St Timothy Presbyterian Church in Toronto: Sermons

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Paul asked the question: what does this story point to?

• Very relevant question

• Not the finger, but the finger that points to the moon

Our knowledge is like small islands in a vast ocean

• What we know is just a little part compared to the vastness of the ocean

What people do is get scared by the vastness of that ocean

• Take what little knowledge we have, build systems of knowledge and belief

But stories of Bible reveal something different:

• Instead of fitting built up systems of knowledge and belief, they are stories of how those systems are broken down

Jesus himself came to break down systems of belief that were built up

• Returned to the essence of God's reality

In Bible study, if we read it from our own existing systems of belief and knowledge, it might feel safer and more certain, but that is not that path to God's greater reality, which is always much vaster than ours

• Our posture must be one of humility, awe and openness to the vastness of God's universe and God's ways

Last week Paul asked: is this story real or fictional? And does it matter?

• Related to what I said above, I think the more important thing is what this story points to

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria

• Assyria was the first major empire in the middle east region

• This question will become more relevant next week

Nineveh was the largest city in the known world at the time, but it was not a three days' walk across.

• I think the writer wanted to convey that God thought Jonah's work was very important

• What a massive impact is can be subjective

Rockey asked questions about v.1 – second time

• I think this is a very important thing to reflect on

What was different about this second time compared with the first?

What is this second chance really about? It's a second chance to do what?

If the story ended in chapter 2, then it would be a nice story: a story of redemption

• Jonah refuses calling, goes down to depths, is rescued by God, commits to live differently

What does this second chance say about salvation? Is salvation only about being saved from the bottom depths like in chapter 2?

Jonah had a very simple message: Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!

• Context: Nineveh being overthrown would have grave consequences

40 days:

• In Bible, time of great trials

Sackcloth: why did they cover themselves in this?

Did they believe in God? What is the prerequisite or criteria for repentance? 

What did the Ninevites' repentance look like? (DP: they didn't do anything extra. So what did they do?) Was it genuine or performative?

What is repentance? What's the difference between repentance and guilt?

What changed God's mind?

• What is it that moves God?

Sodom and Gomorrah comparison

• Was God willing to change his mind? If so, on what basis?

Why didn't the Ninevites repent before? Why did it take Jonah for them to repent?

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Jeremiah 17:5-10

Fraying the Bonds

Friendship is more important than justice and the rule of law. That is what the Greek philosopher Aristotle said. When the bonds of friendship are strong, there is consent from the governed and trust in the rule of law. When these bonds of friendship break down, however, then there is mistrust in the system that governs them.

We are living in a time where these bonds of friendship are breaking down. Instead of friendship, there is mistrust, suspicion and animosity. Instead of coming together with understanding and openness, people make enemies of those who are different.

We see frustrations, anger, and tensions boiling over. We see this in the trucker convoys. We see it in the United States. We see it in places like Ukraine and Russia. We see it in leaders who gain power by targeting groups as scapegoats for their problems. We see it in news media that amplify divisions. We see it in social media that are echo chambers that drive further wedges among groups.

We live in a time of rapid changes and uncertainty. This COVID-19 pandemic has just exacerbated all of that. There is a lot of anxiety and vulnerability. People are stressed out, overwhelmed and powerless to manage their circumstances. These things have been fraying the bonds that tie us together.

The important question for our time is how we respond to all of these changes and uncertainties in life? Will they drive us further apart? Or will they bring us together in common purpose and unity?

Fear

What we've seen so far is not encouraging. All this uncertainty has bred fear. When fear strikes, the results are unpredictable. It can manifest in many unforeseen ways. What it does do is divide people. Fear destroys rather than builds up. Fear wreaks havoc rather than bringing peace. Fear creates more mistrust than goodwill.

Fear is a truly scary thing. Fear can destroy this world. I think that President Franklin Roosevelt spoke a great truth when he said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The fate of this world depends on whether we can manage and control our fear.

