* 책 어디까지 읽어봤니? (02)
- 복음이 울다 (데이비드 플랫) / 목회의 참된 비전을 발견하다
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2021/07/blog-post_24.html
* 리딩 피플 북클럽 2기 멤버를 모집합니다 with 불편한 편의점
/ Discovering the True Vision of Ministry
1. 가사 살펴보기
나의 맘 받으소서
오셔서 주님의 처소
삼으소서
나의 전부이신
주여 내 맘을 받아주소서
오 나의 맘을 주님께
열었으니
주여 내게 오셔서
내 맘에 거하여
주옵소서
주가 기뻐하는
주의 성전 되게
하소서
2. 곡 소개
이 곡의
원래 제목은 “My Heart, Your Home” 으로, 성도의
마음 안에 오셔서 거하시는 주님에 대한 고백, 그리고 주님께서 기뻐하시는 성전이 되고자 하는 성도의
아름다운 갈망을 담고 있는 곡이다.
3. 말씀으로 바라보기
시편 51:10 하나님이여
내 속에 정한 마음을 창조하시고 내 안에 정직한 영을 새롭게 하소서
요한복음 14:23 예수께서
대답하여 이르시되 사람이 나를 사랑하면 내 말을 지키리니 내 아버지께서 그를 사랑하실 것이요 우리가 그에게 가서 거처를 그와 함께 하리라
신자가 하나님과 그리스도와 함께 하늘의 영광 속에서 거할
것처럼, 삼위일체 하나님은 이미 은혜 가운데
있는 참된 신자의 마음에 거하십니다.
Joel R. Beeke, Michael P. V. Barrett, and
Gerald M. Bilkes, eds., The Reformation
Heritage KJV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage
Books, 2014), 1538.
성령 하나님께서 신자 안에 내주하시는 것처럼, 아버지와 아들도 성령의 임재를 통해
신자 안에 거하십니다.
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation
Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando,
FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 1886.
로마서 12:1 그러므로
형제들아 내가 하나님의 모든 자비하심으로 너희를 권하노니 너희 몸을 하나님이 기뻐하시는 거룩한 산 제물로 드리라 이는 너희가 드릴 영적 예배니라
고린도후서 6:16 하나님의
성전과 우상이 어찌 일치가 되리요 우리는 살아 계신 하나님의 성전이라 이와 같이 하나님께서 이르시되 내가 그들 가운데 거하며 두루 행하여 나는
그들의 하나님이 되고 그들은 나의 백성이 되리라 하셨느니라
우리는 살아 계신 하나님의 성전입니다. 구약에서는 하나님의 거처가 이스라엘 백성과 함께하는 성막이었으며, 이후에는
솔로몬이 건축한 성전이 되었습니다. 그러나 그리스도께서 오셨을 때, 그분
자신이 참된 성전, 곧 하나님의 거처가 되셨습니다. 이제는 성령 하나님께서 우리 안에 거하시며, 이로 인해 우리는 개인적으로, 그리고 그분의 교회로서 공동체적으로 새로운 종말론적 성전이 되었습니다.
R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation
Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando,
FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2059.
4. 찬양에 대한
묵상
이 찬양은, 하나님께 나의 온 마음을
드리고, 주님께서 내 안에 거하시기를 바라는 간절한 기도가 담겨 있다.
특별히 이 찬양은 하나님과의 친밀한 교제를 향한 깊은 갈망을 표현하고 있다. 나의 마음을
받으소서 라는 고백은, 우리의 마음을 새롭게 하시는 하나님을 신뢰하며,
그 마음을 날마다 주님 앞에 정결하게 내어드리겠다는 결단을 담고 있다.
성경은 하나님께서 단순히 우리 곁에 계시는 것이 아니라, 우리 안에 거하신다고 분명히 말씀하신다. 특별히 성령님께서 우리
안에 임재하고 계신다. 이것은 우리의 마음에 감사와 감격과 경외감과 감동을 만들어내는 하나님의 약속의
성취이다. 그러므로 우리는 마땅히 말씀을 사랑하고 순종하는 삶을 살아야 한다. 주님을 사랑하고 그분의 뜻에 따라 사는 삶이야 말로, 하나님께서
우리 안에 거하시는 믿음의 삶인 것이다.
