December 14 - Calling and Mission 부르심과 사명

December 14 - Calling and Mission

 

“Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.”  – Romans 1:5

 

Romans 1:1–7 begins Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome with an introduction of himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus. He has been set apart to preach the gospel, or good news, about Jesus. Paul interrupts his introduction by immediately beginning to teach the gospel that Jesus Christ, our LORD, is the Son of God resurrected from the dead. He addressed his letter to those in Rome who were loved by God and called saints. This would include all the believers in Jesus.

 

After declaring who Jesus is—both man and Son of God, resurrected from the dead and deserving of the title "Our LORD"—Paul returns to identifying himself to his readers. It turns out that Paul's identity cannot be separated from that of Jesus. t is through Jesus that Paul has received grace, which is unearned favor, and apostleship, which gives Paul the authority to speak on Christ's behalf. Paul has been sent by Christ, for the sake of Christ's name—or for the sake of His honor—to bring about the "obedience of faith."

Christ has not sent him to get people to obey the law of Moses. He has been sent to bring about obedience to faith in Christ. In other words, Christ calls people to believe in Him. To refuse to believe in Jesus is to disobey that call. Believing is obedience in becoming a Christian and walking in Christ throughout our lives.

 

The Bible says that God’s people have already been chosen. Jeremiah, who was a prophet in the Old Testament, knew that he was appointed as a prophet from birth (Jeremiah 1:5). The apostle Paul also said that he was set apart from birth and was called by His grace (Galatians 1:15). We, too, are evangelists, called and chosen by His grace. God also planned our traditions, education, personality, gifts, and more in His sovereignty. He called the twelve disciples, and in the same way, they were included in God’s plan. He predestined us and called us to give us His mission. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name” (John 15:16). 

 

When God calls us, He enables us to do His work by His grace. It is free grace for those who do not deserve such a gift. During World War II, Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, wrote to Roosevelt, the president of the United States, “Send us all the tools we need. Then, we will finish the work.” God gives us all the tools, namely His grace, to finish the work He called us to do. This is our mission. We ought to remember that mission, which was given by His grace, and know that the mission should be followed by obedience on our part. 

 

The Apostle Paul considered his calling as ‘grace from God’ and sought to accomplish his mission; he felt obligated to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and lead them to Christ (Romans 1:5). By His calling, we were chosen, and have received His grace, which has enabled us to live obedient lives through Christ. We are responsible for accomplishing our mission today, given to us according to His will. The mission is to preach the gospel to people so they can choose to live obedient lives. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that your church will be seen as a valuable asset in your community and that its love will be so real and apparent that non-Christians will seek it out. 

Prayer Pointer: Faith and prayer are the vitamins of the soul; man cannot live in health without them. – Mahalia Jackson

Bible Reading: Amos 1-3; Revelation 5

 

 

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12월 14일 - 부르심과 사명

 

“그로 말미암아 우리가 은혜와 사도의 직분을 받아 그 이름을 위하여 모든 이방인 중에서 믿어 순종케 되나니” - 롬 1:5

 

바울은 로마서 1:1-7에서 로마에 있는 그리스도인들에게 자신을 예수의 종이며 사도라고 소개하며 그는 예수다고 말님의 복음, 즉 기쁜 소식을 전파하도록 특별히 성별되었다고 말합니다. 바울은 예수 그리스도가 죽은 자 가운데서 부활하신 하나님의 아들이라는 복음의 메시지를 가르시면서 자신의 소개를 마칩니다. 바울은 하나님의 사랑을 받고 성도로 부르심을 받은 것은 로마의 성도 뿐만 아니라 예수님을 믿는 모든 신자들도 포함한다고 서신에서 말합니다.   

 

예수님은 인간으로 오신 하나님의 아들이며 죽은 자 가운데서 부활하여 "우리 주"라는 이름을 받으시기에 합당하고 선언합니다. 그리고 로마의 성도들에게 자신의 정체성을 밝힙니다. 그의 정체성은 에수님의 정체성과 분리 될 수 없다는 말합니다. 그는 예수님을 통해 은혜를 받았고, 그 은혜는 값업이 주시는 하나님의 사랑이며, 그리스도를 대신하여 복음을 전하는 사도직의 권위까지 받았다고 말합니다. 바울은 그리스도의 이름과 명예를 위해 그리스도로부터 사명과 함께 보냄을 받는 순종하는 믿음의 사람이었습니다.  

