不要迷失在人群里

 在这广大的世界里,我们常觉得自己只不过是群众中一个微不足道的小人物罢了.世界的趋势是要除去我们个人的特质,要我们认同周围的人.然而,神以他独特的方式来爱我们.

耶稣正前往耶路撒冷的路上,要完成他在十字架上的任务.群众蜂拥而至包围他,矮小的撒盖 非得爬上一棵树,才看得到耶稣.撒该原想,只想看最伟大的教师一眼,就心满意足,但耶稣居然停下来,抬头直视他!那时撒该在人群中根本不受注意,就这样,撒该开始一段与耶稣同处的时光,而这个际遇彻底的改变了他的生命.

耶稣会以独特的方式与你相交.他知道你的过去,你将会面对的将来,以及你生命的每个细节,他赐给你的话语会完美的切合你生活的环境.你可能处于一群聆听神话语的基督徒当中,也可能是你周遭唯一听见神话语的人.如果旁人并没有像你一样因神的真理兴奋激动,不要感到灰心失望.如果他们没有像你一样,把神的话语应用在自己的身上,不要没有耐性.神会使他的话语个人化.他会以他的方式,满足你每个朋友的需要.

Laughter: Good Medicine 笑是良药

喜乐的心乃是乃是良药. A merry heart does good, like medicine.

                                                                  Proverbs 17:22


嘎尼克 所著的'美好家园'一书中,有一篇题为'常笑豁达得健康'的文章,对几千年前所罗门在箴言中所写的做了回应.嘎尼克说:'医学研究显示,幽默谐趣是良药--的确可以帮助你保持健康的身体.' 他又说到有位叫做弗莱的医生,形容人的笑是'内部的缓步跑'. 对人的心血管系统非常有益.

Nick Gallo, in his better Homes and Gardens article titled ' Laugh Your Way to Good Health.' makes an observation that echoes what Solomon wrote thousands of years ago. Mr. Gallo said,' New research shows that humor is good medicine.-- And says that it's good for a person's cardiovascular system.

他把笑与运动做了比较,指出人痛快的笑,对身体有好几方面的益处:血压暂时降低,呼吸率下降,紧张的肌肉得以松弛.他说很多人都感受到这种'松弛的余劲'.嘎尼克概括的写道'内心有一种持久的幽默感,特别是与内在的信念和乐观的情绪相结合,是构成健康的重要动力.'

Comparing laughter to exercise, Gallo points out that when a person laughs heartily, several physical benefits occur. There is a temporary lowering of blood pressure, a decreased rate of breathing, and a reduction in muscle tension. He reports that many people sense a 'relaxed afterglow'. Gallo concluded, 'An enduring sense of humor, especially combined with other inner resources such as faith and optimism, appears to be a potent force of better health.'

我们基督徒大有理由满心喜乐,我们应该比其他人更能因笑而受惠.我们对神有坚定的信心,我们因为有神智惠的掌管,心里踏实而无比乐观.

Christians, above all others, should benefit from laughter because we have the greatest reason to be joyful. Our faith is firmly planted in God, and our optimism is based on the assurance that we are under His wise control.

不要害怕好好的笑一顿--因为笑是良药!

Don't be afraid to enjoy a good laugh-- It's good medicine!

Who Do You Wrok For? 你为谁工作?

 两千多年前,有一位雕塑家在希腊一座庙里树立了一个塑像,他费了许多时间以期做的尽量完美.有人为他为什么在塑像背部人们看不到的位置,也要如此精心细琢,跟做前面一样认真?他的回答说'我做工的方式就是这样.人可能永远不明白背面,但我相信神看得见.'

More than 2000 years ago a sculptor erected a statue in a Greek temple. He had spent much time perfecting it. When asked why he gave the same painstaking care to the back, which wouldn't be seen, as he did to the front, he replied,'that's the way I always work. Men may never see it , but I believe the gods do !'

基督徒应该有更充分的理由自觉的去做好自己的工作!他们勤劳做工不是为了博得喝彩,也不仅是因大功告成而得的喜乐,而是为了得到救赎我们,创造我们的主的赞许,为了造福人类.

