The Upper Room Devotional 30 December 2023
The Upper Room Devotional 30 December 2023, Saturday Message by Jeong Pil-Seok (Seoul, South Korea)
TOPIC: Worth the Effort
TODAY’S READING
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:3 (NRSVUE)
I work as an editor on the publishing team for the Korean edition of The Upper Room. I edit the Korean translation of the devotional guide so that our readers may comprehend it with ease.
Over the years we’ve distributed the Korean edition to many readers for free, especially individuals in hospitals, military camps, and prisons. A few years ago a generous donor began supporting our effort to distribute The Upper Room to multiple prisons across South Korea.
One day at work, I received a call from a person saying he was moved by the message of the devotional guide and asking where to buy it. I asked him, “How did you get to know The Upper Room?” He replied, “A few days ago I was released from prison, where I often read it.”
After the call I was overcome with emotion and could hardly say a word. I gave thanks that our efforts and the donor’s good intentions were bearing fruit. I don’t know what that caller’s life has been like, but I firmly believe that his life will be better than before and closer to God with The Upper Room as a companion.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord of hope, help us not to become weary in sharing your love with others. Amen.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God can use my efforts to spread the gospel.
PRAYER FOCUS
Those who support The Upper Room
The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing—both laity and clergy, published authors and new writers. The meditations are stories of real people working to live faithfully with the Bible as their touchstone. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY