牧者心聲
靈修是基督徒的生活型態
黃志剛牧師
2022 年 12 月 31 日／2023 年 1 月 1 日
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每年第一個或最後一個週末和主日，北宣家都定為靈修主日，鼓勵信徒重視與維持恆常的靈修生活。
我們的難處：我們都知道靈修的重要性，也曾努力建立、維持靈修的習慣。但正如耶穌所說：「你們的心靈固然願意，肉體卻是軟弱的」（可十四 38，新漢語譯本）。疲倦必然影響我們的靈修，繁忙工作與回應家庭需要更常是引致疲累的罪魁禍首。警醒、禱告、靈修，似乎是知易行難，也難持之以恆。若不想輕言放棄，我們可有甚麼出路？
耶穌的靈修生活：既然我們相信耶穌、跟隨耶穌，就讓我們看看祂的榜樣。耶穌出來傳道的日子，常是風塵僕僕。在馬可筆下，祂其中一天在迦百農的日程是這樣的：一到安息日，便進會堂教導人和趕逐污靈；一出會堂，便到門徒家裡，醫治西門的岳母；到了傍晚，「眾人把所有患病的和被鬼附身的人都帶到耶穌那裡」（可一 32），祂把他們治好，並趕走許多的鬼；一天過去，「大清早，天還沒亮，耶穌起來，走了出去，來到荒野之地，在那裡禱告。」（可一 35）當門徒找到耶穌的時候，祂又帶領他們到其他鄉鎮傳道。
另一次，當耶穌完成門徒訓練，本來打發他們到荒野去歇一歇，不料遇到數以千計的群眾等待他們。結果，耶穌不單繼續教導，還行了五餅二魚的神蹟，然後先後打發門徒和群眾離開，再自行到山上禱告。（可六 30-46）
工作（事奉）、禱告、與父神相交（靈修），是耶穌的生活日常。
自選的生活作息：記得一位屬靈前輩說過這樣的話：人總有時間做他認為重要的事情。我們重視身體健康，便會在百忙中安排時間跑步、上健身室；我們想要或需要咖啡，便會抽時間到喜愛的咖啡店買一杯外帶，甚或坐下來享用；我們在忙碌疲憊的生活夾縫中，總有時間掃掃手機，在社交網絡留言看 YouTube。靈修、讀經、禱告，會否也是我們珍而重之的日常生活方式？是我們的 Christian Lifestyle？
靈修是生活獻呈：靈修的英文翻譯是 devotion 或 devotional，意思是向主虔誠的敬拜與呈獻。新一年伊始，讓我們選擇以靈修作為我們的生活方式，不斷把自己「作為活祭獻上，這祭是聖潔的，是神所喜歡的；這是你們理當獻上的敬拜」（羅十二 1）。
The NPAC family designates the first or last Saturday and Sunday of each year as Devotional Sunday. This is to encourage brothers and sisters to attach importance to and practice devotional on a regular basis.
Our difficulties: We all know the importance of devotional. We probably have tried hard to establish and keep the habit of devotional. But as Jesus said: "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Mark 14:38). Fatigue surely affects our devotional. Busy work and responding to family needs are often the main reasons that wear us out. Keeping watch, praying and quiet time – these we all know, but they are not easy to carry out or to do so regularly. What can we do if we do not wish to give up so readily?
Jesus' devotional life: Since we believe in and follow Jesus, let us look at His example. Jesus was really busy when he was preaching. As portrayed by Mark, His itinerary for one of the days in Capernaum included the following: The Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue to teach and drove away an impure spirit. As soon as He left the synagogue, He went to His disciples' home and healed Simon's mother-in-law. In the evening, "…the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed" (Mark 1:32). Jesus healed many and drove out many demons. A day passed. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed" (Mark 1:35). And when the disciples found Jesus, He led them to other villages to preach.
On another occasion, after Jesus had finished discipling, He intended to send the disciples off to take some rest in a quiet place when He was caught up by thousands who were waiting for them. Not only did Jesus continue teaching but He also performed the miracle of five loaves and two fish. He then asked His disciples and the crowd to leave and He alone went up on a mountainside to pray (Mark 6:30-46).
Work (ministry), prayer and communication with the Father (devotional) – these formed the daily life of Jesus.
Lifestyle of choice: A spiritual mentor has shared: People will find time to do what they deem important. If we attach importance to physical health, we will squeeze time from our busy schedule to go jogging or go to the gym. If we want or need coffee, we will find time to go to a favorite coffee shop to grab a cup to go or even sit down and enjoy one. In the midst of the fatigue and tight schedule of life, we somehow have time to check the mobile phone, leave messages on the social media and watch YouTube. Do we also value greatly devotional, Bible reading and prayer as part of our daily life? Are these our Christian lifestyle?
Devotional is a life offering:Devotion or devotional means pious worship and dedication to the Lord. At the start of the new year, let us choose devotional as our lifestyle and continually offer ourselves "as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship" (Romans 12:1).
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