Enlightenment
We share big and small enlightenments we have in our daily lives, walking with God.
Hoping for What Is Unseen
Throughout my walk of faith, there have been times when I have forgotten God’s love and felt weary or discouraged. To an imperfect sinner like me, God gave a verse from the Bible that brought me strength. “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Ro 8:24–25 Although I received salvation through the hope God gave me, I sometimes became so focused on the visible world rather than the unseen kingdom of heaven that I forgot God’s love. I give thanks to God, who has guided me with…
Yoo Jeong-su from Las Piñas, Philippines
I Saw Myself in Those Roots
I set out to pull the weeds that had grown thick in the parking lot at Zion. It was my first time, so I was not very skilled, but I worked hard digging them up with a hand hoe. About 30 minutes after I started, I began to wonder if I really needed a tool to pull weeds. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than I put down the hand hoe and began pulling the weeds by hand. The person next to me told me that I should not simply pull the weeds by hand. I needed to dig into the soil with the hand hoe and pull them out by the roots. Otherwise, the weeds would grow…
Ahn Ji-yeong from Gwangju, Korea
In Zion, Filled With Joy and Gladness
I spoke with a member who devotes herself to the gospel while working. She said that although work can be tiring, Fridays fill her with energy and excitement as she thinks, “I wish tomorrow would come soon.” But during the Sabbath evening worship, she feels a sense of sadness as the day draws to a close, thinking, “I wish this happiness could continue.” She said that on the Sabbath, her heart, weary from life in the world, finds comfort in God’s love, and she spends joyful and happy hours with the members in Zion. Hearing her heartfelt wish that such a happy Sabbath could last forever brought a verse from the Bible to mind. “The LORD will surely comfort Zion…
Lee Chae-suk from Gwangju, Korea
Everything in My Life
Not long ago, a coworker’s mother passed away. Just three days later, I heard that my coworker’s maternal grandmother had also passed away. Perhaps the grief of losing her daughter had been too much for her to bear. As I thought about how deeply she must have grieved, Heavenly Mother came to mind. She said, “You are My only concern and everything in My life.” Heavenly Mother came to this earth because Her children, who are everything in Her life, are here. Until now, I have thought only of myself and cared only about my own life. Only now do I realize that Heavenly Mother is everything in my life. What could I do without God’s love? What could I…
Maxwell Stephan Rothstein from Philadelphia, PA, U.S.
Finding the Lost Heavenly Children
One day, while I was on my way to work just as usual, a man came to me and handed me a piece of paper. It was a flyer for finding his daughter, who was thirty nine then. The flyer had her picture when she was eleven, along with the description of how she looked and what she was wearing. The father, who had been looking for his lost daughter for about 30 years, was handing out the flyers to passersby, with his back bent and his hands wrinkled. Suddenly, a verse crossed my mind. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk 19:10 Heavenly Father, too, could not take care of Himself…
Kim Min-seong from Suwon, Korea
Those Who Absolutely Obey God’s Word
I often thought, ‘Ah! This is what I should do,’ or, ‘I should get rid of my sinful nature,’ after listening to a sermon or watching an educational video. Within a few days, however, I would soon find myself leading the same lifestyle as before and feel a great deal of shame. Yet I would justify my action, thinking that I was at least keeping worship services. But I came back to my senses when I read this verse: “Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” 1 Jn 3:4 I thought that lawlessness referred only to disobeying God’s commands such as the Passover or the Sabbath day. Since I kept God’s commands, I thought I was…
Jo Gyeong-jun from Yangsan, Korea
Through the Time of Refinement
Diamond is a mineral made when carbon has endured high pressure and high temperature in the depths of the earth for a long time. However, a rough diamond itself doesn’t look like a jewel at all. Besides, not all diamonds are treated as precious. Some of them are beautifully recreated through the hands of jewelers to attract the world’s attention, while others are processed and are used for industrial purposes. The value varies, depending on what kind of process it goes through. “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” Job 23:10, NLT God likened the process of the refinement of faith to the process of obtaining gold.…
Yu Min-jeong from Busan, Korea
God Is Our Guide Forever
Sometimes I think, ‘I am lacking in many ways. How can I successfully carry out my God-given mission?’ Soon, however, I get reminded of God’s sure promise, which makes me cheer up. “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” Ps 48:14 God divided the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over on dry ground and destroyed the fortified city of Jericho to level the way to Canaan. God is still guiding His children who are preaching the gospel to all people around the world in the age of the Holy Spirit. Although I am still weak in faith, I will do my best to successfully carry out…
Jeon Sahng-hui from Seongnam, South Korea
I Will Remember Their Sins No More
“No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Jer 31:34 It is not easy to forgive someone who has done wrong to you or hurt you. Even if you manage to forgive him, you will be distressed whenever the painful memories pop up. You can forgive him maybe with your mind, but it seems difficult to completely remove the scars in your heart. What if God has forgiven us but remembers our sins? When I think about the weight of our…
Choe Hyeong-hwan from Panaji, India
Chosen by Grace
I thought I became a child of God because I was good and righteous until I saw the following words: So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Ro 11:5–6 I could become a child of God not because of my actions, but because of God’s grace. We are walking the path to the kingdom of heaven thanks to Heavenly Father and Mother’s grace and love. I will always follow Heavenly Father and Mother with humility, giving thanks for choosing me as Their child though I’m lacking in many ways.
Park Ji-won from Toronto, Canada
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, 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…
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, 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, 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, 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, Korea