Devotional Thoughts > 나눔과교제

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As I have in the past shared my daily devotion with my small group, I want to expand and take this opportunity to share in our church website.<?xml:namespace prefix = "o" ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

To our modern Western sensibilities, the treatment of skin disease (lepers) prescribed in the Old Testament law (Leviticus 13 - 14) can seem harsh.  But in ancient times, such illnesses were a deep cause for shame. People born with deformities or afflicted with certain diseases were thought to have been cursed by the gods, and they endured lifelong public shame.  As painful as it seems, the treatment prescribed in Leviticus (13: 45) would be an external enactment of the internal shame that the skin disease is cured. Though everyone might know he was without guilt, his shame was unavoidable. His status had been redefined by a condition outside his control, rendering him unfit for the company of normal people and excluded from the public worship of God.  Such ostracism might be shocking to us, but in the context of the ancient, the Law’s provision for a shamed person’s restoration was merciful in comparison. The Mosaic Law instructed priests (or pastors these days) - those closest to the worship and holiness of God - to examine the diseased person outside the camp (14:3).  Hope remained that if their disease had cleared, their shame could be dealt with, too.

But what was the purpose of a long, drawn-out purification process?  In part, the multiple cleansing rituals and proclamations of purity served to slowly counteract a former outcast’s shame, restoring self-image and public image. Like the ten healed lepers that Jesus sent to the priests for cleansing, it would publicly reinstate the person’s status as an honorable member of the community, fit to dwell in God’s presence (Luke 17:11–19).

As we live in this world, our culture tends to ignore shame, confusing it with guilt and insisting that an innocent person should feel fine. But we often need space to express these feelings. Expressing the cause of your shame to a pastor, Christian counselor, or mentor could help you begin to receive God’s cleansing and restoration.

As I read and pray over my devotion, I’m reminded of following Scripture verse:

“God reigns over the nations;

God is seated on his holy throne.”

Psalms 47:8

As Psalm above reads, God reigns over us as He sits on His throne.  We may waver left or right and struggle/get frustrated as life throws us difficulties and hardships, however, we can rest assure that God is unchanging.  Whether it’s skin disease or shame that we go through, we can trust and rest in truth that God oversees all while sitting on His throne.

I pray that we all learn to trust in Him and prayerfully find and rest in Him sitting on his holy throne.  If there's any concerns or anguishing thoughts, express to Him only...and that may we find peace...God's peace...

Amen.