September 18 - I will not Forget You 너를 잊지 아니하리라

September 18 - I will not Forget You

 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” – Isaiah 49:15

 

 

This verse picturing a mother with her nursing baby in her arms, being soothed and comforted by her gentle cooing and light caresses, presents such a beautifully moving picture of our own Heavenly Father, Whose gentle entreaties to us calm our every fear and provide, generously and willingly, for our every need. The stark truth is that much of today's mother-love is far from that which is mirrored in this moving picture – but the comparison that the LORD is building up in our imagination is that of a devoted mother – one that in all things does only what is good and beneficial for her tiny babe.

 

But every mother is flawed with an old, sinful nature, and even the best of mothers can neglect or forget their nursing child or the son of her womb. But the LORD will never forsake us. The tender goodness and loving-kindness of the LORD are unchanging and unchangeable. His generous grace and great mercies are for all time and throughout eternity.

 

Our loving Father Himself formed us in secret in our mother's womb and scheduled each day of our life. Our gracious Savior suffered such agonies and labored, in love, on the Cross for us to redeem us from our sins and make us His Bride. And it was the Holy Spirit of love who wooed and challenged us, convicted us, and finally breathed new life into our fallen frames, birthing us into God's family and enlightening us with the abundance of His life. 

 

Let us take the truth to heart no matter what difficulties you or I are experiencing in our lives. These gracious words remind us that there is nothing in heaven, on earth, or under the earth that can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus - nothing that will ever cause the LORD to forget you.

 

A foreigner once said that the spirituality and the revival growth in Korean churches come from having one heart and one voice with all believers when praying to God. It is very difficult to see people praying together in any other country as the believers in Korea have. Although we can pray by meditation, we can find facts through servants of God who pray with a loud voice in Scripture. The Psalmist said they raise their voices to pray to God (Psalm 27:7). 

 

In this verse, we can learn how to offer holy worship in the presence of God. We should ponder God’s character and offer our hearts to God. Then, we ought to call His name and communicate directly with God. David carried the conversation of prayer with God. “My heart says of you, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, LORD, I will seek” (Psalm 27:8). The meaning of “Seek His face” is God’s command to seek God’s grace. 

 

We ought to stand before God and seek His face and grace. We need to be assured that God will not forsake us. The abandonment that the Psalmist refers to is like a child their parent has abandoned. Even though parents can forsake their children, God never abandons His children (Isaiah 49:15). We ought to give up our pride and respectfully seek God’s face.  

 

“We may forget him, but God will never forget us. We're forever on his mind and in his plans.” - Max Lucado.

 

 

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 4-6; 2 Corinthians 10

Today’s Prayer: The gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Ask the LORD to apply this power to individuals you know are without it. 

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is hardest when it is hardest to pray - Anonymous

 

 

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9월 18일 - 너를 잊지 아니하리라

 

“여인이 어찌 그 젖 먹는 자식을 잊겠으며 자기 태에서 난 아들을 긍휼히 여기지 않겠느냐 그들은 혹시 잊을 지라도 나는 너를 잊지 아니할 것이라” - 사 49:15

 

 

젖먹이 아기를 품에 안고 부드러운 속삭임과 가벼운 애무로 달래고 위로하는 어머니를 묘사하고 있는 이 말씀은 우리의 두려움을 잠재우고 모든 필요를 관대하게 공급해 주시는 하나님 아버지의 아름다운 위로의 모습을 보여 줍니다. 사실은 오늘날의 어머니의 사랑이 이 감동적인 말씀에 반영된 사랑과는 차이가 많이 있다는 것입니다. 그러나 우리 하나님은 우리의 상상 속에 보여 주시는 헌신적인 어머니의 사랑의 모습, 즉, 모든 일에 작은 아기에게 선하고 유익한 것만 주시고 행하시는 어머니의 모습인 것입니다.  

