Simple Lessons

These are the simple basic lessons I learned from Bible studies while I was in Korea. I meant to write about them a while ago, but I kept pushing it back. 

• We need to value our inheritance. Growing up, UBF history was never really interesting to me so I never really paid attention whenever we had a lecture on UBF history. However, I learned the importance of valuing our inheritance. In Genesis, God gave Isaac twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Although Esau should have valued his birthright, he sold it to Jacob for "some bread and some lentil stew" (Genesis 25:34a). "So Esau despised his birthright" (Genesis 25:34b). Because Esau did not recognize the value of his birthright, he lost it. In the same way as a second gen in UBF, I have an inheritance. I can learn the values that our church was founded upon or I can choose to ignore it. There is wisdom I can learn from my parents and elders in the church that they had to experience to learn. I also had the opportunity to visit the grave site of American missionaries to Korea. God had so much grace and mercy to Korea that he chose a nation torn apart by war and poverty and brought it up to the Korea we know today.
• There is beauty in serving. "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2). Being away from home taught me the importance of hospitality. I knew welcoming people was important, but after receiving so much love and hospitality in Korea, I personally learned the importance of welcoming others. It's special being able to make someone feel comfortable. I know it takes effort to begin the conversation with another stranger, but God is still teaching me. In the Bible, Abraham had great hospitality that he entertained angels without knowing it! How amazing is that?
• Be humble in prayer. "Two men went up to the temple and pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers,  evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted" (Luke 10:14).
• Have faith like a child. I was taking a walk with a few adults from the church and their kids. There was this one three year old boy that was amazed by everything. It reminded me of the attitude I should have. He saw and ant and was so amazed. "WOWWWW GAE-MEE (ant)." He also kept asking what things were which were followed by "WOW TREES. WOW FLOWERS." As we grow up, we forget how awesome God's creations are!
• Nothing equals spending time with God through reading the Bible and praying. 
• It's about saying "yes" to God. I don't know what I'm going to do in a year, five years, or ten years, but I know where I am going. This year, I've had this image of God holding my hand and just leading me. I've just been following him and it's really interesting where he's taking me.
• There is no condemnation in Jesus. We were studying the Samaritan woman at the Sungdong UBF Summer Bible Conference and as I wrote the testimony, I realized that Jesus did not condemn the Samaritan woman for having so many failed marriages. Instead of condemning her, he forgave her and wanted her to leave her life of sin. I observed how the shepherds in Korea, instead of condemning students for their wrongdoings, were so forgiving and open. Instead of pointing out their faults, they lead the students to Jesus. It's so beautiful!