How much greater reason Christians have for doing their work conscientiously! They labor not for applause nor merely for the joy of accomplishment, but they strive for the approval for their Creator and Redeemer, and for the blessing of mankind.

神造人时既创造人的身体,也赐给人思想.人们如果竭力而为,必得到最佳的运作.罪还没有进入这个世界之前,神已经派亚当担任负责管理伊甸园的工作.由于亚当的犯罪使这项事工越来越苦难,但始终这是一项光荣的工作.即或最卑微的事工,也应该以最崇高的动机去完成--那就是一切都是为了荣耀神.为荣耀神而勤奋作工,就是卑微普通的苦差事也能转化为美妙无比的时机,带来满足和喜乐.

God created man with a mind and a body, and they function best when occupied with fruitful endeavor. Even before sin entered the world, He assigned Adam the task of tending the Garden of Eden. Work has become more difficult because of Adam's sin, but it is always honorable. Even the lowest type of service can be performed with the highest motive--that of honoring God. Labor done for His glory transforms common drudgery into a wonderful opportunity that brings joy and satisfaction.

现在我们就可以停下来想想保罗在这方面的训诲,从新决意用信心做好每一天的工作--'不要只在眼前事奉,像要讨人喜欢的,总要存心诚实敬畏主.'

Today, pause to consider Paul's admonition and determine anew to perform your daily tasks faithfully--'not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart,fearing God.

The Big Piece 大的一片

你或许听过这样的故事:两个朋友在餐馆相遇,便一同用晚餐.两个人各自要了一份鱼排.过了一会儿,侍应生把他们点的食物端了上来--就是2片鱼,一片大的和一片较小的.盛在一只大盘子里.其中一个人就先拿给他的朋友.他把那片小的放在一只碟子里,送到桌子对面去.

You may have heard the story of two friends who met for dinner in a restaurant. Each requested filet of sole, and after a few minutes the waiter came back with their order. Two pieces of fish, a large and a small, were on the same platter. One of the men proceeded to serve his friend. Placing the small piece on a plate, he handed it across the table.

他的朋友惊叫起来:'这样嘛,你的确厚面皮!'另一个反问:'是什么正困扰你呀?' 对方回答'请看看你自己做了什么?你竟然把小的一片给我,而自己却保留大的.'那人再问他的朋友:' 那你会怎么做?' 这位朋友回答:'如果由我来分,我必定会把大的给你.' 那人便回答说'那么,我已经拿到这片大的了.可不是吗?'到此,两人都笑了起来.

'Well, you certainly do have nerve!'. exclaimed his friend. ' What's troubling you?' asked the other. 'Look what you've done.' he answered. 'You've given me the little piece and kept the big one for yourself.' 'How would you have done it ?' the man asked. His friend replied, 'if I were serving, I would have given you the big piece.'  'Well,' replied the man.' I've got it, haven't I?' At this, they both laughed.

不过,天生自私是不值得笑得.当雅各和约翰向耶稣要求天国里的卓越地位时,其他的10个门徒听后都表示愤慨.我们当然可以推测,他们也是想坐在掌权的位置上.

Innate selfishness, however, is no laughing matter. When James and John asked Jesus for a prominent position in His kingdom, and the other 10 disciples heard it, they were indignant. We may presume that they too wanted to sit in the places of authority.

那么常见的乃是我们的旧性情,争要那片大的或争夺要显赫地位!我们往往尝试用策略去争取权力和领导地位.其实相反的,我们必须跟随我们主的榜样:'不是要受人的服事,乃是要服事人.'

How often our old nature demands the big piece or the prominent place! We try to maneuver for positions of authority and leadership. Instead, we must follow the example of our Lord, who 'did not come to be served, but to serve'

Faith To Obey 以信心去顺服

Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. So I bought the field

                     ---------- Jeremiah 32:8-9

一位女士和一位事业成功的年青商人结了婚.那位男士有好名声,入息也优裕.后来,他察觉神呼召他把所经营的生意出售,到圣经学院去,并且加入宣教士的事奉行列.对于他的妻子来说,放弃这些东西似乎是太傻了.不过她仍相信神要她遵从丈夫的引领.她当时虽有内在的挣扎--但她终于找到使她顺服的信心. 今天他们正经历着神的赐福,因为她丈夫在巴西用得着他的技能.

