching. Smiling, the pastor said, “Each of these verses, when gathered, becomes our asset.”
When I first heard those words, I repeated to myself, “Bible verses are my asset, my treasure,” without truly grasping their meaning. Only after many years do I think I now understand, at least in part, what he meant.
There are people who need comfort, people who need strength to endure hardship, and people who long to understand God’s true teachings. Amazingly, the Bible holds verses for every situation—verses that help us realize the truth of the new covenant, verses that reveal God’s love, verses that can save a soul, and verses that enable us to communicate God’s word to people with all kinds of thoughts.
Once, I faced a moment when I could not recall a Bible verse I wanted to share with someone. Because I could not confidently open the Bible and show it to them, I stumbled through my explanation. I regretted not being able to deliver God’s love and comfort with the right words at the right time, and I felt truly sorry to Heavenly Father and Mother.
Now, I should continue studying the Bible—written over 1,600 years under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit—and the Truth Books where Father’s will is explained in detail. I want to fill my pocket with these treasures of God’s word, so that when the time comes, I can take them out and become a prophet who comforts, enlightens, and leads many souls with God’s love.