因为软弱，所以勇敢

路加福音
22: 54—62

彼得三次不认耶稣

耶稣在客西马尼园祷告完后，犹太人领袖就来捉拿他，将他带到大祭司那里受审问。彼得远远的跟着，直到进了大祭师的院子里。耶稣在室内接受审问的时候，有人在室外的院子中间起了火，彼得与他们一同坐着。

有一位使女定睛看彼得，说：『这个人素来也是同那人一起的。』彼得却不承认，说：『你这个女人，我不认得他！』

过了一会儿，又有一个人看见彼得就说：『你也是他们一伙的。』彼得说：『你这个人，我不是！』

约过了一个小时，又有一个人坚持说：『你是在是同那人一起的，因为你也是加利利人。』彼得说：『你这人，我不知道你在说什么！』

正说话之间，鸡就叫了。主耶稣刚好经过或是从窗口往外，转过身来看彼得。彼得就想起主对他所说的话：『今日鸡叫以前，你要三次不认我。』他就出去痛哭。

彼得的个性冲动和自负，曾经他很自信地对耶稣说：『主啊，我已经做好准备同你坐牢，与你同死』

耶稣说：『彼得，我告诉你，今日鸡还没有叫，你要三次说不认得我。』（33-34节）

结果彼得真的如耶稣所预言，在紧急关头跌倒不认主。从“我不认识他…我不是他的跟从者”到“我都不知道你们在说什么”，彼得愈加坚决地否定主，也愈加否定他自己答应过耶稣—“我要同你坐牢、要与你同死”。

我们尝试分析彼得的处境和心理矛盾，从中挖掘一些鼓励和扶持人的信息。

彼得“非一般的软弱跌倒”

彼得是十二门徒的领袖，也是日后耶稣事工传承的代表人物。当人来抓拿耶稣时，没有人出面，彼得首先拔剑保护耶稣。当人逃走后，彼得是唯一跟从耶稣到大祭司院子里。彼得有勇气继续跟随耶稣。他受到不同的人追问，还是选择留下来。他面对的压力和生命危险越来越大，其他门徒却是踪影杳然！

可以这么说，彼得的失败是因为他比其他人走得更远。每个人服侍上帝，跟从主耶稣，都有自己的顶线或危险区。一些人走一两步就跌倒，一些人走几十步跌倒，彼得却是走几百步后才跌倒，因此彼得不认主，乃是一种“非一般的软弱跌倒”。

我们有否埋怨过，为何领袖级人物还会软弱跌倒呢？一些人说，我可以跌倒，他可以跌倒，但你是领袖，你不可以跌倒退步，你必须凡事都赴汤蹈火。其实这些言论是不正确的，因为每个人都可能跌倒，而每个人的顶线都不同。

彼得独自徘徊在大祭司的院子里，内心极其困惑和惧怕。他曾经拔剑保护主，并且打算与耶稣一同起义，反抗当权者，取得政治上和军事上的胜利。现在耶稣不抵抗，从容就义。一向很自负的彼得被这位所爱的主搞糊涂了。他不明白、内心混乱、六神无主。他在极大的压力地下，精神意志崩溃了，往常的自信心也消失了，就说出不认主的话。让我们反省：

我们是否也是过于自负，把自己看得过高？上帝使用挫折来管教我们，叫我们学习谦卑的功课，并且懂得凡事依靠他。保罗说得好：『我要单单夸我的软弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我。』

我们是否跟从主走了很远，付出了许多，因为某些原因，我们现在失去了当初的爱心与火热。我们从顶点跌落下来，变得冷淡了。可能因为生活的压迫太紧了、世界的诱惑太动人了，或者是因为忙碌与忧虑叫我们远离神。可能因为旁人在指指点点，说我们不济。

我们不要信心动摇，不要否定自己的过去，也不要否定曾经为主所付出的，这些经历都是真的，有价值的。人爬得更高，付出更多，受伤也更多，而受到撒旦的攻击和引诱也更激烈。

你若是软弱灰心，缺乏安全感和斗志，请不要怀疑自己，也不要怀疑上帝的真实，不要否定自己一向来的服事，上帝也没有否定你。

回转，坚固你的弟兄

彼得不认主，难道就因此否定了他的一切吗？

彼得否认主那一刻，耶稣刚好经过，转过身来，注目看彼得。他们四目交投，耶稣的眼神表露什么？是斥责的眼神吗？或是沮丧，或是悲哀的眼神呢？两种都不是！其实耶稣的眼神充满着怜悯和鼓励。

