Simply Worship And Pray

 

Mark 9:2-29

Jesus’ Mountaintop Transfiguration

Despite his busy schedule in ministry, Jesus would regularly retreat, quieten down, and pray earnestly. This time, He brought with him three disciples—Peter, James and John, to a high mountain to pray. The high mountains are the most ideal places to pray and experience God.

At the mountaintop, Jesus was transfigured before the disciples. Mark tells us, “Jesus’ clothes became radiant, intensely white, and whiter than anyone on earth could bleach them.” This was the eternal God the Son in His glory!

In the Old Testament, God at Mount Sinai appeared in his glory to Moses. Moses could not see God directly. God hid him in the cave and he only saw the back of God. But even this had made the face of Moses radiant.

Apparently, there is an unsurpassable gap between God and the sinful people. No sinful people can come to God’s presence to witness his glory without being stricken to death.

Following the incident, through Moses, God commanded the Israelites to build a tent or tabernacle. God’s presence would dwell in the tabernacle and through sacrifices offered in the tabernacle; God’s people could come to the presence of God alive.

Now Jesus, on the other mountain, transfigured and appeared in his own glory. This transfiguration affirmed His identity as the eternal God the Son. This was also an anticipation of Jesus’ glorification after His death, resurrection and ascension.

Peter, James and John beheld Jesus’ glory but remained alive, though they were greatly terrified as they were overshadowed by cloud, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”

And there too appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Moses represented the Law while Elijah represented the Prophets. The appearance of these two great representatives of Israel’s tradition next to Jesus showed that his identity is unparalleled.

In Luke’s record, we are told that Elijah and Moses discussed with Jesus concerning His departure (or, exodus), which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. The two luminaries were cheering Jesus on, affirming and encouraging Him to accomplish his God-given mission. Their discussion involved the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets concerning the Messiah, Jesus who would saving all nations out of sin, through His suffering and death.

And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Peter intended to make such glorious, majestic and blessed moments of God’s presence longer and safer through their divine presence dwelling in the tent or tabernacle.

But suddenly, Moses and Elijah disappeared. They saw Jesus only. The tent-building project did not materialise. Theologically Moses and Elijah had to go. They were not supposed to linger in the tents alongside with Jesus because their era had passed and now Jesus came and inaugurated a new era of salvation.

And Jesus is the only way by which people can go to the Father. He himself is the tabernacle, the Temple and the sacrifice too. Through Jesus, we are able to connect with God and remain alive.

Actually, Jesus and the disciples’ mountaintop experience is a “worship” experience; where human have a foretaste of God’s eternal, glorious presence—the Transfiguration, the overshadowing cloud and the affirming voice of God.

Let Us Worship the Lord Unceasingly

Humans always live with sense of insecurity, self-alienation and alienation from other fellow humans, and also with feeling of loneliness and dissatisfaction deep down in soul.

People are haunted with all kinds of longing and want to be fulfilled. And Satan deceives us, directing us to things outside God, outside Jesus for satisfying our longings and wants.

We think that only by obtaining wealth and health, love and achievements and etc, we will be satisfied. However, the truth is only by worshipping God, the Holy One will our innermost emptiness be satisfied. Only God’s acceptance and forgiveness of sin will deliver us from guilt, shame and brokenness.

In worship, where we come to dwell in God’s presence, we will have a foretaste of all that our inner being long for, i.e. seeing God’s face, feeling the weight of his glory upon us, hearing God’s voice and entering into his embrace.

In worship, we have glimpses of God’s eternal glory, and a foretaste of all his blessings and inheritance which he has placed in store for us in eternity.

In worship, we not only believe that God is good and forgiving, but really experience his goodness and acceptance personally.

Today regardless of what circumstances we are in, we ought to constantly encounter God through worship. In this encounter, the Spirit will empower and equip us to face the future challenges in life. We ought to desire this kind of experience. It is like “tonic” to revive and renew us. We gain strength and solidify our faith through these experiences.

Now the question is, “who can experience an authentic worship?”; “What kind of attitude a true worshipper must have in order to enter into worship?”

Feeling Unworthy, Inadequate and Helpless

After the transfiguration, Jesus and His disciples went down from the mountain to meet other fellow disciples. And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So, I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”

And Jesus answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.”

And they brought the boy to Jesus. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth, and Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood, and it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

And Jesus said to him, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; but help my unbelief!”

And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, never enter him again.”

And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he aroused.

And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Jesus’ prayerful mountaintop experience had equipped Him to accomplish what was recorded in the Books of the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus then went down to the crowded valley and plains, to fight against the forces of evil; set free those who were oppressed and enchained. He served ceaselessly throughout His entire journey to Jerusalem until He arrived at another mountain, Golgotha, to suffer humiliation and to be crucified on the cross. There he sacrificed His own life for the salvation of the world.

In contrast, the disciples tried to cast out demons but failed because they did not pray enough. They were complacent and over confident of themselves. They did not prepare themselves enough to wage war against evil and suffering.

There was only one person who knew his own inadequacy and helpless state that is the father of the child. He pleaded with Jesus to help his unbelief. And the result is Jesus healed his son.

