Category: Today’s Word

1 Corinthians 2:1-2. And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. ² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Some say that the gospel is not inclusive. They struggle to accept the claim that there is only one way to God. In a world that values tolerance and pluralism, many prefer to believe that all religions are essentially the same—different paths leading to the same destination, all seeking salvation through good works, moral living, or spiritual effort.

Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Corinth, a city filled with competing philosophies, idol worship, and religious pluralism. The people of Corinth were accustomed to many gods and many ways of worship. Yet Paul’s message was unmistakably clear: there is only one Savior—Jesus Christ.

Paul was not an ignorant or narrow-minded man. He was one of the most educated scholars of his day, trained under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. He possessed exceptional knowledge, eloquence, and human wisdom. If anyone could have argued for a sophisticated religious system based on human achievement, it was Paul.

Yet everything changed when he encountered the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. On his way to persecute those who followed “the Way,” Paul came face to face with the One he had rejected. From that moment on, he realized that all his accomplishments, credentials, and religious zeal were worthless compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). He concluded that the only knowledge that truly mattered was the knowledge of Jesus Christ—His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

What caused such a dramatic transformation?

By the grace of God, Paul came to understand the fundamental problem of the human race. He realized that humanity’s condition was far more serious than ignorance, poverty, injustice, or lack of education. Behind every problem stood the spiritual realities of Satan (Revelation 12:9), original sin (Romans 3:23), and separation from God (Genesis 3:1-6). No amount of human effort, religion, morality, or philosophy could solve these problems.

At the same time, Paul discovered that the entire Old Testament pointed to one person—Jesus Christ. He was the offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). He was the true Ark through whom humanity could escape judgment (Genesis 6:14). He was the reason God called Abraham and promised blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). He was the ultimate sacrifice foreshadowed throughout the sacrificial system (Exodus 3:18). He was Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14).

For Paul, the Scriptures suddenly became clear. What had once been hidden was now revealed. Every promise, prophecy, sacrifice, and covenant pointed to Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ.

He also understood why, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah disappeared while Jesus remained (Matthew 17:1-8). The Law and the Prophets had fulfilled their purpose by pointing to Christ. Only Jesus remained because only Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Paul had finally found his True Prophet who reveals God, his True Priest who reconciles sinners to God, and his True King who defeats Satan and reigns forever.

Then Peter’s bold confession before the Sanhedrin made perfect sense: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Out of all the people, Paul could not forget Stephen. He had witnessed Stephen’s unwavering faith and had approved of his execution. Yet even as Stephen was being stoned to death, he remained confident in Christ. Looking back, Paul understood why Stephen was willing to die. Stephen had discovered something worth more than life itself—Jesus Christ (Acts 6:8-8:1).

Once Paul realized that Jesus was indeed the Christ, his life could never be the same. Everywhere he traveled, he reasoned with people from the Scriptures, “explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’ he said” (Acts 17:3).

His message never changed. Whether speaking to Jews or Gentiles, scholars or laborers, rulers or prisoners, Paul proclaimed only one message: “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

More importantly, he lived what he preached: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Having discovered the One thing that truly mattered, Paul considered everything else secondary. His personal ambitions, comfort, reputation, and even his life itself became insignificant compared to the mission God had entrusted to him. As he testified:

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

This does not mean that Christians no longer need food, shelter, relationships, work, or other blessings. Rather, it means that when we have Christ, we possess the source and substance of every true blessing. As Paul wrote, Christ is “the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).

This is why Jesus gently corrected Martha when she was consumed with many concerns:

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her‘” (Luke 10:41-42).

The Lord desires to be the only One at the center of our lives, not because He needs anything from us, but because He knows what we truly need. He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. Everything else can be lost, but what Christ gives can never be taken away.

Prayer. Father, like Paul, I resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Open my eyes to see that Christ is the fulfillment of all Your promises and the answer to every fundamental problem of life. May You be the center of my thoughts, my desires, and my purpose. Let the proclamation of the gospel become the reason I live. Help me treasure Christ above all things and faithfully testify to Your grace wherever You send me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daniel 6:10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day, he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Those who live a single-minded and wholehearted life continue to hold firmly to God’s covenant because they trust the future that God has prepared for them. Their faith is not determined by present circumstances but by God’s unchanging covenant. That is why Daniel continued to pray just as he had always done, even when he knew that the consequence of praying to God was death in the lions’ den.

