제게는 무슨 획기적인 기적 같은 것을 간증할 것은 없으나, 어떻게 보면 제 생애 전체가 기적의 연속이어 왔습니다. 제가 특별히 감사해 하는 것은, 신앙이 좋으신 부모님에게 태어나서 신앙 안에서 양육 받은 것이 얼마나 감사한 지 모르겠습니다. 저는 하나님 중심으로 사시는 부모님 밑에서 3남매 중 장남으로 자라났습니다. 저희 아버님은 젊으셨을 때에는 무역을 크게 하시어 당시 평양에서 손 꼽히는 무역상이셨지만, 6.25동란 중 피난 나오시고 30대 후반에 소명을 받으시고 목회의 길을 걷게 되셨습니다. 목사님이 되신 후에는 정말로 전심으로 하나님만 바라보시며 충성되이 섬기셨습니다. 매일 새벽 기도때에는 모든 교인들의 이름을 불러 가시며 기도하셨는데, 한 번은 밤새 폭설이 내려 교회가기가 어렵게 된 적이 있었습니다. 아버님은 물론 일찍 일어나셔서 강변길을 걸어 교회를 가셨는데, 새벽기도를 다녀오시자, 저희 외할머니가 오늘은 눈이 이렇게 많이 왔는데, 참석한 사람이 있었는가고 물으셨습니다. 아버님이 '예'라고 답하시자, 외할머님은 놀라시며 도대체 누가 왔었느냐고 되 물으셨습니다. 아버님은 대답하시기를, 예수님이 같이 기도하는 중에 계셨고, 하나님 아버지께서 기도를 들으셨다고 하셨다고 합니다. 저는 저희 아버님이 40대 중반에 얻은 장남이었는데, 저희 아버님은 목회자로서 기도하는 것과 말씀을 묵상하고 전하는 일에 전념하여야 하는데, 내 아기라고 너무 오래 안아 주고 시간을 보내기는 주님께 송구하다고 하시며 저를 안아주는 것도 가끔 잠깐 뿐이셨다고 들었습니다. 제가 5학년 때, 저희 아버님은 소천하셨고, 제가 장례식에서 들은 말씀 중 기억에 남는 것은, 저희 아버님은 진짜 목사님이셨다고 친지분들이 말씀하신 것입니다.
저희 어머님은 일찍 부터 간호사로서 사회 생활을 하신 분이십니다. 1950년대 이미 미국에 교환교수 자격으로 미네소타대학을 두 번이나 다녀 가셨습니다. 자신의 신앙을 잘 추수리시기 위해 목사님이신 아버님과 결혼하셨다고 하셨습니다. 어머님이 직장생활을 하시는 동안, 저는 집에서, 저희 외할머님과 이모님을 통해 성경말씀을 배우며 자라났습니다. 매일 모든 가족이 가족예배를 항상 드렸고, 할머님이나 이모님은 때가 있을 때마다 제게 성경이야기를 하여 주셨습니다. 제 미국 이름을 디모데 라고 한 이유 중의 하나도, 성경의 디모데가 로이스와 유니게에게서 신앙으로 양육받은 것처럼, 제게도 저희 외할머님, 이모님, 그리고 어머님의 신앙이 큰 영향을 미쳤기 때문입니다.
조상의 신앙을 조금이나마 배운 관계로, 저는 어려서 부터, 하나님께서 제 아버지시라는 것과 예수님이 내 구주시라는 것을 조금도 의심하지 않고 자랐습니다. 동생들과 얘기할 때에, 우리는 항상 말하기를, 하나님이 우리 아버지시기 때문에, 우리는 아주 부자라 하며 자부심을 가졌습니다. 제가 어려서 자랄 때에, 제가 3 학년까지도 우리 동네 전체에 텔레비젼도 하나 없었지만, 궁핍하다고 느낀 적은 한 번도 없었습니다.
