분쟁하지 않는 나라(A HOUSE UNDIVIDED)

💙 분쟁하지 않는 나라

 ✝  에베소서 2:17 - 2:22 

“ 스스로 분쟁하는 동네나 집마다 서지 못하리라 “[마태복음 12:25]

1858년 6월 16일, 일리노이주 공화당 상원의원 후보로 새로이 지명된 에이브러햄 링컨은 유명한 “분쟁하는 집”이라는 연설을 했습니다. 그것은 노예제도를 놓고 미국의 여러 당파 간의 갈등을 보여주는 내용이었습니다. 이 연설은 링컨을 지지하는 자와 반대하는 자 모두에게 논란을 일으켰습니다. 링컨은 마태복음 12장 25절에서 예수님이 말씀하신 “분쟁하는 집”의 비유가 널리 알려져 있고 이해하기 쉽게 표현되었기 때문에 그 비유를 사용하는 것이 중요하다고 생각했습니다. 그는 이 비유를 사용해 “그 시대의 위기를 깨닫도록 사람들의 정곡을 찔렀던 것”입니다.

분쟁하는 집은 설 수 없지만, 반대로 분쟁하지 않는 집은 연합해 일어납니다. 그것이 바로 하나님의 가족 공동체(에베소서 2:19)의 원래 모습 입니다. 
비록 다양한 배경을 가진 사람들로 구성되어 있지만, 예수님이 십자가에서 죽으심으로 우리는 서로 더불어 하나님과 화목하게 되었습니다(14- 16절). 
이 진리의 관점에서(에베소서 3장 참조) 바울은 예수님을 믿는 자들에게 “평안의 매는 줄로 성령이 하나 되게 하신 것을 힘써 지키라”(4:3)고 가르칩니다. 

오늘날 가족이나 믿음의 동료들처럼 본래 연합된 사람들이 고조된 긴장감으로 분쟁할 때, 하나님은 성령의 도움을 통해 서로 연합을 유지하는 데 필요한 지혜와 힘을 주십니다. 이로 인해 우리는 어둡고 분열된 세상에서 빛이 될 수 있습니다.

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하나님은 어떻게 당신을 들어 “가족을 평화롭게 하는 자”로 사용하십니까? 
인간관계로 인한 긴장과 분쟁에 대처하는 데에 도움이 되는 성경 구절은 무엇입니까?

<예수님, 저에게 모든 이들과 화평하는 삶을 살 수 있는 지혜와 용기와 힘을 주소서.>

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[에베소서 2:17 - 2:22]
17. 또 오셔서 먼 데 있는 너희에게 평안을 전하시고 가까운 데 있는 자들에게 평안을 전하셨으니
18. 이는 그로 말미암아 우리 둘이 한 성령 안에서 아버지께 나아감을 얻게 하려 하심이라
19. 그러므로 이제부터 너희는 외인도 아니요 나그네도 아니요 오직 성도들과 동일한 시민이요 하나님의 권속이라
20. 너희는 사도들과 선지자들의 터 위에 세우심을 입은 자라 그리스도 예수께서 친히 모퉁잇돌이 되셨느니라
21. 그의 안에서 건물마다 서로 연결하여 주 안에서 성전이 되어 가고
22. 너희도 성령 안에서 하나님이 거하실 처소가 되기 위하여 그리스도 예수 안에서 함께 지어져 가느니라

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💙 A HOUSE UNDIVIDED

 ✝  Ephesians 2:17 - 2:22 

“ Every city or household divided against itself will not stand. “
[ MATTHEW 12:25 ]

On June 16, 1858, as the newly nominated Republican candidate for the US Senate from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech, which highlighted the tensions between various factions in America regarding slavery. It caused a stir among Lincoln’s friends and foes. Lincoln felt it was important to use the “house divided” figure of speech which Jesus used in Matthew 12:25 because it was widely known and simply expressed. He used this metaphor “so it would strike home to the minds of men in order to rouse them to the peril of the times.”

While a divided house can’t stand, the implied opposite can—an undivided house stands unified. In principle, that’s what the household of God is designed to be (EPHESIANS 2:19). 
Though made up of people from various backgrounds, together we’ve been reconciled to God (and each other) through Jesus’ death on the cross (VV. 14–16). In view of this truth (SEE EPHESIANS 3), Paul offers this instruction to believers in Jesus: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (4:3). 

Today, when heightened tensions threaten to divide people who are otherwise united, such as our families and fellow believers, God can give the wisdom and strength needed to keep unity with one another through the help of the Spirit. This will cause us to be light in a dark, divided world. 
-ARTHUR JACKSON

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How could God use you to be a “family peacemaker”? 
What Scripture passages could help you counter relational tension and fracture?

<Jesus, please grant me wisdom, courage, and strength to live in ways that demonstrate reconciliation with all people.>

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[Ephesians 2:17 - 2:22]
17. AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
18. for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,
20. having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner [stone],
21. in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord;
22. in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.