When Judah fell before King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel understood the rightful reason for the destruction of God’s people—the complete loss of the gospel and covenant. Because he saw the root problem clearly, he resolved not to defile himself with the idols and culture of Babylon (Daniel 1:8). Daniel also realized why God had allowed him to be taken captive and placed in a position of influence within the Babylonian government. God had sent him there for the restoration of the gospel and the salvation of nations. He understood that God’s plan extended far beyond his personal success or comfort.

The same principle applies to us today. Unless we discover the reason for God’s calling and His purpose for our lives, we will remain trapped by the standards, fears, and values of the world. But when we realize God’s absolute plan, we gain the spiritual strength to save our families, workplaces, communities, and nations with the power of the gospel.

Daniel continually enjoyed his identity as a child of God in all circumstances. Whenever opportunities arose, he boldly exalted God before kings and rulers. When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded the interpretation of his mysterious dream, Daniel did not draw attention to himself. Instead, he declared, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:27-28). Daniel’s confidence came not from his own abilities but from his relationship with the living God.

He also exercised the authority God had given him. When King Belshazzar was terrified by the writing on the wall, Daniel courageously delivered God’s message without fear or compromise. He confronted the king’s pride and idolatry and announced God’s judgment upon Babylon (Daniel 5:22-28). That very night, God’s word was fulfilled, and the Babylonian kingdom came to an end (Daniel 5:30).

In the same way, God has entrusted His church with the authority to proclaim His message to the world. Before His ascension, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). We have not been called merely to survive in this world but to shine the light of Christ in the midst of darkness.

May God open our eyes to see the world as He sees it—a world filled with spiritual darkness, idolatry, suffering, and people living under the deception and power of the enemy. May we realize why God has placed us in our families, churches, schools, workplaces, communities, nations, and generations. We have been called for such a time as this.

God answered Daniel’s unwavering faith exactly as He promised. When Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:21-22). What seemed like certain destruction became an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed. Daniel not only survived; he became the instrument through whom God testified to an entire empire.

As a result, King Darius himself proclaimed, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). Through one man’s faith, disasters were blocked, lives were saved, and the name of God was exalted throughout the world.

Therefore, do not be afraid of the world as you proclaim the gospel in your mission field. The same God who protected Daniel remains sovereign today. He is able to send His angels, surround His people with heavenly armies, and accomplish His purpose through those who trust in Him. Like Daniel, let us see the age of idolatry clearly and make a firm resolution before God to stand for the covenant regardless of the cost.

Daniel’s life was also marked by continual thanksgiving. Even when a death sentence had been issued against him, “three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Dan. 6:10). Thanksgiving is possible only when we recognize God’s absolute sovereignty and trust His plan in every circumstance. It is one of the most profound expressions of faith and one of the most powerful weapons against Satan’s attacks (Romans 16:20).

Do not be shaken by circumstances. Turn every problem, conflict, and crisis into prayer. Daniel’s influence was so evident that even King Darius, a pagan ruler, recognized the source of his wisdom and strength, saying, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Dan. 6:16).

Do not allow fear, discouragement, or worldly pressures to hold you back. Hold firmly to God’s promise: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Let us continue to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42). As we do, the Lord Himself will work with us and confirm His Word through the evidence of His presence and power (Mark 16:20). Like Daniel, may we live a single-minded life for Christ, a wholehearted life for the gospel, and a life that leaves behind an eternal testimony for the glory of God.

Prayer. Father, help me to live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Open my eyes to see Your absolute plan and give me the faith to follow it without compromise. Help me enjoy my identity and authority as Your child, turn every circumstance into prayer, and give thanks in all situations. May I boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ and shine as a witness of Your kingdom wherever You have placed me. Let Your presence, wisdom, and power be evident in my life so that many may come to know You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joshua 14:6-15. Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. ⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, ⁸ but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. ⁹ So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

¹⁰ “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

¹³ Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. ¹⁴ So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. ¹⁵ (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest from war.

