“선을 행하되 낙심하지 맙시다”

9월은 성령의 열매 가운데 “양선(Goodness)”을 함께 훈련하는 달입니다. 양선은 단순히 착한 사람이 되는 것이 아닙니다. 하나님께서 선하시다는 사실을 믿고, 그 선하심을 우리의 삶으로 나타내는 것입니다.

우리는 너무 쉽게 “좋은 마음”만으로 만족합니다. 그러나 성경은 우리에게 선을 생각하는 것에서 멈추지 말고 선을 행하라고 말씀합니다. 기회가 있을 때 돕고, 손해를 보더라도 옳은 것을 선택하고, 아무도 보지 않을 때에도 정직하며, 악을 악으로 갚지 않고 선으로 악을 이기는 삶이 바로 양선입니다.

이번 한 달, “나는 원래 이런 사람이야”라는 말 뒤에 숨지 맙시다. 매일 성령님께 순종하여 하루 한 가지라도 의도적으로 선을 행합시다. 작은 친절, 정직한 선택, 먼저 내미는 손, 용서의 한마디가 하나님 나라를 드러낼 수 있습니다.

“우리가 선을 행하되 낙심하지 말지니…” (갈 6:9)

사랑하는 성도 여러분, 이번 9월을 우리의 삶을 통해 하나님의 선하심이 흘러가는 달로 만듭시다. 우리의 가정과 교회와 일터에서 “저 사람을 통해 하나님의 선하심을 볼 수 있다”는 고백이 나오게 합시다.

성령으로 살고, 성령으로 행합시다!

“Let Us Not Grow Weary of Doing Good”

Dear beloved family of Way Maker Church,

September is our month to intentionally practice “Goodness,” one of the fruits of the Spirit. Goodness is not simply about becoming a nice or good person. It is believing that God is good and allowing His goodness to be expressed through our lives.

It is easy for us to be satisfied with having “good intentions.” But Scripture calls us not merely to think about doing good, but to actually do good. When we have an opportunity, we serve. We choose what is right even when it costs us. We remain honest when no one is watching. We refuse to repay evil with evil and instead overcome evil with good. This is what it means to live out the fruit of goodness.

This month, let us not hide behind the words, “That’s just the way I am.” Instead, let us obey the Holy Spirit and intentionally do at least one good thing every day. A small act of kindness, an honest choice, a hand extended to someone in need, or a word of forgiveness can become a beautiful expression of God's kingdom.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good…” (Galatians 6:9)

Beloved church family, let us make this September a month in which God's goodness flows through our lives. May our families, our church, and our workplaces become places where people can say, “I can see the goodness of God through that person.”

Let us live by the Spirit and walk by the Spirit!

- 임성은 목사