Message from KOMMS, South Korea
Start 2023 with love (1 John 4:7-10)
Amidst the difficulties of COVID-19, I hope that the love of the Lord will be filled among us as we start 2023 anew. In today’s text, while talking about true love, which is like the root of a tree and the source of a river, “God is love” ( 1 John 4:8). It is said that true love can be discussed only with the love of God who loved human beings and even sent His only begotten Son.
Then why can only God’s love be true love? First, God’s love is a thorough human love.
If we look at our reality, the measure of love for each other is becoming selfish. It’s because you prioritize what he has rather than seeing the person you love. However, God thoroughly loved human beings, transcending race, regardless of economic or intellectual differences, social status or ability. At the time of Jesus, lepers had to be kicked out of their homes and villages. His beloved parents, children and siblings were also forced to turn away.
But Jesus would lay a hand on him instead. It was an act like a confession born out of deep love, and it was an aspect of God’s love shown through Jesus. Second, the depth, height, and breadth of God’s love are immeasurable.
The love of a father who accepts his son as he is after squandering all his property and returning as a poor beggar, “Father, forgive us. He does not know what he is doing” (Luke 23:34), and the love of Jesus who prayed on the cross shows the depth, height, and breadth of God’s love. In Isaiah 49:15, “How can a woman forget her suckling child, and will she not have pity on the son born in her womb? Even if they forget, I will not forget you.” We can feel the depth of God’s love, even a little bit.
People give jewelry to express their love. However, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus, for us. In today’s text, 1 John 4:10, “Here is love; not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins.” I would like to tell you. Sugarcoated tablets are made by coating sugar on the outside to make bitter medicine easier to eat. How many of these kinds of sugarcoated love are there around us? But God’s love is not like human love, His love that sent His only begotten Son, His height, depth, and breadth are immeasurable, the love that sent His only begotten Son, this is God’s love and true love. Our forefathers of faith had hearts racing and passion because of this love, and fulfilled the role of light and salt by conveying that love. In January 2023, we hope that we will become KOMMS members who fill the time given to us with this love. I hope and pray.
Pastor Jungyoon Oh
President of KOMMS, South Korea