"The Love for the Lord is Making Us Faithful to Him!"_2015 Pastors' and Workers' Devotional Service, "Meaning of Devotion"
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April 12, 2015 |
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Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee (Photo 1) taught the true meaning of devotion through inspirational analogies, and devotees made up their minds to love God foremost of all and work faithfully for His kingdom (Photos 2 and 3: Special performance by the devotees).
As a flaming sunset in the western sky fell outside of the barrack's gate,
He had a cross on His weakened shoulders, a crown of thorns on His head,
With blood-reddened clothing on His body and no strength left.
With death waiting, I think about Him walking the path outside the city gate.
No matter hard it is to go up the hill of the Cross,
It is the way the Lord took, so how can I not take the way as well…
And Peter, the Lord's disciple, he was crucified upside down.
So there's no reason I can't take this pain and no reason I can't take the way of death as well.
Pastor Kichul Joo refused to visit shrines honoring Japanese war criminals during Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and he was martyred. While singing the song 'The Way Outside of the Barracks' that Pastor Joo had composed, Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee shed hot tears. He said, "Many forefathers of faith took such a way including the Lord's disciples, apostles, and prophets. Many martyrs as well, such as Pastor Kichul Joo walked this way. This is faith. Since they knew the love of God and the Lord and because they believed in Heaven, the pain on the earth was not as painful for them. Why? After a short time the pain was gone and then Heaven was waiting for them.
On March 29, 2015, the Sunday Evening Service was offered up as Pastors', Levite Workers', and Church Workers' Devotional Service. Pastors, Levite workers (the church's full-time workers), elders, senior deaconesses, deacons, deaconesses, junior deacons, junior deaconesses, Esther Association (Pastors' Wives' Group), and Prayer Devotees' Association devoted themselves to the service.
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee strongly caught the devotees' attention and moved their hearts with the message "Meaning of Devotion" (Revelation 2:10). He said, "We must devote ourselves with love for God and the Lord, not being coerced by a sense of responsibility. For this, you should check, firstly, if you have changing mind that frequently changes according to your benefit; and secondly you work considering your situation and your condition though you say you are devoted."
This Devotional Service was more meaningful because it made them think of the special grace given to pastors and Levite workers on March 31 of 2013, when new opportunities had been given to them through the shepherd's sacrifice and love. The church members had also regenerated their faith and achieved great improvement in faith. Devotees looked back upon the great grace and love that had been given to them and gave thanks for their own renewal. They imprinted the Scripture once again in their hearts, "Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life."
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Manmin News 