A woman was married to a successful young businessman. He had a good reputation and an excellent income. Then he sensed that God was calling him to sell his business, go to Bible school, and enter missionary service. To his wife, it seemed foolish to give up so much. Yet she believed God wanted her to follow her husband's lead. She struggled within herself-- but found the faith to obey. Today they are experiencing God's blessing as he uses his skills in Brazil.

在圣经里,耶利米从他的堂兄弟哈拿箴买了一块地,当时耶路撒冷正在被围困.虽然他曾预言这城快要失陷,但他仍旧买了那块田地.这真是毫无意义!为什么要在即将被敌人占领的境内买一块地呢?因为神已经启示他.耶和华要利用这件事演绎他的应许,显示以色列民必定会在拥有这片土地.

In our Bible reading today, Jeremiah bought a piece of real estate from his cousin Hanamel while Jerusalem was under siege. Jeremiah purchased the field even though he had already prophesied that the city was going to fall. This didn't make sense. Why buy property in a land that was about to be occupied by the enemy? Because God had told him to. The Lord used this incident to dramatize His promise that Israel would again possess that Land.(Jer.32:15)

 我们必须同样自愿地顺服耶和华,纵然看来是毫无意义.每逢他下了命令,我们的责任就是信任他,并执行那命令.

We need that same willingness to obey the Lord even if it doesn't seem to make sense. If He gives a comand, our part is to believe Him and carry it out.

我们遇见的事情或许没有这么戏剧化.有时候,我们诚实而不欺骗,饶恕而不心存怨恨,似乎没有什么意义.但不管神呼召我们做什么,我们都要以信心去顺服!

The issue may not be as dramatic for us. Sometimes it may seem pointless to be honest instead of deceitful, or to forgive rather than hold a grudge. But whatever God calls us to do, we need to faith to obey.

Jehovah- Jireh 耶和华以勒

Where God guides, He provides.

一位新婚的女子计划招待一班朋友到家中,但她发觉缺乏一些需要物品,于是她到邻舍那里去借.那邻舍将她所列出的物品交给他之后便问她:"够了吗?" 她回答说:"我想够了."

A young newlywed planned to entertain friends but lacked some of the things she would need. So she went to a neighbor to borrow them. After giving her the items, the woman asked, 'is that all you want?" Yes, I think so.' she answered.

但是,她的邻舍--一位经验丰富的女主人,又递给她另外一些物品,然后说:"你还需要这件,又需要那件,有需要这些." 后来这女子谈到这件事说:"我真感激这位女士,她知道我所需的,又愿意供给我."

 Then her neighbor, who was an experienced hostess, handed her some additional items and said,' but you will need some of this, and that, and some more of these.' Later the young woman remarked, ' I was so thankful for someone who knew exactly what I needed and was willing to supply it.'

用以上的话来形容神是何等的贴切.今天的经文里,亚伯拉罕称那神预备了一只献祭的羊的地方是'耶和华以乐',意味'神必预备',这句话描述了神的特性.他知道我们的实际所需而又在适当的时候供给我们.

How well that describes God! In today's Scripture, Abraham said that the place where God supplied a ram for sacrifice should be called' Jehovah-Jireh' or ' The Lord Will Provide.' This phrase reveals God's character. He knows exactly what need and provides it at just the right time.

神以他的独生儿子为我们在十字架上献上赎罪祭,这救恩已经白白赐给我们.不但如此,他也赐下圣灵,好使我们得着力量去遵行他的旨意.'神既不爱惜自己的儿子,为我们众人舍了, 岂不也把万物和他一同白白的赐给我们么?' (罗8:32),他必预备!当我们觉得缺乏时,请勿忘记!

God has given us salvation through the sacrifice of His Son one the cross. But that's not all. He also provides power through the Holy Spirit so that we can do His will. ' He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"(Ro.8:32). The Lord will provide! That's good to remember when our needs seem to be overwhelming.

Ready Giver 甘心捐献的人

我读过一个故事说,有一个富翁非常吝啬.有一天,他跟教会的牧师谈话时间牧师说'何以人们总指摘我吝啬,虽然他们知道我在遗嘱上写明,我死后,财产全部播充善举?'

