December 2 - Rejoice in the Suffering 고난중에 즐거워하라

December 2 - Rejoice in the Suffering

 

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” - 1 Peter 4:13

 

 

The previous verse warned Christians not to be shocked when suffering comes. Now, Peter gives a very strange instruction: rejoice. Choosing to rejoice in the face of hardship sounds strange to human ears. And yet, this is consistent with everything Peter has written up to this point.

Before we were in Christ, our lives were meaningless (1 Peter 1:18). In Christ, our lives have meaning and great significance because Christ's life has meaning and great significance. A day is coming when Christ's glory will be revealed to the universe. His full worth will become obvious to all. By extension, our lives will be shown to be meaningful and worthwhile on that day as well. And to the extent that we have suffered for Him, we will have that much more joy and gladness on that day (Romans 8:17).

We don't yet fully understand the significance of that moment—how could we? However, we understand that it is the moment that all of human history has been leading up to. We believe that suffering for Christ now will contribute to our joy then. This allows believers to consider suffering a thing worth rejoicing in for Christ's sake—even while we undoubtedly would prefer it to stop.

 

We Christians have a reason to be joyful amidst our suffering. We can be joyful because God allows us to suffer for a purpose and only for a moment. “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Peter 5:10). 

 

Our joy comes not from our circumstances or conditions but from overcoming hardships and living obediently according to His will (Galatians 5:22-23). Real joy is gained when we receive the gift of salvation and live obedient lives. If we are with God, our joy and peace are complete. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). 

 

We did not see Jesus with our own eyes. But we do love Him without even seeing Him. Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Faith is not based on seeing nor sustained by seeing. The work of the Spirit helps us to believe and love Christ, whom we have never seen. “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5). 

 

Loving God genuinely is the mark of a real Christian. We understand Jesus in four different stages. First, many prophets and servants of God had waited for Jesus to come with hope. Second, some saw Jesus in his flesh. Third, we Christians see Jesus through our eyes of faith in this present world. Fourth, we will see Jesus face to face on the last day of blessing (1 John 3:2). We can be joyful in a loving and trusting relationship with Jesus. This joy is not momentary but eternal and glorious. We will experience this joy if we dwell in the Holy Spirit. We are joyful in our trials and suffering, knowing we will receive glory and honor in Jesus’ return.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that the deacons of your church will be persons of integrity and compassion. Intercede for your church treasures and financial officers as they handle the LORD’s finances. 

Prayer Pointer:” Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”  Mother Teresa.

Bible Reading: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 1

 

 

 

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12월 2일 - 고난중에 즐거워하라

 

“오직 너희가 그리스도의 고난에 참여하는 것으로 즐거워하라 이는 그의 영광을 나타내실 때에 너희로 즐거워하고 기뻐하게 하려 함이라” - 벧전 4:13

 

 

베드로는 앞 구절 (벧전 4:12)에서 고난이 그리스도인들에게 닥쳐올 때에 놀라지 않아야 한다고  경고하며 매우 이상한 교훈과 명령을 합니다. 즐거워해야 한다는 것입니다. 사람이 고난에 직면하면 즐거워한다는 것은 이상하게 들립니다. 그러나 그는 계속 그의 모든 서신에서 말합니다. 

우리가 그리스도를 믿기 전에는 삶은 무의미하지만(벧전 1:18, 그리스도를 믿고 그 안에서 살아가는 그리스도인의 삶에는 큰 의미와 중요성이 있습니다. 그리스도의 모든 영광이 우주에 드러나는 날이 오고 있고 그의 완전한 가치는 모든 사람에게 명백히 보여질 것입니다. 더 나아가 그날에는 우리의 삶도 의미와 가치 있는 것으로 드러납니다. 우리가 주님을 위해 고난을 받은 만큼 그날에 큰 기쁨과 즐거움을 얻게 될 것입니다(롬 8:17).

 

우리는 아직 그 순간의 가치와 중요성을 이해하지 못합니다. 그러나 우리는 그 시간이 인류 역사가 완성되는 시간인 것을 알고 지금 그리스도를 위한 고난을 받는 것이 그 날의 기쁨이 된다는 것을 확신하고 있습니다. 온 인류의 역사가 완성되는 이 순간이 있기 때문에 모든 그리스도인들이 주님을 위해 고난을 받으며 있으며 줄거워 할 수 있는 것입니다.  

 

그리스도인들은 고난 중에도 기뻐하는 이유가 있습니다. 그것은 하나님의 어떤 목적을 이루기 위해 우리에게 잠시 고난을 허락하시기 때문입니다. 베드로는 “모든 은혜의 하나님 곧 그리스도 안에서 너희를 부르사 자기의 영원한 영광에 들어가게 하신 이가 잠깐 고난을 받는 너희를 친히 온전케 하시며 굳게 하시며 강하게 하시며 터를 견고케 하시리라”(벧전 5:10)고 말합니다. 

 

성도의 기쁨은 환경이나 조건에서 오는 것이 아니라 주님의 뜻에 따라 고난을 이기고 순종하는 삶에서 옵니다(갈 5:22-23). 진정한 기쁨은 구원을 받고 하나님의 뜻에 순종하는 삶을 살아가면서 얻는 것이며 하나님께서 우리와 함께 하시면 우리의 삶에는 기쁨과 평안으로 넘치게 됩니다. “예수를 너희가 보지 못하였으나 사랑하는도다 이제도 보지 못하나 믿고 말할 수 없는 영광스러운 즐거움으로 기뻐하니”(벧전 1:8).

 

우리는 직접 예수님을 보지 못하지만 사랑합니다. 예수님은 도마에게 “너는 나를 본 고로 믿느냐 보지 못하고 믿는 자들은 복되도다”(요 20:29)라고 말씀 하셨습니다. 믿음은 보는 것에 근거하지 않고 보는 것으로 유지되는 것도 아닙니다. 예수 그리스도를 믿고 주님을 사랑하게 하는 것은 성령의 역사입니다. 사도 바울은 로마의 성도들에게 보내는 서신에서, “소망이 부끄럽게 아니함은 우리에게 주신 성령으로 말미암아 하나님의 사랑이 우리 마음에 부은 바 됨이니”(롬 5:5) 라고 말합니다.  

 

하나님을 진정으로 사랑하는 것이 신자의 모습입니다. 우리는 네 단계를 통해서 예수님을 알고 사랑합니다. 첫째, 구약의 선지자들과 하나님의 종들이 예언한 메시야를 기다리는 소망의 단계,  둘째,성육신 하신 예수님을 보는 단계, 셋째, 오늘의 성도들이 믿음의 눈으로 예수님을 보는 단계, 넷째, 마지막 날에 예수님을 직접 보게 되는 축복의 단계입니다(요일 3:2). 우리는 예수님과의  사랑의 관계속에서 영광스럽고 영원한 기쁨을 누리며 성령의 인도함을 받으며 놀라운 기쁨을 체험하며 살아갑니다. 예수님께서 재림하시면 영광과 존귀가 우리에게 있음을 확신하고 이 세상의 시련과 고난 속에서도 기뻐하는 것 입니다.

 

 

오늘의 기도: 당신 교회의 집사들이 진실하고 사랑을 실천 하는 사람들이 되도록 기도하고, 당신 교회의 재정을 맡은 자들이 주님의 재물인줄 잘 관리하도록 중보의 기도를 하십시오.

기도 지침: 기쁨은 기도이다. 기쁨은 힘이다. 기쁨은 사랑이다. 기쁨은 영혼을 건지는 사랑의 그물이다. – 데레사 수녀

성경 읽기; 에스겔 47-48장; 요한일서 1장