Fear resides in the heart. From our heart flows our actions. From our heart springs forth the kind of life we live. That is what the prophet Jeremiah is saying in today's passage. He asks a piercing question: whom or what do our hearts trust? When fear strikes, do you trust in God? Or do you turn away from God toward whatever might provide security? Depending on the answer, two contrasting types of life flow from that.

The Shrub and the Tree

He contrasts a shrub in the desert with a tree planted by water. Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord. They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. (Jeremiah 17:5-6) Those whose hearts turn away from God are compared to a shrub in the desert. In other words, those who in their fear turn toward whatever might easily relieve that fear are compared to this shrub. The main feature of their life is that there is so little life-giving water. So they adapt and conserve water. Their whole energies are geared towards conserving what little water they have. Because there is so little water, they remain very low to the ground. They cannot grow large. They are isolated, because there is not enough water for many other shrubs. It is a barren, lonely existence. They have adapted and have survived. They are hardened survivors. But their life is small. They cannot see beyond the low ground, they have very little source of life, and they do not give life to others.

This is the kind of life that results when one is gripped by fear.  One seeks security in whatever, or whomever, might provide relief from that fear. One clings tightly to whatever security it can find. But this is a barren and lonely existence that lacks vitality. That is the life of the shrub.

He contrasts the shrub with the tree planted by water. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:8) This life is blessed. It is planted with deep roots, so they are strong. Its roots are connected with the stream and have access to a never-ending source of life-giving water. When difficulties come, this tree will not fear. Its leaves will not wither, but stay green. When there is drought it does not become anxious. Rather, it continues to bear fruit. Is your life like a shrub in the desert or a tree planted by water?

Jeremiah was proclaiming this to a people who were very afraid. In fear they turned to idols rather than trust in God. In fear they turned to stronger nations that might protect them instead of trusting in God. In fear they turned on each other and looked after only themselves. In fear this self-interest broke down the bonds of community. They had become like shrubs in the desert.

Which life are you living?

Our outer actions and the lives we live spring forth from our hearts. A heart that trusts God leads to a life like a tree planted by water. A heart that is driven by fear leads to a life like the shrub in the desert. Which life are you living?  Which of the two are you?

If you're not sure, that's understandable, because Jeremiah identifies the dilemma we face. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse – who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Who can understand it? We don't know our own hearts, and what's going on inside of it. If we don't know our hearts, we won't know the kind of life we're living. We'll just go through life without thinking much about it. A shrub lies low to the ground and cannot see beyond itself. In the same way, you might not even realize that you've been living the existence of a shrub in the desert.

I believe that God's calling for people especially in a time like this in is to be like trees planted by water. For leaves to remain green – in other words, to maintain life and vitality even when things become difficult. To continue bearing fruit rather than being paralyzed by fear and anxiety. Rev. Kim has spoken about gifts of the Spirit. St. Paul also talked about the fruit of the Spirit. He said this. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23). We need to be trees that bear the fruit of the Spirit.

Those who trust in the Lord are like a tree planted by water. Its roots are nourished by a never-ending stream of God's love. That stream nourishes the soil of our heart and allows a tall, strong tree to grow. The soil is our heart, the tree is our life. From a heart nourished by God's love, a rich and vibrant life flows. My friends, we must spend time each day being planted and nourished by God's love. We must experience God's love, forgiveness and grace every day. Rooted and nourished deeply in God's love, our lives will grow tall. God's love will produce leaves that do not wither when things get difficult. God's love will bear fruit continuously even when uncertainties hit us. Trusting God is to plant ourselves deeply in God's love every day. So make it a point to carve out time every day to meditate on God's goodness in your life. It is so important that it will change the trajectory of your life.

Being rooted in God's love opens our eyes. We begin to see the things that make us fearful. We begin to see and experience how God takes care of us. We begin to see and experience God's grace in a world that seems to lack it. We begin to see that somehow, all of life is held together by God's compassionate love. We begin to see the wonderful mystery of God at work in our lives and around us. We begin to see in ways we cannot express with words. What we cannot express but no doubt see and sense is awe. This sense of being protected, cared for and loved. We no longer stand in fear, but we stand in awe.