According to a story I read, a wealthy man had a reputation for being stingy with his money. One day as he talked to the pastor of his church, he asked' why do people accuse me of being a miser even though they know that I have stated in my will that when i die all my money will be given to charity?'


 牧师讲了一个关于猪和牛的寓言,来回应他的问题.猪埋怨说,他不明白为何人人喜欢牛多于猪.他说'我知道你们牛有奶可以给人喝,但我们猪能给予他们熏肉和火腿啊!' 牛回答:'不错,你说得对.不过有一个极大分别.我们牛在生存期间已乐意的供给奶,你们猪只是在死后才供给.'

The Minister responded by telling a fable about a pig and a cow. The pig complained that he couldn't understand why people liked cows more than pigs. He said' I know that you cows give milk to people. But we pigs give them bacon and ham.'  Yes'. said the Cow. 'that's true. But there's one big difference. We cows are glad to do our giving while we're living. You pigs only do your giving after you're dead.'

我们在遗嘱里,把有价值的东西在死后捐出,那是值得称赞的--但比不过上在今生就欢欢喜喜的捐献.倘若我们以为因为害怕生活方式有所改变,或对物欲的满足有冲突,而不肯慷慨捐献,我们便失丧神对我们的丰富恩宠.当日以色列人那样甘心的为建造会幕慷慨奉献,神一定是很喜悦,所以摩西吩咐他们不必在奉献了.

It certainly is commendable to include worthy because in our wills--but not at the expense of cheerful giving right here and now. If we fail to give generously because it would alter our lifestyle or conflict with our desire for things, we lose out on God's full favor. How pleased the Lord must have been when the Israelites gave so willingly and generously for the building of the tabernacle that Moses had to tell them not to bring any more!

请记住,神喜爱捐的乐意的人.你属于哪一类奉献者呢?
Remember, the Lord loves cheerful givers. What kind of giver are you?

Never Too Old 永不太老

求你使我们早早饱得你的慈爱,好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐.Satisfy us early with Your mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

                                                                                                 -----Psalm 90:14

一些人年纪虽大,仍大有成就.祖母摩西在100岁时,仍然绘画.萧伯纳以94岁高龄写了一个剧本.鲁宾斯坦89岁的时候,尚在卡内基音乐厅做大型演奏,丘吉尔在82岁时,就写了一本'英语民族史'.

Look at what some people have accomplished despite advancing age. When Grandma Moses was 100, she was still painting. George Bernard Shaw wrote a play at 94. Arthur Rubinstein gave a great recital at Carnegie Hall when he was 89. And at 82, Winston Churchill wrote a History of the English--Speaking People.

圣经告诉我们,有许多敬虔的人,并没有因年事已高而停滞不前--像迦勒和摩西便是例子.迦勒在80岁的时候,奉派往迦南窥探.后来,他还蒙神准许进入应许地.摩西一直衷心带领以色列人,直至120岁.他们的成功秘诀,就在于衷心服事神,并且持着坚定不移的态度,直至神呼召他们归回天家.

The Bible tells of many godly people who didn't let the advancing years stop them-- Caleb and Moses, for instance. At 80, Caleb was one of the men sent to spy out the land of Canaan, and later he was allowed to enter the Promised Land. And Moses continued to lead the people of Israel faithfully until he was 120. The secret of their success was faith in God and an attitude of steadfastness until God called them home.

诗篇90:10说到,世上有不少人存活远超过70岁.借着鼓励别人以及一把精力用在事奉神方面,'他们年老的时候仍要结果子'(诗92:14).另一方面,有些十分年轻的人却希望可以不劳而获.


There are many people who have lived far beyond the 70 years mentioned in Psalm 90:10. They are still bearing 'fruit in old age' by encouraging others and using their energy in God's service. Others, however, far younger, have decided to coast home.


只要我们仍有力气,我们便要献上自己事奉主.这样,不管我们的年纪有多大,我们都能'欢呼喜乐'

As long as we have strength, we need to dedicate ourselves  to the Lord's service. Then, no matter what our age, we can 'rejoice and be glad'

It Hurts To Love 爱的伤痛

When Israel was a child, I loved him... My people are bent on backsliding from Me. 以色列年幼的时候,我爱他...我的民偏要背道离开我.