When you discover the true worth of the gospel, you will no longer live for temporary success, comfort, or recognition. You will live a wholehearted life for the sake of the gospel.

Like David, you will live with a God-given cause (1 Samuel 17:29). While everyone else saw Goliath as a giant to fear, David saw an opportunity to reveal the glory of God. A person who holds onto God’s covenant is not shaken by crises or opposition because he sees God’s greater purpose behind every situation.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you will refuse to bow before the idols of the age. Even in the face of death, they stood boldly by faith and confessed:
“But even if he does not… we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:18). True faith is not conditional. It does not depend on circumstances or visible answers. When the gospel becomes your absolute value, you gain spiritual boldness that overcomes the pressure of the world, even the fear of death.

Like Paul, you will consider your life worth nothing compared to the mission God has entrusted to you: “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). Paul’s life was centered completely on Christ and world evangelization. Nothing could stop him—not persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, or even death.

When Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead, he miraculously rose up and went back into the city (Acts 14:19–22). Why? Because there were disciples there whom God had prepared, including a young disciple named Timothy (Acts 16:1). Paul understood that one disciple raised correctly could save future generations and an entire age.

This is the kind of life God has called you to live. Having discovered the greatest treasure in Christ, the Early Church lived with wholehearted devotion:

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Ac 2:46-47).

Like Caleb in Today’s Word, you are called to conquer the mission field God has given you. Because of one man of faith, “the land had rest from war.” When you hold onto God’s covenant, people around you will come to experience the true rest found only in Christ.

On the way to the promised land of Canaan, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land (Numbers 13:1–33). Although they all saw the same land, ten spies returned with a negative report filled with fear and unbelief. They focused only on the giants, fortified cities, and impossible circumstances. Only Joshua and Caleb remembered God’s covenant.

The Israelites became deeply discouraged. In fear and despair, they wept, grumbled against Moses, and even talked about returning to Egypt. At that critical moment, Joshua and Caleb boldly proclaimed words of faith that would change the course of the nation (Numbers 14:1–9). God then gave this promise concerning Caleb:

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24).

Caleb held onto this covenant for forty-five years. Through every hardship, wilderness journey, battle, and delay, he never let go of God’s promise. This is true faith, a lifelong covenant journey.

When you place God’s Word in your heart and make a resolution of faith in every season of life, God will surely fulfill His promises. He will give eternal answers through your life and allow your faith to be passed on to the next generation. Therefore, always choose faith. That was the decision Caleb made again and again throughout his life.

When Israel finally faced its last major battle against the Anakites, Caleb—now eighty-five years old—stepped forward in faith. Though advanced in age, his spirit had not weakened because he had spent his entire life holding onto God’s covenant.

Caleb trusted completely in the promise God had given him when he was forty years old. He understood the true reason for conquering Canaan. It was not merely about gaining territory or defeating enemies. It was about restoring the blood covenant of the promised Messiah and preparing the way for world evangelization. Caleb saw beyond the physical battle and held onto God’s eternal plan.

For this reason, he followed God wholeheartedly throughout his entire life. He witnessed the mighty works of God during the Exodus, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and at the Jordan River. Every event strengthened his faith in God’s covenant.

Even after Moses died and Joshua became the new leader, Caleb humbly submitted himself to God’s order and pledged his loyalty to Joshua (Joshua 1:16–18). He did not seek a position or personal gain. He simply believed that God would fulfill His promise and lead His people into the land of Canaan.

Caleb knew exactly what stood before him—the Anakites and their large fortified cities. Yet he looked beyond visible reality and held onto the greater reality of God’s presence and promise. Therefore, he boldly confessed: “The Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:12).

His faith never wavered. Caleb was both humble and bold. He did not trust in his own strength but in the power of God who had called him. God responded to this man of faith by sustaining him with extraordinary strength throughout his life. Caleb testified:

“So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then” (Joshua 14:10–11).

God is searching for a remnant like Caleb today. There are still countless places where Christ is unknown and where people live without the gospel. Therefore, renew your faith in God once again and focus your life on what God desires most—saving lives.

