Numbers 8:1–13 Tuesday, April 1, 2025

"The lampstand was made of hammered gold. Everything, including its base and flower-like cups, was hammered work. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses." Numbers 8:4

One characteristic of spring is its inconsistency. One moment the weather is nice, then suddenly it gets cold, and then the rain comes. There’s a reason people have long said that spring can feel colder than winter—it deceives us with warmth, and then the chill cuts deeper through our lighter clothing.

The damage from recent earthquakes is severe, and the wildfires in Korea have also caused significant harm. Despite our advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, we still stand helpless before the power of natural disasters. While the world rushes forward, dazzled by the excitement of AI applications and robotic innovation, the balance of nature—which has long sustained us—is quietly breaking down. And through it all, we are reminded once again of our human frailty.

This week begins with hope that Korea might find stability in the midst of intense political shifts. We are waiting for a historic moment, a turning point. As I reflect, I realize how such moments—so filled with tension, expectation, and consequence—have always brought both cheers and tears, all in an instant.

On Monday, I started watching the drama "Thank You for Deceiving Me So Well" but had to stop because the tears wouldn't stop flowing. I was overwhelmed by the emotional weight, and now the lingering echo of those tears is still with me this morning. The writer's storytelling and the depth of every line left me deeply moved—it’s clear this isn’t ordinary work.

As I read today’s Scripture and meditated, I found myself listing the many complexities we’re all experiencing in this season of life. In the midst of that, the passage about the golden lampstand comes to mind. This lampstand, crafted by hammering pure gold, was the original form of the candles we now light in our places of worship. As God instructed Moses, “make it by hand, from gold.” Even today, these gold lampstands are still made in the same way, symbolizing God's presence in the sanctuary. The light of the lamp represents the Holy Spirit, which is why we begin worship services by lighting candles—to welcome and acknowledge His presence. And when we carry that light outside the sanctuary, it becomes a symbolic act of inviting the Holy Spirit into our daily lives.

We live in a complicated world. Nature, human life, politics, economics, and the ever-present drive for power—these forces intertwine in chaotic ways. But even in such a place, we hope for the presence of the Holy Spirit, and we walk into this world through the doorway of worship.

Life is not easy. The Holy Spirit’s presence must become visible in our actual lives. When we hold on to God's hope and live it out, that's when the Spirit moves through us. Our children, too, must one day walk through this world. We don’t know whether it will be a kinder place or a harsher one. That’s why we must do all we can to make it a Spirit-filled world—one where compassion overcomes greed, where understanding replaces division, and where our lives shine as beacons of hope in hopeless places.

So here’s to this week—a precious, irreplaceable week. May it be filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection

Life has never been easy. I respect the parents who walked this road ahead of us, I take pride in how we’re walking it now, and I cheer on the children who will live their own lives in this world. That’s more than enough.

Intercessory Prayer

• For those suffering from illness, especially for Elder Kwon Jeong-ja’s swift recovery, and for those feeling unwell during this season of change.

• Please pray for Open Church—to grow and thrive in the Spirit.