Let's do it one more time. It's hot today, and I always appreciate you sitting next to me. Thank you. It feels a bit hot to be standing here compared to last week, right?
How grateful we are! I hope today will be a precious time to share the Word of God that He wants to give us. When men and women gather together, there are two topics that men should avoid discussing. Do you know what they are? The first one? Military stories.
The second one is stories about playing soccer in the military. While military stories are off-limits, why do these men constantly talk about their military experiences and soccer games in the military throughout their lives, even knowing they shouldn't? It's simply because those experiences are special to them. They have experiences that cannot be found in the mundane world. Complete governance and complete belonging. So, it is a very special time when different people gather together under one governance, sharing everything—eating, sleeping, dressing, and sharing together. Even if they are on leave until evening, their entire lives are lived under the governance of the military, which is a truly special fellowship, isn't it? So, they keep talking about it.
I will share one military story as well. There is one scene that I remember. In my second year of service, the entire battalion gathers in the morning for roll call. First Company, Second Company, Third Company, Fourth Company all gather for roll call, and I was a private, but there was a senior sergeant in our unit who was about to finish his service. This senior sergeant always came out last. He could have gone out alone, but he always made sure to take me along, putting his arm around my shoulder. As he walked out to the parade ground, I could see everyone gathered from a distance. At that moment, he looked at me and said something that still haunts me in nightmares. He said, "Hey, do you see all those people?"
"I see them. They all have to go before you can go." It was terrifying to see how many people there were and to realize that they all had to go before I could leave. Thinking about the military life that seemed endless, I still occasionally have nightmares about that voice. As much as I hated it, I had no choice but to spend time in that belonging and experience. Today, I want to share a message about belonging and governance. It's not just about a simple coin; it's about discovering our complete belonging and what true governance of a nation is through the Word.
Today's message begins by highlighting two groups. Verse 19: The scribes and the chief priests realized that Jesus was speaking this parable against them, and they sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people. Two groups appear here: the first is the scribes, and the second is the chief priests. We know that the scribes were established during the Babylonian exile as those who copied the Scriptures. The Israelites recognized that they had been taken captive because they did not follow and obey God's Word, and they thought, "We cannot let the next generation suffer the same fate." Thus, they became the scribes. Originally, they were those who copied the Scriptures by hand, as the printing of the Old Testament was not developed. They painstakingly copied the texts with their lives. However, as they copied, they began to study, interpret, and teach, gradually evolving into legal scholars and becoming experts in the law. They rose to positions of power in their region. Initially, they were just copyists, but over time they became the most important enforcers of the law. The application of the 613 commandments of the Old Testament in real life was not easy. It was difficult for individuals to interpret and set standards.
How far could one walk on the Sabbath? How much help should one give to the poor or how much healing should one perform? The application of these issues depended on interpretation, making their role central to life. Their legal foundations eventually led to the creation of the Mishnah and Talmud, which still influence us today. Jesus summarized the scribes in one phrase: "Beware." What does that mean? It means to be cautious, to be careful, to stay away. And directly to them, through Matthew 23, He repeatedly used the phrase "Woe to you" seven times. The number seven signifies completeness. There will be woe. Their judgment will be separate. Their calculations will lead to a wrath that they cannot bear, and Jesus first proclaims the wrath against this group. Why did this happen? Was it because their copying was wrong? Was it wrong to cherish the Word and strive to pass it on to the next generation, pouring their lives into it?
Was it wrong to study, meditate, and teach it to the next generation? None of that was wrong. Yet, they became the target of "woe" seven times for one reason: distortion. Distortion. This is a terrifying sin. Distortion. From Genesis to Revelation, they studied the law, but in all of it, there is one truth, one direction: Jesus Christ. They should have taught, studied, meditated on, and applied the truth of Jesus Christ, teaching the peace and grace found in that truth, but they did not. They began to interpret literally, creating traditions, and legalistically ordering everything. They pretended to be holy, but inside, they were consumed by greed for the benefits gained from it, and they created additional regulations that oppressed the people, making it impossible for them to eat even a piece of bread without washing their hands according to the law. The Lord did not leave them alone. Ultimately, whether they wanted to or not, they became part of the religious leaders and the power holders in society.
