November 18 - The Source of Thanksgiving 감사의 원천

November 18 - The Source of Thanksgiving

 

“Though the fig tree, not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in pen and no cattle in the stalls yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” – Habakkuk 3:17-18

 

 

Habakkuk lists all the evidence of emptiness, despair, and sorrow in this world: a fig tree not blossoming, no fruit on the vines, the olive having no product, the fields yielding no food, and the flock is cut off from the fold. There’s no herd in the stalls. It was just empty. Everything is empty, dry, and barren in this world. That’s the picture here, and then Habakkuk says, “Yet in the middle of the dryness and the barrenness and the emptiness of everything in this world, everything we look to in this world, we long for in this world, we need in this world, even food, amidst emptiness and barrenness, yet, I will rejoice in the LORD. I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

 

Even amid great sorrow and suffering, because Christ conquers sin and death, we can take joy in the God of our salvation. What a statement of faith that, when this world is empty, it is possible to have joy still and rejoice. How is that possible? When do we look to God? This is what Romans 5 means when Paul says, “We rejoice in suffering.” How do you rejoice in suffering? Here’s how. Think about what suffering is. 

 

Suffering is losing things we love and desire that are good for us and comforting in many ways. For example, if we lose someone we love, that’s suffering. When we lose our health and are in pain or fighting cancer, that’s suffering. When we lose a job, when this thing in this world is taken away, this person in this world is taken away, this treasure even in this world is taken away, that’s where suffering comes in. We have thankful hearts; we can overcome sorrow and suffering.

 

A thankful heart is the foundation of morality, and the philosophy of our Christian lives. A secular philosopher, Cicero, said, “A thankful heart is the greatest virtue and the parent of all other virtues.” Cultivation of character and discipline starts from a thankful heart. Therefore, a thankful heart is very crucial in our relationship with God. Plutarch said, “A thankful and joyful heart to God is the most precious worship in God’s eyes.” Isaac Walton said, “God resides in two spaces: one is in heaven, the other is in a thankful heart.” Martin Luther said, “The devil is the only one who is not thankful.” 

 

The Psalmist also said, “At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous law” (Psalms 119:62). What is the source of thanksgiving? Why should we be thankful? We are thankful because of the blood of Jesus and the freedom from spiritual sickness. We are thankful because God gave His Son to die for us so we may have eternal life. Everything we have is from God’s grace: sunshine, rain, nature, harvest, etc. Our body and spirit live off of His grace, and salvation is freely given (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

 

We should always remember God’s grace (Psalms 103:2). Our thanksgiving ought to be different from non-Christians because it is about thanksgiving for the deliverance of our soul. It is not just for our benefit but for everything He grants us. Thus, thankfulness comes out of our hearts naturally. The Apostle Paul advised us always to be thankful for the present and future. Whether undergoing hardships, living in peace, or suffering, we should be thankful, knowing that everything will work for the good of those called. 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray for opportunities to build up and encourage any friends whose spirits may be sagging. Pray that the tongue will be an instrument of peace and not strife in your family life. 

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts. Mother Teresa 

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 17-19; Hebrews 13

 

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11월 18일 - 감사의 원천

 

“비록 무화과 나무가 무성치 못하며 포도나무에 열매가 없으며 감람나무에 소출이 없으며 밭에 식물이 없으며 우리에 양이 없으며 외양간에 소가 없을지라도 나는 여호와를 인하여 즐거워하며 나의 구원의 하나님을 인하여 기뻐하리라” - 합 3:17-18

 

 

하박국은 이 세상의 공허와 절망과 슬픔을 꽃이 피지 않는 무화과나무, 열매가 없는 포도나무, 소출이 없는 감람나무, 곡식이 없는 밭, 끊어진 양 떼와 비교하여 설명합니다. 우리에는 양떼가 없고 비어 있습니다. 이 세상에 모든 것이 비어 있고 건조하고 황량합니다. 이것이 바로 이 말씀이 보여주는 그림입니다, 그리고 하박국은 이 세상의 모든 것의 건조함과 메마르고 공허의  한 가운데서, 이 세상에서 바라보는 모든 것, 갈망하는 모든 것, 심지어 먹을 것이 없는  공허함과 메마른 가운데에서도 하나님 안에서 기뻐하고 나의 구원의 하나님으로 기뻐하겠다고 하박국선지자는 고백합니다. 

