於2021-06-07發佈


通往勝利的道路5 

耶穌說:「在世上,你們有苦難」(約翰福音16:33。所以,我們在生活中會有試煉,但能夠避免不必要的試煉對我們會比較好。這週我們將提出遭受不必要試煉的主要原因。

我們可以做一個決定來幫助我們避開不必要的試煉,就是做每個重大決定時先尋求祂的國,將神國度的利益放在每個考量之上。耶穌說我們若先求祂的國,祂會看顧我們的其他需要。因此,如果我們不斷有著其他需要,或許是因為我們沒有先求祂的國。

許多基督徒在地理位置上並沒有行在神的旨意中,因為他們沒有先尋求祂的國來選擇自己住的地方。他們做的決定是以最好的工作所在為考量,或是靠近朋友或家人所在,那裡才是他們喜愛的地理位置。這些並不是邪惡動機,但也不是先求祂的國度目的。因此,這些動機可能引領我們遠離主的旨意和祂的供應。

當有人告訴我他們因著工作而住在某個地方,我通常會問他們工作如何,通常是工作如意。接著我問他們家庭如何,通常是不是很好。如果我問他們教會生活如何,他們通常會說找不到合適的教會,因此他們生活中的關鍵部分也不會很好。

試煉臨到有著不同原因,有些是神允許為著訓練我們,使我們長大成熟,好叫我們可以完成此生的目的。有些試煉是為著祂要來國度的目的來訓練我們,其他試煉則是出於我們的愚行或罪惡。這些試煉是不必要的,雖然我們仍可以從中學習受惠,但若不以這種方式學習顯然更好。

還有一些其他的試煉可能是因為沒有專心並持續尋求主的旨意,而使我們遠離蒙召的道路。我們可以從錯誤中學到寶貴功課,但只因為某件事物寶貴並不代表對我們是最好的。神使「萬事」互相效力是為著我們的益處(羅馬書8:28),但那不代表是為著我們的最佳益處。

羅馬書十二章2節告訴我們:不要效法這個世界,只要心意更新而變化,叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。我們被呼召要與眾不同,活出不一樣的生命。在這裡我們也看見主的旨意有三種層級:一種是善良(good),另一種是可喜悅的(acceptable),然後才是純全(perfect)的旨意,顯然純全才是最好的。

既然今生已在永恆中為我們建造這麼多的事物,我們為何還要花更多時間和精力去追求即將逝去的今生呢?就算在永恆中最低的位置,仍遠遠超越今生的任何事物、好得無比,我們為何要為著永恆接受那些僅是「善良」和「可喜悅的」?

在教會時代的一些教師和神學家提出,那些「哀哭切齒」的人顯然是信徒,指的是那些看到他們所錯過的而有的反應,因為沒有尋求神對他們這一生的最高旨意。在天上主要擦去一切的眼淚,證明會有一些哀哭切齒的人在那裡,至少有一段時期。

我們的財寶在哪裡,我們的心也在哪裡。我們在地上的財寶是否比我們在天上與主同在所擁有的更多?如果是這樣,就會導致地上的麻煩和天上的損失。現在是調整的時候。

(摘自喬納word for the week, Week 22, 2021)
 

The Path to Victory, Part 5

  Jesus said that “in the world you will have tribulation” (see John 16:33). So, we are going to have trials in our life, but it would be much better for us to avoid the ones that are not necessary. This week we will address the main reasons we are subject to unnecessary trials. 

         A choice we can make that will help us avoid unnecessary trials is to make every major decision by seeking the kingdom first, and put the interests of the kingdom above every other consideration. He said that if we would seek His kingdom first He would take care of the other needs we have. So if we constantly have other needs, maybe it is because we are not seeking His kingdom first. 

         Many Christians are not in the geographic will of God because they chose where they live without seeking His kingdom first. Rather, they base this decision where the best job is, where they like the geography, or to be close to friends or family. These are not evil motives, but neither are they seeking the purposes of the kingdom first. Therefore, they can lead us away from the will of the Lord and His provision for us.

         When someone tells me they live where they do because of the job, I often ask them how the job is going, and it’s usually going well. Then I ask them how their family is doing, and it’s not so good. If I ask about their church life they often respond that they can’t find a church where they fit, and therefore that crucial aspect of their life is not doing well either.

         Trials come for various reasons. Some are allowed by God for our training and maturing so that we can fulfill our purpose in this life. Some are for our training and maturing for our purpose in His kingdom that is coming. Others are the result of our own folly or sin. These are unnecessary. We can still benefit from the lessons we learn from them, but it would obviously be better not to learn this way. 

         Other trials can be the result of a departure from the path we are called to walk by not intently and continuously seeking the will of the Lord. We can learn beneficial lessons from mistakes, but just because something benefits us does not mean that it is the best for us. God causes “all things” to work for our good (see Romans 8:28), but that does not mean they work out for the best. 

         In Romans 12:2 we are told, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” We are called to be different and live differently. We also see here that there are three levels of being in the will of the Lord: one is “good,” another is “acceptable,” and then there is the “perfect” will of God that is obviously the best.

         Since this life establishes so much for us in eternity, why do we spend so much more time and effort pursuing the things of this life that are soon going to pass away? Even if the lowest positions in eternity are still far beyond and more wonderful than anything in this life, why would we want to accept what is just “good” or “acceptable” for eternity? 

         Some of the ancient teachers and theologians of the church age have proposed that those who are “weeping and gnashing their teeth,” which are apparently believers, is the response of those who see what they missed because they did not seek the highest purposes of God in this life. For the Lord to have to wipe away all tears in heaven is evidence that there will be some there, at least for a while. 

        Our hearts are where our treasure is. Do we have more treasure here on earth than we do with the Lord in heaven? If so it will lead to troubles here and losses there. Now is the time to get this right.