우리의 몸과 마음은 온전히 하나님의 것이며 신앙은 감정적인 헌신을 뛰어 넘어, 우리의 삶 전체를 하나님께 드리는 것이다. 그러므로 우리의 삶 자체가
하나님께 드리는 거룩한 산 제물이 되어야 한다. 이 찬양을 부를 때 마다 주님이 내 안에 계심에 대한
감사가 넘치기를 기대한다. 깨끗한 마음을 주님께 드리며, 또한
온전한 헌신과 예배를 통해서 하나님께 나의 전부를 주님께 드림으로 주님의 기뻐하시는 성전으로 변화되는 삶을 살아가기를 원한다. 매일 마다 주님과 더 가까워지며 주님 앞에 나를 온전히 드리는 모든 성도님들 되시기를 기대한다.
* 삶으로 드리는 찬양 전체 묵상 모음
제가 2024년 10월에 부임했기 때문에, 2025년을 준비하는 것이 쉽지가 않았습니다. 새로운 한해를 계획하는 것이 시간이 필요한 것인데 절대적인 시간이 부족했습니다. 그리고 저에 대한 기대와 또 앞으로 교회가 더 잘 되기를 원하는 귀한 마음들을 가지고 계시는 것을 알고 있었기 때문에 마음에 적잖이 부담도 있습니다.
성도님들과 대화를 나눠보니, 특히 제직 세미나에 대한 기대가 있으시다는 것을 알게 되었습니다. 제직은 교회의 핵심 멤버이고 교회를 섬기고 또 이끌어가는 분들이기 때문에 저 역시 중요하다고 생각했습니다. 그래서 오랫동안 하나님 앞에서 기도하면서 준비를 하였습니다.
요즘에 저에게 주시는 아이디어는, 교회의 중요한 모임을 위해 영상을 미리 준비하는 것입니다. 예를 들어서, 제직 수련회를 위해서 미리 강의의 내용을 녹화해서 공유하는 것입니다. 이것의 유익은, 성도님들께서 필요하신대로 계속 보실 수 있고, 또 실제 모임 때에는 이미 전반적인 내용을 아시는 분들이기 때문에, 목회자로서 더 핵심적으로 필요한 것들을 강조할 수 있다는 것입니다. 그래서 미리 교안을 준비하고 영상을 만들어서 성도님들께 보내드렸습니다.
제직 수련회의 전체적인 방향은, 리더십으로 잡았습니다. 단순히 목회자만 리더가 아니라, 제직들 모두가 교회의 리더이며 그런 맥락에서 함께 마음을 모으기를 원했습니다. 켄 블랜차드의 리더십의 정의, 그리고 짐 콜린스의 좋은 리더의 특징을 간단하게 정리해서 말씀을 드렸습니다.
그리고 교회의 비전을 함께 나누었습니다. 저는 단지 교회가 아니더라도 좋은 공동체는, 그 공동체의 비전을 모두가 함께 품고 가는 것이라고 생각합니다. 길거리를 지나가다가, 당신이 속한 공동체의 비전이 무엇이냐고 누군가 갑자기 물어보더라도 대답할 수 있어야 합니다. 특별히 교회의 리더인 제직은 더 그러합니다.
볼티모어 교회의 비전은 "서로 사랑하며, 진실하게 예배함으로 성숙하여 복음을 전하는 교회" 입니다. 이 안에 교회를 향한 하나님의 꿈 그리고 교회의 본질이 압축되어 있습니다. 이 내용을 풀어서 함께 나누고, 다시 한번 교회의 비전으로 마음을 모아 주시기를 부탁드렸습니다.