제가 중학교를 졸업할 때 쯤 되어서, 저희 가족은 미국으로 이민하게 되었습니다. 당시 한국은 유신 헌법 개헌 이후 학생들의 데모가 한창일 때이었는데, 저희 어머님은 제가 데모에 휩쓸리어 허송세월하지 않고 미국에 와서 마음껏 공부하기를 원하신다 하셨습니다. 저희가 미국으로 오는 날 공항에서 환송예배를 드렸는데, 그 때 당시 서소문의 평안교회 김윤찬 목사님이 설교해 주신 말씀은 여호와 이레의 말씀이셨습니다. 하나님께서 미리 저희의 갈 길을 가셔서 길을 준비해 주실 것이고, 모든 것을 형통하게 인도하실 것이라는 말씀이었습니다.
실로 저희의 이민생활은 여호와 이레의 은혜의 생활이어 왔습니다. 세 가지 예를 말씀드리겠습니다. 첫째로, 처음 미국 와서 California의 Bellflower라는 곳에 잠시 살게 되었습니다. 그 곳 고등학교에 한 달 정도 다니게 되었는데, 등교 첫 날 만난 역사반의 선생님은 제게 특별한 관심을 가져 주셨습니다. 나를 학교 끝난 뒤에 찾아 오라고 하시더니, 내게 교과서를 한 권 내어 주시며, 집에 가지고 가서 책에 한국말로 토를 달아 쓰고 공부해도 좋다고 하셨습니다. 그리고 제가 장로교회 교인이라는 것을 들으시고는 자기도 그렇다고 하시면서, 저희 아파트 근처의 장로교회에 저를 데리고 가셔서 그 곳 학생부 목사님에게 저를 소개해 주셨습니다. 곧 그 곳 교회 장로님들이 저희 집을 심방 오셨고, 아직 차도 없는 저희 가족을 위해 주일 예배 참석할 수 있게 ride도 주선해 주셨습니다. 그 선생님은 하나님께서 저를 위해 준비해 주신 분이셨습니다.
얼마 후 저희는 Princeton 을 거쳐 New York City로 이사를 가게 되었습니다. New York 시를 방문한 첫 날에 저희 어머니는 직장을 구하셨는데, 바로 일하실 병원과 같은 block에 아파트도 얻었고, 또 같은 block에 제가 다닐 고등학교도 있는 곳이었습니다. 그 곳 고등학교에서 저는 Mr. Weinberger라는 선생님을 만났습니다. 그 학교 과학과의 과장이셨는데, 제게 특별한 관심을 보여 주시면서, 제가 학교과정 외에도 더 공부할 수 있도록 길을 열어 주셨습니다. 시립대학에 가서 수학이나 과학과정을 공부하도록 해주셨고, 방과 후에는 따로 만나서 저는 그 분의 보조교사 역할도 하였습니다. 이런 배려 때문에 2년 후에는 예일대학에 입학할 수 있었습니다.
예일 대학 시절에는 마침 그 곳에, 저희 어머님과 친분이 있으신 전 연세대 도서관장과 학장을 지내신 한태동박사님 가족이 계셨는데, 제가 또 도움을 여러모로 받을 수 있었습니다. 가는 곳마다, 하나님께서 준비해 주신 사람들에게서 도움을 받은 것입니다. 그래서 4년 후에는 학사와 석사를 동시에 수여하고 좋은 성적으로 졸업하였습니다. 그 후 캘리포니아 주립대학에서 의과과정을 공부하였는데, 그 곳에서도 저희 어머님 친구 분의 동생이신 박은식 목사님 가정을 하나님께서 준비하여 주셔서, 제가 그 분들의 사랑을 받으며 4년을 보낼 수 있었습니다. 정말로 제 일생을 돌아 보면 하나님께서 미리 준비해 놓으신 복을 누리는 생활의 연속이었습니다. 특별한 재능이나 재산도 없이, 언어도 다른 이국땅에 와서, 하나님의 은혜가 아니고는 있을 수 없는 감사해야 할 일들의 연속이었습니다.
