사랑 안에 뿌리를 내림(ROOTED IN LOVE)

💙 사랑 안에 뿌리를 내림

 ✝  룻기 2:5 - 2:13 

“네 부모와 고국을 떠나 전에 알지 못하던 백성에게로 온 일이 내게 분명히 알려졌느니라”[룻기 2:11]

나는 입주 간병인으로 어머니를 돕기 위해 암 치료 센터에 도착했습니다. 외롭고 두려웠습니다. 가족과 주위의 도움을 떠나 750마일 이상 떨어진 곳에 온 것입니다. 내가 짐을 챙기기도 전에 미소의 사나이 프랭크가 도와주겠다고 했습니다. 우리가 6층에 도착할 즈음에는, 프랭크의 치료를 돕고 있는 그의 아내 로리와 만나기로 했습니다. 이들 부부와 나는 하나님과 서로를 의지하며 곧 가족처럼 되었습니다. 우리는 함께 웃다가, 화도 내고, 울면서 기도했습니다. 어쩌다 못 올 데 온 기분이 들었지만 하나님과 연결된 우리의 관계는 서로 의지하며 사랑 안에서 깊게 뿌리내렸습니다.

룻이 시어머니 나오미를 돌보기로 결심했을 때 그녀는 익숙한 환경의 안정감을 뒤로하고 떠난 것입니다. 룻은 “가서 베는 자를 따라 밭에서 이삭을 주웠습니다”(룻기 2:3). 감독자는 지주인 보아스에게 룻이 “와서는 잠시 집에서 쉰 외에 지금까지 계속 하는 중이니이다”(7절)라고 보고했습니다. 룻은 자신이 나오미를 돌보듯이 자신을 돌봐줄 사람들과 안전한 거처를 얻었습니다 (8-9 절). 그리고 하나님은 보아스가 룻과 나오미에게 관대히 베풀도록 하셨습니다(14-16 절).

삶의 여러 환경들은 우리의 익숙한 환경을 훨씬 넘어 전혀 예기치 못한 곳으로 우리를 인도하기도 합니다. 그러나 우리가 하나님과, 또 서로서로와의 관계를 유지한다면, 하나님은 우리가 서로 의지하면서 사랑 안에 뿌리를 내리게 하실 것입니다

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당신이 혼자라고 느꼈을 때 하나님께서 어떻게 위로해 주셨습니까? 
하나님은 그분의 사랑 안에 뿌리를 내린 공동체를 통해 당신을 돕기 위해서 어떻게 사람들을 사용하셨습니까?

<사랑의 하나님 아버지, 저와 함께 하시겠다고 약속하시고 필요한 모든 것을 공급해 주셔서 감사합니다.>

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[룻기 2:5 - 2:13]
5. 보아스가 베는 자들을 거느린 사환에게 이르되 이는 누구의 소녀냐 하니
6. 베는 자를 거느린 사환이 대답하여 이르되 이는 나오미와 함께 모압 지방에서 돌아온 모압 소녀인데
7. 그의 말이 나로 베는 자를 따라 단 사이에서 이삭을 줍게 하소서 하였고 아침부터 와서는 잠시 집에서 쉰 외에 지금까지 계속하는 중이니이다
8. ○보아스가 룻에게 이르되 내 딸아 들으라 이삭을 주우러 다른 밭으로 가지 말며 여기서 떠나지 말고 나의 소녀들과 함께 있으라
9. 그들이 베는 밭을 보고 그들을 따르라 내가 그 소년들에게 명령하여 너를 건드리지 말라 하였느니라 목이 마르거든 그릇에 가서 소년들이 길어 온 것을 마실지니라 하는지라
10. 룻이 엎드려 얼굴을 땅에 대고 절하며 그에게 이르되 나는 이방 여인이거늘 당신이 어찌하여 내게 은혜를 베푸시며 나를 돌보시나이까 하니
11. 보아스가 그에게 대답하여 이르되 네 남편이 죽은 후로 네가 시어머니에게 행한 모든 것과 네 부모와 고국을 떠나 전에 알지 못하던 백성에게로 온 일이 내게 분명히 알려졌느니라
12. 여호와께서 네가 행한 일에 보답하시기를 원하며 이스라엘의 하나님 여호와께서 그의 날개 아래에 보호를 받으러 온 네게 온전한 상 주시기를 원하노라 하는지라
13. 룻이 이르되 내 주여 내가 당신께 은혜 입기를 원하나이다 나는 당신의 하녀 중의 하나와도 같지 못하오나 당신이 이 하녀를 위로하시고 마음을 기쁘게 하는 말씀을 하셨나이다 하니라

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💙 ROOTED IN LOVE

 ✝  Ruth 2:5 - 2:13 

"You left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before."
[RUTH 2:11]

I arrived at the cancer care center, where I’d be serving as my mom’s live-in caregiver, feeling alone and afraid. I’d left my family and support system more than 750 miles behind me. But before I could even touch my luggage, Frank, a man with a huge grin, offered to help. By the time we reached the sixth floor, I’d made plans to meet his wife, Lori, who cared for him during his treatments. The couple soon became like family as we leaned on God and each other. We laughed, vented, cried, and prayed together. Though we all felt displaced, our connection to God and each other kept us rooted in love as we supported one another. 

When Ruth committed to caring for her mother-in-law, Naomi, she left the security of familiarity behind. Ruth “entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters” (RUTH 2:3). The overseer told the landowner, Boaz, that Ruth “came into the field” and “remained” working “except for a short rest in the shelter” (V. 7). Ruth found a safe place with people willing to care for her as she cared for Naomi (VV. 8–9). And God provided for Ruth and Naomi though Boaz’s generosity (VV. 14–16).

Life’s circumstances can provide roads to unexpected places far beyond our comfort zones. As we remain connected to God and each other, He’ll keep us rooted in love as we support one another. -XOCHITL DIXON

How has God comforted you when you felt alone? How has He used other people to support you through a  community rooted in His love?

Loving Father, thank You for promising to be with me and for providing all I need.

[Ruth 2:5 - 2:13]

5. Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"
6. And the servant in charge of the reapers answered and said, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned  with Naomi from the land of Moab.
7. "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has  remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."
8. Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not  go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.
9. "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw."
10. Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
11. And Boaz answered and said to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother  and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
12. "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wing you have come to seek refuge."
13. Then she said, "I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken  kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."