耶稣“转身”来看彼得，也是提醒彼得要“回转”归我（耶稣）以后，就要激励你的弟兄们（３２节）。耶稣的『一个转身』和『一个眼神』，叫彼得突然醒悟过来，记起耶稣不久前说过：『今天在鸡叫以前，你会三次不认我。』（３４节）

这段叙事的中心不是斥责罪，乃是邀请人，鼓励人在跌倒后认清自己的软弱就回转过来。这里不是斥责彼得为何不一直跟从耶稣，经过大祭司院子，直到监牢了，却把焦点放在彼得痛哭，走出院子后，回去坚固他的弟兄。

彼得不但要回转，还要去坚固其他的弟兄。主耶稣要求彼得，也要求我们从自我中心，转移到帮助其他人。基督因为爱我们，就舍己来拯救我们。我们也应当以爱来回应基督牺牲的爱，背起自己的十字架去跟从主，关注他人的利益。

自我中心的人过于负，不能放下个人利益、地位和荣誉、因此给魔鬼开了一个破口。这样的人一旦遭受挫败和试炼就倒下了，开始怨天尤人，一蹶不振。

当我们把焦点放在他人身上，欣赏他人的强处，接纳他人的劝告，原谅他人的软弱，关心他人的难处，进而出力坚固他人时候，这世界的荣誉、利益和地位就无法掌控我们。我们的属灵境界也因此真正被提升和开阔。

人的失足跌倒是不会因此被否定。只要他真诚面对失败，站立起来，回转，他必然得到上帝的肯定，重新被大大使用。犹大出卖耶稣，也放弃了自己，但是彼得出去痛哭，回转，然后坚固他的弟兄。彼得的跌倒反而成了日后坚固他弟兄的契机。结果是一个人的一次从失败站起来，制造了整个团队的成功。我们每个人也当如此从错误当中站起来，回转跟从主。

今天无论你觉得自己是如何地令上帝失望、服侍主真的不容易，而自己是如何的不称职，请振作起来！回转，也要坚固你身边的弟兄。上帝有丰盛的恩典。他很体贴我们的软弱。他要赦免我们的过错。圣灵的能力要转化我们，叫我们从软弱跌倒变成刚强。

你还记得吗？

『记得』是一个关键字。彼得记得耶稣说过，自己将会否认主。这『记得』成了彼得出去痛哭的动力。彼得还记得许多与耶稣一起经历的事。他记得耶稣在海边呼召他，记得看见耶稣行神迹奇事，记得听从耶稣吩咐，踏步在海面上行走 ……。

今天你还记得当年你是怎么信主，认识上帝吗？你记得上帝一路上带领你，祝福你吗？你记得是怎么经历了许多困难，祝福，才能够走到今天？彼得的确否认了耶稣，但是他回转。上帝没有否认他，教会也没有否认他，所以他才能够在日后成为教会的领袖，带领教会茁壮成长。

现在让我们数算上帝的恩典，祈求圣灵唤醒我们的记忆，记得上帝对我们的爱，如何一路上带领我们走到这么远，成就了“今天的我”。人生里一切都不是偶然的，魔鬼要我们否认主，也否认自己，但是上帝从来没有否认我们，他肯定我们门徒的身份。我们为了上帝的国所付出每个服事和奉献，都不是白费的。

魔鬼希望我们经过软弱，跌倒被否认，然后弃甲投降。上帝却希望我们经过信仰的高低起伏从新被坚固。魔鬼要我们忘记过去，否认过去，上帝却是要我们铭记过去，萌生忏悔和感恩，回转到上帝的怀抱。你还记得你的主吗？上帝一刻都没有忘记你，你是他所疼爱，所拣选的儿女。

客西马尼园的夜晚

马可福音十四32-42

耶稣在客西马尼园祷告

耶稣在受到犹太当权者捉拿，判刑钉死的前夕，带了彼得、雅各和约翰来到橄榄山下的客西马尼园。耶稣当时惊恐起来，极其难过，对他们说：『我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死，你们在等候，警醒。』

耶稣就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：『倘若可行，便叫那时候过去。阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能，求你将这杯撤去；然而，不是要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。』

