August 13 - Prior Relationship of Man 인간의 우선적인 관계

August 13 - Prior Relationship of Man

 

“Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

 

 

Christ reassures His followers that faith in Him is faith in God. To know Christ is to know ''the way, the truth, and the life'' (John 14:6). The words, actions, and miracles of Jesus should give Christians confidence to trust that He will make good on His promises. Among those is His guarantee that He is preparing to come for us so we can be where He is. Jesus also predicts the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is only available to believers, and this Helper acts to guide, teach, and remind us. These words comfort the disciples and future Christians during hard times. Since Christ knew, in advance, what would happen, we can be even more confident in trusting Him.

 

John 14:1-14 continues Jesus' discourse with the disciples at the Last Supper. He has recently mentioned a traitor in their midst and predicted Peter's denials. That leads Jesus to reassure these men that He has told them the truth and has everything in hand. In this passage, Christ famously refers to Himself as ''the way, the truth, and the life.'' That is the sixth of seven such ''I Am'' statements in John's gospel. This section includes Jesus' words, personal experience, and evidence of His miracles as reasons to maintain trust.

 

Few verses are cited as often as this Scripture. Jesus is reassuring His disciples before His arrest and death (John 14:1–4). These words also broadly encourage believers to maintain faith in hardship. Confidence comes to Christians partly from knowing that Jesus is preparing to take us to be with Him. Traveling home is usually much less stressful than going on an outbound trip since we're much more familiar with the destination (Romans 8:18; Hebrews 12:2).

 

Today’s people pursue happiness and satisfaction instead of concern for their families and communities. They do not have the concept of responsibility. Therefore, problems caused by this phenomenon cause conflict between husband and wife and parents and their children. Eventually, these conflicts break up a family. Most Asians maintain family customs; they live with their elderly parents, the wife respects the husband, and the children respect their parents. These social values among Asians reduce social problems like rape, suicide, and paranoia. Oriental nations do not suffer the same social problems as Western nations do. 

 

The ultimate source of human problems is separation from God (Genesis 2:17). Therefore, the first duty of a human is to know the Creator God and to give praise and thanks to Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). 

The greatest worth and meaning for a human being is glorifying the Creator God and living according to His will. Sinful human beings can be reconciled with God by repenting for his sins and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior (John 14:6). Once we have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, we have the privilege of God’s care and protection. In every moment, we live under His protection and blessings. And our lives overflow with hope, joy, and comfort (Psalms 23:4). This is the Christian life and the gospel we have to proclaim. Thus, the Early Church said, “praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the LORD added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). Only when we have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, we have happiness. We are back to our first duty, which is glorifying God. 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray by name for one unsaved friend or loved one. Ask God to open this person’s heart to receive the indescribable gift of salvation through faith alone (2 Corinthians 9:15; Ephesians 2:8-9).  

Prayer Pointer: Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when in trouble; prayer is a life attitude. –Walter A Mueller

Bible Reading: Psalm 96-98; Romans 12

 

 

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8월 13일 - 인간의 우선적인 관계

 

“예수께서 가라사대 내가 곧 길이요 진리요 생명이니 나로 말미암지 않고는 아버지께로 올 자가 없느니라”  - 요 14:6

 

 

예수님은 제자들에게 자신을 믿는 것이 곧 하나님을 믿는 것이라고 말씀합니다. 그리스도를 안다는 것은 예수님께서 곧 길과 진리와 생명(요 14:6)이신 것을 안다는 것입니다. 예수님의 말씀과 행하신 기적은 믿는 자들에게 하나님은 약속을 지키시는 분이라는 확신을 줍니다. 예수님이 계신 곳에 우리도 있도록 예수님께서 준비하신다고 약속하십니다. 예수님은 또한 우리 안에 계시는 보혜사 성령은 우리를 인도하고, 가르치고, 기억하게 하신다고 예언하셨습니다. 이 말씀은 어려운 일을 만날 때에 제자들과 후대의 믿는 자들에게 위로를 주시기 위해 주신 말씀힙니다. 주님은 미래를 아시기 때문에 의지하고 확신할 수 있습니다. 

