오래된 질그릇 An Old Clay Pot

[주재현]

1월 28일 • 화요일

오래된 질그릇 An Old Clay Pot

성경읽기: 출 19-20; 마 18:21-35

새찬송가: 111(통 111)

오늘의 성경말씀 / 고린도후서 4:7-12

우리가 이 보배를 질그릇에 가졌으니 이는 심히 큰 능력은 하나님께 있고 우리에게 있지 아니함을 알게 하려 함이라 - 고린도후서 4:7

나는 여러 해 동안 오래된 질그릇을 모아 왔습니다. 내가 가장 아끼는 것은 아브라함 당시의 유적지에서 발굴된 것입니다. 최소한 그것은 우리 집에서 내 나이 보다 더 오래된 것입니다! 보기에는 보잘 것 없습니다. 때가 끼고 금이 가고 부서진 자국도 있고, 잘 닦아줘야 될 것 같아 보입니다. 나는 내가 단지 진흙으로 빚어진 인간이라는 것을 자신에게 상기시키기 위해 그것을 보관하고 있습니다. 비록 부서지기 쉽고 약하지만 나는 측량할 수도 없는 귀중한 보배인 예수님을 지니고 있습니다. “우리가 이 보배[예수님]를 질그릇에 가졌으니”(고린도후서 4:7).

바울은 계속해서 말합니다. “우리가 사방으로 우겨쌈을 당하여도 싸이지 아니하며 답답한 일을 당하여도 낙심하지 아니하며 박해를 받아도 버린바 되지 아니하며 거꾸러뜨림을 당하여도 망하지 아니하고”(8-9절). ‘우겨쌈을 당하고 답답한 일을 당하고 박해를 받고 거꾸러뜨림을 당하는 것.’ 이런 것들은 질그릇이 견뎌내야 할 압박들입니다. ‘싸이지 아니하고 낙심하지 않으며 버린바 되지 아니하고 망하지 않는 것.’ 이것들은 우리 안에서 대응하시는 예수님의 능력의 결과들입니다.

“우리는 언제나 예수의 죽임 당하심을 우리 몸에 짊어지고 다닙니다”(10절, 새번역). 이러한 태도는 바로 날마다 죽으신 예수님의 성품을 말해줍니다. 이러한 태도는 또한 우리 안에 살아계시는 하나님 한 분을 온전히 신뢰하며 자신의 공덕을 기꺼이 부인하는 우리의 성품이 됩니다.

“예수의 생명이 또한 우리 몸에 나타나게 하려 함이라” (10절). ‘예수님의 아름다움이 낡은 질그릇에 나타나는 것’, 이것이 결과입니다. — David H. Roper

당신은 주어진 요구를 어떻게 수행합니까? 그 힘은 어디에서 나옵니까?

하나님, 연약하고 부서지기 쉬운 제 안에 하나님이 거하시니 감사합니다. 저에게서 하나님의 모습과 능력이 드러나길 원합니다.

고린도후서 4:7-12

7 우리가 이 보배를 질그릇에 가졌으니 이는 심히 큰 능력은 하나님께 있고 우리에게 있지 아니함을 알게 하려 함이라

8 우리가 사방으로 욱여쌈을 당하여도 싸이지 아니하며 답답한 일을 당하여도 낙심하지 아니하며

9 박해를 받아도 버린 바 되지 아니하며 거꾸러뜨림을 당하여도 망하지 아니하고

10 우리가 항상 예수의 죽음을 몸에 짊어짐은 예수의 생명이 또한 우리 몸에 나타나게 하려 함이라

11 우리 살아 있는 자가 항상 예수를 위하여 죽음에 넘겨짐은 예수의 생명이 또한 우리 죽을 육체에 나타나게 하려 함이라

12 그런즉 사망은 우리 안에서 역사하고 생명은 너희 안에서 역사하느니라

An Old Clay Pot

We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

I’ve acquired a number of old clay pots over the years. My favorite was excavated from a site dated during Abraham’s time. It’s at least one item in our home that is older than I! It’s not much to look at: stained, cracked, chipped, and in need of a good scrubbing. I keep it to remind me that I’m just a man made out of mud. Though fragile and weak, I carry an immeasurably precious treasure—Jesus. “We have this treasure [Jesus] in jars of clay” (2 Corinthians 4:7).

Paul continues: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (vv. 8–9). Hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. These are the pressures the pot must bear. Not crushed, in despair, abandoned, destroyed. These are the effects of the counteracting strength of Jesus in us.

“We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus” (v. 10). This is the attitude that characterized Jesus who died to Himself every day. And this is the attitude that can characterize us—a willingness to die to self-effort, trusting solely in the sufficiency of the One who lives in us.

“So that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body” (v. 10). This is the outcome: the beauty of Jesus made visible in an old clay pot. — David H. Roper

How can you meet the demands placed on you? Where does your strength come from?

God, I’m weak and fragile. Thank You for living in me. I want You and Your strength to be seen.