그리고 제직의 역할에 대해서 설명드렸습니다. 장로님, 권사님, 그리고 집사님들의 성경적 역할에 대해서 간략히 말씀드리고, '자기 자신'에게 있어서 무엇을 실천할지를 그룹으로 나누도록 인도했습니다. 참 좋았습니다. 진지하게 저의 강의를 들으시는 모습들이 좋았고, 또 열정적으로 나누시고 박수치는 모습이 참 좋았습니다.
그리고 올해 있을 목회 계획에 대해서 말씀드렸습니다. 현재 준비하고 있는 추가적인 내부 북클럽인 '은혜의 샘터' 양육과 외부 북클럽인 '리딩 피플'에 대한 안내를 해드렸습니다. 그리고 임직, 부흥회, 전교인 수련회 등의 중요한 행사들을 안내해드렸습니다.
모든 나눔의 시간이 참 좋았습니다. 그리고 마음이 벅찼습니다. 성도의 기쁨은 교회가 잘 되는 것이며, 하나님을 향한 소망으로 마음을 가득 채우는 것인데 그런 점에서 제직 수련회는 정말 좋았습니다. 제 마음도 기뻤고, 또 성도님들의 얼굴이 밝아서 참 좋았습니다.
담임 목사로서, 교회를 참으로 사랑하고 아끼고 열심으로 섬기는 제직들이 계셔서 행복합니다. 앞으로도 하나님께서 볼티모어 교회 가운데 은혜를 주시고, 아름다운 미래를 열어갈 것을 믿고 소망하고 또 기도합니다.
Since I began my ministry in October 2024, preparing for 2025 has not been easy. Planning for a new year requires time, but I simply did not have enough. Moreover, knowing that many members hold high expectations for me and deeply desire the church to thrive has placed a significant burden on my heart.
Through conversations with church members, I realized that there is a particular expectation for the leadership seminar. Since church leaders are the core members who serve and guide the church, I also recognized its importance. Therefore, I spent a long time in prayer before God as I prepared for it.
Recently, God has given me the idea of preparing videos in advance for important church meetings. For example, I recorded and shared the lecture content ahead of time for the leadership retreat. The benefit of this approach is that church members can revisit the material as needed, and since they are already familiar with the overall content, I, as a pastor, can focus on emphasizing the key points during the actual gathering. So, I prepared the lecture materials, created the video, and sent it to the members.
The central theme of the leadership retreat was leadership itself. Leadership is not just about pastors; all church leaders, including the deacons, play a crucial role. I wanted to unite our hearts in this understanding. I briefly introduced Ken Blanchard's definition of leadership and Jim Collins’ characteristics of a great leader.
Additionally, we shared the church’s vision together. I believe that a good community, whether a church or not, is one where all its members carry the vision in their hearts. If someone were to suddenly ask you on the street what your community’s vision is, you should be able to answer confidently. This is especially true for church leaders.
The vision of Baltimore Church is: "A church that loves one another, worships sincerely, matures in faith, and proclaims the gospel."
Within this statement lies God’s dream for the church and the essence of its mission. We unpacked this vision together and encouraged everyone to recommit their hearts to it.
We also discussed the role of church leaders. I briefly explained the biblical roles of elders, kwonsas (ordained women leaders), and deacons, and then guided the participants to reflect in small groups on how they could personally apply these roles in their own lives. It was a meaningful time. I was deeply moved by how attentively they listened to my lecture, and it was wonderful to see their passionate discussions and enthusiastic applause.
I also shared the ministry plans for this year. I introduced two upcoming book clubs—an internal discipleship group called “The Well of Grace” and an external outreach book club called “Reading People.” Additionally, I provided information about key events such as ordinations, revival services, and the all-church retreat.
Every moment of sharing was truly special, and my heart was full. The joy of the congregation is found in the growth of the church and in being filled with hope toward God. In that sense, the leadership retreat was a wonderful time. I was happy, and it was a joy to see the bright faces of our church members.
