Today’s passage is Luke 11:14-26. Jesus is accused of driving out demons by the devil. He says that makes no sense. He asks who they drive out demons by. He says that someone who trusts in his own strength will eventually be overwhelmed by a stronger person. He says we are either for him or against him. When an evil spirit is driven out of someone it will return with seven worse friends.
How is the expelled demon able to return?
Why would a demon want to make someone mute?
Because I don’t speak Korean, I sometimes feel like a mute here in Korea.
Actually, I feel that way in most countries I’ve visited or lived in. Interestingly, though, my muteness is rarely life threatening.
It’s sometimes inconvenient but rarely a big deal.
It’s actually a little comfortable because I don’t have to talk about trivial things, which makes up most conversations. I
don’t have to make a lot of small talk. And my reflection teaches me how little I have to say of any worth.
My Korean muteness has not got in the way of my church cleaning.
I work happily with the other guys sweeping floors, mopping floors, moving tables and chairs, and bagging trash. We don’t need to say anything much.
The work is the sharing.
My Korean muteness is a help in my marriage.
My wife’s English is good enough.
She worries that she needs to be much better, but she doesn’t.
Her limited English stops us from making a lot of unnecessary small talk.
If her English were better I would talk too much to her.
If I knew Korean, she would talk too much to me.
Most of our talk would be verbal noise.
Out of necessity, God continues to teach us just what is important to communicate.
When we share about the sermon or QT or at mokjang, there is absolute and stunning clarity.
Talking about our lives in Christ, interpreting our circumstances through God’s word, shows us what is important.
My Korean muteness and my wife’s limited English help foster that.
I have no trouble speaking words of love to her.
There are always translators, people adept at languages wherever I go, but most of what they translate I don’t want to know because most of it is not important to hear.
It’s only at Wooridle that I appreciate my wonderfully bilingual brothers and sisters in Christ because they help me understand Pastor Kim Yang Jay.
Though I am mute, through them I can hear her message.
On the July 1st sermon, Pastor Kim said our life should be focused on worship and that we need to watch our energy.
I’m old and my energy flags. I have to be chary with what I do now.
Though I am a Korean mute, God has taught me through Korean what is important to hear and do.
Application: To continue to give thanks to all my brothers and sisters in Christ in Wooridle who are the mouths of others and care for me their mute brother.
Lord, help me watch my tongue and guard my words so that only that which is helpful and truly loving comes out of my mouth.
