[Preacher] Pastor Jung Myung Seok
[Scriptures] Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
It is always true that only those who need something wait for what they need, look for it, anticipate it, and like it. Whatever it is, if you don’t need it, you will not wait for it, look for it, anticipate it, or be interested in it.
It is also true with faith.
Until now, God’s gospel has been preached to the weak, the sick, and those who have had a hard time living life. People who are not in need do not seek God nor the savior and do not wish to listen to the Word.
Like in today’s main scriptures, at Jesus’ time also, he went to the sick, the suffering, the poor, and those living without hope and preached the gospel to them while healing them of their sicknesses and weaknesses.
God’s salvation history, the savior sent by God, and the gospel are required by everyone regardless of who they are.
They consider faith as secondary but live making a living and the things they want immediately as their most urgent priority.
Then they go to church when the time comes, and they seek God and the church only when they find themselves in need as they live.
It is not that all the people of the world are not going to church because they don’t know how or because there is no one to guide them. They are not going because they are too busy living their lives and have neither the time nor interest. Also, they are not going because they don’t have the need.
Therefore, you have to introduce them to the gospel while treating them in ways that are appropriate to their lives. You can let them use the spare time in their daily lives.
Then they will learn without feeling burden.
Everyone needs to live their own daily life, so like Jesus’ time, you should get involved in their daily lives, help them, accompany them, and preach the gospel to them.