Fear to awe. That is the spiritual journey of how we respond to uncertainty in this world. Fear to awe: that is the transformation of our posture toward the world. Awe at how God has kept me through all these dangers, toils and snares. Awe at how God is loving me and taking care of me right now. Awe at how God will lead me and open up new paths tomorrow. Awe is the response of those who trust in the Lord. Awe is our response of humility and gratitude. Awe is our posture and attitude toward life. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18) Being rooted in God's love casts out fear and creates room for awe.

The quality of your life, this one life that you have, depends on your response to fear. Fear to awe. That is what happens when we trust in the Lord and plant ourselves deeply in God's love.

Those Who Wait For the Lord

The past 2 years have been challenging, and I've seen many of you face your own unique struggles. My heart has bled and shed tears at some of your struggles. But as a pastor, I've also been filled with awe, as I've seen the power of faith working in many of you. I've seen your faith in God holding you, carrying you, changing you, and opening you up to new and bigger things. Witnessing God's movement in you has left me filled with awe and thanksgiving. This awe fuels my desire to love you and serve you more deeply, more ...

Luke 5:1-11

Simon and Peter

In today's Scripture passage, we heard about how Peter first met Jesus in a meaningful way. His life was changed totally by meeting Jesus. It is a wonderful story of conversion. He was a changed man. Jesus gave him a new name, Petros, Peter, the Rock.

You know names are important. They tell us who we are. They give us our identity.

But Simon was nothing like Peter. He was not rock. He was flimsy, emotional, impulsive and capricious. He was not at all like a solid rock. He didn't think about consequences before he spoke. A lot of times, he didn't know what he was talking about. He said he would never deny Jesus. He even compared himself with others. Even if everybody else deserts you, I will never do that. And he denied Jesus, not once, but three times.

Knowing all that, Jesus still gave him the name, Peter, the Rock. That wasn't who Simon was but that was who Simon would be. Indeed, he became the rock. On him, church is founded.

Today's story was the beginning of that journey. Even after this incident, he was still not like rock. But this was the beginning of that journey. For Peter, it was a journey of change. He found his life. He found what he wanted in his life. He found what was important in life.

Finding Importance

Finding what is important in life is what we all should do. Our life is beautiful and precious. We cannot waste it away. Every minute of it, we have to cherish it. We don't have time to waste it away.

We cannot just follow what others do. We have to live life that is meaningful to us. Nobody can tell me what is meaningful to me. We have to find it on our own.

The problem is it's hard to know. It is hard to know what is really important to us.

We are shaped and molded by our environment in a significant way. If we were born in a religious family and surrounded by religious people, then being religious becomes important to us. If we were born in a musical family and surrounded by musical people, then being a great musician becomes important to us.

So what is important and meaningful to us is very much influenced by our circumstances. In that sense, creating a good environment for our children is very important. In a good environment, they will learn what is important in life.

Some time ago, our family met together. And Josh called Nolan and said, Tell granddad two things you learned when we had vacation. Nolan said, Be grateful and be generous. That's how they learn values in life.

Peter grew up in a fishing family. Fishing was the most important thing for Peter. That was his value, his goal, and what gave him meaning. He had no reason to think about anything else.

Yes, our environment is very important. It helps us know what is important. And it shapes us who we become.

But at the same time, it can limit us. It can shape us so powerfully that it doesn't allow us to see anything beyond. We may not be able to see that life can be bigger.

We have to provide a good environment for our children but at the same time, we have to also help them go beyond their small world. We should provide them with an opportunity to search for their own life, finding their own meaning. There is life we can teach. But there is life that they have to learn on their own.

Callings From God

There is life that is given to us. We have no choice for that. We didn't choose what kind of parents we would have. We didn't choose to be born in a certain family, like religious family, musical family, academic family, or an immigrant family. So there is life that is given to us.

But there is life that we are drawn to, life that attracts us. There is life that is revealed to us. There is life that falls at us out of nowhere. There is life that shapes the direction of our life. Some people may call it destiny. I want to call it calling. There is calling from God.