As the senior pastor, I feel blessed to have such dedicated church leaders who genuinely love, cherish, and serve the church with all their hearts. I firmly believe that God will continue to pour His grace upon Baltimore Church and lead us into a beautiful future. I hold onto this hope and continue to pray.
* 볼티모어 교회 칼럼, 목회의 은혜를 나누며 모음
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2025/02/blog-post.html
* 주일 설교를, 영어로 번역해서 나누기 시작했습니다 (설교문 영어 번역 모음)
https://jungjinbu.blogspot.com/2025/02/blog-post_22.html
Isaiah 2:1-4 - Swords Turned into Plowshares (Advent 1)
Waiting
Perhaps some of you here today have a pet dog.
When I was a student, I spent most of my time with a dog. There were many
things I felt while raising a dog, but one of the things I felt most was
intimacy and loyalty. Of course, it varies depending on the breed and
personality, but most dogs are loyal, trust their owner, and wait for them.
That’s why, after being away for a day or two and meeting again, they are so
happy to see you. The dog believed the owner would return and waited, so they
are even more joyful when the reunion happens.
A Story About a Dog
I recently saw a story on the news
by chance. It was about a pet dog named Caramelo. This dog, Caramelo, has been
living like a staff member at a hospital in Brazil. But Caramelo has quite a
story behind it. In 2016, Caramelo's owner was admitted to this hospital and
then passed away. From that moment, Caramelo has remained at that hospital. Of
course, the owner’s family tried to take the dog home several times, but it kept escaping and
returning to the hospital. Eventually, the late owner’s children gave up trying to bring
Caramelo home. Instead, the hospital decided to adopt the dog. Since we can't
communicate directly with dogs, we don't know Caramelo’s deepest thoughts, but maybe it is
still waiting for its owner to return, faithfully staying at the same spot.
The Background of Isaiah
Today's passage is about waiting.
In verse 2, it says: “In the last days, the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the
highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations
will stream to it.” The prophet Isaiah, who wrote today’s passage, was active from around
740 BC to 681 BC. Isaiah's ministry took place when both the southern kingdom
of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel were in political turmoil. The
greatest threat at that time was the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrian Empire was
expanding its power through violence to satisfy its greed, and it was a
significant threat to surrounding nations. Therefore, we can easily imagine
that people of that era lived every day with rumors of war and threats. Their
hearts must have been filled with fear and anxiety. And it was during such
times that Isaiah proclaimed the message of waiting for the last days.
Waiting for That Day
The phrase "in the last
days" refers to the end times. Isaiah prophesied in today’s passage what
will happen when that time comes. In verse 2, it says: “The mountain of the LORD’s temple will be
established as the highest of the mountains.” The "mountain of the LORD's
temple" refers to Mount Zion, where the city of Jerusalem is built, and
the temple was there. I remember the first time I saw Jerusalem during my
pilgrimage. We were on a bus heading toward Jerusalem for a long time, and I
began to see the city. The first thought that came to my mind was,
"Jerusalem isn’t as high as I thought." In the Bible, there are many references to “the mountain of
the LORD,” so often we think that Jerusalem is built on a high, scenic mountain. But
in reality, what is it like? It feels like a huge, gently sloping hill. Of
course, the city of Jerusalem is magnificent, but there are many mountains
taller and more glorious than it. But what does today’s scripture say? It says, “The mountain of
the LORD's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will
be exalted above the hills.” What does this mean? This is referring to the spiritual importance of
Jerusalem. Though it may appear to be a low mountain on the outside, because
the temple of the LORD is there, it can be called the most important place.
All Nations Will Stream to It
What is truly astonishing in
today's passage is the latter part of verse 2, which says: “All nations will
stream to it.” The word "stream" in the original language means to flow like a
river, which makes this part even more vivid. Originally, it was a place where
only the Jews gathered to worship God. Now, all nations and all peoples are
streaming in, like a mighty current, to come before God and worship Him. This
is a vivid vision of the future.
