October 9 - Believe and Witness 믿고 증거하라

October 9 - Believe and Witness

 

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” - Acts 5:32

 

Much of Jesus' ministry was preparing the Twelve to be His witnesses. He told them they would witness before courts, governors, and kings who would persecute them (Matthew 10:16–18). He said they would be His witnesses to the "end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The testimony they are to give witness to is that Jesus died and rose again after three days, and offers reconciliation with God, as the Old Testament said He would (Luke 24:45–48).Their witness—and ours, as believers—is not pursued alone. The Holy Spirit equips them with words to say (Matthew 10:19–20), showing them the truth about Jesus (John 16:13) and reminding them of what Jesus taught them (John 14:26). He also bears witness of Jesus (John 15:26) and "He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8). The Holy Spirit still bears witness in the hearts of Jesus-followers, giving us confidence that we are saved (Romans 8:16)."Witness" comes from the Greek root word martyrs, which originally meant someone who explains what they have experienced; this was most often used in a legal or historical forum. Peter and John witnessed Jesus' transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16–18). Hundreds saw Jesus after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–7). However, the connotation of martyr

 changed throughout the years due to the experiences of Jesus' earliest "witnesses."Today, we express this concept through the term "martyr." Inherent in the job description of a witness of Jesus is the possibility—sometimes probability—of dying rather than going back on the testimony. Although the Bible only records the death of John's brother James (Acts 12:1–2), church tradition says all the apostles except John died for their faith, as did Paul. At the time described in this verse, they will just be beaten. But they will not be discouraged. They will rejoice "that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name" (Acts 5:41). Even though they went through much persecution, many believers in the early church witnessed Jesus. If we want to be a witness of God, we must accept Jesus as our Savior and have the confidence of salvation. Even people who are saved often do not have confidence about their salvation. Sometimes, they feel like they are saved; sometimes, they do not. Because their faith changes, they do not experience peace and pleasure in Jesus Christ (Romans 15:13). 

 

We must have confidence in salvation to be a witness of Jesus Christ. How should we be witnesses of Jesus Christ? First, we should be a witness of Jesus Christ through our lives (John 13:34-35). Sometimes, Christians witness Jesus just by their words. Witnesses are responsible for the words they speak. Without acting, witnessing does not have any power. Speaking God's word is ineffective without living a lifestyle that aligns with our words. Second, we should witness through our mouths (Acts 1:8). Without speaking the gospel, our witnessing lifestyle will not reach the people. If there is no way out, the water in a lake is not useful. If there is no speaking of the gospel, our lives are dead. Therefore, Christians should shout the gospel to the world. The writer of Psalm 51 prayed, “O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise” (Psalms 51:15). Christians should shout the gospel as believers of the first church did in the Book of Acts. 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that your family will reflect God’s beauty in your relationships so that others may be drawn to God through you.

Prayer Pointer: 
If the request is wrong, God says, "No." If the timing is wrong, God says, "Slow."If you are wrong, God says, "Grow." But if the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, "Go!" – Bill Hybels

Bible Reading: Isaiah 41-42; Colossians 1

 

---

 

 

10 월 9일 - 믿고 증거하라

 

“우리는 이 일에 증인이요 하나님이 자기를 순종하는 사람들에게 주신 성령도 그러하니라” - 행5:32

 

 

예수님의 주요 사역은 제자들을 자신의 증인들로 훈련시키는 것이였습니다. 제자들은 박해를 받으면서 법정과 총독과 왕 앞에서 복음을 증거할 것이라고 예수님은 미리 말씀하셨습니다 (마 10:16-18). 예수님은 승천하시면서 그들이 "땅 끝"(행 1:8) 까지 그의 증인이 되어야 한다고 말씀하셨습니다. 그들의 증언은 예수님께서 죽으셨다가 사흘 만에 다시 부활하셨고 구약성경의 예언대로 예수님께서 하나님과 화목하게 하신다는 복음의 메시지였습니다(눅 24:45-48).