We don’t need to be fully righteous to come to God. We only need to be remorseful and confess our sin, and acknowledge that we are indeed weak and helpless, and pleading with Jesus to help our unbelief.

We can solely rely on this attitude to come to dwell in God’s presence in worship. Then we will be able to have a glimpse and foretaste of God’s eternal glory and his bountiful blessing.

Conclusion

Today we must not be contented with the busy service or the boring and monotonous life of the “plains”. We need to “go up the mountains” to pray and worship God. Today you may only know in your mind that God loves you, but you ought to feel and experience God’s love in worship.

In worship, the Holy Spirit will empower you to experience the sweetness of God’s presence. You will hear God’s voice whispering to you. You will feel that his presence surrounds you with his embrace. Your soul will also be radiant for he has shone on you.

The worship experience will prepare and equip you to take on the challenges of life; to “go down to the valley and plains” to serve the needs of the crowd and take on all other challenges that come our way. We will bring changes to our lives and to the world at large.

Let’s now humble ourselves before God, confess that we are helpless and we need God and not God needs us. Let’s be sure that only by dwelling in the presence of God can all our longings be satisfied. We will experience healing for our brokenness and deliverance from sin. 

Now let us come to worship in Spirit and in Truth, God is here to meet us, granting a foretaste of his glory and bountiful grace and blessing, and we will then be renewed, able to rise up again to new heights and empowered to move on in the power of Spirit.

嫦娥奔月 - 中秋节专题

 

《嫦娥奔月》的故事突显人对长生不老的渴望。嫦娥终于成仙，可以长生不老，但是必须付出代价，就是与亲人分离，与至爱分离，活着孤独和恐惧中。今天你是否也想快乐的活着，甚至获得长命百岁，长生不老呢？你是否想活着有平安和保障，不用为明天提心吊胆？

圣经告诉我们一个与《嫦娥》相关的故事：有一位《撒玛利亚的女子》也在追求人生永远的幸福与满足。约翰福音四1—30 记载：

有一天耶稣经过撒马利亚，到了叙加的一个井就坐在井边休息。他的门徒进城买食物。当时是中午，大热天，来了一位撒玛利亚妇人。她在大热天来到水井打水是不寻常的，为了避开其他人指指点点她不检点的私生活。

耶稣首先开口向这妇人要水喝。妇人对耶稣的要求感到惊讶，回答：『你是犹太人，怎么向我，一位撒马利亚妇人要水喝呢？』（9节）

耶稣接着说：『如果你知道我是谁，以及能够给你的恩赐，你就会向我要求活水』。

妇人对活水产生兴趣，说：『先生，请把这水赐给我，使我不渴，就不必来这里打水。』（15节）

这妇人有了活水就不需要来到这里打水，能够永久逃避人们异样的眼光！然而，更多的逃避将会是更多的孤单和迷失，好像嫦娥在月亮上过着痛苦孤独的生活。耶稣真正要赐予她的是一个新的生命，是罪得赦免，与天父和好的生命；是软弱得扶持，无知得光照，伤心得安慰，得满足的生命。

今天很多人活着，无论成就如何，总是感到不满足，默默承受『孤单、不被接纳、别人的批评和恶意中伤、努力得不到肯定、无法确认自己的人生方向与身份……』。然而，耶稣接纳我们，肯定我们，他今天来寻找我们，跟我们说话，指示我们一个出路。

耶稣继续说：『叫你的丈夫来这里。』妇人推搪说：『我没有丈夫（17节）』

耶稣坚持要她面对真相：『你说你没有丈夫，是对的。你曾经有五个丈夫，现在跟你一起的不是你的丈夫（17-18节）。』

耶稣说出女人的秘密，也是她心中的痛。她一直在追求爱和生命的保障都无法获得。听到耶稣这么说，她没有离开，反而将谈话上升到敬拜天父的课题。应该去哪里敬拜神呢？

耶稣说：『时候将到，人不再在这山上或耶路撒冷敬拜天父……（21节）。』因耶稣受死及复活后成就的救恩，那信靠耶稣的人就是『以心灵和诚实敬拜……（23节）。』

『用灵和真理敬拜神』就是所有人靠着圣灵的重生和引领，就认识到耶稣，接受耶稣为救主，就获得神赐予丰盛的生命。

经过耶稣的一番话，妇人认识耶稣真正的身份，就说；『先生，我看你是一位先知……（19节）』『我知道基督要来，告诉我们这一切事（25节）』

耶稣带着肯定语气说：『我现在跟你说话的，就是那位你说的基督。』（四26）耶稣的宣告，挑战妇人立刻回应。这妇人立即迈出新的一步，撇下了水罐，跑到城里去（四28）。

妇人背负水罐，远道而来，为了打水。现在她撇下水罐的举动，表示放下她的过去、重担和属物质的追寻，因她已经获得了基督赐予的活水，满足她心灵干渴，生命能够取得突破与更新。

撒玛利亚妇人跑进城里，回到她的族人那里，当了第一位宣教士。以前她避开人群，现在她主动和他们说：『你们来看，他把我所做的一切，都说出来，难道这人就是基督吗？』（四49）