 

그리스도께서 죄와 사망을 이기셨기 때문에 우리의 큰 슬픔과 고통에서도 구원의 하나님 안에서 기뻐할 수 있습니다. 온 세상이 완전히 비어 공허할 때에 여전히 기쁨을 누릴 수 있딴ㄴ 것은 얼마나 큰 믿음의 축복인지 모릅니다. 이것이 어떻게 가능합니까? 우리가 하나님을 바라보고 의지할 때 가능합니다. 바울은 로마서 5장에서 고난 중에 기뻐한다고 말하는 것과 같은 의미입니다. 고난 중에 어떻게 기뻐합니까?  고통이 무엇인지 생각해보십시오.

 

고통은 이 세상에서 우리가 사랑하고, 바라보고, 여러 면에서 우리에게 좋고 위로가 되는 것들을 잃을 때 오는 것입니다. 우리가 사랑하는 사람을 잃는 것이 고통이고 건강을 잃은 것, 질병과 우며 투병하는 것이 고통입니다. 우리가 직장을 잃을 때, 이 세상에 있는 어떤 중요한 것을 빼앗기고, 사람을 빼앗기고, 이 세상에서 보물을 빼앗길 때 고통이 찾아 옵니다. 그러나 우리가 감사하는 마음을 가지고 살아가면 슬픔과 고통을 극복할 수 있습니다.

 

감사하는 마음은 그리스도인의 삶의 윤리와 철학의 기초입니다. 키케로는“감사하는 마음은 가장 위대한 덕이며 모든 다른 덕의 부모이다”라고 말합니다. 인간의 수양과 도덕은 감사하는 마음에서 출발합니다. 감사하는 마음은 하나님과 인간의 관계에서 매우 중요합니다. 플르타크는 “하나님이 가장 기뻐하시는 것은 감사하는 마음으로 드리는 예배이다”라고 말합니다. 왈튼은 “하나님은 두 곳에 계시는데 한 곳은 천국이요 다른 한 곳은 감사하는 자의 마음이다”라고 말합니다. 마틴 루터는 “마귀만이 감사하지 않는 유일한 존재이다”라고 말합니다. 

 

시편 기자는“내가 주의 의로운 규례를 인하여 밤중에 일어나 주께 감사하리이다”(시 11:62)라고 말합니다. 신자의 감사의 원천은 무엇이며 왜 감사해야 합니까? 예수님의 보혈로 영혼을 치유 받았고 십자가를 통해 영생을 주셨기 때문입니다. 우리가 소유하고 있는 모든 것이 하나님의 은혜이고. 햇빛도 비도 공기도 산천초목도, 오곡백과도 하나님께서 거져 주시고 인간의 영과 육의 모든 것은 하나님의 은혜로 살아가는 것, 그리고. 구원도 은혜입니다(엡 2:8,9).

 

우리는 하나님의 은혜를 잊지 않고 항상 기억하고 감사해야 합니다(시 103:2). 우리의 감사는 영혼 구원에 대한 감사이기 때문에 세상 사람들의 감사와는 차원이 다릅니다. 단지 얻은 소득이나 이해 득실 때문이 아니라 하나님께서 우리에 주신 모든 것에 대한 감사입니다. 바울은 범사에 감사하라고 권면합니다. 이것은 현재와 미래에 무슨 일이 일어나든지 감사하라는 뜻입니다. 역경에 처하든, 평안에 처하든, 고난에 처하든 모든 것이 합력하여 유익하게 될 것을 믿고 항상 하나님께 감사 드리는 삶을 살아야 합니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 영적으로 처진 친구들을 위로하고 세우기 위한 기회를 위해 기도하고, 말이 당신 가정의 삶에 싸움이 아닌 평안의 도구가 되도록 기도하십시오.  

기도 지침: 기도는 간구하는 것이 아니다. 기도는 하나님의 손과 그의 처분에 맡기고 우리 마음 속 깊은 곳에서 그의 음성을 듣는 것이다. - 데레사수녀 

성경 읽기: 에스겔 17-19장; 히브리서 13장