God has already given you the ultimate cause for your life. He has also revealed the only way to save the world: Christ (Acts 1:1), the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

As you hold onto this covenant, God will use your life to transform your mission field, your church, and even this age. He will turn the culture of idols into the culture of the gospel. Through one person of wholehearted faith, God can bring rest, healing, and life to many.

Prayer. Father, help me to live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Like Caleb, help me to hold onto Your covenant without wavering until the very end. Strengthen my faith to overcome every circumstance and help me continue to walk as an evangelist who saves lives. May I enjoy the blessing of Your presence throughout the entire day and be used to change my mission field and this age for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praise
Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Confession of Faith
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
…Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord,
…Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
…Born of the Virgin Mary,
…Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
…Was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
…And is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy universal Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And life everlasting. Amen.

Message
2026.05.23 Core
World Public Servants Missions Conference Lecture 3
「Hidden Missionary」(1 Kings 18:1-15)
Transcript …Video

2026.05.23 Scattered Disciples
World Public Servants Missions Conference Lecture 4
「Booking Public Servants of the 5000 Tribes」(Genesis 45:1-5)
Transcript …Video  (Also at the end of the Core message)

Prayer
7 Bartizans · 7 Journeys · 7 Guideposts

Philippians 3:12-14. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

If Jesus is truly the answer to your life, you will desire to live a single-minded life like Paul, who discovered and experienced Christ (Philippians 3:1–21). You will no longer desire to be the master of your own life. Paul’s confession will become your confession of faith:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

You will live for one thing alone: “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Romans 15:20).

You will continue to do so whether the time is favorable or unfavorable. Your life will become evangelism: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Knowing that Christ is complete and sufficient, the Early Church devoted themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14). They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they continued to testify about Christ (Acts 5:42).

Whenever the people of God followed His covenant single-mindedly, the work of salvation was revealed throughout the world. In Egypt, God displayed His power through Moses (Exodus 3:18). He fulfilled His covenant in Isaiah 7:14 through the remnant, such as Daniel and his three friends in Babylon, and Esther in Persia. The gospel was proclaimed in Rome through the confession that Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16). They all became single-minded witnesses of God’s saving work.

By grace, God has given you the greatest treasure of all—His Son, Jesus Christ, who finished everything on the cross (John 19:30). In Christ, you have gained everything. When you discover what God has freely given you through the Holy Spirit, you cannot help but live for Him.

You will no longer be ashamed. Instead, you will take pride in Christ Jesus in everything you do. You will not envy the things of the world because you already possess everything in Christ. You will not compromise with the world because you have found the Truth. You will not be afraid of anything because Jesus Christ has overcome the world.

When God opens your eyes to see the world covered in darkness, you will realize what matters most: saving lives by shining the light of the gospel. You will see every circumstance as a God-given opportunity to testify about Christ. Even in hardships, you will rejoice and continue to give thanks, knowing that God is with you through the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

In your spiritual battles, remember your true spiritual address: the kingdom of heaven. God has rescued you from the dominion of darkness and brought you into the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

Thus, you are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:16). You are from above. You possess every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3–14). Not only that, God has made you the light of the world for all to see (Matthew 5:14–16; Acts 13:47).

Do not turn from the Word to the right or to the left (Joshua 1:7). Stay the course in faith and boldness (Philippians 1:14). Then God will heal you, your church, and your mission field.

Prayer. Father, help me live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Help me continue to walk by faith as an evangelist and enjoy the blessing of Your presence throughout the day. Strengthen me to stand firm in the covenant and shine the light of Christ wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 1:1-8. In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The covenant of God given to us is complete and lacks nothing. God’s plan is absolute, and no one can change it. Why is that so?

From the beginning of history, mankind has lived under fundamental problems that no human being can solve: Satan (John 8:44), sin (Romans 3:23), and the background of hell, separated from God (Genesis 3:1–20). No philosophy, effort, religion, morality, or human achievement has ever been able to resolve these problems completely.

And yet, even after believing in God, we often ask:
“What should I do?”
“Should I pray harder?”
“Should I read the Bible more?”
“Should I repent more?”
“Should I give more?”
“Should I worship more faithfully?”
“How should I live?”

But the more important questions are:
“Where am I?”
“Am I inside God’s covenant?”
“Where should I stand spiritually?”

