生命中的宽阔流长 和 Worth Every Minute

minsao

叶特生


生命中有许多荒谬，许多遗憾。



一个半生劳苦奉献的神仆，突然遇上撞机意外身亡；另一个正值英年的牧师，罹患绝症，缠绵病榻受尽苦痛而死，为甚麽？这都是超乎理性的事，我们不懂得解释。



世界有两大祸患：一是恶人，二是灾难：两件事都会破坏我们的心，毁掉我们的人格。



连耶稣也被自己所爱的人谋害，可见有人就有欺编，就有苦难。不法的事增多，人的爱心就渐渐冷淡（太廿四12），为何人的心冷淡？当一次又一次受骗受伤，心就破碎变质了。



苦难未必使人领略智慧，除非人一直将目光注视於天，产生敬畏之心。义人约伯遭遇诸般苦痛时说：我虽有义，也不（敢）回答祂，只要向那审判我的恳求（伯九15）。



旧约中雅各的儿子约瑟，半生坎坷，十七岁时被他所爱的兄长出卖，到了异域作奴隶，後来被提升当了内臣的管家，好象熬出头了，谁知又因坚持不肯犯罪而被主母诬告，打成冤狱，到三十岁才被平反，十三年之久，从一个家中备受宠爱的少年成了命如蝼蚁的奴隶和囚犯，快要三十七岁时，他生了第一个儿子，起名叫玛拿西（意思是「忘了吧」）。几十年来，他一定充满了各种对生命的疑问：有神，为何我困厄如斯？坚持不犯罪，为何好人不是马上有好报？他成长於敬虔的家庭，虽然想不通受苦的原因，但他不离不弃，反而每当面对人生诱惑时（主母引诱他），他第一件事就是想到神，「我怎能作此大恶，得罪神呢？」（创卅九9）



敬畏神，不一定立刻脱离苦难，更屡遭诬陷迫害，黑狱之中，前途无望。肉体受苦，犹可咬牙支撑，但心境之苦，难以忍受，有一次他憋不住，没有等候伸冤的神，主动向一位快将出狱的犯冒官恳求：「求你纪念我，施恩与我，在法老（王）面前题说我，救我出这监牢。」（创四十14）



很讽刺的是：约瑟很理性地为自我打算时（四句话提了四次「我」），当那位犯官官复原职，竟然忘了他两年之久。
没有家庭，远离父亲，披枷带锁，黑夜漫长，有如寒天饮雪水，点滴在心头，到他热过了苦日子，生儿子时，特别改了个语重心长的名字──「忘了吧！」



忘得了吗？人到中年，过去的岁月创伤，补不回来了，生命是一道长流，抽刀断水水更流，举杯消愁愁更愁，许多噩梦似的回忆，半夜会使他惊醒，从他被剥下彩衣，丢在深坑里开始，遭亲人杀害的阴影萦绕着他，他应该恨，恨那些无良兄长，使他独自领受人生苦杯。好了！如今大权在握，冤家路窄，当年害他的人，一个个到他权下求施舍，报复的时机到了，有千百种刑法，让他合法地以牙还牙。



但他没有，神在他心中，把一切仇恨化成宽恕，化成爱与亲情，他转身退去，哭了一场又一场，然後对他兄长说：「这样看来，差我到这里的不是你们，乃是神。」（创四十五8）



看见了神，就不必愁苦，不用寻求完美宗教解释，也不用阿Q式自我安慰，痛苦没有凝聚创伤与郁结；生活的磨练，使他心胸更形豁达，性情更为温柔，正因时刻以神为念，使他从乡下牧羊小儿，变成了属灵伟人。



约瑟的第二个儿子，取名叫「以法莲」（意思是昌盛）。忘不掉没关系，在受苦的日子，神照样使他昌盛，不单外面物质上的富足，他的生命也显得宽阔流长。



主耶稣曾经当众宣告：我来了，是要叫羊（人）得生命，并且得的更丰盛。（约十10）
不是苦难使人昌盛，而是苦难时信靠神，那信心更显宝贵。不必追求苦难，要追求神，有神同在，苦难只是影儿。不要向猝尔临到的苦难问为甚麽，神就是最好的答案。





更多文章: 中国信徒佈道会 中信月刊 http://ccmusa.org/Read/read.aspx (有简体字/繁体字版本)




Worth Every Minute



Two hours is a small price for Bhima to pay. He’s made this journey countless times, but when you’re feeding the hungry, the joy is worth it all.



Pastor Bhima travels to the surrounding villages of his home, sharing the love of Jesus with many who have never heard Christ’s name. When Bhima came to a town two hours away, he discovered that several people were hungry to learn about God. So he kept returning.



A Village Steeped in ReligionThe majority of the villagers believe in karma and are bound in superstition, and most don’t know how to read. But these hard-working farmers will not put up with anyone mocking their faith.



Padma, a quiet young woman in the town, has worshiped and sacrificed to idols since childhood. Her family is often separated, because her father works in a different state, but she works hard to help her mother and brothers take care of their home. A dedicated student, one would never guess from Padma’s smile the difficulties she has to endure to make it through school.



Tormented by SpiritsWhy they chose her, Padma didn’t know, but every time she tried to concentrate on her studies, demons attacked. She wanted to learn but frequent headaches prevented her.



Padma and her mother visited many doctors, but no one had answers to free Padma from her misery.
Pastor Bhima happened to visit Padma’s home one day and shared the Gospel with her mother. Padma arrived later, and he got to pray for her. Padma’s mother noticed a difference in her daughter after the prayer, so she asked Bhima to keep coming. He gladly consented and visited often, reading from God’s Word and asking God to heal Padma.



Where Two or More are GatheredBhima invited two believers from his hometown to begin a regular prayer meeting in Padma’s home. One day, as the three believers prayed over Padma, she fell down unconscious, but Bhima and his friends continued to intercede for her deliverance and the Lord rescued her. In moments, Padma stood up, fully restored.



Padma and her mother were overjoyed and thanked the believers profusely. From that day on, Padma started to attend prayer meetings, and gradually God convicted her heart of her need for Jesus.



Now, there is a wide-open door in this village to hear the message of Jesus. The people are amazed at what God accomplished in Padma’s life and they see the power Christ has over darkness. Padma also joyfully shares her testimony with others, and no one opposes her witness because they are so happy that she is healed.






更多文章: 福音给亚洲 (Gospel for Asia) http://gospelforasia-reports.org/