둘째로, 저희 부부가 결혼한 과정도 여호와 이레의 하나님의 은혜이었습니다. 당시 저는 California의 나성에 살았는데, 이미 언급한 김윤찬 목사님의 아들 김혜성 목사님이 목회하시는 교회에 다니고 있었습니다. 그 교회에 다니시던 아주 존경스러우신 권사님이 저에게 당신의 조카를 소개해 주셨습니다. 그래서 몇 번 편지 왕래를 해 보았으나, 당장에 관심이 끌리지 않아, 편지를 중단했었습니다. 지금 생각해 보면, 당시 그 조카되는 사람은 겨우 대학교 1학년인지라, 하나님께서 시간을 끄시려고 편지를 중단하게 하신 것 같습니다. 몇 년 뒤 제가 한국에 나가게 되었는데, 결혼할 상대도 없었으나, 무조건 반지를 준비하고 나갔습니다. 그리고는 다시 그 권사님의 조카를 만났는데, 이 때는 그 아가씨는 대학을 갓 졸업한 때이었습니다. 사실 저는 말주변도 없고, 특히 여자들 앞에서 활발하지도 못 하여서, 연애도 한 번 해 본 적도 없고, 제가 아가씨의 마음을 제 능력으로 얻는다는 것은 불가능한 일이었을 것입니다. 그런 저를 잘 아시는 하나님께서는 그 아가씨가 제게 "아니오"라고 할 수 없게 미리 준비를 다 해 놓고 계셨습니다. 그 아가씨는 대학 1학년 때 저와 편지를 두어번 주고 받은 적이 있었는데, 제 편지가 오기 전 날 밤에는 한번 만나지도 못한 저의 꿈을 꾸었다고 합니다. 그리고는 편지로 제 사진을 받아 보고는 꿈에 미리 본 사람이라 아마 하나님께서 정하신 사람이 아닌가 생각하였다고 합니다. 한 번도 아니고, 편지 받을 때마다 그런 일이 벌어졌기 때문에, 하나님께서 확정하신 것이라 생각하였다고 합니다. 그러나 당시 본인은 아직 대학생이라 하나님께 시간을 연기해 주시기를 간구했다 합니다. 직접 만나게 된 날, 자신이 꿈에 본 사람과 내가 너무 똑 깥아서 놀라웠다 합니다. 만나는 날, 우리 둘이는 권사님 동생, 즉 제 장인되실 분이 시무하시는 교회에 가서, 같이 기도하는 중에 제가 청혼을 하게 되었고, 아멘으로 대답을 얻고, 결국 같은 날 저녁에 약혼을 하게 되었습니다. 그리고 닷새 후인 토요일에 결혼을 하였고, 지금까지 살고 있습니다. 이전에 리브가가 아브라함의 종의 말을 듣고, 이삭과 결혼하기 위해 선듯 나섰지만, 그에 못지 않게 제 아내도 저를 만난 지 6일째 되는 날 저와 결혼을 하였는데, 하나님께서 그 마음을 미리 준비해 주셨기 때문이라 생각합니다.
셋째로, 금년 4월에 저는 심장 마비가 있어서 병원에 가게 되었습니다. 주일 아침 준비를 하고, 교회에 오려고 하는 때에 가슴에 통증이 오고, 잠시 안정하여도 없어지지 않아, 아내가 운전하여 병원으로 갔습니다. 마침 주일이라, 응급실도 복잡하지 않았고, 저는 도착하자 마자 검사를 통하여 제가 심방 마비 증상을 일으키고 있다는 것이 판명이 났습니다. 모든 사람들이 마치 제가 오기를 기다렸다는 듯이 신속히 움직여 주었고, 저는 곧바로 Cardiac Catherterization Lab으로 옮겨 져서, 우선 급한대로 막힌 심장 혈관 세 곳을 angioplasty하여 뚫고, 또 stents를 집어 넣었습니다. 제 상황이 좋아진 며칠 뒤에 또 세 곳을 더 뚫어, 제 몸에는 지금 여섯 개의 stents가 있습니다. 또 병원에 있는 동안, 제게 research study에 참가하겠는가 하며 제 응고력에 관해 검사한 것이 있었는데, 이것 때문에 stent안에 응고하는 것을 방지하는 것을 위해 흔히 먹는 약을 복용하지 않고, 몇 해 전에 일본에서 개발한 새 약을 먹게 되었습니다. 그리고는 그 다음 주일에는 주일예배에 참석하고, 성가대에도 설 수 있었습니다. 당시는 입원 중 출혈을 많이 한 터라 힘이 모자라, 찬송도 힘차게 나오지 않았지만, 그냥 주일 예배에 참석도 하고 성가대에 설 수도 있다는 그 사실 자체가 너무나 감사한 예배와 찬송의 시간이었습니다. 그리고는 그 이후로 그 전보다 더 힘있게 살 수 있게 되어 너무나 감사합니다.
