다양성을 누림(CELEBRATING DIVERSITY)

💙 다양성을 누림

 ✝  시편 133 

“형제가 연합하여 동거함이 어찌 그리 선하고 아름다운고”[시편 133:1]

2019년 한 고등학교 졸업식에서 608명의 학생들이 졸업장을 받기 위해 대기하고 있었습니다. 교장 선생님은 시작하면서 학생들에게 아프가니스탄, 볼리비아, 보스니아 등, 자기 출신 국가를 호명하면 자리에서 일어나 달라고 부탁했습니다. 교장 선생님이 60개 나라의 이름을 다 부르는 동안 학생들은 서서 서로를 환호해주었습니다. 한 고등학교 안에 60개 나라가 모인 것입니다.

다양함 가운데 연합한 그 아름다운 모습은 하나님이 기뻐하시는 한 가지를 강력히 보여주었습니다. 그것은 바로 사람들이 하나로 어울려 사는 것입니다.
사람들이 절기를 따라 예루살렘에 들어가며 불렀던 성전에 오르는 노래, 시편 133편에서 우리는 하나님 백성들 사이의 연합을 격려하는 것을 봅니다. 

이 시편은 분열을 일으킬 수 있는 차이가 있음에도 연합하여 사는 삶의 유익을 일깨워줍니다(1절). 연합은 상쾌한 이슬(3절)이나 제사장 직분을 위임하기 위해 머리에 부었던 관유(출애굽기 29:7)가 제사장의 머리와 수염, 의복에 “흘러내리는”(2절) 것 같은 생생한 이미지로 묘사되어 있습니다. 
이런 이미지들은 다 우리가 연합할 때 하나님의 축복이 담아두지 못할 만큼 넘치게 흐른다는 사실을 강조합니다.

인종이나 국적, 나이는 달라도 예수님을 믿는 사람들에게는 성령 안에서 더 깊은 연합이 있습니다(에베소서 4:3). 
우리가 함께 서서 예수님이 이끄시는 대로 하나됨을 누릴 때, 우리는 하나님이 주신 차이들을 받아들이게 되고 진정한 연합을 이루신 분을 기뻐할 수 있습니다.
그리스도 안에서의 연합의 좋은 모습을 언제 경험하셨습니까? 
그것이 어떻게 축복이 되었습니까?

<하늘에 계신 아버지, 모든 하나님의 백성들과 연합하며 살아갈 수 있도록 제가 맡은 역할을 다 하게 하소서.>

1. 보라 형제가 연합하여 동거함이 어찌 그리 선하고 아름다운고 2. 머리에 있는 보배로운 기름이 수염 곧 아론의 수염에 흘러서 그의 옷깃까지 내림 같고 3. 헐몬의 이슬이 시온의 산들에 내림 같도다 거기서 여호와께서 복을 명령하셨나니 곧 영생이로 다

💙 CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

 ✝  Psalms 133 

“ How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! “[ PSALM 133:1 ]

At the 2019 graduation ceremony at a local high school, 608 students prepared to receive their diplomas. The  principal began by asking students to stand when he read the name of the country where they were born: Afghanistan, Bolivia, Bosnia The principal kept going until he’d named sixty countries and every student was standing and cheering together. Sixty countries; one high school.

The beauty of unity amid diversity was a powerful image that celebrated something near to God’s heart—people living together in unity.
We read an encouragement for unity among God’s people in Psalm 133, a psalm of ascent—a song sung as people entered Jerusalem for annual celebrations. 

The psalm reminded the people of the benefits of living harmoniously (V. 1) despite differences that could cause  division. In vivid imagery, unity is described as refreshing dew (V. 3) and oil—used to anoint priests (EXODUS 29:7)—“running down” the head, beard, and clothing of a priest (V. 2). Together, these images point to the reality that in unity God’s blessings flow so lavishly they can’t be contained.

For believers in Jesus, despite differences such as ethnicity, nationality, or age, there’s a deeper unity in the Spirit  (EPHESIANS 4:3). When we stand together and celebrate that common bond as Jesus leads us, we can embrace our God-given differences and celebrate the source of true unity. 
LISA M. SAMRA

When have you experienced the goodness of unity in Christ?How has it brought blessing?

<Heavenly Father, help me do my part to live in unity with all of God’s people.>

1. Psalm 133 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2. It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down  upon     the collar of his robes. 3. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life               forevermore.