August 5 - Peace and Love 평안과 사랑

August 5 - Peace and Love

 

“Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 6:23

 

 

Ephesians 6:21–24 completes Paul's letter to the church at Ephesus. He has just described our spiritual warfare tools, using the analogy of a soldier's armor. He has also reminded Christians of the importance of prayer in our moment-by moment discipleship with Christ. In these closing verses, Paul will explain his plans to send Tychicus, one of his long-serving assistants, to deliver this letter and other news.

 

Paul offers his concluding words over verses 23 and 24, including another mention of peace. This verse uses the Greek word adelphois, which means "brothers," and generally refers to males. In context, however, it seems both men and women are "brothers and sisters" in Christ. Earlier in Ephesians, Paul referred to Christians in terms encompassing all people, regardless of gender (Ephesians 4:8). Paul's wish for peace extends to all believers in Ephesus.In addition to peace, Paul offered "love with faith." These traits are acknowledged as "from God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ." Paul opened the letter with a dual emphasis on Father and Christ and concluded with them together. He understood that the Father and Son are one God in Paul's mind. Interestingly, a special symmetry is provided in this verse. Peace is to the men and women of the church, with faith and love, from God the Father and Jesus Christ. Some of Paul's other letters end with similar statements (2 Corinthians 13:11-14).

 

Paul records the four blessings for the church in the last part of his letter to the Ephesians(Ephesians 6:23-24). The first two blessings, Paul says, are peace and love. 

 

First, it is the blessing of peace. It happened quite a few years ago. 

An elderly couple was in fear of a worldwide nuclear war. 

They researched and searched for a place to live safely without fearing a nuclear war. 

They found a place and settled in the Falkland Islands, near Argentina in South America. 

They planned on living there, thinking it would be the safest place to spend the last phase of their life together. 

However, soon after settling, the couple discovered their island was the battleground between England and Argentina. 

 

There is no true peace in this world. The people who do not wait for the second coming of Jesus are still seeking true peace in this world. How much of a blessing is the verse, “Peace to the brothers”? 

In the full armor of God, the message of peace means reconciliation with God (Ephesians 6:15). By believing Jesus Christ, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1). 

Jesus said, “My peace I give you” (John 14:27). Not only does this peace mean no fighting or quarrels, but it also means prosperity and sturdiness. 

 

Second, it is the blessing of love. In the letter of Ephesians, Paul mentions love fourteen times and seven times, emphasizing the love of brothers and sisters in the church. It is easier to love some believers than all believers in the church. However, all the saints of the Church of Ephesus loved each other. When we have peace in Christ, God pours his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Praise God for being a welcoming father. Thank him for preparing an eternal home for all who believe (John 14:2). Confess any unwillingness to show Christian hospitality to others (1 Peter 4:9). Commit yourself to the practice of hospitality (Romans 12:13). Ask God to help you separate Christian hospitality from self-absorbed “entertaining.” 

Prayer Pointer: To pray is to invite Jesus into our hearts. – O.H. Hallesby

Bible Reading: Psalm 75-77; Romans 6

 

 

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8월 5일 -  평안과 사랑

 

“아버지 하나님과 주 예수 그리스도에게로부터 평안과 믿음을 겸한 사랑이 형제들에게 있을지어다”- 엡 6:23

 

에베소서 6:21-24은 바울이 에베소 교회에 보내는 서신의 마지박 결론의 말씀입니다. 바울은  그리스도인의 영적 전쟁의 무기를 로마 군인의 무장한 갑옷과 비교하여 설명하고 예수님의 제자로서 매순간 주님과 교통하는 기도의 중요성을 상기 시키고 있습니다. 그리고 마지막으로 바울은 그는 함께 오래 동역한 사람들 중에 한 사람인 두기고를 에베소서에 보내면서 그의 서신과 함께 다른 여러가지 소식을 함께 전하려고 하는 그의 계획을 설명합니다.   

 

바울은 에베소서 6:23, 24에서 다시 평안괴 함께 내용을 포함하여 서신의 결론을 내립니다. 23절에 헬라어 “아델포이스”는 문자적으로 남성 형제를 가리키지만 문맥상으로 보면 그리스도안의 모든 형제와 자매와 그리스도인 남성과 여성 모두를 가리킵니다. 바울은 이미 성별에 관계없이 그리스도인으로 모든 사람을 포괄하고 있는 용어를 사용한 바 있습니다(엡 4:8). 바울은 에베소의 모든 그리스도인들에게 평안이 있기를 소망합니다. 