Come
Moreover, in today’s passage, we see a lively
conversation that the people have as they head up to Jerusalem. In the first
half of verse 3, it says: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of
Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” What do you feel
when you hear these words? As I read this passage, I felt the excitement of
these people. It feels like they are going on a journey to a beautiful place
they have never been before in their life or heading toward a place they had
long dreamed of. So what are these people so excited about? Their anticipation
is about God. They are filled with a beautiful resolve that God will teach them
and that they are willing to obey His words. So the latter part of verse 3
says: “The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” What is the
conviction in their hearts? They no longer wish to hear the stories of the
world. They want to hear the word of the LORD. They are confident that only
God's word is the truth, and that is why they approach the temple of God with
boldness and joy.
The Lord Will Judge Between Nations
After showing us this picture of
nations coming to God and the hopeful conversations they are having, verse 4
continues by saying: “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
peoples.” God promises to judge what is right and wrong in the disputes that have
existed thus far and to resolve their conflicts. And then, the transformation
in reality is shown: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks.” And finally, it says, “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war
anymore.”
Why War?
What are your thoughts as you read through
this passage? As I prepared this sermon, one of the biggest questions that came
to my mind was, “Why the imagery of war?” Why would God use the image of war to describe the transformation of those
who seek Him earnestly and come to Him? Why is it that when describing the
changes in those who truly seek the Lord, God uses the imagery of warfare? I
thought we should go back and reflect on the history of war and what it
represents. With that in mind, let us think about it. If we consider peace as
the opposite of war, then when was the most perfect peace shattered in human
history? That was when sin entered the world with the eating of the forbidden
fruit, and at that very moment, complete peace was shattered into pieces.
Broken Relationships
In Genesis 3, after Adam and Eve
ate the forbidden fruit, God came to Adam and rebuked him, wanting Adam to
admit his sin. God asked him: “...Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I
commanded you not to eat from?” (Genesis 3:11) But how did Adam answer? Adam said: “The woman you put
here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” (Genesis 3:12) I think this scene
might be one of the saddest in the entire Bible. Why? Because the very creature
God loved most—Adam—turned his back on God by refusing to admit his sin. Furthermore, Adam went
so far as to blame God by implying that the woman God gave him was the root of
all problems. We also see the beautiful relationship of marriage that God
allowed being completely broken here. Adam refused to take responsibility for
his sin and, instead, blamed his beloved wife. He claimed, “Because of that
woman, I ended up like this.” Right in front of Eve, his partner, Adam is recorded in Scripture
displaying this ugly scene of blaming her. Ultimately, the reason peace among
humans was shattered and wars broke out was because of our sinful, fallen
nature, which says, “It’s not my fault; it’s yours.”
Why Did They Leave the Church?
Recently, I read a book called “Why Did They Leave
the Church?” The title itself is both intriguing and heartbreaking. It’s a book by a
journalist, Sookhee Chung, who works for the Korean Daily News in America. She
wrote about a conflict that occurred in a church in the LA area years ago: “When you meet both
sides who are fighting, they all seem like perfectly fine Christians. Each of
them has a deep faith, and each has a great love for the church—greater than
anyone else’s. Their reasons and arguments are also logical in their own way. Then who
is right, and who is wrong? Before determining who’s to blame, the problem is that
everyone points at each other, saying, ‘It’s your fault.’ In church
disputes, people say they ‘pray while fighting’ and label the other side as ‘Satan’—that’s what makes it so serious.” What are your
thoughts on this? And how can you connect this writing with today’s scripture? As I
meditated on today’s passage, I realized how serious the war brought by our fall really is. It’s a war of blaming
others—even blaming God. No one takes responsibility for their sins, and instead,
everyone keeps blaming others. This is humanity's greatest war.
