04/20
God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who knows the things of a person except the spirit of the person within one's self? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11
Human Spirit
Oh unfathomable spirit. Spirit is not form, not appearance, not knowledge, not circumstances, not heredity, not action, and not morality. Spirit is living personality in the depth of a person. "The inward part of human and the heart are deep" (Psalms 64: 6). God's spirit alone can know the human spirit. One cannot comprehend it by searching from outside. This is why human cannot judge human. Therefore, He said, "The Lord does not see as man sees. For human looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16: 7).
04/21
Knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16
Justification by Faith
Longing indeed is the faith that does not seek its ground on anything else but Christ and His cross. This faith neither requires worldly success as proof, nor presupposes its own sanctity. True faith is simple faith. This faith depends not on social work or morality but only on Jesus Christ and His cross. As Columbus ventured upon his voyage without any landmark to guide him, but simply relying upon the stars in heaven, so is our faith to be. And, only in this faith, we can combat against the world, without being afraid of manhood and sin. With courageous faith, we journey our ship not to the New Continent but to the New Jerusalem.
04/22
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen on you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but the LORD shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. Isaiah 60: 1-2
Darkness and Hope
With all the progress in science and art of living, never was the world darker than at present. And churches and governments by all their means of enlightenment seem to be totally incompetent to dispel the darkness. But we are not discouraged with this darkness. Rather our confidence grows by this very darkness because "the Lord shall arise" upon us, and "His glory shall be seen" upon us. Not by evolution, nor by efforts of humans, but by the power of God shall the world and humankind be perfected. The Word of God stands sure. It shall not return to Him empty. Hallelujah to the Highest.
04/23
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; Romans 5: 1
Peace in Faith
Simple faith does not calculate on its result. Faith that stands for its own sake can alone bring a person true peace. This is the peace spoken of by Christ as "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). This is the peace described by Paul as "the peace of God, which passes all understanding" (Philippians 4: 7). This is a deep, strong, and solid faith. Armed with this faith a Christian can conquer the world. Faith in God's righteousness, revealed beyond the practices of the law; this faith alone can bring about a great business, a great literature, a great art, a great country and a great politician; in short, this faith alone can transform society fundamentally.
04/24
Where is the wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the defender of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:20-21
Democracy and Christ
The world is not saved by Democracy, not even by the Democracy of the United States. Democracy at its best is a political principle, and as such it is passive mechanism and spiritually incompetent. The world is not saved by a principle, but by a person; not by the sum of persons, but by an almighty, all-knowing, all-loving person. The resurrected, living Christ is the only hope of the world. He alone, who is able even to subject all things to Himself, can recreate the world into a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Not Democracy but Christ, not Reformation but Recreation, not the United Nations but gathering of all nations at the feet of the coming Christ for judgement and guidance. This is the scheme of world's salvation, and there is no other.
04/25
The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. Psalms 119:130
Bible Study
There is no Christianity without the Bible, even if Christianity is not equal to the Bible. And there is no Christian without learning the Bible. The study of the Bible is a necessary way to become a Christian, although it does not always lead to Christianity. This path should be the same among different sects, denominations and even apostates as well. Bible study is the best means of missionary and of learning world knowledge. The best solid faith arises from Bible study. Sincere study of the Bible is useful even for public goods. Do not limit Bible study just for a means of church propaganda.
04/26
It happened when Jephthah saw his daughter, he tore his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter. You have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me. For I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot go back. And she said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to the Lord; do to me according to that which has come out of your mouth. Judges 11:35-36
Life is Sacrifice
Happiness is not the most important goal of life. Duty is more precious than happiness. We could not help but give up happiness on the cause of duty. The cost of duty which we sacrifice is not lost. Jephthah saved his nation sacrificing his happiness; his daughter purified Jephthah's heart sacrificing her life. Life is sacrifice. Without sacrifice, life is non-sense. Not happiness, but sacrifice is the purpose of life. Sacrifice is the zenith of life. I believe that Jephthah's suffering was necessary to save his nation, and that his daughter's death was necessary to save Jephthah himself. Hallowed is the name of God. Thus God saved Israel by Jephthah's sacrifice, and saved Jephthah's heart by his daughter's sacrifice.
04/27
"Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.". . . To him not working, but believing on Him justifying the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4: 3, 5
Believing
When I can do nothing, I believe; and believing is doing, the greatest and best of all doings. To the question: What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered: "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He sent" (John 6:29). Believing is the greatest work, and all other works are the fruits of this one work. I turn away from the busy, soul-harassing Christianity of incessant agitations, revivals, reforms, reconstructions, and betterment of the world. Rather I find peace and vitalizing energy in the primitive gospel of Jesus and his disciples, the gospel of quiet rest in God's works for us, and not in our futile works for Him.
04/28
I know that in me dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. For I do not do the good that I will; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. Romans 7:18-19
Struggle of Sin
The struggle of sin is a moral experience. Upon examining myself by conscientious intuition, upon finding myself inclined to prefer darkness against God, and upon searching for a savior able to rescue this sinner, I could finally encounter Christ, the healer of this painful conscience of mine. Moreover, I came to know that sin was not against human but against God. Consequently the One who relieved me of this agony of sins must of necessity be a God-head.
04/29
When Jesus had looked round about on the Pharisees with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3: 5
Holy Anger
A Christian is not easily provoked. He or she avoids committing sin of anger. But this does not imply he or she is free from anger. He or she commits holy anger. Paul said "Who is offended, and I burn not?" (2 Corinthians 11:29) The word "burn" here is considered to mean "feel holy anger." David said, "Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate You?" (Psalms 139:21) Here too, the holy anger of the faithful is vividly expressed. True love accompanies anger. Without anger, love is shallow, if not false. God's anger is often poured upon his people, because he loves them so deeply and strongly. "For whom the Lord loves He chastises, and scourges every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12:6).
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