神住在我们中间

约翰福音1:1-34

『太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。这道太初与神同在。万物是借着他造的，凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。』（约翰福音1:1-5）

『道成了肉身，住在我们中间。充充满满地有恩典，有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。』（约翰福音1:14）

神的独生子，那太初的道，成了肉身，降世为人，带给我们神的恩典。这神的恩典之一，就是神与我们同在，住在我们中间。

神与人同住，是那么的难吗？需要那么的迂回曲折吗？我必须从头说起了。

为何神创造人？在永恒里，三一真神是充满恩典的。神创造人因为他爱人，要跟人建立关系，并且赐福人，赐予人神丰盛的恩典。

神很在乎我们与祂之间的关系，但人类始祖在伊甸园犯罪之后，神与人之间的关系就破坏了。罪使人与神隔绝，但神主动就近人。祂主动拣选人，与人立约，重新与人建立关系，赐福给人。

“住在我们中间”的“住”（希腊文σκηνόω），有“支搭帐幕而居”的意思；神住在我们中间，在我们中间支搭帐幕而居，使人想起西乃旷野中的神的帐幕—会幕。

神的救赎计划的第一步就是与亚伯拉罕立约。

神应许赐福亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，又应许万国要透过亚伯拉罕和他的后裔得福。然而，亚伯拉罕的后裔以色列人流落在埃及当奴隶，神的应许如何实现呢？

神记念祂与亚伯拉罕之间的约，就兴起摩西将以色列人从埃及为奴之家拯救出来，带领他们去到神的应许之地—迦南。

以色列人在出埃及的旅程中，来到西乃的旷野。在那里，神与以色列人立约，对他们说：“我向埃及人所行的事，你们都看见了，且看见我如鹰将你们背在翅膀上，带来归我。如今你们若实在听从我的话，遵守我的约，就要在万民中作属我的子民，因为全地都是我的。你们要归我作祭司的国度，为圣洁的国民。”（出一九：4-6）

神与以色列人立约，拣选以色列人为属祂的子民。祂借着摩西颁布十诫之后，随即指示摩西和以色列人为祂建造帐幕，祂要在那里“与以色列人相会”，并要“住在以色列人中间，作他们的神”（出二九：43-46）。

会幕建立起之后，神就让以色列人开始学习献祭和敬拜祂，人可以把祭物带到会幕，在祂的面前向祂表达认罪，祈求和感谢等等。

在伊甸园，神与人没有间隔的相交，但人犯罪之后必须透过献祭牲畜才能够恢复与神的关系。这样神就住在子民中间，与他们相会。神要作他们的神，他们要作属神的子民。子民活在神的同在里就蒙福。这是神何等的恩典！

但作为属神的子民，以色列民除了献祭敬拜神，还必须顺服神，遵行神的诫命来维持归给神，作圣洁的国民的身份。

“我是把你们从埃及地领出来的耶和华，要作你们的神，所以你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。”（利一一：45）会幕（以及后来圣殿）里的敬拜和事奉，注重分别为圣；祭司和人民要借祭牲的血，洁除罪污，才能到神的面前来敬拜祂。神要祂的子民学习专一事奉祂，过分别为圣的生活，因为祂是圣洁的。

拦阻人不能与神相交就是罪，罪的问题必须被解决，但纵观以色列人的历史，我们看见他们终究无法突破罪的捆绑。以色列人在迦南地生活的历史里，多数的时候是悖逆神，不遵守律法，并且敬拜偶像。结果他们死在旷野，或遭遇天灾人祸，甚至国破家亡，被掳到巴比伦。

旧约以色列民与神的关系只是局部的修复，罪的问题始终未被解决。为了要一次过解决罪的问题，完完全全修复神人关系，神就差遣他的独生子来救赎罪人。

约翰强调神的独生子就是永恒的道。这道logos成了肉身，住在世人中间，名叫耶稣。耶稣在世上与人同住三十三年，叫人从祂身上看见父神，认识父神。祂到世上来召唤罪人回转归向父神，呼召世人跟从祂，与祂同行，与祂同工，效法祂的榜样，去活出一个遵行神旨意的生活。