                                                                                       Hosea 何11:1,7

你若想在你的生命路途中,尽量减少忧伤和痛楚,你就不要爱上任何人.每逢你让自己去爱,你便要打开苦痛之门.人恋爱结婚可能会因配偶患病或死亡,洒下眼泪.爱自己儿女父母,看着儿女成长时,必然会忍受不少伤痛.

If you want to go through life with as little sorrow or pain as possible, don't love anybody. Every time you let yourself love,you open the door to pain. A person who falls in love and marries may shed many tears over the illness or death of the spouse. Parents who love their children will suffer many hurts as they watch them grow up.

我们若不让自己在情感与任何人连上关系,必可免去很多痛苦.不过,者也使我们失丧人生的最大快乐.诚然,我们爱的越深,痛苦也更深.不过,无私之爱,也同样是得到最大快乐的途径.

We can spare ourselves much pain if we don't let ourselves become emotionally attached to anyone. But we will also miss out on some of the greatest joys in life. The more we love, the more we suffer. That's true. But the path of selfless love is also the path to some of our greatest joys.

在何西阿书第11章,神将出他对以色列的爱.他将自己比作一位照顾幼儿的慈父.可是原该使他喜乐的以色列人,反令他痛苦.他们拒绝他的爱和引领,不尊敬他.神说,他要整治他们;然而他的怜爱顿生,他应该不会毁灭这个国家.

In Hosea 11, God spoke of His love for Israel. He compared Himself to a father caring for a child.(vv3-4). But the people who should have brough Him joy caused Him pain instead. They rejected His love and guidance and did not honor him(vv5-7). God said He would discipline them,yet His sympathy was stirred and He promised He would not destroy the nation(v.9)

爱别人虽然使我们容易受伤害和失望,但那份赏赐却是巨大的.因此我们应选择去爱,即使爱会带来痛苦.

Loving others makes us vulnerable to hurt and disappointment,but the rewards are great. Let's choose to love in spite of the pain it may bring.

为刺而感谢 Thanks For Thorns

我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的

I take pleasure in infirmities,....in distresses, for Christ's sake.

                                                                            (林后12:10)


我们很难在各种境遇下都心存感谢.当我们的身体被疾病毁坏,或刚刚获知我们染上不治之症,或正在失业,又或一种深刻的关系已告破裂,我们就不会觉得感恩了.但我们可以学习感谢神,因他在我们软弱之时赐给我们力量.

To give thanks in every situation is sometimes very difficult. When our bodies are wracked by pain, or we have just learned that we have a physical problem for which there is no cure, or we have lost our job, or a cherished relationship has been broken, we don't feel grateful. But we can learn to thank God because He gives us strength when we feel weak.

这就是为什么使徒保罗说'我为基督的缘故,就以软弱...困苦为可喜乐的'.作为信徒,我们能够心存感恩,是由于透过这些经验,神正成就对我们最好的事务.甚至借着受苦,神仍是为着我们的益处而工作.

That is why the apostle Paul could say, 'I take pleasure in infirmities,...in distresses, for Christ's sake.' and as believers, we can be grateful that through such experiences God is accomplishing what is best for us. Even through suffering He is working for our good

一位苏格兰的传道人兼作家马席孙,他虽然失明,仍发出这样的祷告'我曾为生命的玫瑰和欢乐向神感谢千万次,却从未为我的刺感谢一次...请指教我,懂得我所付十字架的荣耀;教导我懂得'刺'的价值.请让我看清楚,在痛苦的路上我一步一步爬近你.请让我看清楚,我的眼泪已造成了我美丽的彩虹.

Scottish author and preacher George Matheson,who was blind,expressed this prayer:'I have thanked Thee a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my 'thorn'....teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my 'thorn'. Show me that I have climbed to Thee by the path of pain. Show me that my tears have made my rainbow.'

当我们将自己向主降服,并记得他所做的每一件事情都是为了达成我们最终的益处;我们就能感谢神,甚至在我们被刺戳伤的时候.

As we surrender ourselves to the Lord and remember that He is working in everything to accomplish our ultimate good ,we can thank Him when we are pierced by 'thorns'