저희 가족은 콜럼버스 한인 교회에 지난 여름부터 나오게 되었는데, 지금 생각해 보면, 이것도 하나님의 배려하심이라 생각합니다. 저의 가족이 이사를 여러번 나니면서, 여러 교회를 접해 보게 되었는데, 각 교회마다 특별히 잘하는 강점이 있어, 제가 배울 점을 찾을 수 있었습니다. 그런데, 제 생각에는 콜럼버스 한인 교회는 강점이 여럿 있겠지만, 그 중에서도 기도에 열심하는 것이 강점이라 생각합니다. 주일 예배 중 최소 한 두 번은 전 교인이 통성으로 기도하는 교회는 저로서는 처음이고, 심지어는 목사님 아드님 결혼식 중에 통성기도로 전 하객들이 축복하였는데 참으로 교회의 특성에 맞는 일이라고 생각하였었습니다. 왜 이런 것이 하나님의 배려하심이라고 생각하는 가 하면, 제 일생 사는 동안 늘 하나님께서 인도하시고 미리 준비해 주시고 이끄시는 것을 경험하며 사는 동안, 제가 하나님께 매달려서 애타게 간구하는 것이 너무나 없어진 상태였기 때문입니다. 하나님을 찬송하는 것과 말씀 공부하고 묵상하는 것은 즐겼지만, 하나님께 기도하는 시간이 너무나 짧아진 제 생활이었습니다. 하나님께서 기도하는 생활을 다시 배우라고 제게 배려해 주셨다고 생각합니다. 하나님과 대화하고 교통하며, 하나님께 더 가까이 가게 되기를 바라고, 그렇게 기도하고 있습니다. 제 눈이 하나님의 눈으로 세상을 보고, 제 귀가 하나님의 말씀에 경청하여 순종하고, 제 입에서 나오는 말이 다른 사람들을 세워 주고 덕을 끼치며, 제 숨은 하나님을 찬양드리는 데에 쓰이고, 제 손은 하나님께서 원하시는 일을 하며, 제 발은 평안의 좋은 소식을 전하는 길로 달려가며, 제 마음은 전심으로 하나님을 사랑할 수 있게 되기를 기도하고 있습니다. 그리고, 기도하다가 조금하고 낙망하지 않고, 계속 하는 것을 배우기를 바랍니다.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Repentance
In Luke 15, we read about the parable of the prodigal son, who took his inheritance from his father to a distant land and wasted it all away. While longing to fill his hungry stomach one day, he thought of how the servants in his father's household would be faring better than he was, and decided to return home. Upon return, he told his father, "I have sinned against heaven and you." (Luke 15:21).
Jesus told an expert in the law that all the Law and Prophets hang on two commandments: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39). Since sin is breaking God's law (I John 3:4), when one repents, he must repent of sins of breaking these greatest commandments. He must repent of sins against God and against people, just as the prodigal son repented of his sins against heaven and his father.
As for the sins against God, the primary sin is not loving Him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. Because of this lack of love, I may have committed the sin of worshipping other gods or making an idol to bow down and to worship (Exodus 20:2-6, Deuteronomy 13:1-5); the sin of worshipping money (Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3;5, Matthew 6:24); the sin of misusing the Name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7), instead of using the Name to remember Him (Exodus 3:15), to call upon and worship Him (I Chronicles 16:29, Acts 2:21), and to praise Him (Psalm 8:1,9, 9:2, 18:49); and the sin of not returning to God what is due to Him, whether it is time (Exodus 20:8-11), honor (Malachi 1:6-9), or tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-11).
