02/20
They who shall be counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage. Nor can they die any more, for they are equal to the angels, and are the children of God, being the sons of the resurrection. Luke 20:35-36
Greatest Miracle
Resurrection is a great miracle. A greater miracle is the absolute purification of character. With this greater miracle, the former is no longer a miracle. The fact that Jesus existed indeed is the greatest miracle among miracles. There was a person who had not a bit of flaw in the morality; this is already the greatest miracle among miracles. And resurrection will come upon this very person. This cannot be said unnatural. Jesus was a person, and yet not a person. To turn inside out; to subdue flesh to spirit, and, in his case, to conquer death with life, He died to resurrect in a higher state of life.
02/21
When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have established; I come to ask. What is human that You are mindful of, and the son of man, that You visit him? For You have made human a little lower than the angels, and have crowned the son of man with glory and honor. You made him rule over the works of Your hands. Psalms 8: 3-6
God and I
There are only two in the Heaven and the World: God and I. God loves me, and I love God. I obey all his voice. I joy when He pleases me. I weep when He anger me. My goal of life is to be righteous before God. I work with Him and share His glory and despise. I am glad when He is praised, and I am angry when He is rebuked. God takes me to wander of His universe and creatures, and shows all His animals of the field and birds of the are. He grants me to name His creatures, and I name His creatures. I am truly the first Adam in this world. I am alone and there is no one else. Only God is with me. There are only God and I. Therefore I love every person and creature. I join nothing without God, and everything with God.
02/22
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Philippians 3: 5-6
National Christianity
When a Japanese truly and independently believes in Christ, he or she is a Japanese Christian, and him or her Christianity is Japanese Christianity. It is all very simple. A Japanese Christian does not arrogate the whole Christianity to one's self, neither does he or she create a new Christianity by becoming a Christian. He or she is a Japanese, and he or she is a Christian; therefore he or she is a Japanese Christian. A Japanese by becoming a Christian does not cease to be a Japanese. On the contrary, one becomes more Japanese by becoming a Christians. A Japanese who becomes an American or an Englishman, or an amorphous universal person, is neither a true Japanese nor a true Christian. Paul, a Christian apostle, remained "an Hebrew of the Hebrews" till the end of his life. Savonarola was an Italian Christian, Luther was a German Christian, and Knox was a Scotch Christian. They were not characterless universal persons, but distinctly national, therefore distinctly humans, and distinctly Christians.
02/23
The full knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2: 2-3
Cross, Answer of Life
The question of life is as unsolvable as ever. No philosophy has ever succeeded in solving it. Good things come to bad persons, and bad things come to good persons. True persons are rejected as hypocrites, and false persons are hailed as saints. The strangest of all things is the life we live in this world. But one thing that settles all questions is the Cross of Jesus Christ. The Cross solves the question of life, and makes all things clear and comprehensible. The Cross is God's answer to the question of life; it is the key to the enough solution of all the difficult problems of life. Walking in the light of the Cross, we hesitate not to confront with the biggest inconsistencies of life.
02/24
By night on my bed I sought Him whom my soul loved; I sought Him, but I did not find Him. I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the broad ways; I will seek Him whom my soul loves. I sought Him, but I did not find Him. The watchmen going about the city found me. I said, Have you seen Him whom my soul loves? But a little while after I passed from them, I found Him whom my soul loves. Song of Solomon 3: 1-4
Soul Seeks Love
A soul demands wholehearted, unselfish, and unbounded love. How tremendous demand a soul makes. The soul cannot be satisfied with a golden palace or heaps of jewels. Soul's thirst of love can never be satiated with finest silks or tastes. Even surrounded by three thousand waiting beauties, the sorrow of a soul hopelessly pants after love. Even a happy home, or good friends, may not be enough to fill soul's innate yearning of love. What a soul really longs is the love of living and true God, the creator of the whole universe, soul's Friend, soul's Father and soul's Savior. Without this a soul is already dead. With this a soul enters true life of eternal love.
02/25
The scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up to the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Galatians 3:22-24
Three Great Moments
A great moment in my life was when I found myself, or rather, was found by God, to be a sinner. For years, my supreme effort was to make myself pure and holy before Him. Another great moment was when I found my righteousness, not in me, but in Him who was crucified for my sins. For years, I tried to realize in myself and others the gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. A third, and perhaps the last great moment in my life was when I was shown that my salvation is not yet, and that when Christ shall appear again, then, and not till then, shall I be like Him. Acknowledgment of sins, salvation by faith, and hope of His coming, were three steps by which my soul was lifted to the joy and freedom of the heavenly vision.
02/26
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18
Faith and Institution
Churches as we find them in Europe and America are Christian doctrines institutionalized. Institutions are Roman, and doctrines are Greek. But Christianity is essentially faith, and faith is Hebrew. Political Romans and their European and American descendants have comprehend faith only in forms of institution. Not so the Orientals, who can comprehend faith without forms, and are in this respect akin to Hebrew prophets and Christian apostles. The task remains to the Orientals in general, and it may be, to the Japanese in particular, of disinstitutionalized Christianity, and thus of freeing invisible faith from visible institutions.
02/27
For as the Father raises the dead and makes alive, even so the Son of man makes alive whomever He will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son, so that all should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. John 5:21-22
Judgment by Christ
God raised Christ to judge us. Judgment, then, is no longer to be feared as we thought. Judgment sounds fearsome when first heard, but thanksgiving, instead of dread, comes when we hear that Christ judges. Who is Christ? He is the Mediator between God and human who make defence for human before God, offering atonement of human sin; He is a gentle Savior and a friend of sinners. God commits judgment to Christ for remission of sin. We are then, notwithstanding the multitude of sins committed, furnished with the hope of acquittal of innocency. Now we know who judges us, and can therefore stand before Him boldly and fearlessly.
02/28
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Give Thanks
Rejoice, give thanks, and look up to a greater blessing. Thanksgiving is the essence of prayer. God never listens to a thankless prayer. "For whoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance. But whoever does not have, from him shall be taken away even that which he has" (Matthew 13:12). Gratefulness endorses whosoever has. Anyone who gives thanks will be given more of mercy and blessing; We should not ask to our Father for His mercy by bringing out our "having not." We should rather expound our affluence for imploring additional blessings.
02/29
Jesus was led by the Spirit up into the wilderness, to be tempted by the Devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterwards hungry. And the tempter came to Him. Matthew 4: 1-3
Trial of Jesus
Oh, Jesus of Nazareth, I thank you for your victory over temptation. I know I will be tried as you were. You were tried every matter of life as we are. Therefore you know well our weakness (Hebrews 4:15). You fought against the devil and you know his strong power. I served the devil, although I wished to serve you. I pray, lead me to your wisdom, give your perception to distinguish the voice of God from the devil. May I have a light to walk your right way. May I overcome all temptation, take part in your work of the Nation of Heaven. May I have your glory.
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