妇人为耶稣作见证，向群众叙说神在她身上的作为，邀请人来认识耶稣。她撇下了水罐，自己倒成为了盛载活水的器皿，将人带到耶稣的跟前！透过她的见证，许多撒马利亚人来见耶稣，邀请耶稣和他们同住，最后他们还亲自听见耶稣的话就相信了耶稣，和他建立关系（四39-42）。

起初我们看见的画面是『人和人疏离、孤单、批评、指责、身份迷失、得不到肯定』。不单这样，人和神疏离，人受到世俗名利所困，背负许多重担。然而，在结尾出现一幅很感人的图画。我们看见一个健康、激励性和充满动力的个人和群体被建立起来。这是一个很大的生命逆转！

耶稣今天也在这里出现，要赐给我们活水，一个神奇的丹药，就是圣灵的力量。圣灵在我们里头，会帮助我们活出喜乐和满足的生命，以及主动出去与人结连。结果，不单是我们个人，我们整个群体都能够脱离软弱、彼此疏离、苦毒、消极、沮丧、以及被定罪的状态。这种蒙福的生命从今天就开始，一直涌流到永生。

盼望朋友来宾，在心中认真考量，做出一个抉择，就是向耶稣祷告，接受他做生命的主，好叫自己的罪得赦免，并且活出满足，充满永生盼望与能力的生命。

母亲的哀求：从爱心到信心

 

马太福音15:21-28

迦南妇人恳求耶稣医治被鬼附的女儿

马太福音15章21-28节，记载一个迦南妇人，一个普通得连名字都没有被记下来的外邦妇人，然而，因着她是一个慈爱的母亲，一个为女儿哭求的母亲，她那伟大的母性光辉便跃然呈现在世人眼前。

这位迦南妇人好像所有母亲一样，女儿是她的骨肉，是她的传承，是她生命的延续，是她生命的本身。 她怀抱她，乳养她，教导她，她把全部心血倾注在女儿身上。看着女儿一天天长大，聪明、漂亮、可爱，她仿佛是世界上最幸福的人。

就如所有的母亲一样，她一次次憧憬着女儿光明的未来，也一次次编织着她自己美好的梦想。 女儿是她的喜乐，女儿是她的满足，女儿是她的一切。 然而在某一天， 这一切都转瞬改变了。她突然发现自己的女儿得了一种怪病。女儿的病时刻揪着她的心，原来她是被污鬼附身了。

时间一天天过去, 女儿的境况一天加重一天。当所有的尝试都到了尽头，这位母亲那痛苦的心被彻底的绝望扯碎了。突然有一天，一个震动的消息在山庄村落不胫而走: 拿撒勒的先知耶稣来了，大先知耶稣到我们这里来了。耶稣？就是那个犹太人的先知，那个医病赶鬼的耶稣？

她听说太多关于耶稣的传说，因祂的名声早已传遍了叙利亚，传遍了推罗西顿的四境。 她听说过耶稣触摸一个长大麻风的病人， 那人立刻就洁净了；她听说过那个百夫长仆人病得医治的故事；她听说过耶稣曾吩咐一个瘫痪三十八年的瘫子站起来行走的故事；她听说过那个患了十二年血漏的女人，只是摸了耶稣身上的衣裳禭子就得痊愈的故事；她听说过睚鲁的女儿从死里复活的故事。更让她激动的是加大拉的两个被鬼附的人，鬼被赶出后进入猪群，那群猪闯下山崖掉进海里的故事…

她还听人说过，耶稣是大先知，是大卫的子孙，是犹太人经书上所记载的那位救主弥赛亚! 耶稣竟然到这里来了，到她的村庄来了。这位迦南妇人心里说：我要起身出去迎接祂，恳求祂医治我的女儿，因为只有祂能医治我的女儿。于是她起身，安顿好女儿，便慌忙向村外跑去。

也许她心里有过短暂的踌躇：我一个女人，一个外邦女人， 一个迦南女人，耶稣会在意我吗？耶稣会拒绝我吗？他的门徒会羞辱我吗？但这些问题都只一闪而过，她已顾不上这许多，因为她深知道，只有耶稣能医治她的女儿。

她不顾一切地拼命往村外跑，远远地看见耶稣和他的门徒一行人。于是她 一边飞跑, 一边用尽全力呼喊: “主啊，大卫的子孙，可怜我，我女儿被鬼附得甚苦…”

“主啊，大卫的子孙，可怜我，我女儿被鬼附得甚苦…”

“喊着说” 的 “喊，” 是一个过去进行时态的动词，意为 “不住地哭求。”

可怜这位迦南母亲，她的哭喊令人揪心。然而，“耶稣却一言不答。”（太15:23）

耶稣显然听见迦南妇人的哭喊，祂停下脚步，却是一言不答。耶稣的反应是令人困惑的，听着一个凄苦女人的悲切呼喊，祂却是长长的沉默一言不答。相对耶稣的沉默不语，祂的门徒却是明显地不耐烦了。犹太人讨厌外邦人，尤为痛恨迦南人。然而这个讨厌的迦南妇人却在他们的身后不停地喊叫。门徒就跟耶稣吐槽：“这妇人在我们后头喊叫，请打发她走吧。” （太15:23）