The second group mentioned is the chief priests. The chief priest is the highest among the priests. Initially, these were people appointed by God. They performed the duties commanded by God and offered worship to God. They were the ones who entered the Holy of Holies. In Exodus 28:1, there is a confession: "You shall bring near to you Aaron your brother and his sons with him from among the people of Israel to serve me as priests." They had to be from the tribe of Levi and direct descendants of Aaron. This is the priesthood, and the priesthood was meant to be a lifelong position appointed by God. There was no retirement; they served until death. God commanded this. And there was only one chief priest, who was to be a direct descendant of Aaron, entering the Holy of Holies. However, during the time of David, due to the numerous priests, they had to organize into 24 divisions. Even with this organization, there was still only one chief priest during David's time. The term "priests" is used in the plural, indicating that there were multiple priests. Why?
The biggest change occurred during the time of Jesus. The chief priest, who was supposed to be a direct descendant of Aaron and hold a lifelong position, was now appointed directly by the Roman governor. Who appoints them? The Romans. The governor has the authority to appoint and dismiss them. The chief priest's term was short, indicating a poor relationship with Rome. Caiaphas, for example, served for 18 years. This is a long time, as most terms are shorter. This indicates that he had a good relationship with Rome and had pleased the governor. Many chief priests were from the Sadducees, who had progressive and pro-Roman tendencies. These were the people who were appointed to please the governor and obey his commands. Therefore, what was the most important role for them? To ensure that no riots occurred in their assigned areas. This was the primary reason they were given their positions. They were afraid of the people who could incite riots. They ignored the people in their actual lives, treating them as beneath them. However, they feared the riots that could arise from the people. Who was at the center of this potential riot? Jesus. They knew that Jesus could take away their livelihoods. They understood that their careers could collapse because of Jesus. They realized that because of this riot, they could lose not only their positions but also their lives. So, what did they do? Verse 19: They feared the people. Their hearts wanted to seize Him immediately. The best course of action would be to kill Him, but they were afraid of the people's uproar, who were shouting "Hosanna, Hosanna," so they feared the spread of the riot and did not dare to seize Him. They were not afraid of the people themselves but of the riots that the people could incite. Ultimately, they feared people. The governor is a person, and the people are people. All those who were with them. They discovered that despite ignoring the people, they had to fear them to maintain their power. How did they view Jesus?
As a teacher, a rabbi, or a prophet? No. As the Messiah? They were not interested in that. They only cared about their positions. It did not matter who Jesus was, whether He was a rabbi, a teacher, or the Messiah; what mattered was their position and their livelihood. Jesus was merely a dangerous figure to them. The scene where they sought to seize Him immediately out of fear of the people is a very sad story. It is a heartbreaking scene. Why? They had spent their lives worshiping God, offering sacrifices, experiencing the grace of the Holy of Holies, and treating the name of the Lord with such reverence that they forgot it. They had longed to know, learn, teach, and serve, and now the Messiah, the Son of God, was right in front of them, yet they sought to seize Him and kill Him. This scene is incredibly sad. It is so regrettable. They had waited for so long, prayed for so long, and now the Messiah, the Son of God, was right before them.
Dear believers, what is even more frightening and regrettable? This can still happen to us today. If we still need a Jesus who is only for our own safety, then we can betray that Jesus at any time. What was the previous parable about? It was about the vineyard farmers. They sent servant after servant, and finally, even their son, only to kill them all to take what belonged to them. This parable was not meant to expose who was trying to kill whom but rather to convey God's endless love, sending servant after servant, giving opportunities for repentance, and allowing time for relationships to be restored. Yet, they thought it was about themselves, believing it was directed at them, and remained trapped in their own understanding, ultimately becoming the first to kill Jesus for their own sake. They saw, heard, and waited, yet they became the ones who led the charge to kill Him.
How did they kill Him? Since they could not seize Him immediately, Verse 20: They watched Him closely and sent spies to pretend to be righteous, so they might catch Him in His words. They sent spies. The word "spy" is interesting. It is a compound word. It means to watch closely. The important thing is the position. They were not watching from a distance or hiding; they were watching closely, right next to Him. What did they want to do? They wanted to hand Him over. To whom? To the governor's authority and power. They wanted to reveal what they belonged to and hand Jesus over to the one they feared the most. Why?