What you do will not matter much if you are in the wrong place spiritually. But if you are within the complete covenant of God, you will eventually discover that your present circumstances are not the most important thing. What matters is whether God is with you and whether you are holding onto His covenant.

When you discover the rightful reasons for everything through the Word of God and see what is truly needed, you will see and hold onto what is absolute: Christ (Acts 1:1), the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

This is why knowing God must become the utmost priority in our lives. The greatest blessing is not success, comfort, money, or recognition, but the Triune God being with us.

God the Father still speaks through His Word and fulfills it without fail.
God the Son, Jesus Christ, still breaks the power of sin, Satan, and hell.
God the Holy Spirit dwells within us, guides us, strengthens us, and works through us even now.

This is the spiritual reality we must first see.

Joseph experienced this complete covenant of God. Therefore, he remained at peace wherever he was. Whether in his father’s house in Canaan, as a slave in Potiphar’s house, as a prisoner in jail, or as a governor in Egypt’s palace, his circumstances never defined him. God’s presence did. Everywhere Joseph went, he experienced Immanuel and testified to the living God.

Likewise, your present circumstances are not the decisive issue as long as you remain in the complete covenant of God. When you enjoy the blessing of God being with you, you will begin to discover God’s absolute plan in every place, every event, every meeting, and every crisis.

Does doing well outwardly guarantee true success? Not necessarily.
Does struggling outwardly mean failure? Not necessarily.

If a person does not experience the spiritual blessings God has given in Christ, that person will eventually fail spiritually, no matter how successful life may appear outwardly. But if, like Joseph, a person enjoys the blessings within God’s complete covenant, that person will ultimately succeed in God’s eyes regardless of circumstances.

Throughout history, God continually gave, reminded, and restored His covenant through Christ because only Christ could solve mankind’s fundamental problems completely.

Only the True King could destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).
Only the True Priest could remove the curse and penalty of sin through His sacrifice (Mark 10:45).
Only the True Prophet could open the way to meet God once again (John 14:6).

Jesus Christ finished that work completely on the cross (John 19:30). Through His death and resurrection, He solved the problems of our past, present, and future once and for all (Ephesians 2:1–3). He completely set us free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Now He lives within us through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16), continually working to reveal “the incomparable riches of His grace” for all eternity (Ephesians 2:7).

When you hold onto only Christ, you will begin to experience the kingdom of God in your daily life. Then you will realize that problems are not merely problems. They become opportunities to experience God’s power and the realities of heaven. Even what once seemed like a curse can become a blessing within God’s plan.

Like Joseph, you will one day confess: “God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5). You will realize that God allowed certain problems, conflicts, delays, and hardships while never once leaving your side.

God’s intention toward His children is never destruction, but hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He desires to fellowship with us daily and let us enjoy spiritual feasts with Him (Revelation 3:20).

Remember this carefully: nothing happens by accident in the lives of God’s people. God knows every circumstance you face. He understands your pain, your future, your weaknesses, and your limitations better than anyone else. And He loves you more deeply than you can imagine.

Therefore, trust in the God whose thoughts and ways are higher than yours. Live by faith in Jesus Christ, who loved you and gave Himself for you. This is life in the kingdom of God.

Then what remains for us?

The only thing left is to receive and enjoy the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised and go as Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. Open your eyes to see the world covered in darkness, suffering, confusion, anxiety, and spiritual emptiness.

As children of God, we have received the anointing of Christ: With the anointing of the King, break the strongholds of Satan in the name of Jesus. With the anointing of the Priest, heal those suffering under sin, curses, and spiritual wounds. With the anointing of the Prophet, proclaim the way to meet God to those wandering without hope.

Let us restore the gospel of Christ everywhere we go (Acts 1:1). Let us continually enjoy the reality and blessings of God’s kingdom in our daily lives (Acts 1:3). And let us never stop proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Discover the “ends of the earth” within your present field. Wherever God places you today—that is your mission field. We only have one life to live, and life is too short to spend on things that do not matter eternally. God’s greatest desire is to save this age through the gospel and pass the covenant to the next generation.

Thus, remain firmly inside the complete covenant of God. Enter deeply into prayer that enjoys Christ until no person, circumstance, conflict, or condition can shake you or become your problem anymore.

