既然我們現在正進入節慶的季節，我們理當充滿感恩，從感恩節到新年這段期間，好好享受時光，更多聚焦在家人與社交上。這是一件好事，就好像一年的十一重新聚焦在關係上，好好珍惜，也好好安息，因為2011年將會是我們一生中最劇烈的一年之一。這也意味著對那些已經預備好的人，2011年將會是最充滿機會的一年。
 
美國正在覺醒之中，保守黨認為歐巴馬總統把他們緊緊連結在一起，遠超過任何保守黨領袖所能做到的。也有越來越多證據顯示，美國人對過去兩年的領導震驚不已，目前已有更多人轉向保守黨來引導未來。即便如此，最終的解答並非來自政治或政府。有太多次基督徒覺得若他們自己人當選，一切都會進行得宜，他們卻在不知不覺中繼續向下沈淪。
 
2010年的選舉，有許多令人感到激勵的事，其中一樣就是基督徒甦醒過來，投入我們時候的重要議題，但這並不是我們蒙召成為光和鹽的主要精力或貢獻。我們可否仍這樣做，卻不忘記我們蒙召更重要的責任？
 
何為我們蒙召更重要的責任呢？首先，要安然度過要來的時候，我們現在就必須開始真實呈現出最根本的宗教改革真理之一─所有信徒都是祭司。新約清楚指出現在是人人皆祭司，調查顯示有超過百分之九十的基督徒甚至不明白這是什麼意思。很少人活在這樣的基本呼召中；倘若基督徒成為蒙召的祭司，我們個人、家人、朋友、教會、城市、國家與世界的生活會有何等大的不同？而且是全然的不同。

我們正進入世界從未經歷過最受挑戰的時期，以賽亞書六十章1-5節描述到此：

興起，發光！因為你的光已經來到！耶和華的榮耀發現照耀你。
看哪，黑暗遮蓋大地，幽暗遮蓋萬民，耶和華卻要顯現照耀你；祂的榮耀要現在你身上。
萬國要來就你的光，君王要來就你發現的光輝。
你舉目向四方觀看；眾人都聚集來到你這裡。你的眾子從遠方而來；你的眾女也被懷抱而來。
那時，你看見就有光榮；你心又跳動又寬暢；因為大海豐盛的貨物必轉來歸你；列國的財寶也必來歸你。
 
就像我們在這裡所看見的，光將得勝！人們會來就光，而不是黑暗，我們必須為此預備。這始於我們身為祭司的最基本職責，預備好讓此重點臨到基督的肢體，現在就是時候。
  
 (摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 49, 2010)
 

Prepared for the Times, Part 49
Week 49, 2010    

Since we are now into the holiday season, we should be thankful and enjoy the periods between Thanksgiving and New Year’s when we focus more on family and socializing. This is a good thing. It’s almost like a tithe of the year in which we draw back and focus on relationships. Enjoy it, and get all of the rest you can, because 2011 is going to be one of the most intense years of our lifetime. This also means that it will be one of the most opportune years for those who are prepared.

There is an awakening going on in America. Conservatives are crediting President Obama for getting them engaged and united more than any conservative leader has ever been able to do. There is also increasing evidence that Americans are turning more to conservatives for leadership into the future, having been shocked by the leadership of the last two years. Even so, the ultimate answers are not going to come from politics or our government. Too many times Christians have felt that if their people were elected, everything would be made right, and the slide continued.

There is a lot to be encouraged about from the 2010 elections. It is very encouraging the way that Christians are waking up and getting engaged in the important issues of our times, but this is not our main strength or our main contribution as the salt and light we’re called to be. Can we do this while not forgetting the even more important responsibilities we’re called to do?

What are the more important responsibilities to which we are called? First, to make it through the coming times, we must now start to actually perform one of the most basic Reformation truths—the priesthood of all believers. The New Testament is clear that every one of us is a priest now, and studies show that more than 90 percent of Christians do not even understand what this means. Fewer are walking in this basic calling that we all have. How different would our lives, the lives of our families and friends, our churches, our cities, our nation, and our world be, if Christians became the priests they are called to be? The difference would be profound.

We are entering some of the most challenging times the world has ever experienced, which is described in Isaiah 60:1-5:

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples, but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you.
“And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
“Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather together, they come to you.
Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms.
“Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice;
“Because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.”

As we see here, the light wins! The people come to the light, not the darkness. We need to get ready for this. It begins with our most basic duties as priests. Get ready for an emphasis on this coming to the body of Christ. It’s time.