오늘의 묵상
나를 용서하시기 위해서 하나님께서 치르신 비용이 얼마나 큰지를 알게 되었고, (내게 잘못한) 형제나 자매를 위해서도 그리스도께서 죽으셨는데, 그 형제나 자매를 용서하지 못할 수 있겠습니까?
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
Today's message is an important but very challenging message to obey. How can I forgive someone who has grievously sinned against me?
Maybe the better question may be: How can I not forgive a brother or sister for whom Christ died (Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11), when I know what Jesus did to forgive me? How can I withhold that grace from others? In addition to our verse today, the Holy Spirit emphasized this principle several times in the New Testament Scriptures:
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25)
These words from Jesus are powerful, but he even further dramatized the importance of this principle in the "Parable of the Unmerciful Servant" (Matthew 18:21-35). So, how do we live into this principle? How do we obey it when many of us have people who have sinned horribly against us?
Part of the answer lies in recognizing the enormous gift of forgiveness and salvation we have received. When we do that and recognize the costly grace we have received, we should be willing to extend grace. In addition, we can tap into the power of the Holy Spirit as followers of Jesus. (Something we focused upon several days ago — Ephesians 1:17-20, 3:14-21.) We can ask for the Spirit to produce godly fruit in us that helps us forgive (Galatians 5:22-23). Finally, we trust that while we may not have it in us to forgive on our own, with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:25-26).
내 기도
거룩하신 아버지, 오늘 아버지의 자녀 중 한명을 향한 제 원한이나 쓰디쓴 마음을 내려놓기로 결단합니다. 제게 아낌없이 부어주신 아버지의 은혜와 자비를 거울처럼 반영하지 못해서 죄송스럽습니다. 아빠 Abba 아버지, 제게 잘못을 저지른 이에 대한 제 주장을 포기하기 위해, 또한 같은 형제자매인데도 제게 상처를 준 이들을 대하기 위해 성령의 도우심이 필요합니다. 많이 어렵겠지만, 용서함에 있어서 아버지의 본을 따르기로 결심하오니 힘 주시옵소서. 예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다. 아멘.
My Prayer...
Holy Father, I commit today to release any grudge or bitterness that I have against one of your children. I am sorry for not reflecting your grace and mercy more, the grace that you lavished on me. Abba Father, I need the help of your Holy Spirit to relinquish my claim on the wrongs committed against me. Please empower me as I commit to following Jesus' example of forgiving,* even when it is hard. Through Jesus I pray. Amen.
* Luke 23:34.
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