“耶稣说，我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。” （太15:24）

耶稣终于开口了，在长久的沉默之后现在终于开口说话了，但祂一旦开口说话，似乎将迦南妇人最后一道门也关闭了：“我奉差遣，不过是到以色列家迷失的羊那里去。”（太15:24）

请看那是怎样的情景：迦南妇人悲切的呼喊，门徒心中的厌烦，耶稣长久的沉默，最后是冰冷的拒绝。然而，迦南妇人没有放弃，她过来俯伏在耶稣脚前：“主啊，帮助我。”（太15:25）

妇人嘴里不住地说：主啊，可怜我；主啊，可怜我，救救我的女儿。

耶稣于是第二次开口说话：“不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。”（太15:26）

耶稣的回答再次重重击打在母亲的心房! 如果这个故事就停在这里，人们不禁要问：这是人们敬拜的主耶稣吗？是那位满有怜悯、恩典、慈爱的主耶稣吗？

然而，耶稣在这里说的，不是那些可怜兮兮、人见人厌、无家可归的丧家犬！或者觅食的流浪狗。耶稣在这里所说的，即希腊文中的“kunarion,” 是非常美丽的一个字，相当于英文的“puppy,” “pet”--- 即被主人娇养在膝盖上的可爱的宠物，它们有自己的房间，有充足的食物，有慈爱的主人与它们一起嬉戏、玩耍，它们被主人宠爱和宝贝。总之，它们有慈祥可亲的主人（master）。

“不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。” 也许你读到这节经文让你心寒，感觉受伤，但还是让我们看看迦南妇人的反应。她可一点儿也没有受伤害、被羞辱，被拒绝的感觉，相反地，她从主的话语中听出了希望、听到了安慰，她那忐忑、愁苦的心反而安定下来，于是从她极度的哀痛、凄苦、悲切中迸发出一种无比的机智、聪明和灵巧：

“主啊，不错。但是狗也吃它主人桌子上掉下来的碎渣儿。” （太15:27）

何等聪明、灵巧、机智、美丽的应答！这位迦南母亲理解到，耶稣的话是在问：“妇人，你愿意我做你的主人吗？”

迦南妇人完全听懂了主的话：主啊，是的，孩子桌子上掉下来的碎渣就足以满足俯伏在你脚前凄苦的女人。主啊，我愿意你永远做我的主人，因为你是我的盼望、我的拯救。

这是一位谦卑的母亲。她附伏耶稣面前，恳求耶稣怜悯她和女儿。她是一位极其聪明、机智的妇人，一位细心、美丽的母亲。迦南妇人的回答，让主耶稣甚至惊讶不已， “妇人，你的信心是大的。”（太15:28）

这位迦南人母亲对女儿那股迫切，不惜付出任何代价的爱心，叫她愿意俯伏在耶稣面前，敬拜耶稣，接受耶稣作生命的主。迦南母亲爱孩子的心转化成信靠耶稣的心。母亲的爱是伟大的，是超越性的，叫她能够超越面子问题与种族界限，最后升华到相信耶稣，敬拜耶稣，得着神救赎的恩典！

耶稣情不自禁赞叹：“妇人，你的信心是大的。”

“从那时候，她女儿就好了。” （太15:28）

迦南妇人相信主耶稣的话，结果女儿的病好了。她飞奔回家，看见她的女儿完全好了，重又恢复了昔日的美丽和可爱！因着信，母亲与女儿，甚至一家人都不必吃桌子掉下的渣滓，因为他们成为了神的儿女，可以坐在天国的筵席吃饭！

结论

福音书的记载耶稣时常责备门徒的不信和小信，甚至主复活后门徒仍然心里愚顽不信。但这里，耶稣却是情不自禁当面对迦南妇人说，“妇人，你的信心是大的。”（太15:28）

因着信，这位迦南母亲得回了一位健康的女儿；因着信，这位迦南妇人也得着了她和一家人的救主！这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她对女儿的爱如此深厚坚强奋不顾身；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她对救主的认信是如此准确笃定不移；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的谦卑仰望是如此的真诚纯洁无暇；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的祈求祷告如此恒切而又永不言弃；这位迦南母亲配得主的称赞，因为她的信心如此巨大坚定而又美丽无比！

圣经说，神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子耶稣，赐给他们。耶稣的爱超越世界母亲的爱，他爱世人甚至到舍弃自己的性命来救赎世人。他为罪人死在十字架上，担当罪人受惩罚；他流血洁净和赦免世人的罪。

今天耶稣出现在这里。他与每一位母亲和孩子相遇。他要帮助每一位绝望无助的母亲；帮助每一位自我降卑的母亲。耶稣要拯救每个母亲，每个孩子，每个家庭，叫你们在今生活出蒙福，丰盛的生命，并且在来生得到与神同座吃饭的荣耀！

圣灵啊！来感动世上所有的母亲与父亲，附伏在耶稣跟前，接受耶稣作生命主，做家庭的主。有耶稣作家里的主，我们就是神家里的儿女，神一定照顾家里孩子健康成长，心智成熟，走在正确的道路上，长大成才，并且赐给我们永生！

A Father's Greatest Gift

 

Genesis 24:1—9

Isaac and Rebecca

The passage today tells us how Abraham, the father of faith, “made provision” for his son, Isaac. Abraham requested his old servant to make an oath that he was to go back to Abraham’s place of origin--Aram, where his relatives were, to obtain a wife for the son.