Because the authority to impose the death penalty was with the Romans. To kill someone, they needed permission. They had nothing they could do on their own. Religiously, they were trapped under the law, and politically, they were trapped under Rome. Just breathing, living, eating, appointing someone, dismissing someone, building up, or tearing down—all of these were under someone else's authority. They had no freedom of truth. Everything was under governance, and it was a flawed governance. They were aware of who held their lives. So, they sent spies to hand Jesus over. The spies were likely those who were bribed by the scribes and chief priests. They could not seize Jesus immediately because of their own interests, but they sought to catch Him in His words. The scribes and chief priests hid behind the spies. They were not visible. They always pretended to be righteous, but their schemes were more malicious. This developed further.
Dear believers, what does it mean to pretend to be righteous and catch someone's words? Be cautious of those who catch your words. There are many around us who may not be able to kill you immediately but will catch your words. I want to advise you: Are you a child of God? If so, one thing you should not do is catch others' words. Many of you may feel guilty about this, but do not do it. It becomes a habit, and it is not pleasing to God. It is not a good thing. It is not a good deed. Catching someone's words does not reveal your righteousness, nor does it lead to restoration or sharing grace. It is simply catching words. God knows the intentions behind it, why you wanted to catch them, and what your true motives are. If you truly feared God, you would not catch others' words. You would not do it. The spies were indeed spies. The important thing is that there is a plural form here. These are the spies. So, who are these spies? In Matthew 22:15-16, their identities are revealed. The Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Him in His words. They consulted together. This was not something that happened suddenly; they consulted, studied, and worried, sending their disciples along with the Herodians. The disciples here refer to the disciples of the Pharisees. These spies were from two groups: the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians.
But here is the irony: these two groups could not be friends even if they wanted to. They were in a relationship of mutual disdain. They did not associate with each other, both religiously and politically. They were like red and blue; they could not mix. However, they came together. Why? To catch Jesus. What is the one power that can make them abandon their beliefs, values, and identities? Money. If bribed, they can do anything. Money can break down values, beliefs, and religions. If it is something that can make money, they can do it without any sensitivity of conscience. Even those who confess their faith and have Jesus right in front of them can become allies with those who taught them about Jesus. Money can bind them together. Friends can become enemies, and enemies can become friends. Look at the person next to you. Be careful. The person next to you can change in an instant. Whether they are from the Sadducees, scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, Herodians, Romans, or Jews, all institutions, relationships, and roles can unite for one purpose: to kill Jesus. The alliances formed to kill Jesus are astonishing, and they begin to plot to catch Him in His words. The people are excited, shouting, "Hosanna, Son of David." They want to make Him their king, and a riot is brewing.
What is frightening is that the blind people are shouting to make Jesus their king without understanding the meaning. The religious leaders, who are blinded by money, are also plotting how to kill Jesus. The ignorant people and the ignorant power holders, religious leaders, and politicians all eventually unite to shout with one voice: "Crucify Him." Everyone, regardless of whether they are people, disciples, believers, Romans, or the powerful, speaks with one voice: "Kill Him." Their eyes are completely fixed on this world, and they are so consumed by it that they can unite for their own benefit to participate in the act of killing Jesus. This is a terrifying story, but it is the story being told.
Today, they ask, Verse 21: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in truth." If you just listen to the words and observe their attitude, it seems like they are disciples of Christ. This is not a confession that someone bribed would use. It is not a genuine acknowledgment. It is a much more plausible acknowledgment than that of the disciples. They acknowledge Him as if they are followers, yet this acknowledgment is a disguised confession. It is a confession with an agenda, a compliment with an agenda, a recognition with an agenda. Ultimately, they pretend to respect, acknowledge, and praise Him, but their true intention is to catch Him in His words. They begin their attack with the question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" They lay out their question, asking whether it is right or wrong to pay taxes.