而更重要的是，神的儿子成为肉身，“特要借着死，败坏那掌死权的，就是魔鬼”（来二：14）。耶稣基督自己成了献祭给神，为罪人赎罪的祭牲。他的死和复活，败坏了罪恶和死亡的权势;祂的宝血有永远除罪的功效。所以基督的死与复活终极的解决了罪的问题。

今天我们所有信靠基督的人，因着基督的宝血已洁除我们一切的罪，就能够与神和好，得以坦然无惧的去到神的面前（来一○：19），与祂相交。

耶稣死了，埋葬了，三天之后复活，显现给门徒看，接着他升天回到神的宝座的右边。耶稣离开之后，就差派保惠师圣灵来。圣灵住在我们心中，与我们同在（约一四：16）。

圣灵的工作是重生我们，启示我们真理，并且帮助我们成圣，又给我们力量去服侍神和宣告福音。

今天我们的身体，竟成了神的殿，意思是神居住在我们里面（林前六：19），这是何等奇妙的福气！

若非神的大爱和怜悯，差祂的儿子为我们的罪作挽回祭（约壹四：10），有罪的人又怎可以到神面前去，甚至与神同居？圣子道成肉身，成就的救赎大功，又透过圣灵，叫所有信靠祂的人得着祂的圣洁生命，真正能与神同居。

我们所有接受耶稣基督为主，就真正能够领会和得着神“住在我们中间”的恩典。神“住在我们中间”，这份恩典是直到永永远远的，甚至延伸到世界末日后的新天新地的日子里。启示录这样的形容说：

“看哪！神的帐幕在人间。祂要与人同住，他们要作祂的子民；神要亲自与他们同在，作他们的神。神要擦去他们一切的眼泪；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀，哭号，疼痛，因为以前的事都过去了。”（启二一：3-4）

“神的帐幕在人间”又可译为“神的帐幕与人同在”。西乃旷野的会幕，是暂时的；新天新地里神的帐幕，是永远的，是神和羔羊自己为殿（启二一：22），亲自与祂的子民同在（启二一：3）。

在新天新地里与主永远同住，再也不受死亡和罪恶的影响;不再有死亡，不再有悲哀，不再有眼泪，不再有痛苦。这是神子民的福分。当我们想到神为我们预备的这个福分，就能在患难的日子中坚持忍耐下去。

如论如何，今天罪恶和魔鬼的权势，仍然影响着我们身处的世代；苦难和压迫，软弱和失败，有时会叫我们灰心，感到好像神没有与我们同在。然而，我们当记紧，神的子民活在这个末世中是艰难的，但神与祂的子民同在也是不变的。

我们要怀着盼望，迎接主的再来;当基督第二次降临的时候，所有属祂的人，就要在大喜乐中与主永远同住了。

耶稣基督的降生，值得记念和感恩；耶稣基督第二次降临，更加是我们应当盼望和儆醒预备的。但愿每个属主的人，记得主基督要回来。他要住在我们中间；祂要作我们的神，我们要作祂的子民。

今天主基督是透过圣灵住我们里头。主耶稣说：“你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。”（约一五：4）

今天，我们是否常在主里面，是否有主住在我们的生命中，以至人生的每一部分，都有主耶稣参与在其中，常被圣灵充满，结出果子荣耀父神？

结语

主耶稣快要再来（启二二：20），愿我们从今天开始，每个人都有一个与主同行，与主同住的人生，儆醒等候祂的再临。有主与我们同在，生命路途遇见的风风雨雨，挫折又算得什么呢？

感谢赞美主！我们今天每时每刻都仰望主，依靠神的恩典，圣灵的力量同奔天路，一刻不回头。在基督里我们是有盼望的，靠着那上头来的力量，我们凡事都能做。阿们！

Returning and Rest

 

Isaiah 30:1-18

The Lord longs to be gracious to you

Many truths of the Bible, like this one found in Isaiah 30:1-18, seems to be irrelevant to people who seek practical and pragmatic ways of living. How could one receive power through quietness and trust? This sounds ridiculous to the modern-day society.

