엄마처럼 사랑하라( LOVE LIKE MOM)

💙 엄마처럼 사랑하라

 ✝  데살로니가전서 2:1 - 2:9

“ 너희 가운데서 유순한 자가 되어 유모가 자기 자녀를 기름과 같이 하였으니 “[데살로니가전서 2:7-8]

후아니타는 조카에게 대공황을 겪으며 자란 이야기를 해주었습니다. 당시 가난했던 그녀의 가족은 먹을 거라고는 사과 몇 개와 아빠가 사냥해다 주는 동물 밖에 없었습니다. 아버지가 저녁거리로 다람쥐 한 마리를 주머니에 담아 올 때면 엄마는 이렇게 말하곤 했습니다. “다람쥐 머리는 내 차지다. 난 그게 좋아. 그 부분이 제일 맛있거든.” 여러 해가 지난 후 후아니타는 다람쥐 머리에는 먹을 고기가 없다는 사실을 알게 되었습니다. 엄마는 그것을 먹지 않았습니다. 그저 “우리 어린아이들이 엄마 걱정하지 않고 더 많이 먹을 수 있도록” 그 부위가 맛있는 척했을 뿐입니다.
내일 어머니날을 기념할 때, 어머니의 헌신을 담은 이야기들을 되새겨 보면 어떨까요? 어머니를 주신 하나님께 감사하고 어머니처럼 우리도 더욱 사랑하도록 노력합시다.

바울은 데살로니가 교회를 “유모가 자기 자녀를 기름과 같이” 섬겼습니다 (데살로니가전서 2:7). “강한 반대”에 맞서 싸우면서 그들에게 예수님에 대해 전하고 자신의 목숨까지 주면서 그들을 치열하게 사랑했습니다(2, 8절). 그리고 “아무에게도 폐를 끼치지 아니하려고 밤낮으로 일하면서 [그들에게] 하나님의 복음을 전하였습니다”(9절). 바로 엄마처럼 말입니다.
어머니의 사랑을 부인할 사람은 거의 없습니다. 그래서 바울은 자신의 수고가 “헛되지 않았다”고 완곡하게 표현했습니다(1절). 우리는 다른 사람들의 반응을 조절할 수는 없지만, 매일 매일 그들에게 다가가 헌신적으로 섬길 수는 있습니다. 엄마가 자랑스러워할 것이고, 하늘에 계신 우리 아버지도 그러실 것입니다

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당신을 헌신적으로 사랑해 준 사람이 누구였습니까? 
하늘에 계신 아버지께서 당신을 사랑하시는 것처럼 당신이 사랑하고 있는 사람은 누구입니까?

<하나님 아버지, 어느 누구도 하나님보다 우리를 더 사랑할 수는 없습니다.>

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[데살로니가전서 2:1 - 2:9]

1. 형제들아 우리가 너희 가운데 들어간 것이 헛되지 않은 줄을 너희가 친히 아나니
2. 너희가 아는 바와 같이 우리가 먼저 빌립보에서 고난과 능욕을 당하였으나 우리 하나님을 힘입어 많은 싸움 중에 하나님의 복음을 너희에게 전하였노라
3. 우리의 권면은 간사함이나 부정에서 난 것이 아니요 속임수로 하는 것도 아니라
4. 오직 하나님께 옳게 여기심을 입어 복음을 위탁 받았으니 우리가 이와 같이 말함은 사람을 기쁘게 하려 함이 아니요 오직 우리 마음을 감찰하시는 하나님을 기쁘시게 하려 함이라
5. 너희도 알거니와 우리가 아무 때에도 아첨하는 말이나 탐심의 탈을 쓰지 아니한 것을 하나님이 증언하시느니라
6. 또한 우리는 너희에게서든지 다른 이에게서든지 사람에게서는 영광을 구하지 아니하였노라
7. 우리는 그리스도의 사도로서 마땅히 권위를 주장할 수 있으나 도리어 너희 가운데서 유순한 자가 되어 유모가 자기 자녀를 기름과 같이 하였으니
8. 우리가 이같이 너희를 사모하여 하나님의 복음뿐 아니라 우리의 목숨까지도 너희에게 주기를 기뻐함은 너희가 우리의 사랑하는 자 됨이라
9. 형제들아 우리의 수고와 애쓴 것을 너희가 기억하리니 너희 아무에게도 폐를 끼치지 아니하려고 밤낮으로 일하면서 너희에게 하나님의 복음을 전하였노라

💙 LOVE LIKE MOM

 ✝  1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 2:9 

“ Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. “[ 1 THESSALONIANS 2:7–8 ]

Juanita told her nephew about growing up during the Great Depression. Her poor family only had apples to eat, plus whatever wild game her dad might provide. Whenever he bagged a squirrel for dinner, her mom would say, “Give me that squirrel head. That’s all I want to eat. It’s the best piece of meat.” Years later Juanita realized there wasn’t any meat on a squirrel’s head. Her mom didn’t eat it. She only pretended it was a delicacy “so us kids could get more to eat and we wouldn’t worry about her.” As we celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow, may we also recount stories of our mothers’ devotion. We thank God for them and strive to love more like them.

Paul served the Thessalonian church “as a nursing mother cares for her children”
 (1 THESSALONIANS 2:7). He loved fiercely, fighting through “strong opposition” to tell them about Jesus and to share his own life with them (VV. 2, 8). He “worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while [he] preached the gospel of God to [them]” (V. 9). Just like Mom.
Few can resist a mother’s love, and Paul modestly said his efforts were “not without results” (V. 1). We can’t control how others respond, but we can choose to show up, day after day, to serve them in a sacrificial way. Mom would be proud, and so will our heavenly Father. 
-MIKE WITTME

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Who has loved you sacrificially?Who are you loving as your heavenly Father loves you?

<Father, no one could love me more than You.>

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[1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 2:9]

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.
2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.
3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.
4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.
5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed —God is our witness.
6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
7 Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,
8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.
9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.