And, Abraham only had one condition for choosing the ‘bride to be’, what is that? She must leave her father house and come to Canaan!

Do the young people today accept this kind of “arranged marriage”? This “arranged marriage” reveals to us some important lessons of parenting!

To Ensure Children Put God First in Their Lives

God had first called Abraham to leave for the Promised Land – Canaan, and promised to bless him with the land and plenty descendants. This calling first appears in Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

The Abrahamic-promise second time appears in 13:14-16, the Lord said to Abraham, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!”

Since then, the whole book of Genesis is concerned with “begetting children”.

Abraham is old now, and Isaac is still single. As a result, God’s promise to Abraham for descendants and possession of land are at risk. Anyway, Abraham is faithful to God’s calling. He is very concern for God’s promise to come to the seed of Isaac. He makes way to ensure Isaac get married and the bride must be one from Aram, not Canaan.

The rationale for Abraham’s act is that, his seed Isaac or Isaac’s seed is not to be mixed with the seed of the Canaanites (v.3). What is the reason exactly?

Abraham’s desire reinforces the notion of the two lines of blessing and curse seen in (9:25—27) – “cursed be Canaan’ but “blessed be Shem.” Throughout the Genesis narratives thus far, the inhabitants of Canaan are considered to be under divine cursed for their iniquity; “the sins of the Amorites” (15:16). The seed of Abraham is to be kept separate from the seed of Canaan.

Furthermore, the promised seed of Abraham will inherit the land from God as a gift, but not through inter-marriage with the Canaanites and assimilation into the Canaanites community.

We today know we are God’s stewards that children are “inheritance” God entrusted us to take care of. We are to “make provisions” for our children, not only best education, condominium, car and etc; but also, to safeguard our children from being corrupted, influenced by and assimilated into the way or the culture practiced by the seeds of the cursed ones, the ungodly ones, practices which are deemed immoral and sinful by the Scripture.

On the contrary, we are to guide and facilitate in many ways, so that they will remain in the blessed path of God. How to go about it?

The Bible is not a handbook for parenting. Many among us should have attended parenting courses. We know the methods of parenting, for example putting children in private schools or home schools.

Here, we just emphasis one thing, that is; we must instill the value in our children to honor God first on top of all the other undertakings. This is not an easy task because parents are prone to rank as priority the study and career of the children, but not their faith to God.

We can influence our children with our own examples and also through sharing and encouragement given to them. Like Abraham who is faithful to God’s calling, who makes God’s way the priority of life, we also are to remain faithful to God and ‘walk the talk’. Children could see parents’ good example and be influenced to put God first and think of the things of God’s kingdom.

Ensure Children Do not Lose Their Faith

Abraham insisted that the bride must come from Aram and Isaac must not leave the Promised Land—Canaan. The reason is because the seed of Abraham is not to return to the land of their fathers. The Promised Land is their home. There is to be no reversal of Abraham’s original act of faith and trust in God in leaving the land of his fathers.

Abraham had remained faithful to God’s call to leave behind his homeland. Now he made sure his descendants also do so, so that God’s blessing could be perpetuated to his descendants.

Today we, the parents have left the state of sinners—Egypt and now had come to be in the Lord. We have all the promises of blessing and salvation in the Lord. We also want our children remain in the Lord but not return to the sinner’s state.

But what if children are rebellious and they want to choose their own destiny which is departing from God? To answer that, let’s go to the third point.

Look to God’s Providence

The old servant replied Abraham by asking the question, “What if the young woman does not want to come to Canaan (v5)?”

Likewise, we are stuck too; “what if the children refuse to serve the Lord? What if they are seeing the non-Christians, marrying the non-Christians? What if they reject the Christian faith and converted to other faith? What if they live a life just like the sinners of the world without taking heed of the Scripture?”

Abraham answered the servant in vv.7-8, “For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”

Abraham’s reply proves to be both prophetic, in that it anticipates the final outcome of the story, and thematic, in that it announces the central motif of the narrative: “divine providence”. For God is going before his servant to prepare his way. Abraham counts on God, but not on people. He acts on the basis of God’s promises!

We read in the following text that God indeed directed the servant through a miraculous adventure that leads to consummation of Isaac’s marriage with Rebecca. God is faithful to his covenant with Abraham. He intervenes to ensure all obstacles to the marriage are overcome.

Abraham’s command to the servant, “go and take a wife” (v4), is answered by Laban and Bethuel. “Here is Rebecca; take her and go” (v51), and fulfilled with the statement, “So the servant took Rebecca and went” (v61).