That was what happened to Peter. Fishing was important to him but he realized that there was something bigger than fishing.

When he caught so many fish with Jesus' help, he saw something else, not fish. He saw something more than fish.

He said this.

I am a sinful man! (Luke 5:8)

It was not a typical response we would expect. The typical response would have been,

Wow, Wonderful, Thank you. You made my day.

But he said instead, I am a sinful man!

Was he reminded of a particular sin that he committed on that day? Or was he sorry for questioning Jesus when he told him to let down his nets into the deep water? Come on Jesus, I am a professional fisherman and I caught nothing all night and are you telling me to put down my nets again? I just washed them. Was he sorry for thinking that?

I don't think so. It was not because of a particular sin that he committed. His eyes were open to a much larger world. He saw how small he was. He realized that he was nothing but a dust and yet he mistakenly thought that he knew it all. He recognized his shortcomings. That's why he said, I am a sinful man.

Jesus showed him life was much bigger than Peter knew. So many times we are trapped in our small world. Our thinking becomes conditioned. Like Moses, we say, Who am I? I am only a broken person.

Often, we are limiting ourselves. We are the worst enemy for our own growth. We doubt about ourselves. We have an incapacitating attitude.

Caring for Others

Jeremiah said the same thing. God called him to be a prophet.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.'(Jeremiah 1:5)

But Jeremiah said,

Then I said, Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.' (Jeremiah 1:6)

But God said this

Do not say, I am only a boy ; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, (Jeremiah 1:7, 8)

That was what Jesus said to Peter. Don't say that you are only a fisherman. You are more than a fisherman.

Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.'(Luke 5:10)

What does it mean to catch people?

Last week, we reflected on love. The week before, we reflected that the greatest gift is each other. What remains eternally is not how great we are but how much we care about others. That remains forever. It has eternal value. Catching people is exactly that. Caring about others. Leaving a positive impact on people's lives is the most meaningful thing to do.

Pursue Bigger Things

When we go to a funeral, we hear eulogy. We often hear how that person impacted their lives. At So Yong Kim's funeral, In Ha did the eulogy. Remembering his sister, he said she taught me how to live.

It's not about giving up your career. It is about making profound impact on people. How many people I influence is not important. Even if it is one person, it is Ok. If we can have a positive impact on that person's life, then our life is worth living.

Life is bigger than fishing. Life is bigger than success.

Don't stop pursuing what is important in life.

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V.1: Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah

Jonah received a distinct word from God.

• The Bible doesn't say exactly how this word came to him.

• Do you hear any such word spoken to you? 

• How do we know when this happens? How can we hear it? 

• How does God speak to us? 

Today's context is very difficult to hear God's word spoken to us.

• So many distractions.

Jonah was called to go to Nineveh.

• This was a unique calling just for Jonah.

Each of us have a unique life to live.

• Just like the DNA of each individual is entirely unique, the pattern and shape of our lives are meant to be unique. Irreplicable.

When we think of calling, often we might think of it in terms of a job or career.

• But calling in the biblical sense is much more than that.

There is no ready-made template for your life.

• God has fashioned you uniquely, to live a life that only you can live.

Jonah was uniquely called to go to Nineveh.

• But he chose to flee to Tarshish.

It's an interesting way the author explains it.

• By running away from his unique calling, he is running away from the presence of the Lord.

Are you pursuing your own unique life, one that God has fashioned you for? Or are you running away from your unique existence? Perhaps trying to fit your life into a template that is not uniquely yours?

The life of running away: that is what we see here in Jonah. 

• This can depict our lives too.

• Fear of insecurity.

What are the fears that lead you to run away?

Many people say: Well, I don't know what my unique calling is. That's why I'm not pursuing it.

• That's the most common sentiment today: I don't know my calling.

Jonah went into the hold of the ship and fell asleep.

• Running away and falling asleep.

Jesus said: Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.

• Our modern, technological society says we need to know everything.

But instead of asking and searching like how Jesus says, somehow we choose to fall asleep.

Are you asleep in life? In what ways are you sleeping through life?