I often receive similar questions in my pastoral ministry. "Pastor, is this right or wrong? Is this correct or incorrect?" Initially, they express admiration, saying, "I received grace, Pastor, you are amazing, I respect you." Then they ask, "Is this right or wrong?" It does not seem like a difficult question. At first glance, it seems very easy. You can simply choose one side. You can say that something is right or wrong. But they do not do that. Now, the topic is revealed. It is about taxes, specifically the tax they must pay. They are talking about money, which they value as their life. The spies unite, acting like a coalition, as disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians. They gather together to pray, fast, and discuss to come up with this sharp question, which is not easy. What is this tax? It is a poll tax, a tax that must be paid. In the Jewish society of that time, the issue of taxes was a central topic. This is the crux of the matter. Why? Because paying taxes means submitting to the authority of a foreign ruler as God's chosen people. So, the question is whether it is right or wrong to pay taxes. This is a social issue. Did the Lord know this?
If the Lord said it was right to pay taxes, He would be seen as a traitor by the Jews. If He said it was wrong to pay taxes, it would be illegal in the eyes of Rome. They were trying to catch Him in a trap. No matter how He answered, He would be caught. But the Lord does not answer this simple question directly. He does not say it is right or wrong. Why? Verse 23: Luke refers to their wickedness. Matthew refers to their malice, and Mark refers to their hypocrisy. The Lord knows all of this. They thought they were hiding, but He knew everything. Verse 24: "Show me a denarius." He asks for a denarius, the currency used for the tax. The denarius was a Roman coin, similar to today's dollar. I struggled to find a denarius for a while. I wanted to buy a fake one for a coffee, but I found one place, and the delivery did not arrive in time for me to show you. So, I prepared a picture instead. Here it is. It has an image on one side and a palm branch on the other. On the left side, there is an inscription that reads, "Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus." It means "son of God." The image is meant to symbolize divinity. On the other side, it says "Pontifex Maximus," meaning "the highest priest." This coin shows both sides. Then He asks a counter-question: Verse 24: "Whose likeness and inscription does it have?" Why did the emperor put his image on the coin?
Was it to flaunt his power? No, it is for one reason: to deify himself. It is a symbol of divinity. The title of priest and the term "god" are used to signify that everything used with this coin belongs to his governance, his authority, and his nation. In other words, it signifies that he is a god. And then He gives the famous statement: Verse 25: "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." What does this mean? Is He talking about paying taxes and offerings, saying that you should pay your taxes and offerings even if life is tough?
When you hear "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," it might sound like that. However, unfortunately, there is a word that is omitted in the Korean translation, which is "but" or "however." This message is meant to be read with "but." So, if we read it with "but," it should be understood as follows: Verse 25: "If it were about the obligation to pay taxes and offerings, then there would be no need for the 'but.'" If both sides are to be paid well, that would suffice. But what is the true meaning of this "but"? You all like to discuss what is right and what is wrong. Let's revisit the fundamental question: Is what belongs to Caesar truly Caesar's? Is what belongs to God truly God's?
Let’s talk about that coin. Whose coin is it? It is a denarius. Whose material is it made of? Originally, it belongs to whom? Is it difficult? Would you like to make silver?
Whose is it? All materials belong to God. I once shared an example about a scientist who succeeded in creating a human from dirt. He went to boast to God, saying he made a human from dirt, and God replied, "Hey, you need to use My dirt." Humans cannot even create dirt. Who owns the raw materials? It is God's. This is the truth. This is the reality, and this is God. But we tend to divide everything. What is God's is God's, and what is mine is mine. When we divide things, it becomes easier. From now on, I can serve intentionally because the calculations become simple. Today, we are talking about a denarius. Remember the parable of the vineyard? The master went to hire workers at 6 AM, 9 AM, 12 PM, 3 PM, and 5 PM, not just to employ them but to save even one soul in the midst of those who were idle or destined to die. He went to them with the promise of grace, and all of this started with joy and gratitude. Yet, as time passed, they began to think they would receive more and ended up complaining. Why did they complain? Because a promise is a promise, labor is labor, and compensation is compensation. God does not treat us differently when we enter or exit the restroom. It is uncomfortable.
