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7 | Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. |
8 | All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. |
9 | I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. |
10 | The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. |
11 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. |
12 | The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. |
13 | The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. |
14 | "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- |
15 | just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. |
16 | I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. |
17 | The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. |
18 | No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father. |
Thursday, November 19Valiant Actions
The Bible in One Year Ezekiel 11–13; James 1
Today’s Bible Reading John 10:7–18
I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15
John Harper had no idea what was about to unfold as he and his six-year-old daughter embarked on the Titanic. But one thing he knew: he loved Jesus and he was passionate that others know Him too. As soon as the ship hit an iceberg and water started pouring in, Harper, a widower, put his little girl on a lifeboat and headed into the chaos to save as many people as possible. As he distributed life jackets he reportedly shouted, “Let the women, children, and the unsaved into the lifeboats.” Until his last breath, Harper shared about Jesus with anyone who was around him. John willingly gave his life away so others could live.
There was One who laid down His life freely two thousand years ago so you and I can live not only in this life but for all eternity. Jesus didn’t just wake up one day and decide He would pay the penalty of death for humanity’s sin. This was His life’s mission. At one point when He was talking with the Jewish religious leaders He repeatedly acknowledged “I lay down my life” (John 10:11, 15, 17, 18). He didn’t just say these words but lived them by actually dying a horrific death on the cross. He came so that the Pharisees, John Harper, and we “may have life, and have it to the full” (v. 10).—Estera Pirosca Escobar
How do I reveal that I truly love those around me? How can I show Jesus’ love to someone through my actions today?
Jesus, there aren’t words grand enough to thank You for demonstrating the greatest act of love there is. Thank You for giving Your life away so I might live. Help me to show Your love to others no matter how much it costs
11월 19일 •목요일용감한 행동
성경읽기: 에스겔 11-13; 야고보서 1
새찬송가: 567(통436)
오늘의 성경말씀: 요한복음 10:7-18
나는 선한 목자라 나는 내 양을 알고 양도 나를 아는 것이……나는 양을 위하여 목숨을 버리노라 [요한복음 10:14-15]
존 하퍼는 여섯 살 된 딸과 함께 타이타닉 호에 탔을 때 앞으로 무슨 일이 벌어질지 전혀 알지 못했습니다. 그러나 한 가지 알고 있었다면 그가 예수님을 사랑하며 다른 사람들도 주님을 알았으면 하는 열정이 있다는 것이었습니다. 배가 빙산에 부딪히자 바로 물이 안으로 밀려들기 시작했습니다. 홀아비였던 하퍼는 어린 딸을 구명정에 태우고 나서 되도록 많은 사람들을 구하기 위해 아수라장이 된 배 안으로 달려 들어갔습니다. 그는 구명조끼를 나누어주며 계속 이렇게 외쳤습니다. “여자들과 아이들, 그리고 아직 구원받지 못한 사람들을 구명정에 태우세요.” 하퍼는 마지막 숨을 거두는 순간까지 주위에 있는 사람들에게 예수님을 전했습니다. 그는 다른 사람들을 살리기 위해 기꺼이 자기 목숨을 바쳤습니다.
당신과 내가 이 땅에서, 그리고 영원히 살 수 있도록 이천 년 전에 자신의 목숨을 기꺼이 내어주신 분이 있습니다. 예수님은 어느 날 아침에 일어나 갑자기 인류의 죄로 인한 죽음의 형벌을 대신 갚겠다고 결심하신 것이 아니었습니다. 그것은 그분 일생의 사명이었습니다. 주님은 유대 지도자들과 말씀하실 때 “나는 목숨을 버린다”(요한복음 10:11, 15, 17, 18)라고 반복해서 말씀하셨습니다. 주님은 말씀만 하신 것이 아니라 십자가에서 실제로 끔찍한 죽음을 당하심으로 그 말씀대로 행하셨습니다. 예수님은 바리새인들, 존 하퍼, 그리고 우리가 “생명을 얻게 하고 더 풍성히 얻게 하려고”(10절) 이 땅에 오셨습니다.
주위 사람들을 진실로 사랑하는 것을 어떻게 나타낼 수 있을까요? 오늘 나의 행동을 통해 어떻게 누군가에게 예수님의 사랑을 보여줄 수 있을까요?
예수님, 보여주신 최고의 사랑의 행위에 어떻게 감사드려야 할지 모르겠습니다. 제가 살 수 있도록 주님의 생명을 내어주시니 감사합니다. 어떤 대가를 치르더라도 주님의 사랑을 다른 이들에게 보여줄 수 있도록 도와주소서