제자들의 한 증언과 우리의 증언은 우리 스스로 증언하는 것이 아닙니다. 성령께서 제자들에게 증언할 말을 주셨고(마 10:19-20), 예수님의 진리를 보여주셨고(요 16:13), 예수님의 말씀을 기억나게 하신 것입니다(요 14:26). 성령은 예수님를 (요 15:26) "그가 와서 죄에 대하여, 의에 대하여, 심판에 대하여 세상을 책망하시리라”(요 16:8)고 증거하시고. 성령은 예수님을 따르는 자들의 마음 속에 지금도 증거하고 있으며 우리의 구원을 확신시켜 주십니다(롬 8:16).

 

"증인"은 헬라어의 “순교자”의 의미가 있으며 원래는 경험 한 것을 설명하는 사람을 의미했습니다. 증인은 법적 또는 역사적 포럼에서 가장 자주 사용되는 말이었습니다. 베드로와 요한은 예수께서 변형하신 모습을 목격하였고(벧후 1:16-18), 수백 명이 부활하신 예수님을 직접 목격했습니다(고전 15:3-7). 그러나 본래 순교자의 의미는 초기 "증인"들의 경험으로 인해 수년의 시간이 지나면서 의미가 변한 것 입니다. 

오늘날 우리는 "순교자"라는 용어를 가지고 증인의 개념을 표현합니다. 예수님의 증인의 삶은 증인으로 끝나는 것이 아니라 순교할 확률과 가능성이 매우 높다는 것임니다. 성경은 요한의 형제 야고보의 죽음만을 기록하고 있지만(행 12:1-2), 교회 전통에 따르면 요한을 제외한 모든 사도들은 바울처럼 순교한 것으로 알고 있습니다. 이 구절에 묘사된 시기에 제자들은 단지 매를 맞으며 박해를 받고 있지만 그들은 낙심하지 않고 오히려 기뻐합니다. "그 이름을 위하여 능욕 받는 일에 합당한 자로 여기심을 기뻐하면서 공회 앞을 떠나니라"(행 5:41). 초대교회 성도들은 핍박을 받으면서 예수님을 증거했습니다. 하나님의 증인이 되려면 예수님을 구주로 영접하고 구원의 확신이 있어야 합니다. 구원받은 신자들이 종종 구원의 확신이 없습니다. 그들은 구원받은 것 같이 느끼고 때로는 그렇지 않다고 말합니다. 이유는 그들의 믿음이 변화하고 있기 때문에 그리스도 예수안에서 평안과 기쁨을 경험하지 못하는 것입니다(롬 15:13). 

 

우리는 예수 그리스도의 증인이 되기 위해 구원의 확신이 있어야 합니다. 어떻게  그리스도의 증인이 되어야 하겠습니까? 첫째, 그리스도인의 삶을 통해 그리스도의 증인이 되어야 합니다(요 13:34-35). 그리스도인들은 말로만 예수님을 증거하는 경우가 많습니다. 증인은 자신이 하는 말에 대한 책임을 저야 합니다. 행동이 없는 증거는 아무 힘이 없습니다. 말과 일치하지 않는 삶에는 복음 전파의 효과가 없습니다. 둘째, 입으로 증거해야 합니다(행 1:8). 복음을 말하지 않으면 복음을 내용을 삶으로만 증거하지 못합니다. 배수구가 없으면 호수의 물은 유용하지 않습니다. 복음을 증거하지 않은 삶에는 생명이 없습니다. 그리스도인들은 세상에 복음을 외치며 전해야 합니다. 시편 기자는 "주여 내 입술을 열어주소서 내 입이 주를 찬송하며 전파하리이다" (시 51:15)라고 기도했습니다. 그리스도인들은 사도행전에서 초대 교회의 신자들과 같이 복음의 증인으로 땅끝까지 복음을 전파해야 합니다.  

 

 

오늘의 기도: 당신의 가족들 다른 사람들과의 관계 속에서 하나님의 아름다움을 반영하여 다른 사람들이 당신을 통해 하나님께로 가까이 나아오도록 기도하십시오.

기도 지침: “만일 기도 청원이 잘못되었을 때 하나님은 “아니다” 라고 하시고, 만일 시간이 잘못되었다고 하면 하나님은 “천천히”라고 하시고, 만일 당신이 잘못되어 있다면, 하나님은 “성장하라”고 말씀하신다. 만일 청원이 바르고, 시간이 맞고, 당신 자신이 올다고 하면, 하나님은 “가라” 라고 말씀하신다.” – 빌 하이블

성경 읽기: 이사야 41-42장; 골로새서 1장