But this is how our faith works. That is that, and this is this. We distinguish between right and wrong, and when things do not go as we wish, we complain. We lose our gratitude, and we willingly take on the role of those who catch words. We pretend to recognize and respect, but we are the first to catch and hand over. Do we remember?
Matthew 20:15-16 states, "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last." I can do what I want with my own. Whose was it originally? It was the Lord's. This is a fact. This is the truth, and this is God. But we love to divide things. We like to make things fair and equitable. We like to be honest and clear, so we separate our lives from our church lives, our money from our offerings, our time from our service to God. This dualistic separation leads to a clear division of what is yours and what is mine.
In this world, we are so consumed by it that all interpretations are made from a human perspective, and even though we acknowledge and praise God's sovereignty, governance, and grace, we ultimately act separately based on how much we have done. If we view things from this perspective, then when we talk about fairness, we should also say that God should rest when we rest. That would be fair, right? When we take a break, God should take a break too. That would be fair, right?
These days, one of the key words among young people is fairness. They say the world is unfair. They are sensitive to this. I read in the news about a group of seven people who shared the cost of a cola, each paying 250 won with their credit cards. Why? Because it has to be fair. It sounds like a good word, right? Fairness is important, and believers should be equitable. But what is more important is the standard by which we seek fairness. What is that standard? I find it most regrettable if my parents have 10000000002 and I have 100. If my parents are worried about me taking their 100, that is not even mine.
If it were me, I would want to give it to them, saying, "My everything is yours." That is wisdom, isn't it? Why do I say this? If we talk about fairness, what about Solomon's judgment? Shouldn't he be killed? Shouldn't he be split in half? That would be fair, right? If you measure it accurately and cut it in half, that would be fair, right? Where is fairness and equity in front of money? What is the wisdom needed to achieve fairness and equity?
We are discussing taxes, and you remember the temple tax, the shekel, right? Matthew 17:24-27 states: "When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, 'Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?' He said, 'Yes.' And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, 'What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes? From their sons or from strangers?' Peter said to Him, 'From strangers.' Jesus said to him, 'Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.'"
Let me ask you again: Is it important whether you pay the temple tax or not? Who prepared the coin in the fish's mouth? Who is the sovereign over all? The one who is the King of kings. The one who prepared the coin in the fish's mouth is the sovereign. Is it important whether you pay the tax or not? Is it important whether you pay the shekel or not? The one who prepared the fish and the coin is the King of kings.
If you are going to pay it to avoid offending others, that is not about obligation. If you want to be fair and equitable, the wisdom of Solomon is that life must be the standard. The act of saving lives is wisdom, and within that wisdom, fairness and equity must exist. The priority of values is a completely different story. If God were to apply fairness without love, without life, and without grace, no one would survive in this place. Can we shout fairness before Him? Can we shout equity before Him? Yet, He speaks this way because of Genesis 1:26-27. Let's read it together loudly: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
We are the only ones made in God's image. Everything else can create idols, but the principle of creation before God's Word is only for humanity, for God's people. We alone are God's. Therefore, what is God's is eternal. When we offer what is ours to God, it becomes eternal. This is how He sees it. In reality, why does God need money?
Why does He need fish? Why does He need shekels? He has no need for any of it. What God truly desires is not about how well you pay taxes or how well you give offerings. It is about the relationship of love that cannot be severed, applied, or judged by fairness and equity. Why? Because His image is within you. That image is Christ. Because Christ was killed, and because Christ is within us, everything we have, every breath we take, belongs to God. We belong to God. Whether we are in sin or grace, whether we are in worship or stumbling, every groan of our lives belongs to God. Therefore, we must offer it to God. This offering is not just a simple demand to give; it means to return to the original place. The field means to return to the original purpose of creation and formation.
Where can we confirm, prove, and acknowledge this? It is in the place of worship. This place is where we return our entire lives to the original purpose of creation. And it is the place where He receives all of it. In the relationship of love, in the eternal relationship, in the relationship of life. Therefore, because of that fairness, that equity, they killed themselves with their own power. They did not kill others. They did not kill the chief priests. They did not kill the scribes. They did not kill the Roman governor. They killed themselves with their own power. And they revealed their deeds, bringing life to us. Why? Because we are made in God's image. We are all that God has.