Prayer. Father, help me hold firmly to what is absolute: Christ, the kingdom of God, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Open my eyes to enjoy Your covenant in every circumstance and to discover Your absolute plan wherever I am. May I become a witness of Christ who saves others by the power of the gospel and fulfills Your mission to the ends of the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 2:41-47. Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

You will discover what is most needed when you realize the rightful reasons behind your present circumstances and mission field.

Then, complaints and blame will disappear. Instead of being trapped by problems, conflicts, or crises, you will begin to see God’s plan within them. You will realize what truly matters in life and what God desires for you to do. That is when your life starts to gain direction, meaning, and eternal value.

When Moses’ mother, Jochebed, understood the rightful reason for Israel’s slavery under Egypt, she realized what was needed the most—not political power or human methods, but a spiritual leader who would restore the covenant of God to His people (Exodus 3:1–10). Because of that, she devoted herself to raising Moses in faith.

When Moses finally understood the rightful reasons for the failures and wilderness of his eighty years, he saw what the world needed the most—the restoration of the blood sacrifice and the covenant of deliverance (Exodus 3:18). His suffering was not meaningless. God had prepared him through it all.

When the young David saw the humiliating condition of God’s people before Dagon, the god of the Philistines, he discerned God’s heart and longed for the restoration of God’s glory through the temple (Acts 13:22). While others only saw Goliath, David saw the spiritual reality behind the crisis.

The same pattern continued throughout history. Elijah and Elisha lived in the age of Rimmon, the god of Aram. Hezekiah stood against Baal and Asherah in the age of Assyria. Daniel and his three friends faced Bel and Nebo in Babylon. The Early Church, Paul, and Timothy proclaimed Christ in the age of Zeus and the idols of Rome.

They all saw the rightful reasons for the disasters, darkness, and spiritual collapse of their times. At the same time, they realized what God desired most—the restoration of the gospel, His church, and His evangelists.

What the world needs most today has not changed.

People need the One who crushed the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15). The only way to escape the disasters that have come upon the world is to enter the Ark of Christ (Genesis 6:14). The only secure place on earth is under the blood of the Lamb (Exodus 12:13). True happiness is found only in being with God, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The greatest blessing in life is to know and confess that Jesus is the Christ (Matthew 16:16).

This is the gospel we must restore right where we are.

Today, many churches have lost, distorted, diluted, or stopped proclaiming the true gospel that Jesus is the Christ. As a result, the church has become weak and powerless, scattered and influenced by the world. The precious people of God are treated as something common and worthless, like cheap clay jars made by a potter (Lamentations 4:1–2). This should grieve our hearts.

For this reason, God desires to restore the glory of His church by the power of the Holy Spirit, just as He did through the Early Church (Acts 2:1–47). He wants His church to embrace world missions, as the church in Antioch did (Acts 11:19–30). He wants His evangelists to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, as the workers mentioned in Romans 16.

When you hold onto what is needed most, God will prepare predestined meetings and doors for evangelism.

God arranged Philip’s meeting with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26–40). Through one meeting, God not only changed one man’s eternal destiny but also opened the door for the gospel to enter Africa.

God also orchestrated Paul’s meeting with Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1–3). They became lifelong co-workers in the gospel, even risking their lives for Paul. Through their devotion, many Gentile churches were strengthened and established (Romans 16:3–4).

Do not spend your life only pursuing temporary things on earth. Discover what is needed most. Begin where you are, even if it seems small. Do not be discouraged by your circumstances, weaknesses, or the people around you. God will strengthen you and lead you to accomplish everything He desires through your life.

Prayer. Father, help me realize again and again that the only true answer the world needs is the gospel. Open my eyes to see what is most needed in my mission field. Fill me with Your strength and the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I may accomplish everything You desire through my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Acts 2:1-4.  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Discovering the rightful reasons behind our problems is the beginning of finding God’s rightful answers. When we fail to see problems correctly, we easily fall into unbelief, despair, resentment, and complaints. Instead of seeking God’s plan, we begin to criticize circumstances or blame other people, and the situation often grows worse.