耶稣回来，见三位门徒睡着了，就对彼得说：『西门，你睡着吗？不能警醒片刻吗？总要警醒祷告，免得入了迷惑。你们心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱。』

耶稣又去祷告，说的话还是与先前一样。之后他又来看见门徒们睡着了，因为他们的眼睛甚是困倦；他们也不知道怎么回答。

第三次，耶稣对他们说：『现在你们仍然睡觉安歇吧！够了，时候到了。看哪，人子被卖在罪人手里了。起来，我们走吧！看哪，那卖我的人近了！』

耶稣的挣扎展示神圣的愤怒与爱，以及罪人的价值

世界上许多伟人，包括基督徒伟人，面对死亡时刻都能保持镇定，甚至从容远赴刑场殉道。然而，耶稣在即将被处决的前夕，赤裸裸展现面对死亡时的挣扎、痛苦与恐惧。

到现在为止，耶稣始终是完全掌握一切，没有任何事令他不安。但突然间他“惊恐起来，极其难过，心里忧伤，几乎要死”。许多伟人以及耶稣的跟随者都比耶稣更加从容不迫，慷慨赴死。然而，在客西马尼园仿佛发生了某件事，令这位沉着稳重的神子耶稣突然变得惊恐、极其难过、心里忧伤、几乎要死。到底是什么事？

耶稣知道他被差派来的使命，即将成就。他将要被出卖、捉拿、审判、然后钉死在十字架上。耶稣在客西马尼园祷告的时候，尝到在十字架上将要经历可怕的事，乃是远超过肉体的折磨和死亡。这可怕的事就是承受天父的愤怒，与天父隔离。耶稣祷告的重点，“求你将这杯撤去”，有助于阐明这点。

旧约圣经以『杯』来表示上帝对人类罪恶所发出的的愤怒。那是一种神圣公义的形象，倾倒在不义之人身上。以西结书二十三32-34：『你必喝…..那杯又深又广，….是令人惊骇凄凉的杯。……撕裂自己的乳。』同样的在以赛亚五十一22，上帝提到：『那使人东倒西歪的杯，就是我愤怒的爵。』

耶稣终其一生，都与天父、圣灵之间亲密无间的互动。不论何时他寻求天父，圣灵都以爱和能力来浇灌他，天父以荣耀和话语来肯定他，就像在耶稣受洗与登山变像时候出现的景象。但是在客西马尼园，当他寻求天父，却只看见上帝愤怒之杯带来的深渊、裂痕与虚无。

上帝是一切慈爱善良、生命、光明与关系密契的源头，因此他必定会对邪恶感到愤怒，以及采取行动来隔绝邪恶。耶稣开始经历到当他在十字架上，背负世人罪愆时被天父弃绝的时刻。被上帝弃绝就等于是被一切善与美好，爱与密契排斥在外。耶稣经历到灵魂深处和宇宙无穷的奔溃瓦解，因此他在客西马尼园时候突然“惊恐起来，极其难过，心里忧伤，几乎要死”。

慈爱的天父怎么可能又是愤怒的呢？若这位愤怒的上帝是爱我们的上帝，那如何知道他是爱我们的呢？

邪恶摧毁生命，摧毁所有美好的事物。这位公义和慈爱的上帝看见，当然对邪恶与罪产生无比的愤怒。然而，为了对付邪恶与罪，他差派圣子亲身死在十字架上，承担罪债，付上赎价，忍受极大的痛苦。圣子的痛苦即是圣父的痛苦。圣父对罪的愤怒又多强，他的痛苦就有多强；他的痛苦又多强，他对我们的爱就有多强。所以说，愤怒的上帝也是慈爱的上帝。圣子死在十字架上，承受无比的痛苦，为了拯救罪人，也显示罪人在他的眼中有多高的价值。我们每个罪人都是上帝爱里最宝贵的孩子，以致上帝亲身经历痛苦，死在十字架上来救赎我们。

在爱里信靠顺服神

耶稣在祷告里整颗心向天父敞开。他心烦意乱，坦白又绝望地恳求上帝改变既定的境况，祈求『倘若可行，便叫那时候过去』。他向上帝呼喊：『阿爸，父啊！在你凡事都能；求你将这杯撤去。』

