最棒的基督徒生命 9

終生門訓

上週我們開始來看何謂門徒。在聖經時期，成為名師的門徒是一個人所能得著的最高尊榮。因為門徒的品質直接反映在老師身上，所以老師會尋找最好、最聰明的門徒，而且多數只會考慮出生貴族的成員。因此，當主命令祂的門徒去使萬民作門徒，這真是不同反響的大使命。

當一個人被名師選作門徒，就被認定向他們老師學習將是他們生命中最重要的焦點。最受人敬重的老師在門訓期間，是不允許門徒結婚或被其他事務纏身。當門徒在名師之下學習卻還想要有其他興趣，會被視為對夫子最大的冒犯。身為萬王之王的門徒，如此行豈不是更大的冒犯？

當然，那時成為主的門徒與其他老師的門徒之間有些不同，當主呼召門徒時，其中有些人已經結婚，例如彼得。即便如此，所有主的門徒都必須撇下他們的工作或職務來跟隨祂。有些人偶爾會回到他們的專業，正如我們看見使徒保羅偶爾回去織帳棚。即便如此，一個人所能做最重要的事情就是成為萬王之王的門徒。毫無疑問，真正的門訓需要最高層級的委身與投入。

主所造的每個人都獨一無二，祂也用很獨特的方式來對待每個人。去到專業學校或全職工作都可以成為祂門訓我們的重要部分，當我們讀到聖經中偉大的信心英雄人物，其中只有四個利未人，或者說只有四個人全職事奉。其他則是商人、農夫、軍人、政府官員或其他職業，有些人甚至是奴隸。大使命是要『去到全世界』，這不單是地理位置，更是進到各行各業。因此，為那領域來預備自己可能是我們門訓的一部份。

在聖經時代的一般門訓時間大約是四年或不到四年。我們則是終生門訓，我們從不停止向我們的夫子學習，我們應該將此當作我們一生的首要委身。正如俗語說：『我們應當永續學習直到停止呼吸。』持續我們從主而來的門訓應當成為我們生命中的首要委身，我們的永恆獎賞將取決於我們在這方面做得怎樣。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week9, 2015) 

 

Lifelong Discipleship- The Greatest Christian Life, Part 9
Week 9, 2015
Rick Joyner

Last week we began to look at what it means to be a disciple. In biblical times, being the disciple of a noteworthy teacher was one of the highest honors one could receive. Because the quality of the disciples reflected directly upon the teacher, teachers would seek the very best and brightest as disciples, and most would only consider members of the nobility. Therefore, when the Lord commanded His disciples to go and make disciples, this was a truly remarkable commission.

When one was chosen as a disciple of a notable teacher, it was assumed that learning from their teacher would be the disciple’s foremost focus in life. The most esteemed teachers would not allow a disciple to marry or have any other endeavors during the period of one’s discipleship. For a disciple to even consider having other interests while studying under one of the great masters would be considered a major affront to the master. How much more should being a disciple of the King of kings be?

The Lord made every person unique, and He deals with each one uniquely. Attending school as a profession or working in a job or occupation can be an important part of our discipleship. When studying the great heroes of the faith in Scripture, I could only find four that were Levites, or in professional ministry. The rest were merchants, farmers, soldiers, government workers, and other such occupations. Some were even slaves. The Great Commission to “go into all the world” is not just geographical, but is about going into every field of knowledge and influence. So preparation for that field can be a part of our discipleship.

The usual period of discipleship in biblical times was four years or less. Ours is for a lifetime. We never stop learning from our Master, and we should keep this as a primary devotion our entire lives. As has been said, “We should not stop learning until we stop breathing.” Keeping our discipleship to the Lord should be a primary devotion of our lives. Our eternal reward will be determined by how well we do this.