그 모습 그대로 As they are

사랑하는 성도님들,

십자가 죽음을 앞두시고,

예수님은 곁에 있는 사람들을

끝까지 사랑하셨습니다.

우리 인생이 향해야 할 곳도

그 사랑의 자리입니다.

끝까지 사랑하려면

먼저 그 사람의 있는 모습 그대로를

받아줄 수 있어야 합니다.

모든 모습이 마음에 들어서도,

그 자리에 그대로 머물러도

괜찮기 때문이 아닙니다.

그 사람이 주님께서 목숨을 내어 주신

존귀한 사람이기 때문입니다.

사랑은“달라지면 받아 주겠다”는

닫힌 문 앞에서는 자라지 않습니다.

“지금의 너에게도

내 곁에 머물 자리가 있다”는

따뜻한 품에서 조심스레

뿌리를 내립니다.

그렇게 받아준 뒤에는

함께 걸어가야 합니다.

때로는 눈물을 닦아주고,

때로는 사랑으로 진리를 말해 주며,

넘어지면 다시 손을 내밀어

주님을 향해 한 걸음씩

자라 가도록 도와야 합니다.

오늘,

누군가에게 그런 사랑의 자리를

내어 줄 수 있으면 좋겠습니다.

“서로를 받아 줌으로

하나님께 영광을 돌리게 하소서.”

(롬 15:7)

As He faced death on the cross,

Jesus loved those around Him

to the very end.

Our lives, too, are meant to lead us

into that same love.

To love someone to the end,

we must first welcome them

just as they are.

Not because we find everything

about them pleasing,or

because we are content to see them

remain as they are.

But because they are precious—

someone for whom the Lord

laid down His life.

Love cannot grow before a closed door

that says,

“I will welcome you when you change.”

It gently takes root

in the warmth of an embrace

that says,“Even as you are today,

there is a place for you beside me.”

Once we have welcomed them,

we must walk alongside them.

Sometimes we wipe away their tears.

Sometimes we speak the truth in love.

When they stumble,

we reach out our hands again,

helping them grow,

one step at a time, toward the Lord.

Today,

may we make room for someone

in that kind of love.

“May we glorify God

by welcoming one another.”(Romans 15:7)