 

마울은 사람들로 모세의 율법에 순종하도록 그리스도로부터 보냄을 받은 것이 아니라 그리스도를 믿는 믿음에 순종하도록 보냄을 받은 것입니다. 다시 말해, 그리스도는 사람들을 부르시고 그를 믿게 하십니다. 예수님 믿지 않는 것은 믿음을 거부하느 것이고 부름에 불순종하는 것입니다. 믿는다는 것은 그리스도인이 되고 평생 주안에서 살아가는 순종의 삶입니다.

 

바울은 하나님의 사람들은 택정함을 받은 자들이라고 말합니다. 구약의 선지자 예레미야는 모태에서부터 택정 받은 것을 알았습니다(렘 1:5). 바울도 모태에서부터 구별되어 하나님의 은혜로 부르심을 받았다고 말합니다(갈 1:15). 우리도 은혜로 택정함을 받고 부르심을 받아 복음을 전하는 자들이 되었습니다. 하나님은 절대 주권으로 우리의 전통, 교육, 인격, 은사와 같은 것들도 섭리, 계획하십니다. 예수님의 열 두 제자의 부르심도 하나님의 뜻과 계획 안에 있었고 하나님의 미리 정하시고 부르신 목적은 사명을 주시기 위함 입니다. “너희가 나를 택한 것이 아니요 내가 너희를 택하여 세웠나니 이는 너희로 가서 과실을 맺게 하고 또 너희 과실이 항상 있게 하여 내 이름으로 아버지께 무엇을 구하든지 다 받게 하려 함이니라”(요 15:16).

 

우리를 부르신 하나님은 사명을 감당할 은혜도 주십니다. 은혜는 자격이 없는 자에게 값없이 주는 것입니다. 세계 2차 대전 당시 영국의 처칠 수상은 미국의 루즈벨트 대통령에게 무기와 군수물자 지원을 요청하는 전신을 보냈습니다. 그 내용은 “우리에게 필요한 무기와 물자를 모두 보내 주시요. 그러면 우리가 일을 끝낼 수 있습니다.”라는 것이었습니다. 하나님께서도 필요한 모든 물자와 장비, 즉 은혜와 은사를 주셔서 사명을 완수하도록 역사하십니다. 은혜와 함께 사명도 받았음을 잊어서는 안되고 사명에는 우리의 순종이 따른 다는 것을 기억해야 합니다.

 

바울은 하나님의 은혜로 부르심을 받았다는 확신을 가지고 사명을 완수하는데 최선을 다했습니다. 그의 사명은 이방인들에게 그리스도의 복음을 전해 하나님께 인도하는 것이었습니다(롬 1:5). 하나님은 우리를 택정하시고 믿음으로 은혜를 주시고 순종의 삶을 살게 하십니다. 오늘 하나님의 뜻을 따라 주신 사명을 감당해야 할 책임이 우리 각자에게 있습니다. 그 사명은 곧  복음으로 예수님을 믿게 하고 하나님께 순종하는 삶을 살게 하는 것 입니다. “오직 너희는 택하신 족속이요 왕 같은 제사장이요 거룩한 나라요 그의 소유된 백성이니 이는 너희를 어두운 데서 불러 내어 그의 기이한 빛에 들어가게 하신 자의 아름다운 덕을 선전하게 하려 하심이라”(벧전 2:9).

 

 

오늘의 기도: 당신의 교회가 지역에서 소중한 가치있는 자산으로 보여지고 그 지역을 사랑하는 것이 사실로 나타나서 믿지 않은 자들이 교회를 찾아 나올 수 있도록 기도하십시오. 

기도 지침: 믿음과 기도는 영혼의 영양제이다. 인간은 믿음과 기도 없이 건강의 삶을 살 수 없다. – 마라리아 잭슨

성경 읽기: 아모스 1-3장; 요한계시록 5장