Luke 4:1-13
- Pastor Jin
- Mar 9
- 5 min read
How is your Lenten season going? During the Ash Wednesday service, I mentioned in my sermon that Lent is not only a time to remember and participate in Jesus’ suffering, death, and sacrifice, but also a period for self-reflection. As part of this self-reflection, I would like us to take time to deeply consider the words we speak.
What kind of words do you say to others? More importantly, what kind of words do you say to yourself? I encourage you to reflect on this.
There is a famous Korean proverb that says, "A single word can repay a thousand ‘nyang’ of debt." In this saying, ‘nyang’ is an old Korean currency unit, and a thousand can symbolize an infinite amount. This proverb is often used to express the idea that a single word has the power to resolve even the greatest burdens. Many of you are likely familiar with this concept. From the many books we have read, we also recognize the immense power of words.
I want to share a story from my time in the military. In Korea, young men usually enter military service between the ages of 19 and 22—still a very young age. Living together in a confined space, away from home, is not easy. The stress of being in a diverse group can lead to conflicts and hardships.
However, there was one particular soldier in my unit who seemed completely free from the worries of the world. While many struggled, his words were always warm, positive, and full of care for others. He especially reached out to those who had difficulty adjusting to military life, offering them words of encouragement and strength.
One day, something remarkable happened. A soldier in our unit, overwhelmed by extreme loneliness and hardship, quietly attempted to take his own life. However, I later heard that a single phrase from this friend saved him. Do you know what he said? "Have you eaten?" That was it. Later, the soldier confessed that those three simple words sounded warmer than anything else in the world. Isn’t that incredible? It was just a short phrase, yet it gave him the strength to carry on.
This friend’s words carried power. Because of the way he spoke, his words held authority—so much so that no one in the unit ignored what he said. Yet, despite his positivity, he too had moments of struggle. Do you know what lifted him up during those times? It was his own words. The very words of encouragement he had spoken to others became the strength that helped him overcome his difficulties.
There was another friend I knew—not from the military, but from before. His nickname was "the self-loving pessimist." He was so negative in everything that people often referred to him as "a person who brings negative energy." Yet, despite his pessimism, he had a deep affection for his own thoughts and actions.
He was incredibly lenient with himself but harsh toward others. He constantly judged and criticized people, not only pointing out their flaws but also trying to correct their behavior. One day, he openly condemned someone in front of others simply because he didn’t get along with them, refusing to ever speak to that person again.
But eventually, he too faced a crisis in his life. Unlike my military friend, however, he couldn’t easily overcome it. Do you know why? It was because of his self-centeredness and the negative words he had spoken. The very words and actions he had used against others became the chains that held him back.
What do you think is the difference between these two friends I described? You might say that one had a heart full of love and care for others, while the other seemed cold and rigid. It might be difficult to say that one was completely right and the other was completely wrong.
However, when we look closely at their lives, we see a key distinction: the first friend had a heart centered on loving and caring for others. Love for people was his guiding principle. On the other hand, the second friend viewed himself as the ultimate standard. He believed he was superior, seeing others as lacking and needing to follow his lead.
If we take a closer look at today’s passage, we hear two distinct voices. One is the voice of Jesus, and the other is the voice of Satan, who tempts Him. Can you recognize the difference between the two?
If we carefully examine Satan’s words, they might actually seem reasonable. Why? Because that’s how we often live. When we are hungry, it’s natural to seek food. We are accustomed to doing whatever it takes to succeed in this world. And just as Satan quoted Scripture to justify his words, we, too, might sometimes use God’s Word to justify our own harsh and merciless actions.
If Satan were to come to us today and tempt us as he did with Jesus, wouldn’t we easily fall into his trap? In fact, even without Satan actively testing us, aren’t we already failing in these very trials on our own?
So how can we recognize and resist Satan’s words? I believe that our words reveal what is in our hearts, and that our thoughts manifest through what we speak. That is why I encourage you to pay close attention to your words. Listen carefully to what you say to others and to yourself. Do your words reflect love for God and love for your neighbors? Or do they contain judgment, resentment, and self-centeredness? Take a moment to reflect on this.
As I meditated more deeply on today's passage from Romans 10:8-10, I was reminded of the significance of our hearts and our words:
"The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
May this Scripture remind us once again how important our hearts and words are.
Beloved congregation, what kind of words have you spoken since Ash Wednesday?
Were they words of love, or words of judgment toward others? During this Lenten season, may we remember Jesus in our hearts and let His heart be reflected in our words.
Satan’s words are always filled with selfish desires and greed. But Jesus' words are always near us, full of love and care, bringing comfort to our souls. Let us never forget that His words are rooted in love.
I pray that this Lenten season will be a time for all of us to embrace the heart of Jesus. And beyond this season, may we carry His heart with us for a lifetime, proclaiming His words to the world. Amen.