The Lord Took Our Place
So, let us think for a moment—what hope could
there be in such a situation? What hope is there for us in a situation where
humanity has turned against God, blames Him, and even becomes enemies with one
another? But as I meditated on Isaiah today, I found the phrase in verse 4, “He will judge
between the nations,” to be particularly significant. The word “judge” here carries the meaning of
mediation. In other words, God Himself will mediate between people. So what
kind of God is the LORD? The LORD is not a God who passively watches wars from
afar. He is a God who actively intervenes. He does not leave us alone as we
blame God and blame one another. Instead, He works on our behalf. In 1 Timothy
2:5, it says: “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man
Christ Jesus.” The Bible tells us that in order to turn a relationship of war into one of
peace, it is Jesus Christ alone who stands as the mediator between God and
humanity.
God Who Bears Responsibility for Us
How did Jesus carry out the work of
mediation? Isaiah 53:5-6 says: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds,
we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to
our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” In 2 Corinthians
5:21, it says: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might
become the righteousness of God.” Isn’t this truly astonishing? What
amazes us is that what God does is the exact opposite of what we do. While
sinners continually blame each other, saying, “It’s all your fault,” the Lord does not
blame us but instead has compassion on us and willingly takes responsibility
for our lives.
This Is True Grace
Therefore, the gospel is completely
against our instincts. We are people who feel it’s only natural to get even when we’re hurt. We are
people who resolve, “I won’t let anyone else’s mistakes cost me.” And if something is unclear, we are the kind of people who just have to
blame others to feel better. But God carried all of it alone and worked for us.
This is true grace. I remember talking to a young man during a book club
session a long time ago. I asked him, “What do you think God’s grace is?” He answered, “Pastor, it is that
Jesus died on the cross.” So I slightly corrected him: “That’s good, but I think something
important is missing. The grace is that Jesus died on the cross for me.”
The Lord Takes Full Responsibility for Us
In that
sense, perhaps we still have not fully grasped the true grace of God. We say we
know God, but in reality, we may not truly know Him. Why? Because when we think
of Jesus, we rarely think, “I am truly a sinner, and Jesus came to this earth because of me.” Instead, it’s like we think
God was in some way indebted to us and, out of necessity or guilt, had no
choice but to send His Son to this earth. But that’s not the case. That Jesus died on
the cross in our place means that God did not hold us accountable for our sin.
Rather, the Lord took on all responsibilities, and this is the essence of
Christ’s mediation. Therefore, even amid our failures and despair, we do not lose
the hope of salvation. Furthermore, even though we still stumble due to sin, we
can stand again and approach God boldly because we are assured that God still
takes responsibility for us.
Restore Your Relationships The “last days” that Isaiah the prophet spoke about
are the times we live in now. After Jesus’ first coming and as we wait for His
second coming, this era is what Isaiah was referring to as the “last days.” In this plan,
Gentiles like us would come to seek the Lord, and because of Jesus, our
relationship with the Father would be restored. We would hear the Lord’s words and seek
His will—a remarkable miracle is taking place. In that regard, I would like to ask
you this: Are you in the middle of a war? Are you in an uncomfortable
relationship with God? This question is about whether your relationship with
Father God has been fully restored. Do you feel peace when you think of God? Do
you understand, believe, and trust in Jesus, and do you have the assurance that
you are His child? And further, I would also like to ask how your relationship
is with your spiritual brothers and sisters.
The True Characteristics of the Church
What we should pay attention to is that those who have come to believe in Christ have become the temple of God. In Ephesians 2:22, it says: “And in him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” In other words, in these last days, we have become one body in Christ, a complete spiritual family. Then what is the ultimate picture of the church that the Bible shows us? The latter part of verse 4 today is like the highlight of a movie. It shows us the ultimate image that the gospel of Jesus Christ creates. And here we see people who overcome war.
