Outreach to Family Members

 오늘의 말씀

 

사도행전 16:25-34 (쉬운성경, NASB)

 

25. 한밤중에 바울과 실라는 하나님께 기도를 하며 찬송을 불렀습니다. 다른 죄수들도 그들의 기도와 찬송 소리를 듣고 있었습니다.

But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

 

26. 그 때, 갑자기 감옥까지도 흔들릴 정도의 큰 지진이 발생했습니다. 감옥 문이 열리면서 죄수들을 묶고 있던 사슬들도 다 풀렸습니다. 

and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened.

 

27. 간수가 잠에서 깨어, 감옥 문이 다 열린 것을 보고는 죄수들이 벌써 도망쳤을 것이라고 생각하고 칼을 꺼내어 자결하려 했습니다. 

 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.     

 

28. 그러자 바울이 큰소리로 소리쳤습니다. "당신 몸을 해아지 마시오. 우리는 다 여기 있습니다." 

 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all hear!"

 

29. 간수가 등불을 달라고 해서 안으로 뛰어들어가, 두려워 떨면서 바울과 실라 앞에 엎드렸습니다. 

 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,

 

 

30. 그리고 그들을 바깥으로 데리고 나와 "선생님들, 제가 어떻게 해야 구원을 받을 수 있겠습니까?"라고 물었습니다. 

 and after he brought them out, he siad, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

 

 

31. 바울과 실라가 간수에게 말했습니다. "주 예수님을 믿으십시오. 그러면 당신과 당신의 집안이 구원을 얻을 것입니다." 

 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

 

 

32. 그리고 바울과 실라는 간수와 그의 집에 있는 모든 사람에게 주님의 말씀을 전했습니다. 

 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.

 

 

33. 그 날 밤, 그 시각에 간수는 바울과 실라는 데려다가 상처를 씻어 주었습니다. 그리고 그 자리에서 그와 온 가족이 세례를 받았습니다. 

 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

 

 

34. 간수는 바울과 실라를 자기 집으로 데려가서 음식을 대접했습니다. 그와 온 가족은 하나님을 믿게 된 것을 매우 기뻐했습니다. 

 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

 

 

 

 MY BROTHER, JOHN, and his wife, Becky, were the first believers in our family. They regularly prayed for all of our extended family to receive the Lord. They watched for open doors to share their faith with loved ones. During holiday dinners, they'd testify of the things God was doing in their lives. Not only were they talking about Jesus, but their lives were changing for the better as well. one by one, different family members started following the Lord. Amazingly, nearly all of my family members are believers now and most of them have become leaders in their churches. Best of all, this legacy of faith has been carried into the next generation as nearly all of the children are followers too. We are praying for a couple of stragglers, but we believe they will soon follow Christ! If you are praying for your family to follow Jesus, never give up on them. Ask God to draw your loved ones closer to Him and to reveal himself to them. God has many ways of reaching people and it's often through hard situations that people recognize their need for the Lord. Family members know each other better than anyone because of years of shared experiences and living under the same roof. Never underestimate your influence on your family. Serve as an example by being quick to love and be forgiving of their shortcomings.

 

Judy Gyde

 

Pray today for loved ones and for future descendants.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

* straggler[strǽɡlər] : 1. 낙오자, 떨어진 사람, 패전병,  2. 지각자, a person or an animal that is among the last or the slowest in a group to do sth, for example, to finish a race or leave a place

* underestimate[ʌ̀ndəréstəmèit] : 낮게 어림하다. 과소평가하다.  to think or guess that the amount, cost or size of sth is smaller than it really is

* shortcoming[ʃɔ́ːrtkʌ̀miŋ] : 결점,  a fault in sb’s character, a plan, a system, etc.