耶稣向天父争取，要求给他一条出路，希望能有另一种方法来拯救罪人，不用他亲身担当全人类的罪愆。但是他从不打算自己决定如何处理目前的苦境。他让自己的欲望臣服于上帝的旨意之下。他对上帝说：『然而，不要从我的意思，只要从你的意思。』他虽然挣扎不已，但在爱中顺服天父。

其实耶稣从来没有想过放弃他的使命，任凭罪人灭亡。他只是恳求上帝用别的方法来完成这个使命。尽管这杯是如此令他恐惧，他知道他当下的渴望，必须屈服于他最终的渴望，在爱中顺服神。他仿佛对天父说：『不论我现在的感觉如何，我都信任你。我知道你的渴望终究也是我的渴望，就照着我们都认为必须完成的事去做吧！』

耶稣没有否认他的情绪，也没有逃离苦难。他的爱叫他走进入苦难。在苦难中，他顺服是因着他对天父的爱，对天父的信任，也是因着对世人的爱。当你明白这点，你就知道在苦难和逆境中，除了否认自己要脱离的渴望；除了寻求改变境况之外，还可以选择另外一条路，就是信靠与顺服上帝，承受生命中的苦杯。

结语

上帝是何等爱我们。他差派他的独生子成了肉身，亲身在十字架上受苦受难，承受上帝愤怒之杯倾倒下来，代替我们这些罪人受惩罚，以至于我们能够得生命。耶稣因着爱天父，爱世人，选择顺服神，信靠神去承受了苦杯。

亚当和夏娃在伊甸园偷吃禁果，背叛神而堕落。耶稣在客西马尼园经历痛苦与挣扎，最后他顺服信靠神而得胜了。在客西马尼园，『光和暗、善和恶、服从和背逆』的战斗剧烈展开，不是等到十字架上才发生！耶稣顺服上帝的旨意，起来奔向残酷和羞辱的十字架，为人类成就救恩，扭转亚当堕落以来人类的命运。

应用

我们每个人都会面临自己的『客西马尼园』，包括经历撒旦的试探、被人弃绝、面对荆棘满途、身体软弱以及生活压力难当等。我们也会感到沮丧、惧怕和交战。这时候我们首先当警醒祷告，继续保持与神亲密的关系，以及向他倾诉苦情。

接着让我们最深的渴望—『爱神、尊崇神、完成神在我身上的计划』，来左右我们的抉择。我们要交出对自身境况的掌控权，让自己的欲望臣服于上帝的旨意之下，就是在爱里顺服神，信靠他必然帮助我们在困境中得胜。

希伯来书五7-9：『基督在肉体的时候既大声哀哭，流泪祷告，恳求那能救他免死的主，就因他的虔诚蒙了应允。他虽然为儿子，还是因所受的苦难学了顺从。他既得以完全，就为凡顺从他的人成了永远得救的根源，并蒙神照着麦基洗德的等次称他为大祭司。』

耶稣在客西马尼园走过独自挣扎的苦路，并且胜过了。他的胜利就是我们的胜利。耶稣胜过了苦难。他能够了解我们的苦境和挣扎。他爱我们，要与我们同行。我们来俯伏在主面前祷告，将所有的软弱和痛楚交托给主。

我们来祈求圣灵把爱神的心与得胜的能力恩膏我们，帮助我们克服肉体的软弱，去顺服神的旨意，借此过得胜的生活；并且在许多事上，能够超越心灵愿意，乃是实际地行动，配合上帝的旨意，为上帝成就大事。

Taste and See That the LORD is Good

Isaiah 25

The Feast of

Salvation

We all loved Chinese New Year celebrations. It is a celebration full of festive cheers, good food, and not forgetting, the many ang pow that come our way. It was even more wonderful that Chinese New Year last a whole good fifteen days. On the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year, technically the final day of the festival, is a day known as Chap Goh Meh. In the Hokkien dialect, Chap Goh Meh simply means "the 15th night of Chinese New Year".

Aside from being tagged as the last day, Chap Goh Mei is also known as the Chinese Valentine's Day. In the old days, this is the only day in the whole year that young maidens are allowed to stroll the streets. However, they must be accompanied by a chaperon. Knowing this, many young men would gather around with hope of catching glimpses of these lovely maidens. Who knows they would find their future spouses.