…such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up. (v.4)

A mighty storm came and threatened to break the ship up.

• In our lives too, we face many storms.

Just like in nature, storms in our lives are just a fact of life.

• But the great question is: how effect do storms have on us?

• (Ask for any suggestions)

If we look carefully at the text, what was Jonah doing in the boat?

• He was fast asleep!

When storms hit us in life, it's an open question as to whether they're caused by God. 

• That's really hard to say.

• Or do they only create more fear in us and make us run away even more?

Storms can make us more fearful, more angry and more bitter.

• What does that response say about our faith?

But storms can also be moments of real awakening.

• St. Paul experienced this on the road to Damascus.

Moses' awakening

The sailors were good folks.

• They tried not to throw Jonah overboard.

Jonah = unique book

• Historical figure named Jonah son of Amittai in 1 Kings.

Thoughts from TBS Members:

Jinny: was confused at first – thought the prayer related to things that happened while in the fish, but after realized that maybe the prayer related with what he experienced in the ocean.

• Think this is correct.

Rockey: asked if he felt more safe on the boat than in the fish.

Daniel: feel like Jonah was more awake now than last week.

Last week, Jonah was on the boat.

This week, Jonah is recounting his time in the ocean.

Compare: Life in the Boat vs. Life in the Ocean. What is the difference?

What was Jonah doing in each? What’s the difference in the two scenarios?

What about your life: where are you?

Boat = running away, sleeping through life

Ocean = fully engaged, awake

Ocean = chaos, disorder

• In modern life, we life orderly, controlled lives.

Prefer sleep and running away because we fear the ocean.

• But the ocean is where everything becomes real – where life becomes real.

How do we know whether we’re on the boat or in the ocean?

V.2: Jonah’s cry from deep in the water: was it more than just from being deep in the water? What was this “more”?

V.4: during his descent, he thinks about God. What does this say about his faith?

When your life is “ebbing away”, what or whom do you think of? What does this reveal to you about your faith?

V.8 – What are “vain idols”? What do people forsake?

The whole chapter takes place in the belly of the fish. 

3 days/3 nights.

• Jonah was all alone.

Downward journey of descent.

• “Cast me into the deep”

• Jonah is at the very bottom of the ocean.

His prayer is recounting what happened.

• But not just what happened.

History is not just a recount of what happened.

• It is an understanding of what happened.

We do this in our lives, whether we’re conscious of it or not.

• Jonah’s prayer reflected his understanding of what happened.

• That was his understanding: that God compelled him out of his sleep into the ocean.

An interesting thing is that in his descent, he thinks about God (V.4).

• Not just that but if you look carefully, his despair is not in his actual situation.

In his downward spiral, he interpreted it as being driven away from God.

• At the centre of his understanding was the importance of the presence of God.

History is not for the sake of the past.

• How we understand the past affects our view of the future, which affects our view of the present.

Life in the ocean reveals what our faith truly is.

• Our prayer is for real faith.

What are some images or metaphors for the belly of the fish?

What do those images or metaphors say?

• Use your imagination.

1. Ark – God provided a large fish.

• Saved him from the dangers of the ocean.

Psalm 121

• God does keep us.

2. Womb

• V.6 – “I went down to the land whose bar closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God!”

• Our former well-ordered life is thrown in disarray.

• St. Paul – Behold, I am a new creation.

Calling: to become a new person.

• New heart.

3. Sanctuary

• He’s still in the belly, still in the ocean. What does he do?

V.7 – “I remembered the Lord; and my prayers came to you, into your holy temple.”

• What is the significance of the temple?

• Temple or sanctuary is not the nice, quiet place we’ve made for worship.

• Where is he doing it?

• Fear paralyzes us. It makes us sleep and run away.

V.9 – “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you.”

• Giving thanksgiving.

• When you’re in great difficulty, give thanks.

• In midst of storms, the ocean, he gave his life to God.

How do we remember God? How doe we know God?

• We worship at all times.

Jonah’s final words: “Deliverance belongs to the Lord!”

• Final rests with God.