The second greatest commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself." When the expert in the law asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?", He told him the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): As a man was going down to Jericho, he met robbers, was beaten and stripped. A priest and a Levite passed by him on the other side, but a Samaritan took pity on him and took care of him. Jesus then asked, "Which one of the three was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?" Applying to the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself, I think the question becomes "Whom can you be a neighbor to and love as yourself?" The answer, of course, becomes everyone around me.
So, as for the sins against my neighbors, I need to repent of sins committed against all people, starting with those closest to me -- my parents, my spouse, my children, my relatives, my friends, my coworkers, etc. I may have committed the sin of not honoring or respecting; the sin of hatred and murder (Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13); the sin of seeking unjust gain (Exodus 20:15, 17, Proverbs 20:10,23, Micah 6:11), not being content with what I have earned (Luke 3:12-14); the sin of false testimony (Exodus 20:16) or any sin committed with my tongue (James 3:1-12); and the sin of not looking after those in need (Matthew 25:41-46).
As I review the list, what I recognize is that all these sins are essentially sins against the ultimate law-giver, who is our Lord God. Committing any one sin amounts to committing the whole list of sins; breaking one law amounts to breaking all the laws, because neither can be tolerated by our holy and just God (James 2:10). In repentance, I must be thoroughly purged of all sins, confessing fully to the sins committed against God and men and asking for forgiveness. But in so doing, I have the assurance of forgiveness by the Lord (I John 1:9).
Heavenly Father, I am like the prodigal son. I have committed sins against you and people around me. Forgive me and purge me of all evil on account of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus told an expert in the law that all the Law and Prophets hang on two commandments: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39). Since sin is breaking God's law (I John 3:4), when one repents, he must repent of sins of breaking these greatest commandments. He must repent of sins against God and against people, just as the prodigal son repented of his sins against heaven and his father.
As for the sins against God, the primary sin is not loving Him with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind. Because of this lack of love, I may have committed the sin of worshipping other gods or making an idol to bow down and to worship (Exodus 20:2-6, Deuteronomy 13:1-5); the sin of worshipping money (Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3;5, Matthew 6:24); the sin of misusing the Name of the Lord (Exodus 20:7), instead of using the Name to remember Him (Exodus 3:15), to call upon and worship Him (I Chronicles 16:29, Acts 2:21), and to praise Him (Psalm 8:1,9, 9:2, 18:49); and the sin of not returning to God what is due to Him, whether it is time (Exodus 20:8-11), honor (Malachi 1:6-9), or tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-11).
The second greatest commandment is "Love your neighbor as yourself." When the expert in the law asked Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?", He told him the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37): As a man was going down to Jericho, he met robbers, was beaten and stripped. A priest and a Levite passed by him on the other side, but a Samaritan took pity on him and took care of him. Jesus then asked, "Which one of the three was a neighbor to the man who was robbed?" Applying to the commandment of loving your neighbor as yourself, I think the question becomes "Whom can you be a neighbor to and love as yourself?" The answer, of course, becomes everyone around me.
So, as for the sins against my neighbors, I need to repent of sins committed against all people, starting with those closest to me -- my parents, my spouse, my children, my relatives, my friends, my coworkers, etc. I may have committed the sin of not honoring or respecting; the sin of hatred and murder (Matthew 5:21-22, Exodus 20:13); the sin of seeking unjust gain (Exodus 20:15, 17, Proverbs 20:10,23, Micah 6:11), not being content with what I have earned (Luke 3:12-14); the sin of false testimony (Exodus 20:16) or any sin committed with my tongue (James 3:1-12); and the sin of not looking after those in need (Matthew 25:41-46).
As I review the list, what I recognize is that all these sins are essentially sins against the ultimate law-giver, who is our Lord God. Committing any one sin amounts to committing the whole list of sins; breaking one law amounts to breaking all the laws, because neither can be tolerated by our holy and just God (James 2:10). In repentance, I must be thoroughly purged of all sins, confessing fully to the sins committed against God and men and asking for forgiveness. But in so doing, I have the assurance of forgiveness by the Lord (I John 1:9).