In Gospel of John Chapter 2, we are told that Jesus was attending a wedding feast, the event where man and woman are united before God. This is surely a grand event, grander than Chap Goh Meh. Guess what happened in the wedding feast?

Before the feast ended, the wine had run out too early. So the hosts were in danger of social humiliation. Jesus came in to rescue them. He turned several large containers of water into superb wine to keep the party going!

When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from. He called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.”

This master of the feast is very blur. He lost count of the usage of the wine, and he also did not realise that. But Jesus is the true ‘master of the feast’. He is the Lord of Feast. He came to bring festival joy, to rescue lives. The Bible says, Jesus has taken the penalty for our sin for us, in our place. Whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life. This salvation of Jesus is just a feast, and Jesus is calling us to “taste and see” that is good.

Feast is a very real thing! When we believe in and rest in Jesus’ salvation for us, it becomes real to our hearts. Jesus’ love is like honey, or like wine. Rather than only believing that he loves us, we can come to sense the reality, the beauty, and the power of his love.

If you are filled with shame and guilt, you can come to Jesus and sense, on the palate of the heart, the sweetness of his mercy. Then you will know you are accepted. If you are filled with worry and anxiety, you can come to Jesus and you will see, with eyes of the heart, his dazzling majesty.

The Bible also tells us that the ultimate purpose of Jesus is not only individual salvation and pardon for sins, but also the renewal of this world; the end of disease, poverty, injustice, violence, suffering and death.

God did not create a world with blindness, leprosy, hunger, and death in it. The climax of history is another feast where all these corruptions of God’s creation would be abolished. Jesus hates suffering, injustice, evil, and death so much, he came and experienced it to defeat it and, someday, to wipe the world clean of it.

Today, we can live a life based on Jesus salvation, and this life will bring us finally to the ultimate party and feast at the end of history. We can have a foretaste of that future salvation now in prayer, in service to others, in the changes in our inner nature though the gospel, and through the healed relationships that Christ can give us now.

Isaiah 25:6-8, describe this ultimate party and feast to come:

“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of this people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.”

So God is inviting everyone here to taste and see the salvation of Jesus. Jesus is able to give you forgiveness of sin; peace, joy and rest if you receive him as your saviour and Lord.

A Tale of Two Sons

Genesis 21: 8-21

Sarah casts out

Hagar and Ishmael

The elder son of Abraham was named Ishmael, born of Hagar, the Egyptian maid. And the younger son, Isaac, was born of Abraham's wife, Sarah. When Ishmael was a teen, Isaac was about three years old, a weaning age. Abraham was greatly pleased and threw a feast to celebrate.

During the feast, Sarah saw Ishmael to be “laughing or mocking” at Isaac. Sarah was very much “worried” seeing Ishmael’s “laughing”. She was fearful that Isaac's position was threatened. She told Abraham to cast out Hagar and son from home, so that Isaac could claim the sole right as heir of the family. Sarah was taken over by jealousy and feeling of insecurity. She did not trust the LORD for he had already promised that Isaac was the chosen seed of Abraham, not Ishmael.

Abraham was fearful to lose both Hagar and Ishmael, and he too worried about their safety. To cast Hagar and her son out of home is contrary to the prevailing custom. Abraham was very displeased over Sarah’s request, but God commanded him: "Be not displeased because of the boy and because of your slave woman. Whatever Sarah says to you, does as she tells you, for through Isaac shall your offspring be named. And I will make a nation of the son of the slave woman also, because he is your offspring.” (Vv.12-13)

God’s covenanted son is Isaac, not Ishmael, although both sons are from Abraham's seed. Ishmael must be placed away so as to remove things that threatens (or obstructs) the promise of God being fulfilled. However, we learn that God's grace is sufficient for Ishmael too.

Jesus said through a parable, that the Heavenly Father threw a banquet of salvation, and He sent His servants to go to the city streets "to invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame into the banquet" (Luke 14:21).

These guests are the people who are outside the covenant between God and Israel. But Jesus Christ shed his blood to make a new covenant for them. So whoever repents from his sin and believes in Jesus will be received into the house to partake the salvation banquet.

All nations receive salvation through Abraham's seed - Jesus Christ. This is the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations shall be blessed because of him (Gen. 12:1-3).