 

바울은 평안에 더하여 믿음을 겸한 사랑을 언급합니다. 이러한 평안과 믿음, 그리고 사랑은 "하나님 아버지와 주 예수 그리스도로부터"옵니다. 그는 아버지와 그리스도를 함께 강조하며 서신을 시작하였고 또한 아버지와 그리스도와 함께 끝냅니다. 바울은 아버지와 아들이 한 하나님이라는 것을 깊이 이해하고 있었습니다. 흥미롭게도 이 구절에는 특별한 대칭이 나옵니다. 평안은 믿음과 사랑으로 아버지 하나님과 예수 그리스도로부터 교회의 남녀 성도들에게 오며 그의 다른 서신에서도 비슷한 말씀으로 끝납니다(고후 13:11-14). 바울은 에베소 교인들에게 보낸 서신의 결론 부분에서 교회를 위한 네 가지 축복을 언급합니다(엡 6:23-24), 그는 먼저  그리스도인들이 받는 평안과 사랑의 축복을 언급합니다(엡 6:23-24) 

 

첫째, 그리스도인에게는 평안의 축복이 있습니다. 오래 전에 있었던 이야기가 있습니다. 우럽의 한 노인부부가 핵전쟁의 공포와 불안에서 세상에서 가장 안전한 곳을 찾다가 남미 아르헨티나의 해안의 포크랜드 섬을 가장 안전하고 평화로운 곳이라고 믿고 인생 말년을 포크랜드 섬에서 평화롭게 살고 있었습니다. 그런데 이 노인 부부가 포그랜드 섬에 정착하여 살기 시작한지 얼마 되지 않아 이 포크랜드 섬에서 영국과 아르헨티나의 전쟁이 일어나서 평화롭던 포크랜드 섬이 전쟁터가 된 것입니다.  

 

이 세상에는 참된 평화의 장소가 없습니다. 그리스도의 재림를 믿지 않는 불신자들은 이 세상에 평안이 있는 줄 알고 평안을 찾으려고 애씁니다. “평안이 형제들에게 있을지어다”라는 말씀은 축복의 말씀입니다. 하나님의 전신 갑주의 말씀 중에 평안의 복음은 하나님과의 화해를 의미하는데(엡 6:15) 예수 그리스도를 믿으면 하나님과 화목하게 되어 평안의 복을 누립니다(롬5:1). “나의 평안을 너희에게 주노라”(요14:27) 라는 예수님의 말씀에는 전쟁과 갈등이 없는 평화뿐만 아니라 삶의 번영과 강건함의 축복도 포함하고 있습니다. 

 

둘째, 그리스도인에게는 사랑의 축복이 있습니다. 에베소서에서 바울이 언급하는 14번의  사랑 가운데 일곱번은 교회 공동체 안에서 형제 자매들간의 사랑을 가리킵니다. 교회 안에서 소수의 성도들을 사랑하고 교제하기는 쉬워도 모든 성도들과 함께 교제하며 사랑하기는 쉽지 않습니다.  에베소 교회 성도들은 하나님과 예수님으로부터 모두 사랑의 축복을 받아 함께 모두 사랑하였습니다. 성령의 역사로 그리스도안에서 하나님과 평안을 누리면 하나님의 사랑으로 서로 사랑할 수 있게 되는 것 입니다(롬5:5)

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오늘의 기도: 따뜻하게 맞아주시는 아버지 하나님을 찬양하고, 예수를 믿는 모든 자들에게 영원한 집을 준비하시는 주님께 감사하십시오(요 14:2). 다른 사람들에게 그리스도인으로 손 대접하는 하는 일을 자발적으로 하지 않은 죄를 고백하고 (벧전 4:9), 손 대접에 힘쓰기로 결단하십시오 (롬 12:13). 자신을 위한 여흥의 접대와 그리스도인의 손 대접과 구별할 수 있는 지혜를 달라고 하나님께 간구하십시오. 

기도 지침: “기도는 우리 마음에 예수님을 모셔 드리는 것이다” – 오에치 할레스비

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