Abraham trusted God, depended on God but not on man, nor on the system. He planned and executed the plan according to God’s promise. As he was faithful to the covenant with God, he experienced God’s leading, comfort and blessing.

 Abraham answered the servant, “If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine” tells us that the future bride herself, has to walk a step of faith herself. If she were to decline, it is a sign of her unworthiness in partaking of God’s promise.

As parents, we may prepare enough for the families or for the children specifically, in order that they could walk heading to the path and goal that we want. We do many things to ensure that they can be successful in life and also find favor in God. This is the faith in action by fulfilling human responsibility.

However, sometime things just don’t work out. Many children out of their seemingly mature, free will choice, had distant themselves from the way of the Lord.

At the end of the day, like Abraham, we as parents must be first faithful to God, and live a life that constantly trusting the Lord, believing that it is the grace of God, the divine providence that we can count on, by God’s grace; ‘the angels of the Lord would go before us, go before our children’.

In this way, even if they at some point of their lives go off tangent, departed from God’s way, yet they will be revived soon. This is called the divine initiative interplay with human responsibility.

Conclusion

Today we are facing intense secularization. Besides, children may be going through their rebellious phase of life, and many children are away from parental control as they work or study outstation. We must constantly pray for the children, must not give up hope. We need to continually trust in God and commit our children into the hand of God.

 And the children themselves must also be responsible for their own faith by submitting to God’s rule. This is the model of biblical parenting which incorporate human participation, divine providence, and also personal accountability.

欢迎“光”临

 

路加福音1:67-79

引言

我们向某某人表示很高兴他的出席，就会笑着说“欢迎光临”。为何提到“光临”呢？想必是自古以来，人们内心都渴慕光明，排斥黑暗，因此不自觉的用上“光临”这个词来表示欢迎对方的出席。

生活在古代的人特别能够体会黑暗的可怕，因为古代还没有发明电能，因此不能广泛的使用电灯发光，照耀黑夜，驱走黑暗。那时候黑夜是特别漫长难熬的！

圣经怎么形容一开始，神创造天地的情况呢？

创世记1:1-2 说：『起初，神创造天地，地是空虚混沌，深渊上面一片黑暗；神的灵运行在水面上。』

圣经写于几千年前中东地区，当时的人非常恐惧黑暗与大水，因为这两者带来极大毁坏力，叫人失去方向，以及吞噬人的性命。但是神说：『要有光，就有了光。神看光是好的，于是神就把光和暗分开。』（3节）

当时神都还没有早太阳，月亮以及各个光体，哪来的光呢？原来神的同在就带来光，因神就是光，而耶稣是世界的光！

今天我们庆祝圣诞节，就来谈谈耶稣的诞生就是神的光临到，照亮世界的黑暗，带给我们盼望和救恩！

解经

旧约圣经《以赛亚书》记载：『从前上帝使西布伦地和拿弗他利地被藐视，末后却使这沿海的路，约旦河东，外邦人居住的加利利地得荣耀。在黑暗中行走的百姓，看见了大光；住在死荫之地的人，有光照耀他们。神会使这国民众多，使他们喜乐大增；他们喜乐起来，好像收割时候的欢喜，又像人分战利品那样的快乐。』（赛9:1-3）

先知以赛亚在耶稣诞生之前七百多年向以色列人发出这得胜的预言，当时以色列人正受到亚述的威胁。

为何神的子民受到敌人攻击？因为他们不遵行神的道，犯罪悖逆神。以色列社会中充斥诸多不公义，富人剥削穷人，暴力、强权得胜和违法事件横行，孤儿寡妇饱受欺压，结果神审判以色列，容许以色列遭受外敌侵侮，家园被毁，失去性命财产。

当人离弃真神，拒绝真光的时候，就住在罪恶的黑暗和死荫里，活在苦恼和绝望中，生命不断在消耗。我们今天的世界，我们个人的生命，又如何呢？我们活在光明与幸福中，或是黑暗苦恼当呢？

我们看见一些国家的经济，短短三十年，会由兴盛走向衰弱；法律和治安是有的，但是充斥着贪污，一般人面对诸多不安和压迫；恐怖分子残酷地袭击无辜人群，不公制度助长贫富悬殊，霸权欺压小民弱势等。

社会好像进步了很多，但生活压力加增，通货膨胀使各行各业都“非常卷”，结果年轻人抗拒结婚生子，追求躺平的生活作为无声的抗议。有人看见日益严峻的大国博弈，就悲观的预测，第三次世界大战会一触即发！

圣经强调，所有问题的根源是出自“罪恶”把人类狠狠的捆绑起来。这些“罪恶”，人性的幽暗面包括：妒忌，自大，傲慢，贪婪，自私，与他人竞争等。每个人，无论是老百姓或国家领袖都深陷其中，无法自拔。世人是无法靠自己自救的，只会不断沉沦在彼此伤害，以及自我伤害。

然而，神是满有慈爱和怜悯，他要施行拯救。神在古时兴起救恩，在今天也要为我们兴起救恩，因为他是救赎的神！

神差派先知发出预言说，这加利利地将来必得着荣耀（赛9:1-2）。这是古时候的应许，应验在以色列灭亡后，又得拯救的历史。但以赛亚的预言有双重应验，也应验在耶稣的身上。

