August 25 - Let Us Love One Another 서로 사랑하자

August 25 - Let Us Love One Another 

 

“Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.” – Proverbs. 10:12

 

This is a key principle of biblical ethics. The general idea given here is repeated often in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 15:1) and is cited in the New Testament (James 5:20; 1 Peter 4:8). In short, revenge-seeking never comes to a good end. It only multiplies anger and escalates a cycle of retaliation. Choosing to respond in love, instead, is far more powerful.When people despise each other, they try to hurt one another. They argue and tear each other apart. This tragedy can even occur within a group of believers. Hatred divides and disrupts fellowship. Hatred destroys a congregation's testimony and causes unbelievers to discredit Christianity. Hatred serves the Devil. Love, on the other hand, covers faults and sins. 

 
It is important to note that love does not overlook any and every sin, no matter how grievous it might be. This verse does not refer to ignoring sin or "covering it up." But love keeps trying to find common ground and ways to work together. It waits patiently for an offender to see the error and repent. It is willing to forgive. In so far as it's possible and reasonable, love leads us to pursue unity (John 17:21)Jesus identified love as evidence of belonging to Him. He said, "A new commandment I give to you is that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another" (John 13:34–35).

 

Jesus Christ is the source of Agape love. Agape love only comes from the LORD. We can neither receive nor share this love through our efforts and strength. If we are in Christ, and Christ in us, we rejoice in His love and share His love with others. The apostle John commanded, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). He also said, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is made complete in us” (1 John. 4:12) 

 

Therefore, we can love others when we are in the LORD and the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul wrote, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They conflict with each other, so you do not do what you want. But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18). Paul compared the matter of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. Since love is the first fruit of the Spirit, there is always the fruit of love where there is the Spirit of God. 

 

If we walk with Christ in the Spirit, we produce the fruit of love and freedom. Our freedom does not come from the law but only from the mercy of Jesus Christ. We should receive grace from the Spirit daily so that the love of God fills us and then overflows to others. Most of our problems in the home, church, and society can be solved by love. That is why the Apostle Paul said, “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

This love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Gandhi mentioned, “I like your Christ, but I do not like Christians because Christians do not reflect Christ.” Do we love and forgive as Jesus Christ did? 

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray that God will give those you know and love for knowing him. Ask that they be filled with a conscious desire to think God’s thoughts after him (Psalm 139:17-18).

Prayer Pointer: I have lived to thank God for not answering my prayers. – Jean Ingelow

Bible Reading: Psalm 124-127; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24

 

 

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8월 25일 - 서로 사랑하자

 

“미움은 다툼을 일으켜도 사랑은 모든 허물을 가리우느리라” - 잠 10:12

 

 

이 말씀은 그리스도인의 성경적 윤리의 삶에 관한 핵심원리를 교훈합니다. 이 윤리적인 삶의 개념은 구약과(레 19:18; 잠 15:1) 신약에서 반복되어 인용되어 가르칩니다(약 5:20; 벧전 4:8). 간단히 말하면 복수는 좋은 결말에 이르지 못하고 오히려 분노를 배가시키고 보복을 확대할 뿐입니다. 복수 대신 사랑으로 반응하는 것이 더 아름답고 강한 것입니다.  

사람들은 서로를 경멸하고 상처를 주며 논쟁하고 다투고 나뉘고 갈라섭니다. 이러한 안타까운 일들은 그리스도인 신자들 사이에서도 일어납니다. 마음에 증오심을 가지면 교제를 방해하고 분열시키켜 공동체의 그리스도인의 삶의 모습을 파괴하여 불신자들에게 기독교를 불신하게 만듭니다. 증오는 마귀를 섬기는 것이고 반면에 사랑은 결점과 허물을 가리워 주는 것입니다.    

