PREFACE

Seeing five thousand hungry people, the Lord asked Philip, ¡°Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?¡± Philip answered Him, ¡°Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.¡± This answer was caused by Philip¡¯s lack of faith in Jesus. Our eyes are more eager to see the world than to see God, and our ears are keener to hear the voice of the world than to hear God¡¯s. Often we try to solve our problems with our own efforts like Philip. Anyone who is far away from faith in the Lord is dependent upon his own efforts, endeavors, and abilities.

Andrew said to Jesus, ¡°There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?¡± As Andrew said, it is really true that five barley loaves are worthless in feeding five thousand people. But Andrew looked up to the Lord Almighty, instead of depending upon five barley loaves.

The prodigal son was starving to death among the swine. His starvation was not due to his father's poverty nor lack of love or ability to support him but it was from not giving up his own effort and endeavors. ¡®How can I show myself to my father in this humble condition? With more money and fine clothes, I will go to him.¡¯?this kind of thoughts kept him from returning to his father.

One day, the son got to the point where he could no longer bear the hunger. He was struggling with the thought that he should return to his father when he is in better condition and the hunger itself. Finally as his own efforts and endeavors collapsed, he headed for his father and enjoyed all that his father had. The key point is what we all are hungry for. Only when we hunger for God¡¯s grace, abandoning all ourselves due to the spiritual starvation, we can be changed in every respect.

                                                                           Yours in Christ

                                                                                      Ock Soo Park
                                                                                      Representative
                                                                                      Good News Mission