Enlightenment

Be All the More Eager to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

When I was faced with an unexpected situation during my overseas mission, I felt bad about myself. I felt incapable of doing any task and become low-spirited, thinking, ‘If it were another member, she would have done it much better than I did.’ However, after reading this cheerful verse, I never get frustrated at myself any longer. “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Pe 1:10–11 God has called and chosen me. It is not by my own effort or ability that such…

Gong Ju-hui from Medellín, Colombia

100 Percent Faith

Elijah and 850 idolaters gathered on Mount Carmel. It was the last battle to distinguish the true God from the gods they served. What Elijah did at that time moved me greatly. “With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed.” He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.” “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time.…

Gu Jeong-min from Durban, South Africa

What I Have

Whenever I compared myself with other people, I felt that I owned nothing better than they did. At such times when I felt a loss of confidence, a verse woke me up. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” Rev 3:11 God’s word, “Hold on to what you have,” made me realize that I owned precious things more than other people. Father and Mother protect us as the apple of Their eyes, and our brothers and sisters share joys and sorrows with me. The heavenly blessing has been given to me, but not to everyone though he wants it. I was ashamed of myself for having compared myself with…

Kang Yeong-suk from Busan, South Korea

For God Is with You

It’s been a year since I came to India for the gospel mission. Sometimes, I struggle with the language barrier or feel disheartened when things don’t turn out well. Then, I remind myself of these verses. “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “But Lord,” Gideon asked, “how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together” Jdg 6:14–16 Gideon was the least in his family, and his clan was the weakest in Manasseh, and yet God chose him as the judge…

Lee Nan-hui from Bangalore, India

Earnest Prayer

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.” Ps 145:18–19 Whenever I felt as if God didn’t answer my prayers immediately, I wondered, “Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?” I should’ve checked if I had prayed earnestly to God. From now on, I will change the way I pray. Hoping that all my wishes will be granted, I put my hands together and pray earnestly with reverence for God today, too.

Gu Jeong-min from Durban, South Africa

Help Me Overcome My Unbelief!

There is a verse that breaks my heart whenever I read it because it describes me very well. “. . . But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mk 9:22–24 The boy’s father disappointed Jesus with his words of unbelief, but which were familiar to my ears. It’s because there were many times when I prayed to God without believing firmly that He would surely answer my prayer, although I acknowledged with my lips that God is the Almighty. Now, I reaffirm my faith and pray to God…

Gu So-hyeong from Anyang, South Korea

I’m Sorry, Sister

One morning, I was late while getting ready to go to my class and did not leave my house until the class started. I was rushing out and eventually tripped on the stairs. Fortunately, I was not seriously injured. Even the doctor said I would get well soon if I was careful and refrained from being active, so I didn’t think it would impact my daily activities. Contrary to what I thought, since I sprained my ankle, I felt uncomfortable in my daily life. It took me 20 to 30 minutes to get to school, which usually took 10 minutes, and it was difficult to use the stairs, which used to be very easy for me to go up and…

Song Ji-soo, Jeonju, South Korea

God Can Testify

“God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Php 1:8 Apostle Paul was very confident in his love for the church members in the gospel, and said that God could testify how he loved them. We can feel his heartfelt sincerity for his brothers, whom he loved with all his heart and soul. When you make efforts to help your brothers and sisters, crying in response to their suffering, nobody may know or acknowledge it. But it shouldn’t matter because God knows all your invisible behind-the-scenes efforts and your earnest love for them, as it is written: “God can testify.” I give thanks to God for being a witness to everything I…

Shin Yu-dong from Seoul, South Korea

I Will Obey It with All My Heart

Since I was little, I’ve been under God’s blessing with my family. However, I began to attend worship services just out of habit. I really hated myself for doing that, and I felt sorry to God. Out of frustration, I opened the Bible, where I found out what I had been missing out on. Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Ps 119:33–34 It is natural that we, God’s people, should keep the law of God with all our heart in any and every circumstance. How much more should we obey God’s law in peaceful,…

Kim Hye-been from Incheon, South Korea

Like David on That Day

David is described as a man after God’s own heart in the Bible. He is one of the ancestors of faith, whom I want to emulate the most. Whenever I consider his sincere love for God and firm faith in Him, I always think he was such an amazing person. One day, while I was reading the Bible, I opened my eyes wide in amazement at the following verse, which likens us to David. “On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them” Zec 12:8 I reminded myself again…

Hong Jeong-eun from Seongnam, South Korea

The Voice of Father and Mother

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries are still imposing travel restrictions. However, we also hear gracious fragrances of Zion that the pandemic has provided an opportunity for our members to study Heavenly Father’s Truth Books. In order to teach us the way of salvation, Heavenly Father came to this dark and gloomy world, which confuses the truth with falsehood. Every Truth Book that Father wrote for 37 years, staying up all night, contains His earnest love for His children; Father wanted all of us to correctly distinguish the truth from falsehood and receive salvation. There is a Bible verse I got reminded of while studying Heavenly Father’s Truth Books. O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will…

Sushan Khati from Gokarneshwor, Nepal