믿음 안에서 성장(GROWING IN FAITH)

💙 믿음 안에서 성장

 ✝  야고보서 1:2 - 1:4 

“ 인내를 온전히 이루라 이는 너희로 온전하고 구비하여 조금도 부족함이 없게 하려 함이라 “[야고보서 1:4]

텃밭 가꾸기를 막 시작했을 때 나는 아침 일찍 채소밭으로 달려가 싹이 나왔는지 확인해보곤 했습니다. 하지만 하나도 나오지 않았습니다. 인터넷으로 “텃밭을 빨리 가꾸는 법”을 검색하다가 싹을 내는 단계가 식물의 일생에서 가장 중요한 때임을 알게 되었습니다. 그 과정을 서두르면 안 된다는 사실을 깨닫고 난 후 나는 땅을 뚫고 태양을 향해 뻗어 나오는 새싹의 강인함과 변덕스러운 날씨를 견뎌내는 힘을 감사히 여기게 되었습니다. 몇 주를 참고 기다리니 마침내 흙을 뚫고 초록 새싹들이 한가득 나왔습니다. 

우리는 종종 인격이 성장하려면 시간과 노력이 필요하다는 것을 잊고, 겉으로 보이는 성공이나 업적에만 찬사를 보내곤 합니다. 야고보는 “여러 가지 시험을 당하거든 온전히 기쁘게 여기라”(야고보서 1:2)고 말합니다. 하지만 시험을 기쁘게 여기는 것이 어떻게 가능할까요?

하나님은 우리에게 도전과 어려움을 겪게 하셔서 우리를 하나님이 부르시기에 합당한 모습으로 빚어 가십니다. 그분은 우리가 살면서 겪는 시련을 “온전하고 구비하여 조금도 부족함이 없게”(4절) 이기고 나오기를 고대하십니다. 우리는 계속해서 예수님 안에 서 있음으로 어떤 시련도 견딜 수 있고, 더 강건해져 마침내 우리의 삶 가운데 성령의 열매를 맺을 수 있습니다(갈라디아서 5:22-23). 
하나님의 지혜로 우리는 날마다 제대로 성장하는 데 필요한 자양분을 공급받을 수 있습니다(요한복음 15:5).

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최근에 어떤 시련을 겪었습니까? 그 상황 때문에 어떤 교훈을 얻었습니까?

<사랑하는 하나님 아버지, 가끔 견디기 힘든 시련에 직면할 때가 있습니다. 견딜 힘을 주시고, 믿음 안에서 성장할 수 있게 도와주소서.>

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[야고보서 1:2 - 1:4]

2. ○내 형제들아 너희가 여러 가지 시험을 당하거든 온전히 기쁘게 여기라
3. 이는 너희 믿음의 시련이 인내를 만들어 내는 줄 너희가 앎이라
4. 인내를 온전히 이루라 이는 너희로 온전하고 구비하여 조금도 부족함이 없게 하려 함이라

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💙 GROWING IN FAITH

 ✝  James 1:2 - 1:4 

“ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. “
[ JAMES 1:4 ]

At the beginning of my gardening journey, I’d wake up early and run to my vegetable garden to see if anything had sprouted. Nothing. After an internet search for “fast garden growth,” I learned that the seedling stage is the most  important phase of a plant’s lifespan. Knowing now that this process couldn’t be rushed, I came to appreciate the strength of small sprouts fighting their way through the soil toward the sun and their resilience to temperamental weather. After waiting patiently for a few weeks, I was finally greeted by bursts of green sprouts creeping through the soil.

Sometimes it’s easy to praise the victories and triumphs in our lives without similarly acknowledging that growth in  our character often comes through time and struggle. James instructs us to “consider it pure joy” when we “face trials of many kinds” (JAMES 1:2). But what could possibly be delightful about trials?

God will sometimes allow us to go through challenges and hardships so that we can be molded into who He’s called us to be. He waits in anticipation for us to come out of the trials of life “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (V. 4). By staying grounded in Jesus, we can persevere through any challenge, growing stronger and ultimately allowing the fruit of the Spirit to blossom in our lives (GALATIANS 5:22–23). His wisdom gives us the nourishment we need to truly flourish each and every day (JOHN 15:5).
-KIMYA LODER

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What trials have you been working through recently?  What lessons are these circumstances revealing to you?

<Loving Father, sometimes my trials seem unbearable. Please give me the strength to persevere and help me grow in faith.>

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[James 1:2 - 1:4]
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.