A sharp word

 

오늘의 묵상 (골3:12~14)

 

 

12. 여러분은 하나님의 선택을 받아 그분의 거룩한 백성이 되었습니다. 하나님의 사랑을 받는 만큼 다른 사람에게 너그러운 마음을 가지십시오. 친절함과 겸손함과 온유함으로, 그리고 인내하는 마음으로 다른 사람들을 대하십시오.

 

13. 화를 내기보다는 용서하고, 여러분에게 해를 입히더라도 용서해 주기 바랍니다. 우리 주께서 우리를 용서하신 것같이, 우리도 다른 사람을 용서해 주어야 하지 않겠습니까?

 

14. 이 모든 일을 하되, 무엇보다도 서로를 사랑하는 것이 중요합니다. 사랑은 모두를 묶어 주는 띠입니다.

 

 

 

 

A SHARP WORD

 

 

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. (Col. 3:13)

 

 

“I'm sorry I was so ugly to you,” my friend Terri said when I answered the phone.

 

I had been surprised at Terri's sarcastic response to a question during an earlier phone conversation. I could not think of any reason for her to be angry with me and assumed she was just having a bad day. Still, her words had stung.

 

Now, an hour later, she called to apologize. “I don't know why I said that. Will you forgive me?”

 

“Of course, I do,” I replied. “How could I not?”

 

Paul urged the Colossians to clothe themselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (3:12), indicating they had not perfected the qualities yet. Today we are still striving to develop these same attributes. It becomes easier to forgive flaws and weaknesses in others when we remember we are each a spiritual work in progress.

 

Above all, as we practice the forgiveness by which God forgave us, we strengthen the glue that binds the other virtues together-love. When Terri apologized that day-and I responded by forgiving her-our friendship grew. More importantly, our spiritual maturity grew. While neither of us has by any means arrived at our destination, we are moving in the right direction.

 

- Tracy Crump

 

 

Be gentle and patient, quick to forgive or ask forgiveness.