Lee Ji-won
I am often moved when I quietly observe the members of Zion. Especially, my heart is deeply touched when I see the elderly members.
There is an elderly member who was led to Zion by her daughter. Due to her health issues, she cannot come to Zion often, but whenever she comes to worship on the Sabbath, she is as excited as a child. One day, she expressed her frustration, saying that she had started reading the Bible from Genesis with a desire to know God’s word better, but she found it difficult to understand the word of God. So I briefly explained the truth to her, using a textbook titled “Feed My Sheep.” After listening to me, she said, “That’s right! If there is a Father, there must also be a Mother,” and, “Yes, worshiping the cross is idolatry.” Saying that, she accepted God’s word.
On another occasion, I wrote a prayer for her to use during worship. Not long after, she surprised me by saying she had already memorized it. Then she added, “I didn’t know how to pray, and I just repeated that prayer over and over again, so I could memorize it quickly.” When I asked her how often she had said that prayer, she told me that she read it at least fifteen times a day. She added that at the end of last year she prayed to God to help her keep the Passover, which she had never celebrated before. Watching her seek God with such a pure, childlike heart made me reflect deeply on myself.
There is another elderly member who comes to worship with her daughter. The way she gently folds her hands in prayer is so beautiful that it often makes me wonder what heartfelt prayers she might be offering to God. Whenever she sings New Songs, she carefully follows the lyrics while pointing to each word with her finger. She sings every line with all her heart, which reminds me how wholeheartedly I should sing praises to God. She always greets me with a deep bow, even though I am young enough to be her granddaughter, and holds my hand tightly, wishing me blessings. Her every gesture reflects a deep longing for God and a sincere effort to live out God’s love.
I received the truth when I was a student and spent the blossoming days of life in Zion. In my youth, I even held the remarkable title “protagonist of the gospel.” Back then, I believed that the gospel was about doing something great, such as going on overseas missions, leading evangelism efforts, and participating in major events. Even after joining a female adult group, I often found myself thinking, “How great it would be if I could work as a young adult in this age.”
As I watched the elderly members treasure each worship service, each prayer, and each New Song with such devotion and sincerity, I was led to reflect on myself. I’ve come to realize that no matter what position or stage of life we are in, our deep love and faith toward God is the essence of the gospel and it is what God desires. If it is God’s work—if it is for the fulfillment of the gospel, I will devote myself to it wholeheartedly, with a yearning for God.