Ensure the Success of the Second Half Time

Ten years ago, Hagar fled from home during pregnancy. That time Abraham was indifferent, letting Sarah treat Hagar ruthlessly. But this time, Abraham is no longer passive and merciless. He rejected Sarah’s demand to cast out Hagar and son. Abraham has learnt the lessons from his past failures. He is making it up to Hagar and son this time. So Abraham has grown in maturity.

In fact life is like a soccer match, there is first and second half time. If a player in the first half performs poorly, he has the second half time to make it up. We see here Abraham is one such player.

We must not bury our own mistakes and weaknesses, but be courageous enough to remedy our past failures. Through reflection and careful observation, we are to identify the problems then turn around from our mistakes, than keep repeating them.

Let’s ask God for help so that we can transform from apathy, conflict and misunderstanding, to love, acceptance and understanding. The power of the gospel not only can heal bodily sicknesses but also heals broken relationships and past mistakes.

Cry out to God in Suffering and Obey Him, One Can Experience His wonderful Providence

Abraham rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, along with the child, and sent her away. Hagar, on one hand holding Ishmael, the other hand holding the bread, departed and wandered in the wilderness, and finally went astray in the wilderness of Beersheba—“the Well of Seven”.

Hagar's life has come to a confused and disoriented state, not knowing where to go, how to find a way out? What to do next? How to survive and take care of her child? Although Hagar was at the Beersheba—the Well of Seven, she could not see the well of water. She was blinded to the presence of God and his provision.

Fear not, God indeed protects and provides for the people exiled in the wilderness!

Hagar was physically and mentally exhausted; losing the will to move forward; moreover the water has ran out. She put the child under the shade of bushes. Hagar was desperate and was going to abandon the child leaving him to die. The shade of bushes helped Ishmael to endure the thirst, for he could have become dizzy due to thirst and dehydration.

And Hagar herself went and sat down opposite her son at a distance away, for she said, “Let me not look on the death of the child.” And as Hagar sat down, she lifted up her voice and wept. With tears and crying out loud, she released all her grievances that had been suppressed in her all these while.

At this time, God intervenes because he heard the cries of the boy. Ishmael, meaning "God hears"! And the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is."(v.17)

God not only heard the voice of the boy but he was at the place where the boy cried. God heard the voice of the boy where he was!

Today, let us cry out to God, no matter where we are. In the work place, in the car, in the inner heart, in the crowded places, or in solitude, there and then God hears our cries. We may feel that no one hears us, but God hears. He is well aware of the difficulties that we are going through.

Besides crying out to God, what else can we do to receive God’s divine intervention?

The angel of God said to Hagar, "Get up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” (v.18)

God commanded Hagar to get up, do not sit there feeling frustrated, waiting to die. She not only must stand up, but also give a hand to Ishmael to lift him up as well.

Hagar obeyed God’s command and when lifting her son, she saw something she and Ishmael most in need of – a well of water! She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. (V.19)

Hagar obeyed God's command to act and immediately God came to her rescue!

When people are feeling desperate and in sadness, they often indulge in misery, refusing to listen to words of comfort and encouragement. They immerse themselves in sorrows to the extent of attempting suicide, for being abandoned by their lover or getting worse than expected examination results.

Nevertheless God speaks to us in our grief and sorrow. The person, who takes heed of God's order, will be able to undergo the transformation.

Today, we can break out from the predicament by virtue of God's provision, if we act in accordance with God's instructions. Let's pray to God and obey His instructions and commit our lives into His hands. God speaks to people through different channels. The question is, are you willing to open your heart to listen and carry out God's commands?

God cares for Hagar and her son’s needs, providing them with the water to drink. They desire a little water to satisfy the pressing need but God provided them a well of water, which is far more than they had asked. God keeps watch of them, so that they can go from “being thirsty" to "have a drink", even to "possess a well of water."

God did not let them die in the wilderness, but gave them new life, as well as a promising future. Hagar alone has to take up both the mother's and father's responsibilities of raising up the child, similar to today’s single-parent. When Abraham could not fulfil the father's responsibility, God stands in to be the father of the fatherless.

Hagar and Ishmael were exiled from home, seemed helpless, but this situation has also allowed them to be set free, no more slaves under Sarah’s dominion. Ishmael while growing up in a single-parent family, God was with him. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. He became very healthy and robust. He married the daughter of Egypt, became the patriarch of the twelve tribes. He is hailed as the ancestors of the Arabs.