Heavenly Father, I am like the prodigal son. I have committed sins against you and people around me. Forgive me and purge me of all evil on account of Jesus' blood shed on the cross. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Why wilderness?
When you are going through a period of hardship, when there seems to be no hope of ever escaping from it, it is difficult to maintain your hope and faith that in all things God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28) and to thank Him in all circumstances (I Thessalonians 5:18). If you knew there is a way of shortening the period of hardship, you would probably do it.
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they went through the wilderness for forty years. The period could have been a lot shorter, if they did not disobey the Lord at Kadesh Barnea (Deuteronomy 1) and went to capture the land of the Amorites. Instead they were afraid and did not believe, except for Caleb and Joshua. They had to wander in the wilderness until all those who did not believe and did not obey died in the wilderness. Moses summed up this period: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2). I think the answer to what can be done to avoid having to wander in the wilderness for such a long time lies in this verse.
God's purpose in leading the Israelites through the wilderness was to humble them and to test them in order to know what was in their hearts, whether or not they could keep His commands. At the point where one enters the wilderness, I think that the best thing one can do is to be(come) humble and to obey, thus fulfilling God's purpose. With His purpose fulfilled, God will have no more reason to keep us in the wilderness, so to speak. One should kneel and confess his sins with a broken and contrite heart. One should confess how worthless his life is without God in him. And one should obey and follow His commands.
Even after passing through the wilderness and entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were admonished to be careful not to "forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees" (Deuteronomy 8:11). The humility one learns in the wilderness is that one "does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3), that is, one's life depends on the Lord. This is true both while one is in the wilderness and afterwards. Every day that I live, every blessing that I enjoy, every breath that I take -- I owe it all to the Lord God, who sustains me and gives me life.
Lord, I acknowledge you. I acknowledge that your ways are higher than mine and that your wisdom is far, far superior to mine. My blessing is to stay in your favor and to obey and follow your commands. Lord, you are my King, my Creator, my Absolute Sovereign. Look down on me with mercy, though I am a sinner and come far, far short of your Glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they went through the wilderness for forty years. The period could have been a lot shorter, if they did not disobey the Lord at Kadesh Barnea (Deuteronomy 1) and went to capture the land of the Amorites. Instead they were afraid and did not believe, except for Caleb and Joshua. They had to wander in the wilderness until all those who did not believe and did not obey died in the wilderness. Moses summed up this period: "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2). I think the answer to what can be done to avoid having to wander in the wilderness for such a long time lies in this verse.
God's purpose in leading the Israelites through the wilderness was to humble them and to test them in order to know what was in their hearts, whether or not they could keep His commands. At the point where one enters the wilderness, I think that the best thing one can do is to be(come) humble and to obey, thus fulfilling God's purpose. With His purpose fulfilled, God will have no more reason to keep us in the wilderness, so to speak. One should kneel and confess his sins with a broken and contrite heart. One should confess how worthless his life is without God in him. And one should obey and follow His commands.
Even after passing through the wilderness and entering the Promised Land, the Israelites were admonished to be careful not to "forget the LORD your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees" (Deuteronomy 8:11). The humility one learns in the wilderness is that one "does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3), that is, one's life depends on the Lord. This is true both while one is in the wilderness and afterwards. Every day that I live, every blessing that I enjoy, every breath that I take -- I owe it all to the Lord God, who sustains me and gives me life.
