God is good, all the time

Romans 8:28-39

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Once a year, Daniel Treviño from Monterrey, Mexico comes to Nashville, TN. He stays for a couple weeks to learn and share Tae Kwon Do philosophy and Christian Fellowship with the World Christian Tae Kwon Do Mission. Daniel is a special person to me because he has followed me for over 10 years and has accompanied me on every single mission trip. Each time he comes and visits, I try to explain in class or have a discussion about the true way of Tae Kwon Do and our mission for God.

On the last Sunday (before Daniel returned home), we were getting ready to go to church. We were about to head out, and Daniel told me he forgot his Bible. He ran back to the house to get his Spanish-English Bible, so he could take to church. While driving, I started to tell him about the Bible.

We have so many books in this world, but the Bible is always the #1 bestseller. It is over 2,000 years old and has over 40 authors. All the writings from different authors had to be puzzled together to create the Bible for us to read today. Why is it so famous? Why is it the bestseller for all countries, hotels, organizations, and of all people? Because God is the inspiration:

2 Timothy 3:16

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

Even though so many people who have the Bible in their hands, how many actually have read the Bible? How many have read the Bible from front to back? How many have read the Bible more than once? Every single page and word is important. I recommended to Daniel that he read Romans because Romans specifically addresses how significant the Bible is. Once we arrived to church, we had a guest pastor, Pastor Kang. Out of all the scriptures in the Bible, Pastor Kang has a sermon about the same chapters and same scripture Daniel and I discussed in the car. This is not a coincidence, but part of a miracle. I am not sure if Daniel noticed, but I quickly understood the message from God. If you truly follow Christ, then you must read his work. Daniel has followed me for a long time. He is a strong martial artist and does lots of demonstrations during our mission. However, his true calling is to continue to lead the World Christian Tae Kwon Do Mission. I want to prepare him just as Paul prepared Timothy (Paul's best student). Once we are gone, we hope to pass on all the knowledge and hope that our students carry the message to the world. This message is God's message:

God lives in all of us. Always.