This is not just a game of coins belonging to Caesar. He knows what you fear, but He is the one who governs even what you fear. He is the God who is like you. He is your Father. Realize this and have courage. He promises to be with you. This is not just about taxes and offerings. What do we say about worship?
We say we see it. What do we see? We give. How do we pray? How do we give offerings? How do we praise? How do we live? To give means to return to the original place, to what is originally yours. I have strayed from what is original. I have belonged to Caesar's image. In a moment of fear, I have distanced myself. I have proven what I am. But to return what belongs to God to God, to restore that love relationship, is what this place is about today. This is the place of worship. Outside of this place, we cannot confess that our distorted possessions are God's.
To conclude, dear believers, whether they are scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, or chief priests, their beginnings, intentions, roles, and works can all be easily bought in this world. What should we remember each time? As in 2 Corinthians 4:4, Christ is the image of God. The One who is in me is also the One who has given me life. I am God's image, and I belong to God. My life, my perspective, my center, and all that has been given to me are God's image. Therefore, we must also return to the cross. Today, may your entire life, not just a part, not dualistic, not relative, but your whole life belong to God's glory in the name of the Lord.
As we sing the special song, the short-term mission team to Mexico will depart. Is there a separation between those who go on missions and those who do not? There is no such thing. It is all God's kingdom. It is God's work. The circumstances and roles may differ, but our hearts are the same. We are God's image and God's. We want to give and move forward. It is not because we have time or money or because the conditions allow us to go. It is not that we cannot go because we do not have the means. Is it only a practical step that counts? That is a precious thing, but even if we cannot go, offering our entire lives to God at this time is also God's mission. Why? Because we are God's image and members of the body of Christ. We partake in communion. We break bread. It is only for the family. We cannot do it with strangers. We want to go together for even one soul, and we are setting out. I have heard that the conditions are quite harsh. It is hot, humid, and there are many dangers. The team will likely struggle a lot. I believe no one thinks, "Oh, good, go and suffer."
With the same heart, morning and evening, may we be used to reveal God's work there, even if our bodies are apart. It is because we are all part of God's image. I want us to take a moment to meditate on the Word and pray. Let us quietly reflect on the message. Those who approached Jesus today were spies who had a seemingly righteous faith and prepared confessions on their lips, but ultimately their intention was to catch Him in His words to hand Him over to their governance. This message causes us to reflect on our faith and our hearts. As we shared on Friday, if there is a word we truly need to recover, it is gratitude. The fact that we are God's image and children should be a confession of gratitude. Therefore, it should be natural to see each other as images of God. Yet, I also reflect on the times when my hands and feet led the way to catch others' words.
Lord, once again, may Your image be restored in our hearts, and may the relationship of love reveal fairness and equity through my death. Let us pray with this earnest confession. Our God, who is all in all, You were killed to save us, yet You rose again for us. May our lives be filled with the name of Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, and may the gospel become our lives. Now, may we wear the holy garment of God's image and walk in a manner worthy of it, experiencing and sharing the grace of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, giving glory to our Father God.
We confess that all of this is by Your grace and pray earnestly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is with us forever. Amen. Let us all stand together and conclude our worship with the final song of commitment.
Beloved Lord, there have been many moments when we hesitated, not knowing where our gaze would go due to the many lies and deceptions of this world. The great storm of those who hold power in the air threatens and intimidates our hearts today, causing us to unknowingly forget whose image we belong to. Yet, we confess that this battle does not belong to us.
All we can do is raise our hands before You, the Lord, who gave everything on the cross, even to the last drop. We declare that our lips are filled only with Jesus. The eternal King within me is only Jesus Christ. Outside of this confession, we have nothing to offer You. Amen. May this confession lead us to live as those who belong to You, our King of kings, and may our lives be filled with joy and gratitude as we live as Your people.
Now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the absolute love of God, which cannot be severed, and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, who teaches, reminds, and communes with us, be with us as we look once again at whose governance and authority we belong to through our image. May our hearts and families be filled with this truth, and when we are discouraged, disappointed, or stumble, may we rise again in grace, reflecting Your image.
May all those who are leaving for the mission field, the short-term mission team, and all their hearts be blessed from now until forever.