Lord, I acknowledge you. I acknowledge that your ways are higher than mine and that your wisdom is far, far superior to mine. My blessing is to stay in your favor and to obey and follow your commands. Lord, you are my King, my Creator, my Absolute Sovereign. Look down on me with mercy, though I am a sinner and come far, far short of your Glory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Total victory of God's people
The book of Esther records the story of how the Jews were saved from the plot of Haman, "the enemy of the Jews." Haman rose to be second in command under King Xerxes of Persia. His hatred of and enragement against Mordecai the Jew who refused to bow down to him was extended to all the Jews, whom he labeled to the king as so different from all other peoples under his rule that they disobeyed the laws and were not beneficial to the king's interests. Haman even offered to spend his own money to help kill the Jews. This massive destruction was about to happen with the king's approval, until Esther, Mordecai's cousin, petitioned for her own life and that of her people. Haman's scheme was then exposed and a counter-order went out from the king to allow the Jews to defend and protect themselves and to kill their enemies. Haman and his ten sons were killed as well as thousands who were enemies of the Jews. Upon this, "many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them" (Esther 8:16).
The victory that God gives to His people is total and complete. His people do not just barely survive the hardship, but they utterly overcome it and annihilate the enemies. Upon hearing how God dried up the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk away from the Pharaoh's pursuit and how God and His people completely destroyed the two kings of Amorites on the east side of the Jordan, the people of Jericho reacted with their hearts "melted" and everone's courage failed (Joshua 2:11). When Joshua later completely destroyed the 5 kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, even commanding the sun and the moon to stop, all the remaining Canaanites were so distraught that "no one uttered a word against the Israelites" (Joshua 10:21). In Korean translation, the expression is even stronger: "혀를 놀려 이스라엘 자손을 대적하는 자가 없었더라" ("no one dared to move their tongue against the sons of Israel.") This is truly a description of total fear and awe of the Israelites, so that their enemies could not muster enough courage even to say a few words against Israel even in their private camps. David sings in his famous psalm: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5). The celebratory table and the anointing are taking place in the presence of the enemies, who have to participate in the celebration either grudgingly or willingly.
While on earth, we Christians are like strangers and aliens (Hebrews 11:13). Although we live in the world, we are not of the world (John 17:15-16). Because we are not of the world, we may be misunderstood, mistreated, and even hated by the people of the world -- sometimes seemingly for no good reason. It is a fact of life that while in this world, we will encounter trouble. But Jesus tells us, "take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Because the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world, it is a foregone conclusion that we will overcome the world (I John 4:4).
Lord, I do believe that you have overcome the world. As a result, I will overcome the world as well. Let me not be disheartened with a short-term trouble, but have faith and hope in you and the ultimately victory you will bring to us. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
The victory that God gives to His people is total and complete. His people do not just barely survive the hardship, but they utterly overcome it and annihilate the enemies. Upon hearing how God dried up the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to walk away from the Pharaoh's pursuit and how God and His people completely destroyed the two kings of Amorites on the east side of the Jordan, the people of Jericho reacted with their hearts "melted" and everone's courage failed (Joshua 2:11). When Joshua later completely destroyed the 5 kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, even commanding the sun and the moon to stop, all the remaining Canaanites were so distraught that "no one uttered a word against the Israelites" (Joshua 10:21). In Korean translation, the expression is even stronger: "혀를 놀려 이스라엘 자손을 대적하는 자가 없었더라" ("no one dared to move their tongue against the sons of Israel.") This is truly a description of total fear and awe of the Israelites, so that their enemies could not muster enough courage even to say a few words against Israel even in their private camps. David sings in his famous psalm: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5). The celebratory table and the anointing are taking place in the presence of the enemies, who have to participate in the celebration either grudgingly or willingly.
While on earth, we Christians are like strangers and aliens (Hebrews 11:13). Although we live in the world, we are not of the world (John 17:15-16). Because we are not of the world, we may be misunderstood, mistreated, and even hated by the people of the world -- sometimes seemingly for no good reason. It is a fact of life that while in this world, we will encounter trouble. But Jesus tells us, "take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Because the One who is in us is greater than the one in the world, it is a foregone conclusion that we will overcome the world (I John 4:4).
Lord, I do believe that you have overcome the world. As a result, I will overcome the world as well. Let me not be disheartened with a short-term trouble, but have faith and hope in you and the ultimately victory you will bring to us. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Day of rest
"TGIF", short for "Thank God, It's Friday", is a welcome introduction to a weekend, when one does not usually have to work, but can rest away from the demands of gainful employment. If there is a holiday as well, often the weekend turns into three consecutive days of potential rest. I cannot even imagine what it would be like without weekends.
