말보다 말씀! 빚보다 빛!

[Key Bible Verse] Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” (2 Kings 11:10-12)

[Our Story] Not long ago, I read a touching article about an unforgettable moment at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian runner Bou Samnang had qualified for the women’s 5,000-meter final. Unfortunately, she finished last. It was pouring rain. She ran alone through the storm, making her way around the track while all the other runners had already finished. The winner had crossed the finish line six minutes earlier. Samnang had not been feeling well that day. Despite battling anemia and coming from a challenging background, she had been running since middle school—on dirt fields, not tracks, with only a single pair of running shoes. She trained relentlessly, eventually earning a place on the national team. But on the day of the race, her long-standing condition held her back. The track was nearly empty—no other runners were left—but the crowd stayed. They waited, cheering her on as she struggled to complete her final laps. When she finally crossed the finish line, she was met with thunderous applause. After finishing, she said, "I could have given up the race, but I had a duty to represent Cambodia. That’s why I didn’t quit and kept running to the end." The video of her race moved sports fans around the world, and they sent her their admiration and support, despite her last-place finish. Even Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was so touched by her perseverance that he awarded her a monetary prize. This was the result of enduring hardship and refusing to give up. It is also a reminder of why how we finish matters so much. (Source: https://www.sedaily.com/NewsView/29PNJRZCAZ)

[Bible Story] 2 Kings 11–12 tells the story of King Joash, a king who started well but lacked the perseverance to finish strong. After King Ahaziah of Judah was killed, his mother Athaliah seized the throne. Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, followed in the footsteps of her parents. She not only worshiped idols but also sought to destroy the royal line of David after taking power. To rule Judah as she pleased and continue worshiping Baal—her family’s god—the descendants of David were a threat she wanted to eliminate. However, in a dramatic twist, Joash was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who hid him in the temple of God for six years. Then, in the seventh year, the high priest Jehoiada revealed the young prince and anointed him as king. Once Joash became king, Athaliah was executed, and the people began to return to God's Word and worship. This marked the beginning of Joash’s reforms. Jehoiada led the people in renewing their covenant with the Lord and tearing down the temple of Baal. However, as time passed, Joash began to drift away from faithfulness. After Jehoiada died, Joash turned back to idolatry and even ordered the execution of the prophet Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son. He could not endure the rebuke and call to repentance from the people of God. Though Joash had begun with promise, he abandoned the path of reform midway. God gave him opportunities to repent, even using King Hazael of Aram to discipline him. But Joash refused to turn from his sin. In the end, his officials conspired against him and killed him. Joash was a king whose life did not end well.

[Your Story] Have you ever had to give up something halfway? Was there something you wanted to finish but had to let go of? If it’s not the right path or not aligned with God’s will, sometimes stopping early is the wise thing to do. But when it comes to becoming a true worshiper, the story is different. To become the kind of worshiper God seeks, we must not give up—we must run the race to the end. Even when there are obstacles or distractions, we are called to become worshipers who please the heart of God. No matter how sweet the temptation, we must turn away from it. We are called to be worshipers to the very end.

“So through Jesus, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

Copyright ⓒ 2025 by Hyung Joong Kim