 

예수님께서 최후의 만찬에서 제자들에게 주신 말씀이 요한복음 14장 1-14에 나옵니다. 예수님은 가롯유다의 배반과 베드로의 부인을 예언하시고 제자들을 진리의 말씀으로 안심시키겨 모든 일은 그의 손 안에 있음을 상기시킵니다. 그리고 예수님은 자신이 길과 진리와 생명이라는 놀라운 말씀을 하십니다. 이 말씀은 요한복음에 기록된  일곱개의 예수님에 관한 "나는" 이라는 진술 중 여섯 번째 선언입니다.  이 선언에 예수님의  말씀과  경험, 그리고 그의 기적에 대한 증거를 신뢰해야 할 이유도 함께 나타나고 있습니다.  

 

이 구절은 성경에서 가장 많이 인용되는 말씀입니다. 예수님은 자신이 붙들리고 십자가에서 죽게 되는 시간이 가짜이 올 때 그의 제자들에게 확신을 줍니다(요 14:1-4). 이 말씀은 또한 믿는 자들이 고난을 만날 떄 믿음을 유지하게 만듭니다. 그리스도인들의 확신은  예수님께서 우리와 함께 할 거처를 준비하신다는 확신에서 옵니다. 여행하고 둘아갈때 떠날 때보다 스트레스가 적은 이유는 목적지를 잘 알고 있기 때문입니다 롬 8:18; 히 12:2).

 

오늘날의 사람들은 가족이나 공동체에 대한 관심보다는 개인의 행복과 만족을 추구하고  가족과 공동체에 대한 책임 의식이 거의 없습니다. 이러한 문제 때룬에 남편과 아내, 부모와 자녀 사이에 갈등이 생겨나고 결국 가정이 파괴됩니다. 대부분의 동양 사람들은 가족의 전통과 관습을 유지합니다. 년노하신 부모님을 모시고 함께 살고  아내는 남편을 존대합니다. 대부분의 자녀들은 부모를 공경합니다. 동양사람들의 이러한 사회적 가치가 강간, 자살, 편집증과 같은 사회적 문제를 줄여줍니다. 동양의 나라들은 서방 국가들이 겪는 것과 같은 사회 문제로 비교적 크게 고통 받고 있지 않습니다. 

 

인간 문제의 근본 원인은 하나님과의 단절에 있습니다(창 2:17). 인간의 첫 번째 의무는 창조주 하나님을 알고 찬양하고 감사하는 것입니다(고후 5:18-19). 인간에게 가장 큰 가치와 의미는 창조주 하나님을 영화롭게 하고 그의 뜻대로 사는 것입니다. 죄인인 인간은 죄를 회개하고 예수 그리스도를 구주로 영접함으로써 하나님과 화해해야 합니다(요 14:6). 우리가 예수 그리스도를 믿음으로 하나님과 교제가 시작되면 하나님의 보살핌과 보호를 받는  특권을 누립니다. 매 순간 하나님의 보호와 축복 속에 살며 우리의 삶은 소망과 기쁨과 위로로 넘칩니다(시 23:4). 이것이 그리스도인의 삶이며 전해야 할 복음입니다. 이것이 초대 교회의 모습이었습니다. “하나님을 찬미하며 또 온 백성에게 칭송을 받으니 주께서 구원받는 사람을 날마다 더하게 하시니라”(행 2:47). 예수 그리스도를 믿음으로 하나님과 교제할 때만 행복이 있고 하나님께 영광을 돌리는 첫 번째 의무를 감당할 수 있습니다. 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 구원받지 못한 한 사람 또는 사랑하는 사람의 이름을 불러가며 기도하고, 하나님께서 이 사람의 마음의 문을 열러 오직 믿음으로 구원의 놀라운 선물을 받도록 간구하십시오 (고후 9:15; 엡 2:8-9).  

기도 지침: 기도는 우리가 어려움에 처했을 때 단순히 일시적인 충동에 대한 반응이 아니다. 기도는 삶의 자세이다. – 월터 무엘라 

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