Prayer = our true worship in the belly of the fish.

Blessed Be Your Name

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1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Division and Immaturity

The Corinthian church was a metropolitan church which consisted of very capable people who had many excellent gifts. Not only were they smart but also they seemed to assume that they were very spiritual. They experienced the wonderful manifestations of the Spirit. But somehow the church had a lot of problems.

There were all kinds of moral problems. There were quarrels and fights. The church was divided at least in 4 ways.

In his letter to the Corinthians, right after the greeting, the first thing Paul addressed was the problem of division in the church.

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, I belong to Paul', or I belong to Apollos', or I belong to Cephas', or I belong to Christ.' Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

They had wonderful spiritual experiences and yet they didn't know how to live together in peace and harmony. They were gifted people but they lacked maturity. They were childish. They didn't know how to uplift others and recognize others. They didn't know how to honour each other. They were obsessed with themselves. They were busy boasting about their gifts and they insist on their own ways without listening to each other. Their spirituality was very self-centred and it was toxic. The self-centredness – That is the sign of immaturity.

As we reflected last week, they didn't know that the best gift was each other. They didn't yet know how beautiful and precious other people were. That's why they easily criticized each other and put down each other with no hesitation through their words and actions. That's immaturity.

It was because they didn't have the love of Jesus Christ in their hearts. They knew Christ and experienced the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit but they didn't have the love of Christ. It is strange but it can happen. I saw a lot of that. That's why St. Paul wrote a whole chapter about love.

This chapter is famous. It has been used at the wedding quite a lot. I used it too. But this chapter is not about romantic love between two people. It was written in a totally different context. Paul saw the immaturity in the Corinthian community and it took away peace and harmony in the community. Their spirituality didn't help; it made the problem worse. That's why St. Paul started with this. What's the use of speaking in the tongues? What's the use of having faith that removes mountains? What's the use of sacrificing oneself?

If there is no love, it is nothing. If I have no love, I am nobody.

The Greatest Illusion

My friends, Narcissism is the greatest illusion we human beings have. We are nobody alone. I am who I am because of you. We have not become who we are on our own. There were our parents who gave birth, raised us and helped us when we were helpless. There have been people who have prayed for us, supported us, and taken care of us. Narcissists will not see that. They will not recognize that. They are in their illusion and have become a slave to their self-centredness.

That is immaturity. A sign of immaturity is self-centredness.

That's why St. Paul talked about being a child, in his teaching about love.

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

I put an end to childish ways, he said. That means he stopped being self-centred.

love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5)

It's all about how you treat others. It is not about you. Love is being considerate of others.

Maturity Through Love

Love makes us mature. Until we know love, we are like a child. Our age doesn't make us mature. Love makes us mature.

Children don't know what parents are going through. In the same way, self-centred people cannot know what others are going through. When we have love, our eyes will be open. Everything becomes clear. We can see ourselves clearly and we can also see others and their needs, their hurts, and their pain. That's why we can empathize with them. That's what love does. It gives us the ability to be able to feel what others feel and know what others go through. Immature people cannot have this ability. That was what was going on in the Corinthian church.

So, St. Paul said,

For now, we see in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

When love comes fully into our heart, we will see face to face. Love shows us clearly what is important in life. Otherwise, we will follow and seek things that are like a mist. It's there in the morning, but soon disappears. Personal glory, personal power, personal gain – they are all vanities. They are like a mist. Only thing that is left is how much we care about others. Everything else will soon cease to exist.

St. Paul said,

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Love is the ultimate reality. That is what we should pursue. Don't pursue what is not real. That's why Jesus said there is only one thing that you should pursue.

The Ultimate Reality

LOVE!

When we pursue love, we will reach the ultimate reality. When we pursue love, we will be complete. Without love, we are incomplete.

That's what Paul was thinking when he said,

For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:9-10)

Love never ends. Love makes our life complete. Love remains.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

When we see Jesus, we won't need faith because we will see God face to face. When we see Jesus, we won't need hope because everything will be fulfilled and there will be no more suffering. But love remains and it never ends.

