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September 6 - Benefits from Trials 시련의 유익

피트초이 2024. 9. 6. 12:59
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September 6 - Benefits from Trials

 

“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This victory has overcome the world, even our faith.” - 1 John 5:4



John returns in this verse to the theme of believers as overcomers. Jesus cannot be overpowered by darkness (John 1:5) and has defeated the powers of this world (John 16:33). Believers are not to be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Believers have overcome both the evil one (1 John 2:13–14) and evil spirits (1 John 4:4). Christians are not left weak and defenseless in spiritual battles. On the contrary, those battles have already been won by Christ.How do believers overcome the world? Verse 5 gives a more direct explanation: by believing in Jesus as the Son of God. In verse 4, John refers to "faith" as our victory. The faith of the believer is the victory that overcomes. Every believer is an overcomer and is victorious because they have eternal life in Christ (John 3:16) and abundant life now (John 10:10). God's Spirit lives within the believer to provide power over the battles of this world.

 

God is not the source of evil, trials, and hardships. But God has the amazing power to use them for our growth in Him. The Apostle Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Therefore, God’s people can stand and overcome any trial or hardship with the joy of Jesus Christ.

 

Trials are like tests of faith. They improve our faith. Peter said, “These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7). Trials purify our faith as fire does for gold. God allows them to happen to us to purify us from evil motivations and behaviors. He refines our faith lives through trials when we leave everything to God. And He gives us the amazing gift of endurance.

 

Our faith grows during times of hardship and trial. We depend on God more than even when we realize our weakness and God’s greatness (1 John 5:4). Through trials and hardship, God makes our faith more durable, stable, and mature. That is why the early Christians joyously praised God when they were persecuted and martyred. They were happy because they achieved the ‘endurance of the saints’ through these trials. A martyr who sang a song to God answered that “he saw the glory of God” when people around him asked what he saw. 

 

Paul also said, “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). The author of Hebrews also said, “Therefore, since such a great cloud of witnesses surrounds us, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). God wants us to see and come to Him when we are in trouble.

 

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” - Helen Keller.

 

 

Today’s Prayer: Pray for God’s special treasure of loving relationships. Ask for his help in managing these with great care and joy. 

Prayer Pointer: Embark upon no enterprise. You cannot submit to the test of prayer. - Anonymous 

Bible Reading: Proverbs 9-10; 1 Corinthians 15:1-32

 

         


 

 

9월 6일 - 시련의 유익

 

“대저 하나님께로서 난 자마다 세상을 이기느니라 세상을 이긴 이김은 이것이니 우리의 믿음이니라”- 요일 5:4

 

 

사도 요한은 그리스도인은 세상을 이기는 자들이라는 주제로 다시 언급합니다. 빛되신 예수님은 어두움을 물리치고(요일 1:5), 이 세상의 모든 권세를 이기셨습니다(요 16:33). 예수님을 믿는 자는 악에게 지지 않고 선으로 악을 이겨야 하고(롬 12:21) 악한 자(요일 2:13-14)와 악한 영(요일 4:4)을 모두 이겨야 합니다. 영적 전쟁에 있는 그리스도인들은 무방비 상태의 연약한 존재가 아닙니다. 믿는 자들은 이미 영적전쟁에서 그리스도로 이미 승리한 것입니다.  

 

어떻게 믿음으로 세상을 이깁니까? 요한일서 5:5에서 예수님을 하나님의 아들로 믿는 자가 이긴다고 말합니다. 요한은 4절에서 "믿음"을 단순히 세상을 이기는 것이라고 말합니다. 신자의 믿음은 이기는 승리입니다. 모든 신자는 이기는 자이며 그리스도 안에서 영생을 얻었고(요 3:16) 현재 풍성한 삶(요 10:10)을 누리며 승리의 삶을 살아갑니다. 하나님의 영이 믿는 자들안에 내주하시고 승리하는 능력을 주시기 때문에 이 세상의 영적 전쟁에서 승리하는 것입니다.   

 

하나님은 시련과 고난의 근원이 아닙니다. 하나님은 우리의 영적 성장을 위해 시련과 고난을 사용하시는 능력을 가지고 계십니다. 바울은 “우리가 알거니와 하나님을 사랑하는 자 곧 그  뜻대로 부르심을 입은 자들에게는 모든 것이 합력하여 선을 이루느니라”(롬 8:28) 고 말합니다. 성도들은 시련과 고난도 하나님이 주시는 기쁨으로 굳건히 맞서서 이겨낼 수 있는 것입니다. 

 

시련은 믿음의 시험과 같습니다. 시련은 우리의 믿음을 향상 시험합니다. 베드로는 “너희 믿음의 시련이 불로 연단하여도 없어질 금보다 더 귀하여 예수 그리스도의 나타나실 때에 칭찬과 영광과 존귀를 얻게 하려 함이라”(벧전 1:7)고 말합니다. 시련은 금을 제련하듯이 우리의 신앙을 정화시킵니다. 우리의 악한 동기와 행위를 정화하기 위해 하나님은 시련과 고난을 허락하십니다. 하나님께 모든 시련과 고난을 맡기면 하나님을 시련과 고난을 통해 우리의 믿음의 삶을 정제하시고 오래 참음의 놀라운 선물을 주십니다.

 

우리의 신앙은 고난과 시련의 시기를 통해 성장합니다. 자신의 연약함과 하나님의 위대하심을 깨달을 때 하나님을 더욱 의지하게 됩니다(요일 5:4). 하나님은 시련과 고난을 통해 우리의 믿음을 더욱 튼튼하게 그리고 성숙하게 만드십니다. 그렇기 때문에 초기 그리스도인들은 박해속에서 순교를 당할 때에도 기쁨으로 하나님을 찬양할 수 있었습니다. 시련을 통해 성도의 인내의 선물을 받았기 때문에 복되었던 것입니다. 하나님을 찬양하며 순교하는 사람에게 무엇을 보았느냐고 물으면 그들은 한결같이 “하나님의 영광을 보았다"고 대답했습니다. 

 

바울은 “다만 이뿐 아니라 우리가 환난 중에도 즐거워하나니 이는 환난은 인내를, 인내는 연단을, 연단은 소망을 이루는 줄 앎이로다”(롬 5:3,4)라고 말합니다. 히브리서의 기자도 “이러므로 우리에게 구름같이 둘러싼 허다한 증인들이 있으니 모두 무거운 것과 얽매이기 쉬운 죄를 벗어 버리고 인내로써 우리에게 당한 경주를 경주하며 믿음의 주요 또 온전케 하시는 이인 예수를 바라보자 저는 그 앞에 있는 즐거움을 위하여 십자가를 참으사 부끄러움을 개의치 아니하시더니 하나님 보좌 우편에 앉으셨느니라”(히 12:1,2)고 말합니다. 하나님은 곤경과 어려움에 처해 있을 때 하나님의 영광을 보고 그에게 나아오기를 원하십니다. 

 

"성품은 편안하고 조용하게 계발될 수 없습니다. 시련과 고통의 경험을 통해서만 영혼이 강화되고 야망이 고취되며 성공할 수 있습니다." - 헬렌 켈러

 

 

오늘의 기도: 사랑의 관계의 하나님의 특별한 보고를 위해 기도하고, 큰 관심과 기쁨으로 이 관계를 잘 관리하도록 하나님께 도움을 구하십시오. 

기도 지침: “당신이 기도의 시험결과에 승복하지 못할 일은 시작하지 마십시오”- 저자미상

성경 읽기: 잠언 9-10; 고린도전서 15:1-32

 

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