We shall look into Isaiah 30:1-18 to discover how we could be saved and empowered in a turbulent and changing world today. I summarize it into three points as follow:

Being Practical and Pragmatic are not Golden

To be practical or pragmatic is a prevalent in current times. It is an ideology that values everything by questioning whether it is practical or not for the people.

Thus, people tend to measure everything in accordance with its results and achievements. They measure their life and self-worth by how high an income they earn.

In school reunion gatherings, we may be eager to find out about each other’s career and income earned. So, a pastor or a seminary teacher will not be able to earn a high income no matter how qualified he is. Does it mean that he or she is worthless?

Given such pragmatic ideology and peer pressure, people are compelled to work hard, be occupied and wrestle to climb high. They believe they would become more valuable with more work done, and more useful if they were busier. Hence, they would not have time to quiet down themselves.

The whole society is fully occupied, and nobody even has time to ponder, “What indeed am I busying for?”

“Busyness” causes majority of people to belittle the need of quietness and still. In fact, many people feel useless and unsecured when being idle and isolated. They don’t feel easy being alone with God.

How do you feel living under MCO period, when most of the economic and social activities are shut down?

In short, the emphasis of pragmatism has some negative impact on our faith. Believers are tempted to believe that nothing could be achieved without hard work, and hence, they are busy doing things, and overlook the importance of quietness and trust before God.

Many believers have become “Martha” who are worried and upset about many things.” (Luke 10:41) They have forgotten about one thing that is needed for them, and that they have to be like Mary, who in quietness, waited and listened attentively at the feet of the Lord Jesus.

In the times of King Hezekiah, the Jews were terrified and worried over their own nation. They were threatened by many nations, and hence they sought help from the Assyrians. However, they were afraid to be controlled by the Assyrians, and thus, they sought helps from the Egyptians too. The Jews thought that Egypt could deliver them from the bondage of Assyria. They forgot to put their trust in God for their rescue.

Therefore, Isaiah 30:1-18 is an instruction from God to the Jews to return to Him and not to put their trust in Egypt. In the same way, God is calling us today not to be over worried by the ups and downs of the world. We must not trust in our own efforts to find relief, but to return to Him and trust Him only.

In repentance and rest is your salvation; In quietness and trust is your strength

Judah, instead of seeking God first, sought the aid of Egypt (Isa 30:1-5). Therefore, God rebuked them through the prophet Isaiah and said, “Woe to the obstinate children, to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt without consulting me; who look for help to Pharaoh’ protection, to Egypt’s shade for refuge.” (vv.1-2)

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” (v. 15)

In other words, what God meant is, “You believe that the Egyptians can rescue you, but what you believe is in vain. There is a God who is in control of everything, and He shall come and judge you, for it is in repentance and rest that you can be saved.”

We are reminded here that to be saved and delivered is only through returning to God and resting in Him. Return means to go back to God, with a true repentance, and turn away from the path where we make our own choices. Rest means to cease from trusting ourselves and go on doing things in our own way which may be even displeasing to God.

The Jews were busy in sending envoys with carriers of gifts to please the hearts of the Egyptians. They were very active and busy trying to save themselves. Unfortunately, this could not save them. In fact, salvation lies on rest, and it means that we must cease from human activities and rely on God’s grace for rest.

Rest in God is not solely passive and idling, but it includes overcoming sins and behaving the way of a genuine child of God. Judah needed this kind of power, the real power to resist their enemies. Yet this must be acquired through quietness, putting aside their busyness and concerns, as well as those desires that they had been hotly pursuing, and instead, trust God in their hearts.