In love, we find the eternity. In love, we find salvation. In love, we find confidence in life.

God is love.

The post Maturity in Love appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church.

1 Corinthians 12:12-31

Principle of Life

We just heard a beautiful principle of life.

On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member (1 Corinthians 12:22-24)

How nice it will be if our world is like this! There will be no discrimination because of who you are. Every person will be respected and appreciated. You don't need to be somebody special to be honoured. There will be caring, uplifting, forgiving, and understanding.

In this principle, I see that all human beings are equally precious in God's eyes. I see that all human beings are respected and protected.

That is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of UN.

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

We can see this spirit in Paul's thinking.

It doesn't matter what you are going through It doesn't matter how you may feel about yourself. Every one of you is so precious in God's eyes. So we should treat each other with respect. That's how we human beings are supposed to live. We should honour each other's dignity. That was what God wanted when he created us.

We are supposed to take care of each other. If you have more, you share with those who have less than you. If you have gifts, you use them to help and uplift others.

Unique and Connected

We talked about unique gifts we received two weeks ago. Each gift is unique and it is beautiful and precious. So each person is unique. We should honour and celebrate each person's uniqueness.

We are unique but we also have to remember that we are interconnected. We are not alone. We are not supposed to live in isolation. We are connected.

Last Thursday, I visited In Ha and Hank's sister at St. Michael. She was in a palliative care. She looked very peaceful. She knew that she would die soon. She asked Hank to call me. So I visited her. She said she was ready to die. She said she was ready for a long time. I have a lot of memory with the couple. It was hard to see her suffer and die at such a young age. It was hard for me to take it.On the way home, I felt very down. She passed away yesterday morning.

Yes, that's who we are. We are unique, but we are also deeply connected.

That's what St. Paul said,

If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)

This world makes us become cold and indifferent. We are good only to those who matter to us. We honour those who are useful to us.

Our relationship has become functional and calculating. We have lost the ability to connect with each other simply as brothers and sisters.

We have to understand that without you, I am not complete. I am glad that you are in my life because without you, my life is not complete.

The Greatest Gift

The greatest gift is not what we have. The greatest gift is not the gift of wisdom, the gift of knowledge, the gift of prophecy, or the gift of tongue. The greatest gift is each other. You are my greatest gift. God gave you to bless me. You are my blessings.

That's why St. Paul concluded his teaching about the gifts with this.

Last 3 verses of chapter 12.

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

BUT – A big BUT.

Strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:29-31)

Then he talks about love in chapter 13. That is the very famous love chapter.

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

The greatest gift is each other. Your family is the greatest gift. Your friends are the greatest gift. Your sisters and brothers in this community are the greatest gift.

How hard it is to understand this message. Because in this world, we never experience this. We never think that people around me are the greatest gift. WHEN WE HAVE LOVE IN OUR HEART, WE SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL AND PRECIOUS OTHER PEOPLE ARE. When you have love, people around you become your gifts.

All One Body

That was what was lacking in the Corinthian community. They had many gifts. All kinds of gifts were there in that community. But they were not mature enough. They were not yet transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.

So, their gifts were not used to edify and uplift others. Instead of serving others with their gifts, they look down upon those who didn't have many gifts or fantastic gifts. This brought division and some people felt excluded. When there is no love, our gifts become ugly. When there is no love, people around you become burden rather than gifts.

St. Paul saw that in the Corinthian community.

That's why he said,

The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you', nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.' (1 Corinthians 12:21)

When we are gifts to each other, the community becomes the real spiritual community. In this community, we will feel special. We will feel cared. We will feel blessed. Use your gifts to bless each other.

We have to help each other become the best they can be. Then in turn, they will become gifts to us. There should be no room for jealousy or comparison. We don't need to compare ourselves with others. We are not in competition with others.

We are all in one body.

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12, 13)

To do this, love is necessary. So we need to cultivate love within us. This community is a beautiful community. Let us make this place a place where we bless each other. May this community be filled with love and so our shortcomings may be melted and our best gifts become manifested.

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