以赛亚的时代过了七百年后，新约作者路加引用这预言，但补充说，这预言彰显了神的怜悯心怀：『因我们神怜悯的心肠，叫清晨的日光从高天临到我们；要照亮坐在黑暗中死荫里的人，把我们的脚引到平安的路上。』（路1:78-79）

路加要指出，神怜悯罪人，就差派耶稣来拯救沉沦在黑暗中的人。古时候先知的预言在耶稣身上。耶稣降世后，就是在加利利展开福音工作（太4:12-25）。耶稣到处游行布道，医治病人，以及释放被鬼附身的人。他赦免人的罪，帮助人脱离罪恶的权势；他使人们明白真理，引导他们过光明的生活。

耶稣不但今生医治人，帮助人和拯救人，他甚至被钉死在十字架上，为了亲自背负罪人受惩罚。他又从死里复活，好叫那些信靠他的恶人，罪得赦免，并且能够获得永生，在来生与神同在乐园里享福。

应用

耶稣说：“我是世界的光；跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。”（约8:12）又对门徒说：“你们是世上的光。”（太5:14）

耶稣应许跟从他的人，第一是『得着生命的光』；第二是『成为世上的光』。

耶稣降生了，他今天来到我们的生命中，与我们相遇。“光”照在我们的生命，我们当如何回应呢？

我们当认定自己从前是活在黑暗里，内心有许多丑陋的罪和软弱。我们当下决心接受耶稣作救主，接受他的光照。这样耶稣会拯救我们离开黑暗，面向神；背，向罪恶说不，脱离罪的捆绑。

谁还没有接受耶稣做生命的救主，现在就来决志接受接受这光，得着这光吧！你纵然活在黑暗笼罩，人心惶惶，孤单无望的人海中，耶稣能够赐给你丰盛的生命，活出有意义的生命。

第二，我们已经接受了耶稣的救恩，决志跟从主的人，耶稣也要使我们在世人面前反映他的真光，活出生命之道。当世人看到我们的生命在跟从主之后变得不一样，就能认识到主耶稣是又真又活的神，是祂拯救世人脱离罪恶过光明的生活，就将荣耀归给父神，就会乐意的接受耶稣的救恩。

我们新耶稣之后，有时也会陷入试探之中，但圣灵会光照我们，给我们力量去悔改和离开罪恶。因此，我们要时刻靠着圣灵的力量去活出精彩的人生。

总结：

主耶稣降生世间，拯救人类脱离罪恶，出黑暗入光明，得着真正的平安。耶稣是世界的光，我们欢迎“光”临，欢迎耶稣的临在！因为基督真光照亮我们的生命，使我们活在光明中，并叫我们能在这世上为主发光，让住在黑暗笼罩下的人们，仍然能够看见曙光，就归向这光。

选择了那上好的分

 

路加福音10:38-42

『他们走路的时候，耶稣进了一个村庄。有一个名叫马大的女人，接他到家里。她有一个妹妹，名叫马利亚，坐在主的脚前听道。马大被许多要作的事，弄得心烦意乱，就上前来，说：“主啊，我妹妹让我一个人侍候，你不理吗？请吩咐她来帮助我。”主回答她：“马大，马大，你为许多事操心忙碌，但是最需要的只有一件，马利亚已经选择了那上好的分，是不能从她夺去的。”』

主耶稣来到一个村庄-伯大尼，马大接待祂，而她的妹妺-马利亚，坐在主脚前聆听主的话语（路10:38-39）。想像一下：主耶稣来了，我有荣幸接待祂住在我家，而且我的家人可以聆听主的教导，多么美好！

很可惜，马大的心情并非如此；“她为许多侍候的事弄得心烦意乱”（路10:40）。撒种的比喻说，太多烦恼心，担忧好比石头，粗糙的泥土，导致农夫撒下的种子受到压制，无法成长。

接待主和门徒们是美好的服事，但如果服事时候满脑子都是“那许多要做的事”，再美好的服事也会出现危机。

一、你为许多事心烦意乱吗？

“许多侍候的事/许多要做的事”是指当时马大正在预备筵席。为客人预备丰盛的筵席是绝不简单的。马大看到有大堆食材要处理，茫然失措，就心烦意乱了。她对主说：“主啊，我妹妹丢下我一个人侍候，你毫不在乎吗？请叫她来帮我忙吧！”（路10:40）

马大以为主不理她，而这话也反映她的服事已失去方向。她向主投诉别人，间接也是埋怨主。她不是那么信服耶稣的主权。她与主的关系出现了隔阂。

事奉神是每为信徒信仰生活重要的部分。神赐给我们各人恩赐，又将工作托付给我们，我们就要运用恩赐才干去事奉。事奉是美好的，是神所喜悦的，而我们因着爱神而事奉神，就会得着满足和快乐。

但要小心：事奉神有可能会使人忙得心烦意乱，茫然失措，过于忙碌，譬如；各种不同的岗位需要事奉人员，有时轮值表上某些人的名字频繁出现，可能每个星期都有事奉，而且不止一种事奉，忙碌到只觉得有没完没了的工作，甚至人变成一部没有生命的机器！

