Who Are You?

‘But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’ John 1:12-13 

What a blessed new year!

Hello,

I hope your Christmas holiday was enjoyable, fun-filled, or quiet? Mine was quiet but filled with family warmth and comfort.

I finished a Korean series last night, called Mr. Sunshine. I believe in South-Korea’s movie industry, they try. This series is a Korean historical piece set in the late 18th and early 19th century, in Korea. I try my best to avoid movies with any sadness in them, but I found myself watching this series and finishing it. The series is about the Joseon nation, now South Korea, and the battle for its domination by more powerful countries. It is the story of a small nation of people who never gave up the fight for their freedom. The movie showed that till the very end, having lost to Japan, these people kept fighting and dying for their nation. Losing lives, families, and friends, they died for the belief in their cause. I watched as children went hungry, patriots stood facing death afraid, but unwilling to run, they fought till the very end.  The enemy interrogated and tortured them, but they still stood, with faith that one day their country would be free. These patriots died not seeing the fulfillment of what they believed, but hopeful that the ones they left behind would keep up the struggle; that they would keep fighting until Joseon was free. Interestingly, the rebelling patriots in the series were called the Righteous Army, and Joseon is also called Chosen.

‘And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ‘ Hebrews 11:32-39 

With the new year comes promises of newness, the old is out, but I ask, now what? What does the year mean to you? I hear people say that last year has gone with its problems and afflictions and the new year has come with blessings, amen to that. I pray we speak out of faith in God’s word for us in the year. I hope we stand when that word comes to test, knowing that we are sons of God, not of mere men.

As life comes with its problems in 2020, I am asking myself, who am I? I may have lost to life’s pressure last year, but this year, I pray to stand as a patriot of the kingdom of heaven. That by faith, regardless of the situation I encounter, hunger, lack, sorrow, that I may know that I am a son of the Most High and that He is within me. We are all made for signs and wonders in righteousness, may our eyes be opened to the truth as we seek our Father’s kingdom and His glory.

My prayer for us is that we stand. May we stand in the truth, in faith, in righteousness and, most of all, in love. May God open the eyes of our understanding, teach and instruct us in the way that we should go in Jesus’ name.

Have a blessed week, and till next time, be transformed!