Joseph eventually realized why his brothers hated him so deeply. Scripture says, “he brought their father a bad report about them” (Genesis 37:2). Though his brothers’ actions were evil, Joseph later understood that there was also a reason within God’s greater plan. Perhaps this is why Joseph remained silent even when he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison (Genesis 39:19–20). He no longer lived centered on resentment or self-defense. Above all else, he came to see God’s absolute plan in his life: the salvation of many people and world evangelization.

When difficulties come, do not become discouraged or bitter. Instead, seek to discover the rightful reason within God’s Word. When you accept God’s perspective, you will begin to see His absolute plan hidden within your circumstances. Problems that once looked meaningless will become part of God’s plan to fulfill His covenant through your life.

From the very beginning, God created mankind with rightful blessings and answers:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (Genesis 1:27–28).

Human beings were created to enjoy fellowship with God, to receive His guidance, and to live within His blessing and authority. However, Scripture reveals the rightful reason for destruction: separation from God through sin (Genesis 3:1–6). The rightful reason for failure and emptiness in life is broken fellowship with God. The rightful reason for fear, insecurity, and confusion is ignorance of God’s will and covenant.

Because mankind was created as a spiritual being, suffering inevitably entered the world when humanity became separated from God (Genesis 3:16–20). No human effort, knowledge, wealth, or power can completely block the disasters, conflicts, and calamities that continue to come upon the earth. For this reason, God Himself gave the rightful answer from the beginning:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15).

This was the promise of Christ, the One who would destroy the power of Satan and restore mankind’s relationship with God. Throughout history, all those who held onto God’s rightful answer through Christ overcame the world. Persecution could not shake them. Trials could not destroy them. Even death could not overcome them because they discovered God’s covenant within every circumstance.

About 120 ordinary believers discovered the rightful reason to gather in Mark’s upper room, despite the danger to their lives. They held on to Christ (Acts 1:1), the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). They were not gathered merely out of emotion or fear, but because they recognized God’s covenant and direction for that age.

As they devoted themselves to prayer together, the rightful answer Jesus promised came upon them—the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they began to live the rightful life God had prepared for them. The gospel spread throughout the world through ordinary people who held onto God’s absolute covenant.

When you truly know who is calling you, you will naturally follow Him: “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19).

And when you follow Him, He gives rightful direction and fruit to your life: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Many people ask why problems continue to come, but the more important question is whether we are discovering God’s rightful reason and rightful answer within them. A crisis can become the beginning of answers. Suffering can become the path toward God’s mission. Weakness can become the platform for God’s power. When we hold onto Christ and remain in God’s Word, every circumstance can become part of His covenant journey.

Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see the rightful reasons and rightful answers within my life through Your Word. Help me not to fall into unbelief, complaints, or discouragement, but to discover Your absolute covenant and plan in every situation. May I hold firmly to Christ, the true answer You have given, and follow the path You have prepared for me. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I may live the rightful life You desire. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Father, thank You for calling me as Your Remnant in times of crisis, when there is nothing and no one to help. Help me not to be deceived by darkness, fear, or the world, but to hold firmly to Christ and the covenant.

Open my eyes to see the spiritual reality and Your hidden plan within every problem. Give me the strength of the throne, the power of the gospel, Your eternal Word, and prayer. Like Daniel, the three friends, and Esther, let me stand by faith even in hardship. Use me to shine the light of Your glory to the nations and save this age.

I bring my offerings with gratitude. May Your promise of the economy of light, missions, and the remnants be fulfilled in my work and studies, so I may bring the life-saving message of the gospel to 237 nations and 5000 tribes.

Hymn
Happy Day
^{Philip Doddridge}

O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.

Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray,
And live rejoicing every day;
Happy day, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away!

’Tis done—the great transaction’s done;
I am my Lord’s, and He is mine;
He drew me and I followed on,
Rejoiced to own the call divine.  Refrain

Now rest, my long-divided heart,
Fixed on this blissful center, rest;
Here have I found a nobler part,
Here heav’nly pleasures fill my breast.  Refrain

High heav’n that hears the solemn vow,
That vow renewed shall daily hear!
Till in life’s latest hour I bow,
And bless, in death, a bond so dear.  Refrain