Ishmael through expulsion from home was elevated through the rank of heroes, such as: Moses, Joseph, Jacob, David and Esther. The sufferings they underwent have shaped into them the qualities of a hero.

On the other hand, Isaac was well taken care of by his parents and grew up at home. He later turned to be a very passive, subtle, homely and quiet person. Our human encounter and final outcome of life are often beyond our expectation!

The conclusion is: we must not lose faith in God after encountering setbacks and mishaps in life. Let’s hold on to the faith and hope, asking God to help us overcome the sufferings and predicaments in life.

Those who trust in the Lord and obey him, while experiencing sufferings and setbacks, will experience the blessings of God far beyond what they could have imagined.

超越自我，追求卓越

路十九1—10

耶稣寻见撒该

耶稣和门徒正朝向耶路撒冷进发。他们途径耶利哥。那里有个名叫撒该的人，是一个很富有的税吏长。他想看看耶稣是什么样的人，可是他身材矮小，夹在群众当中无法看到耶稣。于是他奔跑到人群的前头，又爬上一棵无花果桑树，要看耶稣，因耶稣就要从那里经过。

撒该是犹太人，但他是税吏长。犹太人税吏受雇于罗马政府，向本族人征收税务。他们还透过敲诈手段谋私利。犹太社群看见这些贪庄枉法的税吏财主，生活豪华奢侈，却对他们无可奈何。他们祈愿这些大罪人，在神的国降临时受审判以至灭亡。

耶稣来到那地方，抬头一看，看见撒该在树上。耶稣很熟悉罪人的性情。他看透撒该内里的贪婪、腐败、不安和孤独。他有办法去医治这个被罪腐蚀的心灵，叫他从罪中得释放，获得新生命。

耶稣对他说：『撒该，快下来！今天我要住在你家里。』

撒该连忙下来，欢欢喜喜地接待耶稣。大家看见，却是咕咕哝哝发怨言，说：『他竟然到一个罪人的家里住宿。』

撒该站着对主说：『主啊，请看，我要把我一半的产业送给穷人；我如果敲诈过谁，就偿还他四倍。』

撒该是真心悔改。犹太人思想中，悔改就是心意更新，并且以行动弥补过去的罪过与伤痕。撒该不单弥补以前的罪行，还慷慨施舍。他的慷慨举动太激烈了，足以使他变得一无所有，但他不在乎，因为他获得了耶稣给他宝贵的救恩。

今天我们接受了耶稣的救恩的基督徒，我们有如此的回应耶稣的救恩吗？

耶稣谈论他说：『今天救恩临到这家了，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。人子来，正是寻找拯救灭亡的人。』（9-10节）

耶稣之前对撒该说，『今天我要住在你家里』；现在他为撒该的生命总结说，『今天救恩临到这家了』。耶稣来就是要救赎罪人，叫他们得生命。耶稣在哪里，哪里就有救恩！只要人们愿意接受耶稣作救主，并且悔改重新做人，他就能够重新被社会接纳，活出美满卓越，超越的人生。

其实撒该面对许多困境与难题。他是税吏长，乃是罪魁，被犹太人唾弃。他很有钱，但圣经也说过。财主是容易受到财富的捆绑而不愿意跟从耶稣。撒该长得比别人矮，形成心理和生理的压抑。他无法突围靠近耶稣。没有人关心他，会堂也不欢迎他。众人埋怨为何耶稣接纳他。

今天我们是否也是感到自己是卑微和在多方面有缺乏？我们来审视撒该如何跨越缺乏与障碍，好使我们也能够如此经历突破，活出超越自我和卓越的生命。

撒该绝不放弃

第一，撒该没有在困难面前退缩，放弃追求突破。

群众不欢迎撒该，拦阻他和排挤他，他还是想尽办法见耶稣。群众拥挤要见耶稣，其实不是真正寻求耶稣。他们来看热闹，讥讽耶稣，或者是要找耶稣把柄。撒该没有容许那些无谓的人影响到他和神的关系。他是渴慕见到耶稣。他不容许『旁人的阻扰、个人生命的缺乏和卑微』，阻碍他认识耶稣，领受耶稣的恩典。