事奉不单是忙碌，甚至会引发人际关系起冲突，因为每个人始终是不同的个体，来自不同的的本质和文化背景，各人各的意见。

弟兄姐妹，让我们回到事奉神的本质。事奉并不是为了做很多的事工；事奉最重要的是人在当中享受与主的关系，同时叫自己的生命，以及别人的生命得以建立。最后，大家连于元首基督，让神得荣耀。

如果事奉变成只顾应付许多工作，就会失去其美好意义；就像马大那样心烦意乱，失去方向。

马大的服事本来很美好，主耶稣得到接待，又她家中教导。这本来就是美好的景象。然而，马大忙碌到心烦意乱，而且感到很痛苦，很孤单。她认为主不理她：『主啊，你不在乎吗？我妹妹丢下我独自一人侍候，你不在乎吗？』

其实，主耶稣一直顾念着马大，知道她心烦意乱，也知道她为何如此：“马大！马大！你为许多事忧虑烦恼。”（路10:41）

马大脑海里全是要做的事，忙到忘记了服事的焦点是主耶稣：主在哪里？祂在做什么？当时主已经得到接待，开始教导了！

她忙碌和担心无法完工，直到忘记了凡事交托给主耶稣！她要求别人跟她一样的忙碌做事。她忽略了，主耶稣已经掌权，已经在控制大局。

我猜想，马利亚之前还是有协助马大接待主，不过当主安顿好，开始教导，马利亚就“丢下”了。马利亚“丢下”的不是马大，而是放下那些已经变得次要的，因为更重要的已开始进行；但马大还在为许多事情而烦恼。

如果服事多到令人忘记“那一件需要的事”，那就是过多了。主耶稣充满感情地提醒她：马大！马大！你不要忘了有一件事是需要的！

二、什么事情才是需要的？

 “马大！马大！你为许多事忧虑烦恼，但『只有一件是需要的』，马利亚已经选择了最好的那分，是不能从她那里夺去的。”（路10:41-42）

主耶稣指出马利亚选择了最好的那分，就是选择『坐在祂的脚前听祂的话语』。『坐在主的脚前听祂说话』（39节）是用来描写学生在老师面前学习。跟随主的人，无论男女，都可以坐在祂的脚前学习，这是美好的福分。这举动也是强调马利亚接受耶稣作为生命的主，顺服他，专注于他，凡事交托给耶稣；正如保罗说的，“生是基督，死了也有好处”，得到主就满足……

所以说，马利亚选择了最好的那分，不但是指学习的机会，更是指主耶稣本身，也就是人与主之间的关系。

耶和华神以“分”来形容祂与利未人之间的关系；祂拣选利未人在会幕和圣殿中事奉，对他们说：“我就是你的分、你的产业。”（民18:20）大卫也以“分”来描写他与神的关系：“耶和华是我的产业，是我杯中的福分”（诗16:5），并认定神是他的主，他的福气惟独来自于主（诗16:2）。

马利亚选择最好的那分；她认定她是属于主的，以主为她生命的中心。所以，当主耶稣教导时，她就坐在主的脚前听道。马大也应该作出同样选择，而这正是她需要的。

今天无论是日常生活或是教会的事奉，我们要面对的事总有许多；但如果只顾着解决这许多事情，而忘记自己的生命是要以主为中心。我们好像马大一样的心烦意乱。这时候我们就当停下来，想想自己到底选择什么？人生的目标是什么？事奉的中心是什么？

我们忙碌工作与服侍，到底是为了得到主耶稣，爱主，向主感恩吗？或是炫耀自己的才能，炫耀自己的成绩？或累积更多的财富？

如果工作多到导致忽略了那件需要的事，那就表示我们还未选择最好的那分：我们凡事要以与主的关系为依归。我们的心思意念不是要向着那许许多多的工作，而是要单单向着主。

我们发现到，当马利亚以主为她生命的中心时，就成为一个明白主耶稣的人，并且把握时机做了一件美事。她在主耶稣受死之前预先为祂的安葬而献上香膏（可14:3-9）。马利亚能够这样做，或许正是因为她用心聆听主耶稣的教导，所以她明白耶稣的使命，以献香膏这个行动表明她在主耶稣受苦受死这条路上与祂同心同行。

马利亚这个事奉付上巨大代价：这香膏价值三百银币，相当于普通工人一年的工资，而且她还得受门徒的误会和责备！但马利亚得着的是喜乐和满足，因为她以主为她的分，她的生命全然为主。

今天你正为许多事心烦意乱吗？向主投诉别人，埋怨主吗？担心没有成绩显出给人看吗？什么事情才是需要的？让我们选择最好的那分。

事奉有时，学习有时，工作有时，休息有时，凡事交托给主。我们无论何时，当以主为生命的中心，主在哪里，我们就在那里。主是我们的拯救，主是我们的力量。只要我们做的都是为主做，就心满意足了！

让我们一齐来到主的脚前，领受他的话语、赐福、能力、安慰和医治！