Our Lord God, who created us, knows exactly what is needed by our body. Our body is not a machine, but a physical body that can exert itself for a while, but needs to be rested and recovered before another round of exertion. Lord God gave us a commandment to rest on the Sabbath, just as He rested on the seventh day after Creation. He said, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)
The commandment extended not only to the people of Israel, but also to the servants and animals (Deuteronomy 5:12-14). All were to rest on the Sabbath and keep the day holy. Even the land was to be rested (Leviticus 25:2-6) and whatever the land yielded without being worked on was to be the food for all in the Sabbath year. If the land was not rested, it would be forced to become desolate and deserted with the people taken away to the land of the enemies (Leviticus 26:34-35).
Besides providing a day to have physical rest, the Sabbath was given as a sign that we are God's people whom God made holy (Ezekiel 20:12,20). It is a day to remember the Lord God as our God. We are to remember that if we keep His commandments and decrees (starting with the commandment to rest), we will live; but if we don't, we will surely be destroyed.
The only work to be done on the Sabbath was God's work -- work that saves lives and work that represented doing good. Jesus declared that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) and legitimized doing good and saving lives even on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10-12, Mark 3:1-4, Luke 6:6-9, Luke 13:14-16).
Ultimately, God's people can look forward to the eternal Sabbath-rest that they will enter in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 4:9-11). This rest is not just the rest that the Israelites enjoyed on the seventh day, nor in the land of milk and honey that they conquered with Joshua, although these all symbolized the ultimate Sabbath-rest to come. The ultimate rest will come when the obedient will enter the New Jerusalem in the heavenly kingdom of God, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4).
Giving us weekends to rest in is a sign of God's mercy. He knows our weaknesses. Having a day of rest that we keep holy is also a sign that we are His people, whom He made holy and who can look ahead to the eternal rest that we will enjoy in heaven. Thank you, Lord, for the day of rest. Thank you, Lord, for the eternal rest you will give us.
Our Lord God, who created us, knows exactly what is needed by our body. Our body is not a machine, but a physical body that can exert itself for a while, but needs to be rested and recovered before another round of exertion. Lord God gave us a commandment to rest on the Sabbath, just as He rested on the seventh day after Creation. He said, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20:8-11)
The commandment extended not only to the people of Israel, but also to the servants and animals (Deuteronomy 5:12-14). All were to rest on the Sabbath and keep the day holy. Even the land was to be rested (Leviticus 25:2-6) and whatever the land yielded without being worked on was to be the food for all in the Sabbath year. If the land was not rested, it would be forced to become desolate and deserted with the people taken away to the land of the enemies (Leviticus 26:34-35).
Besides providing a day to have physical rest, the Sabbath was given as a sign that we are God's people whom God made holy (Ezekiel 20:12,20). It is a day to remember the Lord God as our God. We are to remember that if we keep His commandments and decrees (starting with the commandment to rest), we will live; but if we don't, we will surely be destroyed.
The only work to be done on the Sabbath was God's work -- work that saves lives and work that represented doing good. Jesus declared that the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28) and legitimized doing good and saving lives even on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:10-12, Mark 3:1-4, Luke 6:6-9, Luke 13:14-16).
Ultimately, God's people can look forward to the eternal Sabbath-rest that they will enter in the kingdom of God (Hebrews 4:9-11). This rest is not just the rest that the Israelites enjoyed on the seventh day, nor in the land of milk and honey that they conquered with Joshua, although these all symbolized the ultimate Sabbath-rest to come. The ultimate rest will come when the obedient will enter the New Jerusalem in the heavenly kingdom of God, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (Revelations 21:4).
Giving us weekends to rest in is a sign of God's mercy. He knows our weaknesses. Having a day of rest that we keep holy is also a sign that we are His people, whom He made holy and who can look ahead to the eternal rest that we will enjoy in heaven. Thank you, Lord, for the day of rest. Thank you, Lord, for the eternal rest you will give us.
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