今天一些信徒受到人的冷嘲、阻扰或负面见证，就开始信心软弱。他们对某些人感到厌烦，指责他们是假冒伪善的信徒，而自己就不愿意来到教会，或是在服事的岗位，往日的呼召里退下来。我们不应当让别人的态度和别人的看法，决定自己和神的关系，这是很不值得的。

还有，受到排挤的人很容易掉入负气和自怜的地步：『别人没有爱心，不接纳我，那我为何还要挤进去呢？我走啦！我不要做了！我不要再尝试了！』

神要我们大发热心，但也要求我们在信仰上成熟，灵命每日增长。成熟的信徒，是扎根于圣经，明白神的心意，不随风飘荡，很清楚自己的使命。他们不会因别人负面的见证而受到影响，变成消沉，反而是看见别人的好见证就受到激励，变得更加积极，更加有信心；而且不会注目在自己的卑微和缺乏，就不敢作出新的尝试，做一番事业。

今天你是否缺乏成熟的信心？你是生命是否扎根在神的道上？

请回转来服事耶稣，继续的下苦工去做，追求更多认识耶稣，越加靠近耶稣。靠着主耶稣的恩典，我们能够成就大事，乃是超乎我们的想象和能力范围。

撒该态度积极和发挥创意

第二，撒该的态度积极，以及发挥创意。

撒该面对不友善的人潮和大树的阻扰，却决定不‘矮小’下去。他放下身段，不介意旁人的目光，如小孩子般兴致勃勃奔跑在群众前面。他的做人态度是很积极。他又冒险爬上树去看耶稣。“爬上树”是很有创意和小孩子玩意的行动。他发挥创意，叫那棵阻挡人的大树，成了他靠近耶稣的资源。最后他终于得着救恩，生命得改变，被高升！

今天你遇见哪方面的拦阻？旁人的批评、没有朋友、没有钱、没有天份、读书差、太年轻、老迈了、没有时间、不喜欢接触人群、信心和爱心都褪色了？

让我们彼此鼓励和提醒，时刻要保持积极的态度：有决心寻求改变、凡事愿意多走一步、自我降卑，无论大小事都下苦工。圣灵会给予我们智慧去发挥创意，突破障碍，获得超越非凡的生命。

耶稣老早认识你、接纳你，要赐给你超越的生命

经文没有说撒该看见耶稣，却强调耶稣主动往上看，看见撒该，就说：『撒该，你下来，今天我到你家中作客。』（5节）

原来耶稣老早就认识他的名字，叫撒该。这显出撒该无法靠自己看见耶稣，但耶稣却看见他，寻到他。撒该爬上树上，要自我升高，但他很快就从树上下来。他是听从耶稣的吩咐，从树上下来，降卑自己，就获得救恩。

耶稣来是要将那些高升的降卑，但那愿意自我降卑的，主叫他得高升。

应用：

我们在某些程度上，都是『撒该』，生命受到罪恶的捆绑和许多的缺乏与困难所压制。我们无法靠自己得救，无法靠自己叫生命各个层面取得突破。然而，在我们还作罪人的时候，神认识我们，寻见我们，召我们成为天国的儿女，被接纳在社群中为主发光，真是何等大的恩典！

既然神接纳我们成为儿女，我们都是一家人。我们也要彼此接纳、相爱和帮助，不是彼此排挤。除此之外，我们不要轻易就说，放弃服事神，放弃神儿女的身份和福气，放弃一路来奋斗的目标。

耶稣知道我们的状况和需要，比其他人更熟悉，包括你的属灵和身体的需要。我们应当好像撒该那样，感到受宠若惊，然后自我降卑，即刻回应神。

我们现在一同宣告：『认识耶稣真好。我们要跟从耶稣，服事耶稣，奉献金钱、时间与体力，建立神国的事工，帮助有需要的弟兄姐妹……我们要彼此饶恕，纠正以往的过错，靠着耶稣发挥创意，跨越困难和障碍！』

结语：

决定人生命的高度，大或小的格局，以及活着社群中得和谐幸福，乃是取决于人的态度，以及人与神的关系。我们现在将所有的拦阻、忧心、缺乏和软弱，交托给耶稣。我们也要悔改，弥补过错。我们坚定地追求主，渴慕主，尽所能服事他，并且听从他的教导去爱人，将自己献上给主当作活祭。耶稣一定会提升我们，叫我们的生命经历『从小到大』的逆转，帮助我们超越自我，进入卓越的生命。