It means that they must have an ability of self-denial, and to return to God wholeheartedly (Ps 46:10; 29:10-11;28:7).　

When we encounter attacks from others or economic down turn or sicknesses, the message of Isaiah found in this scripture reminds us to be still, to be patient, return to God and him in order to persevere through this difficult time. We shall see our salvation and strength in this manner of resting in God.

For some people, it also means that we do not pick a fight with others, for God says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” (Romans 12:19) We should pray to God by faith and wait on God to execute His justice and shower on us His mercy.  This prayer will change the whole situation and God shall become our rescue.

Never be fearful and lose our hope when we face the uncertainty or gloomy outlook of our future. We should instead take heed of the instructions of Isaiah, “in repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” It was in repentance and returning to God and resting in Him that the Israelites could be saved.

For those who long to receive power and strength, we must put aside our own ideas and return to God fully, and to receive His strength as we wait upon Him and trust in Him.

However, as what is found in the above-mentioned text, it is not human nature or our inclination to wait and trust, and neither were the Israelites. They sought helps everywhere! Because of this, God spoke to them through the prophet, “but you would have none of it.” (Isa 30:15)

This is the reality of human tragedy, because all of us have neglected the source of true power, and we hope to find it somewhere else!

When the Israelites rejected the true means of their deliverance, and sought their own ways out, they turned to the Egyptians for helps, and hence acquired from them a big number of horses. They thought that by having these horses and chariots, they could be free from the pursuit of their enemies.

In the ancient time, having horses and chariots means the person had something or someone to back him up and it was a sign of arrogance and haughtiness (Ps 20:7).

The Israelites rode on their horses, but their enemies rode on their horses as well. Hence, they had no way to run away from their enemies.

The Israelites also hoped to defeat the enemies with large army. So, they thought by recruiting soldiers from Egypt, they could overcome the Assyrians chariots. However, it was a terrible mistake.

God says in verse 17, “thousand will flee at the threat of one; at the threat of five you will all flee away…” One man’s threat caused one thousand Jews to flee, and with five enemies, all the Jews would flee away!

This was God’s punishment. God set His heart to punish His rebellious children, and hence, nobody could escape from it.

The truth is that the punishment mentioned in verse 17 is a reverse to the promises that God had given to the Israelites before. We see that in period when Israelites were brought out of Egypt during Moses time, God promised that He would be with them and bless them, so that they could chase out their enemies (Lev 26:8; Deut 32:30).

The rebellious children would have to stand alone. God says, “till you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” (Isa 30:17b) This is pathetic situation of Israelites who had placed their trust on the Egyptians.

“Egypt” is sometimes used in the Bible to represent the secular world. God’s children today must not put their trust in this world and seek helps from it. Instead, we should trust only God and seek His aid.

No doubt, God is the Lord of judgment, but He is also a God that is full of mercy. Verse 18 points out the lovingkindness of God, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”

Our God is full of mercy and righteousness. In fact, God’s mercy is built upon His righteousness. God is ready to reveal His favor and mercy, but are we willing to wait upon Him? Those who wait upon God are the blessed, for they shall receive deliverance and strength in Him.

Later, the Israelites took heed of the prophet’s message, and they returned to God under the leading of Hezekiah and found their rescue and strength in Him.

According to the records found in Isaiah 37:36 and 2 Kings 19:34-37, God sent His angels to the Assyrian camps and killed about 185,000 men. He destroyed the entire Assyrian army just in a second! The Israelites won the battle without a real fight!

Conclusion

Only God is the source of our strength. Today, let’s return to God, rest in Him, and trust Him to lead us through this stormy life journey, until the day we meet Him face to face.

Let’s make adjustments to our life now, retune ourselves by spending quiet time with God, let us be occupied with God’s words not with Egypt concerns, walk in his way and not our own ways.

The LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

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。

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.