 

그러나 모든 어머니는 오래된 죄의 본성때문에 결함이 있고 가장 훌륭한 어머니 조차도 젖먹이나 임신한 태아를 소홀히 하고 잊어 버릴 수 있습니다. 그러나 하나님은 절대로 우리를 버리지 않으시며 주님의 선하심과 사랑과 인자하심은 영원히 변하지 않습니다. 하나님이 우리에게 주시는 은혜와 자비는 영원히 함께 하는 것 입니다. 

 

사랑이 많으신 하나님 아버지는 우리를 모태에서 은밀하게 지으시고 우리의 매일의 삶을 계획 하셨습니다. 은혜와 구원의 예수님은 모든 고통을 참으시고 사랑의 십자가를 통하여 우리를 구속하시고 우리를 그의 신부로 삼으셨습니다. 그리고 성령은 우리에게 사랑으로 다가 오셔서  우리의 타락한 모습과 죄를 깨닫게 하시고 마침내 하나님의 가족으로 새생명을 가지고 거듭나게 하시고 풍성한 생명으로 우리를 충만히 채워주셨습니다. 

 

이 은혜의 말씀은 우리가 이 세상에서 어떠한 어려움을 겪으며 어디에 살아가고 있든지 하늘과 땅과 그리고 땅 아래에서 우리는 그리스도안에 있는 하나님의 사랑에서 결코 끊어지지 않는다는 것을 확신시켜 줍니다. 하나님께서 우리를 잊어 버리게 하실 수 있는 것은 이 세상에 아무 것도 없습니다.  

 

한 외국인 그리스도인은 한국 교회의 영성과 부흥성장은 하나님께 기도할 때 모든 신자들과 한 마음과 한 목소리로 부르짖는데 있다고 말한 적이 있습니다. 한국의 그리스도인들처럼  함께 기도하는 모습을 다른 나라에서는 보기 쉽지 않습니다. 우리는 묵상으로 기도할 수 있지만, 성경에 보면 큰 소리를 내어 기도한 하나님의 종들을 찾아 볼 수 있습니다. 시편 기자는 그들이 하나님께 기도하기 위해 목소리를 높인다고 말합니다(시 27:7).

 

이 말씀에서 하나님 앞에서 거룩한 예배를 드리는 법을 배울 수 있습니다. 하나님을 예배할 때 그의 성품을 묵상하고 마음을 하나님께 드려야 합니다. 우리는 하나님의  이름을 부르고 직접 교통하는 관계로 들어가야 합니다. 다윗은 하나님과 기도로 대화를 나누었습니다. “너희는 내 얼굴을 찾으라 하실 때에 내 마음이 주께 말하되 여호와여 내가 주의 얼굴을 찾으리이다 하였나이다” (시27:8).. "내  얼굴을 찾으라”는 것은 하나님의 은혜를 구하라는 명령입니다. 

 

우리는 하나님께 기도하며 은혜를 간구해야 하며 하나님은 결코 우리를 버리지 않으신다는 확신을 가지고 기도해야 합니다. 시편 기자들은 자신들을 버리지도, 떠나지도 말아 달라는 기도를 드립니다. 세상의 부모는 자식을 버리는 경우가 있어도 하나님은 그의 자녀들을 결코 버리지 않습니다(사49:15). 우리는 겸손한 마음으로 하나님의 얼굴을 구하며 기도해야 합니다.  

 

"우리는 그를 잊을지 모르지만 하나님은 결코 우리를 잊지 않으실 것입니다. 우리는 영원히 그의 마음과 계획에 있습니다." - 맥스 루카도 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 복음은 믿는 모든 자에게 하나님의 능력이 됩니다(롬 1:16). 주님께서 당신이 알고 있는 복음이 없는 자들이 이 복음의 능력을 받아들이도록 간구하십시오. 

기도 지침: 기도는 기도하는 것 자체가 가장 힘들 때 가장 힘 든 것이다. – 작자 미상

성경 읽기: 전도서 4-6장; 고린도후서 10장