 

사랑은 아무리 심각한 죄라도 간과하지 않는다는 것을 유의해야 합니다. 허물을 가리운다는 것은 죄를 무시하거나 은폐한다는 것을 의미하지 않습니다. 사랑은 공통점을 찾고 함께 일할 수 있는 길을 모색하는 것입니다. 사랑은 잘못한 사람이 잘못을 깨닫고 회개할 때까지 참고 기다리며 용서하는 것입니다. 사랑은 가능한 연합하도록 인도합니다(요 17:21).

서로 사랑하는 것은 예수님께 속해 있는 증거라고 예수님께서 말씀하셨습니다. "새 계명을 너희에게 주노니 서로 사랑하라 내가 너희를 사랑한 것 같이 너희도 서로 사랑하라 너희가 서로 사랑하면 이로써 모든 사람이 너희가 내 제자인 줄 알리라"(요 13:34-35). 

 

아가페 사랑의 근원은 예수 그리스도이며 아가페 사랑은 예수님으로부터만 옵니다. 우리의 노력과 힘으로 아카페 사랑을 받거나 나누지 못합니다. 우리가 그리스도 안에 있고 그리스도가 우리 안에 계시면 아가페 사랑을 기뻐하고 함께 나눕니다. 요한은 “사랑하는 자들아 우리가 서로 사랑하자 사랑은 하나님께 속한 것이니 사랑하는 자마다 하나님께로 나서 하나님을 알고 사랑하지 아니하는 자는 하나님을 알지 못하나니 이는 하나님은 사랑이심이니라”(요일 4:7-8), “어느 때나 하나님을 본 사람이 없으되 만일 우리가 서로 사랑하면 하나님이 우리 안에 거하시고 그의 사랑이 우리 안에 온전히 이루느니라”(요일 4:12) 라고 사랑을 설명합니다..

 

그러므로 주님과 성령안에 있을 때 사람들을 사랑할 수 있습니다. 사도 바울은 “내가 이르노니 너희는 성령을 쫓아 행하라 그리하면 육체의 욕심을 이루지 아니하리라 육체의 소욕은 성령을 거스르고 성령의 소욕은 육체를 거스르나니 이 둘이 서로 대적함으로 너희의 원하는 것을 하지 못하게 하려 함이니라 너희가 만일 성령의 인도하시는 바가 되면 율법 아래 있지 아니하리라”(갈 5:16-18)고 말합니다. 그는 육신의 욕심을 성령의 열매에 비유합니다. 사랑은 성령의 첫 열매이기 때문에 하나님의 영이 있는 곳에는 항상 사랑의 열매가 있습니다.

 

우리가 성령으로 그리스도와 동행하면 사랑과 자유함의 열매를 맺습니다. 이 자유함은 율법에서 온 것이 아니라 예수 그리스도의 은혜와 자비에서 온 것입니다. 날마다 성령의 은혜를 받고 하나님의 충만한 사랑이 흘러 넘처야 합니다. 우리의 가정과 교회, 그리고 사회의 대부분의 문제들은 사랑으로 해결할 수 있습니다. 바울은 “그런즉, 믿음, 소망, 사랑 이 세 가지는 항상 있을 것인데 그 중에 제일은 사랑이라”(고전 13:13)고 말합니다. 이 사랑이 허다한 죄를 덮습니다(벧전 4:8). 간디는 "나는 그리스도를 좋아하나 그리스도를 반영하지 않는 기독교인을 좋아하지 않는다"라고 말했습니다. 우리는 예수님 처럼 사랑하고 용서합니까? 

 

 

오늘의 기도: 하나님께서 당신이 알고 사랑하는 사람들에게 주님을 알고 하는 사람을 주시도록 기도하고, 하나님에 대한 생각을 의식적으로 충만할 수 있도록 기도하십시오.  

기도 지침: 나의 모든 기도가 모두 응답되지 않은 것에 대해 감사하며 지금까지 살아왔다. – 진 잉겔로 

성경 일기: 시편 124-127편; 고린도전서 7:1-24