This is truly remarkable. Why? Because this is
contrary to all of human history, and it shows that those who have overcome the
sinful nature of humanity have finally appeared. Take note of how vivid this
scene is. They have beaten their swords into plowshares. A plowshare is a
farming tool like a plow. The tool of war has become a farming tool. There is
no longer any tool to wage war. It says they will no longer take up swords to
strike one another, nor will they train for war. In other words, there will be
complete peace without even a hint of that horrible sin of blaming others,
destroying me, the church, and the world. So in Romans 14:17, it says: “For the kingdom of
God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and
joy in the Holy Spirit.” What does this mean? Many people still misunderstand the church, focusing
on our buildings, our numbers, and how we appear outwardly. But the Bible
speaks of the true church, where the Holy Spirit pours out boundless peace and
joy. In other words, it speaks of the true characteristics of the church—a church where war
has disappeared and inner satisfaction, peace, and awe are present.
Have True Faith
Isaiah 2:4, which we read today, is
inscribed on a stone in front of the United Nations headquarters. It represents
the determination to achieve world peace through political and diplomatic
efforts. But what’s the problem? The world is still filled with war and anger. The world’s methods will
never bring about complete peace. Sookhee Chung writes in her book: “Today, I want to
ask those involved in disputes at the 'frontlines'—how long will you keep saying, ‘It’s your fault’? By now, I want to
see someone say, ‘It’s my fault,’ and show the true image of a Christian by breaking the pride in their
hearts and repenting.” What does this mean? Just looking like a Christian outwardly will never
bring about this peace. Only those who have been deeply moved by God’s grace, who
continues to bear responsibility for sinful me and guides me, can bring about
this peace in their lives. Only those who wait for the Lord with loyalty and
sincerely long for Him can achieve and enjoy this peace.
What Are We Waiting For?
Therefore, as we meditate on today’s passage, I want
us to ask ourselves honestly: Are we waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ as
Isaiah waited for the end times? Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is
a time of waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ and preparing for Christmas.
But if we reflect, it seems that many people have forgotten the true value of
Christ. It seems that we have lost our loyalty to Him. We are busy with
year-end activities and excited about the holidays, but it seems like we have
forgotten the times we are living in. Yet in verse 3 today, it says: “Come, let us go up
to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach
us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” In other words, today we are
listening to the cries and exhortations of many people who walked the true path
of faith through this time of worship. We are learning the true way of life.
And God is inviting us away from a life of war—where we blame and condemn others—into a life of
genuine grace, where we even take responsibility for others' faults.
The Lord Invites Us to Peace
Therefore, at this very point, we
face the greatest challenge in our faith. The world we live in is like a
battleground. It feels like if we lose even once or overlook someone’s mistake,
everything will fall apart. Our reality is that we live with a sense of crisis.
The truth is, we fear that if we don’t blame others and live naively, we
might end up living a miserable life. So today’s message may seem so unrealistic.
It may sound as idealistic as the promise of peace given to Isaiah amid the
threats of war. When we hear the command to end the war today, it may seem like
it surpasses our reason completely. However, the Bible clearly shows us that
Christ has already emptied Himself completely and came to this earth, that He
willingly gave up everything for us. The Lord sacrificed for us first. The Lord
made us His body, the church. The Lord told us that this is the right way and
is asking us today, “How long will you continue to fight? How long will you live blaming others?” As we approach
Christmas, the Lord invites us, who have pledged loyalty to Him, to end the
war. On this Advent Sunday, He invites us into His peace.
Conclusion
I want to conclude today’s message. Beloved congregation, what are you earnestly waiting for this year-end? Though there are many things we can wait for and enjoy, I hope we wait for the true peace of Jesus Christ. And I pray that through the Prince of Peace, the relationship between God and us will be restored. I pray that the relationship between fellow believers, which has been broken, will be healed. I pray that the terrible war engraved in our sinful nature will gradually disappear. May we no longer lift the sword against one another. May we not wield it or train for war anymore. I sincerely bless you all in the name of the Lord, that you may live as the people of God’s peace, without wielding the sword against one another. Let us pray together.
주의 말씀의 맛이 내게 어찌 그리 단지요 내 입에 꿀보다 더 다니이다 (시 119:103) 누구나 성경을 열심히 읽으라는 말은 듣습니다. 그리고 성경이 꿀보다 달다는 이야기를 듣습니다. 그러나 실제로 많은 ...