말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Bible Verse] Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.’” (1 Kings 20;13)

[Our Story] My first semester in the U.S. was rough. It was, honestly, a nightmare. I was pre-assigned to two courses: Ph.D. Reading Seminar and Written Communication. The Reading Seminar involved reading major texts in my field—alongside actual Ph.D. students. I wasn’t even in a doctoral program yet, but the school wanted to prepare me as if I were. It felt a bit unfair, but I had no choice. The Written Communication course was about learning how to write academically, following strict rules and structures. Finally, after all the struggle, the semester came to an end. I received a decent grade in the Reading Seminar. But then came the surprise: for Written Communication, instead of a grade, I got “IC.” Not a C—an IC. Confused, I went to the school office and asked what it meant. They told me it stood for Incomplete, and that I should speak with the professor. When I met with the professor, she explained the issue wasn’t with my ideas or content, but with the formatting. I hadn’t followed the school’s required writing style manual. To fix my grade, I had to revise everything to match that format. At first, I was shocked and discouraged. It felt like a failure. But the more I thought about it, I realized the professor was actually giving me another chance. She could’ve just failed me, but instead, she chose to be gracious to an international student still adjusting to a new academic system. It was a second chance. And I knew I had to make the most of it.

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[Bible Story] 1 Kings chapters 20–22 tell the story of God's second chance for King Ahab. Ahab was a wicked king, yet God allowed him to win victories against repeated invasions by Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram (1 Kings 20). Ahab certainly deserved God’s judgment, but instead, God helped him win. When Ben-Hadad besieged Samaria, Ahab triumphed—just as the prophet had foretold. But instead of acknowledging God, Ahab believed he had won by his own strength. In arrogance, he made an alliance with Ben-Hadad to fight against Assyria. God was giving Ahab a chance to repent and return to Him. But Ahab squandered that chance. Rather than humbling himself, he became even more proud and wicked. He seized Naboth’s vineyard, which belonged to the Lord (1 Kings 21). Because Ahab rejected God’s offer of grace and continued in pride, the prophet Elijah declared God’s judgment upon him. And yet—even then—when Ahab showed a moment of repentance, God delayed His judgment (1 Kings 21:25–29). But Ahab would waste that chance again. He chose to believe false prophets and met a tragic end, just as the prophet Micaiah had warned. A random arrow struck him down in battle, and dogs licked up his blood—just as God had said (1 Kings 22). This is the end of a man who wasted the second chance God had given.

[Your Story] Is there a second chance the Lord is giving you? There may be a second chance from God hidden in the events happening in your life right now. You might be overlooking it without realizing it. Or perhaps, you're intentionally resisting it—even though it’s clearly from God. Take a moment to reflect: Are you secretly rejecting the second chance the Lord is offering? If pride has crept into your heart, now is the time to humble yourself. If you’ve been secretly indulging in sin, now is the time to turn back to the Lord. That is how we honor and embrace the second chances God gives. Today, I pray that you will not waste the second chance the Lord has given you—but instead, receive it, live it, and grow through it.

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15–16)

Copyrightⓒ 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim