15Then Balak sent other offic...

15Then Balak sent other officials, more numerous and more distinguished than the first.

16They came to Balaam and said: "This is what Balak son of Zippor says: Do not let anything keep you from coming to me,

- P76

21Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials.

22But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road.

24Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides.

- P76

25When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. So he beat the donkey again.

26Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left.

27When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff.

28Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"

29Balaam answered the donkey, "You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."

30The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?" "No," he said.

- P77

Balak’s persistence in securing Balaam’s help reveals his determination to manipulate spiritual forces for personal gain. - P78

Balaam, though aware of God’s command, entertains the offer once again—perhaps hoping for a different answer or a greater reward. His hesitation exposes a divided heart, one that hears God’s will yet remains enticed by worldly gain. - P78

Like Balaam, we sometimes seek to negotiate with God, hoping for His approval while still pursuing our own desires. But God calls us to wholehearted obedience. - P78

When we allow personal ambitions to influence our decisions, we risk aligning ourselves with the wrong side. - P78

The enemy often presents us with tempting opportunities, but they come at the cost of our faithfulness to God. - P78

Balaam’s journey to Balak is marked by a striking irony: his donkey sees what he cannot. The angel of the Lord stands in his path, yet he remains blind and persistently beats the animal that tries to save his life. - P78

Only when God opens Balaam’s eyes does he recognize his peril. This account illustrates how sin blinds us to God’s warnings. Balaam was so set on pursuing his own way that he failed to see the obvious signs. - P78

Likewise, when we insist on our plans rather than seeking God’s will, we risk becoming spiritually blind and insensitive to His leading. - P78

His mercy sometimes places obstacles in our way to redirect us. - P78

When you realize He is leading you to change course, do not resist Him. - P78

"When we are born again, the eyes of our hearts are enlightened and, through faith,
we begin to see the Treasure: God himself in Christ." - Jon Bloom - P78

Lord, help me recognize when my heart is divided between Your will and my own desires. - P79

Give me the courage to choose obedience over compromise. - P79

May I seek Your approval above all else, trusting that Your plans for me are far better than anything the world can offer. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P79

God opens Balaam‘s eyes to see the angel of the Lord standing in the path witha drawn sword. Balaam offers to turn back. The angel of the Lord permits himto go but commands him to speak only what He says. Balaam meets Balak andinforms him that he can only speak what God puts in his mouth. - P81

Friends, when you are in a hurry, it is likely that you will blame others insteadof noticing your own faults. When we empty a day of all meetings, fasting frombusyness, we will hear God‘s correction more clearly, and be able to more fullyconfess our sins.
- Pastor Sam An - P83

˝믿음과 선한 양심을 가지십시오. 어떤 사람들은 선한...

"믿음과 선한 양심을 가지십시오. 어떤 사람들은 선한 양심을 버리고, 그 신앙생활에 파선을 당하였습니다."(딤전 1:19, 새번역)
한 줄 노트 그리스도인은 세상의 기준보다 하나님 앞에서 훨씬 더 민감한 양심을 소유한 사람들입니다. - P157

1 Timothy 1:19 NLT
[19] Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
- P157

양심을 어기면
"양심을 어기지 않고 잘 지내려면 나의 양심이 예민할 수있도록 노력해야 합니다." 우리 영이 예민한 상태에서 양심은 예수 그리스도와
‘일치된 상태‘를 유지합니다. 이때 우리가 양심을 따라 살면 하나님의 생각과 어긋나지 않습니다.  - P157

‘일치된 상태‘에서 우리 영은 어떤 상황에서도 새롭습니다. 이때 ‘새롭다‘는 말은 늘 하나님의 인도하심에 신선하게 대응한다는 뜻입니다. 우리가 성령의 세미한 속삭임을 들을 준비가 되어 있다면, 성령님은 언제나 작고사소한 부분까지 우리를 일깨우십니다.  - P157

우리의 양심을 예민하게 하는 것은 내면 세계를 언제나 하나님께 열어두는 끊임없는습관입니다." 하나님께서 예민한 양심을 통해 말씀하실 때는 ‘시바‘를 따지면 안됩니다. 양심의 소리에 불순종해 양심에 거리끼는 일을 하는 순간, 하나님과의
‘내적 교통‘에 문제가 발생합니다.  - P157

그러니 양심에 거리끼는 것은 무엇이든지 내려놓고, 우리의 내적 비전이 깨끗하게 유지될 수 있도록 마음을 지켜야 합니다.
이것이 선한 양심을 지키는 습관입니다.

한줄노트 양심을 지키는 것은 신앙을 지키고 나를 지키는 일이며, 보이지 않지만 주어진 비전을 이루는 힘입니다. - P157

Romans 12:2 NLT
[2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- P157

2 Corinthians 4:10 NLT
[10] Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
- P158

하나님의 뜻과 나의 뜻이 맞지 않을 때
우리는 단순히 구원받기 위해 주님을 믿는 게 아닙니다. 하나님 아들의 생명‘을 우리를 통해 나타내기 위해 믿습니다. "우리가 주님의 생명을 드러내는지의 여부는 ‘역경‘(나의 뜻과 맞지 않는 불쾌한일)을 당해 보면 압니다."  - P158

주님의 뜻이 마음에 들지 않는다면 순종하는 데 걸림돌이 됩니다. 그러니 이 또한 역경이라고 할 수 있습니다. 시키시는 일에 모두 순종하였더라도 즐거이 하지 않았다면 불손한 태도입니다. 하나님과 나의 뜻이 맞지않을 때 자유를 누릴 수 있는 유일한 비결은 ‘주님의 생명‘이 우리 안에 드러나기를 열망하는 것입니다.  - P158

의견이 불일치할 때도 "주님, 저는 이 일에서 주님께 순종하는 것이 기쁨입니다"라고 말하는 것입니다. 우리가 이렇게 선포하면 주께서 우리 마음을 주장하십니다. 이때 우리 삶에서 주님을 영화롭게 하는 일들이 드러날것입니다.

한줄 노트 하나님의 뜻과 나의 뜻이 맞지 않을 때, 무엇이 하나님을 기쁘게 하는지 생각해 보아야 합니다. - P158

우리의 뜻과 하나님의 뜻이 일치하지않을 때, 오히려 하나님의 뜻이 명확하게 드러날 수 있습니다. 이제 우리는 어떤상황 속에서도 하나님의 아들의 생명이 드러나도록 우리의 영혼을 잘 조율해야합니다. 하나님의 말씀이 우리 안에서 역사한다면 ‘불일치의 상황을 즐길 수 있습니다.  - P158

육신의 정욕을 가진 우리의 선택과 생명이신 주님의 생각이 일치하지 않는 것은 자연스러운 일입니다. 무언가를 선택할 때 하나님의 뜻에 맞는가를 기준으로 삼는 연습을 하십시오. 이것이 습관으로 자리 잡을 때, 우리는 올바른 그리스도인의 길을 걸을 수 있습니다.
- P158

한 줄 노트 선택의 순간에서, ‘쉽고 어렵고‘가 아닌 ‘하나님의 생명이 있는가‘를 기준으로 묵상하며 결단해야 합니다. - P158

6Now come and put a curse on ...

6Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed."

7The elders of Moab and Midian left, taking with them the fee for divination. When they came to Balaam, they told him what Balak had said.

- P73

8"Spend the night here," Balaam said to them, "and I will report back to you with the answer the Lord gives me." So the Moabite officials stayed with him.

9God came to Balaam and asked, "Who are these men with you?"

10Balaam said to God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message:

11‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’"

12But God said to Balaam, "Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed."

13The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, "Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."

14So the Moabite officials returned to Balak and said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

- P73

The fear of the Israelites has spread throughout the land. The Moabite king readies himself for impending invasion. However, instead of readying his army, he hires out a diviner who would curse the Israelites. Little does the Moabite king know whose people he is messing with, whose plans he is trying to tamper with. - P74

If this were a movie, it would probably show a powerful king leveraging the curse of a powerful diviner, and we would fear for his would-be victims. However, the reality is that there is only one Almighty, and He is the Lord. And what the Lord has planned shall come to fruition. - P74

No curse stands a chance against Him. Christian, the same God is for you today. What do you have to fear? - P74

Moab sends an envoy of elders to try and buy the curses of Balaam. But an interesting turn of events unfolds. Even Balaam the diviner understands who holds true authority. Balaam, too, answers to God. - P74

This passage might confuse us into thinking that Balaam is a prophet of God. However, we must remember that even Satan understood that he could do nothing without God’s permission, as seen in the book of Job. - P74

The Bible is clear when it comes to power: whoever seems to hold it, there is only one to whom it all belongs. - P74

We are one step ahead of Moab since we know who holds the real power, but now we face the same question: will we obey the one to whom power belongs? - P74

"If God is not sovereign, then God is not God."- R. C. Sproul. - P74

Father, You alone are the powerful one. You alone are the sovereign King. Forgive me for the times I did not trust You and tried to find shelter in other places. - P75

Help me to see You for who You are and strengthen my faith. In Jesus’ name, amen. - P75

[오늘의 한문장] 하나님의 시선

거룩한 습관을 행할 때, 그것을 의식하지 않는 상태가 될 때까지 훈련해야 합니다. 굳이 우리가 의식하지 않아도 자연스럽게 행하는습관이 될 때, 우리는 더 이상 습관을 예배하지 않을 것입니다. 하나님과 올바른관계 속으로 들어가게 될 것입니다.
한줄노트 경건한 습관의 본래 목적인 하나님과의 깊은 교제 속에 있을 때, 습관을 숭배하지 않게 됩니다. - P156

정해진 시간에 기도하거나 성경을 읽는 습관도 우상이 될 수 있습니다. "경건 습관의 본래 목적인 하나님과의 교제 대신에 서서히 습관 자체를 예배하기 시작하면서 결국 습관이 우상이 됩니다.  - P156

하나님과 함께 있는 것을 방해하는 모든 것은 우상숭배가 됩니다.  - P156

한줄노트 거룩한 습관 때문에 하나님의 마음을 보지 못한다면, 그 습관은 한날 우상에 불과합니다. - P156

Acts of the Apostles 24:16 NLT
[16] Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

- P157

양심이란?
챔버스는 ‘하나님이 원하시는 것‘을 알면서도 지체하지 않도록민감한 양심을 계발하라고 말합니다. "양심은 내가 아는 최상의 것에 마음의 초점을 두는 기능으로서, 사람마다 양심은 다르게 나타날 수 있습니다. 또한 양심은 영혼의 눈으로서 하나님을 향하거나 스스로 최상이라고 간주하는 것을 향합니다."  - P157

우리가 흔히 하는 ‘양심적이다‘라는 말은 우리 영혼의 눈이 하나님을 향한채로 사는 것을 의미합니다. 이와 같은 영혼의 최고 상태에서 ‘양심‘은 우리에게완전한 하나님의 법이 무엇인지를 소개합니다. 또한 우리가 무엇을 해야 할지 지시합니다. 문제는 ‘우리가 과연 양심의 지시에 순종할 것인가‘입니다.  - P157

사도 바울은 양심에 대해 이렇게 권면합니다. "믿음과 선한 양심을 가지십시오. 어떤 사람들은 선한 양심을 버리고, 그 신앙생활에 파선을 당하였습니다. "(딤전 1:19. 새번역)
한줄노트 그리스도인은 세상의 기준보다 하나님 앞에서 훨씬 더 민감한 양심을 소유한 사람들입니다. - P157

양심을 어기면
"양심을 어기지 않고 잘 지내려면 나의 양심이 예민할 수있도록 노력해야 합니다." 우리 영이 예민한 상태에서 양심은 예수 그리스도와‘일치된 상태를 유지합니다. 이때 우리가 양심을 따라 살면 하나님의 생각과 어긋나지 않습니다. ‘일치된 상태‘에서 우리 영은 어떤 상황에서도 새롭습니다. 이때 ‘새롭다‘는 말은 늘 하나님의 인도하심에 신선하게 대응한다는 뜻입니다.  - P157

우리가 성령의 세미한 속삭임을 들을 준비가 되어 있다면, 성령님은 언제나 작고사소한 부분까지 우리를 일깨우십니다. 모든 것을 내려놓고 홀로 주님 앞에 마주설 때, 주님은 아주 작은 음성으로 우리의 마음을 두드리며 말씀하십니다.  - P157

"우리의 양심을 예민하게 하는 것은 내면 세계를 언제나 하나님께 열어두는 끊임없는습관입니다. 하나님께서 예민한 양심을 통해 말씀하실 때는 ‘시비‘를 따지면 안됩니다. 양심의 소리에 불순종해 양심에 거리끼는 일을 하는 순간, 하나님과의
‘내적 교통‘에 문제가 발생합니다.  - P157

그러나 양심에 거리끼는 것은 무엇이든지 내려놓고, 우리의 내적 비전이 깨끗하게 유지될 수 있도록 마음을 지켜야 합니다.
이것이 선한 양심을 지키는 습관입니다.
한줄노트 양심을 지키는 것은 신앙을 지키고 나를 지키는 일이며, 보이지 않지만 주어진 비전을 이루는 힘입니다. - P157

자연적인 사랑이든 영적 사랑이든 하나님으로부터 공급받...

자연적인 사랑이든 영적 사랑이든 하나님으로부터 공급받지 않으면 그 사랑은 흘러가지 않습니다. 하나님께로부터 오는 사랑이 훈련에 의해 유지될 때, 비로소 우리 안에서 사랑이 가능합니다. 놀라운 사실은 사랑하기 어려운 사람일수록 우리 안에 하나님의 거룩한사랑이 유지될 수 있게 도움을 준다는 것입니다. - P155

"나를 향한 하나님의 사랑은 한이 없습니다. 따라서를 향하신 하나님의 사랑을 근거로 다른 사람을 사랑해야 합니다."  - P155

 "성령께서는 내가 사랑스러워서 나를 사랑하는 것이 아니라 그것이 그분의속성이기 때문에 나를 사랑하심을 알려주십니다." 우리의 능력으로는 발끝으로서도 도저히 그 사랑에 닿을 수 없습니다. 그런데 하나님께서는 우리가 사랑할수 없는 사람을 사랑할 수 있도록 우리에게 오십니다.  - P155

하나님은 지금까지 많은사람을 사랑하려고 애쓰고 노력했지만 지친 우리에게 오셔서 이렇게 말씀하십니다. "내가 너희를 사랑한 것과 같은 사랑으로 다른 사람에게 보이라"(요 1512).

한줄노트 쉽지 않은 ‘그 사랑‘도 성령께서 우리에게 부어주시면 가능합니다. 우리에게는 ‘그 사랑‘을실천하기 위한 훈련이 필요합니다. - P155

습관을 숭배한다면
주의를 기울이지 않는다면 ‘좋은 습관‘이 우상이 될 수도 있습니다. 우리는 작은 습관이 우상이 되는 것을 늘 경계해야 합니다. 정해진시간에 기도하거나 성경을 읽는 습관도 우상이 될 수 있습니다. "경건 습관의 본래 목적인 하나님과의 교제 대신에 서서히 습관 자체를 예배하기 시작하면서 결국 습관이 우상이 됩니다. 이때 하늘 아버지께서 얼마나 분노하실지 주의하십시오.  - P156

‘하나님, 지금은 기도하고 있으니까 주님의 말씀에 순종할 수 없어요. 이 시간은 하나님을 위해 정한 시간이랍니다." 이렇게 말할 때 우리는 경건 습관을 행하고 있지만 하나님과 함께 있는 것은 아닙니다. 우리의 습관과 함께 있는 것입니다. 하나님과 함께 있는 것을 방해하는 모든 것은 우상숭배가 됩니다.  - P156

거룩한 습관이 정작 하나님이 원하시는 일을 하는 데 방해가 될 수도있습니다. 선한 사마리아인의 이야기에서 제사장과 레위인들이 하나님의 마음을외면하고 강도 만난 자의 이웃이 되지 않은 이유가 바로 거룩한 습관 때문은 아닐까요?
- P156

한줄노트 거룩한 습관 때문에 하나님의 마음을 보지 못한다면, 그 습관은 한낱 우상에 불과합니다. - P156

예수님의 삶은 늘 우리에게 가장 좋은 모범입니다. 예수님은 어디에서나 하나님 아버지와 하나가 되어 평안했습니다. 하나님과 평안한 관계 속에서 하는 행동은 아무 문제가 없습니다. 만일 평안하지 않다면, 하나님을 우리 안에 주인으로 모셔야 합니다. - P156