牧者心聲
神所喜悅的事奉
劉雪芬牧師
2023 年 10 月 28 日 / 29 日
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10月是團契職員改選的日子，有些團契非常苦惱，因為很難邀請到團友參與事奉；但有些團契則全民皆兵，大家輪流分工合作，一齊維繫團契，彼此建立。
最近預備講道時，讀到尼希米記十一章1-2節：「百姓的領袖住在耶路撒冷。其餘的百姓抽籤，每十人中選一人來住在聖城耶路撒冷，另外九人住在別的城鎮。凡甘心樂意住在耶路撒冷的，百姓都為他們祝福。」（和修版）當時尼希米和領袖們看到亟需解決聖城荒涼的問題，因而進行一連串的措施，除百姓的領袖以身作則自動搬進聖城居住外，其餘的回歸百姓亦以十一奉獻的原則抽籤決定，每十人抽一人遷進聖城居住。抽籤突顯了有人不情願住進耶路撒冷，但他們仍願意順服神的安排和帶領，另外又有一些是自願住進聖城的人，他們願意犧牲自己的舒適來回應聖城的需要。我們見到兩樣奉獻神都使用，但經文告訴我們，甘心樂意的人是會得到更多的祝福。
我負責帶領長者團和婦女團多年，許多長者和婦女最初都害怕事奉，覺得自己甚麼都不懂，又怕別人對自己批評，而且感到與其他人合作會好麻煩，所以不敢或不願意事奉。但經過鼓勵和勸勉後，他們明白事奉是回應神的恩典，不應計較別人的說話，況且我們並不是靠自己，而是靠神，「唔識就學習囉！」最後他們願意嘗試，也樂意接受裝備培訓，進而慢慢在事奉中經歷神，生命也持續成長。這些弟兄姊妹最初是被動順服地回應事奉，最終反而得著神的祝福。
一位姊妹自小因血管腫瘤影響外型，更因常常出入醫院，以致身心靈受了不少痛苦，學業也受影響，加上家庭環境困難，所以自小形成自卑的性格。少年時，她因認識神，經歷到被愛，生命起了很大改變。縱然青年時要面對截肢的手術，但仍常帶著感恩和喜樂的心。她平安喜樂的生命，甚至連旁邊的病友也感受得到，這就成了傳福音的機會。後來姊妹到不同學校和機構分享人生的體會和經歷，幫助了不少人，包括一名有自殺傾向的小學生。
我們不一定有這位姊妹的傳奇經歷，但假如我們願意回應神，無論你今天是被動參與服事，或是甘心樂意的擺上，只要你有順服神的心，神仍是會喜悅、仍是會使用你的。願主賜福我們的服事，叫我們不單成為別人的祝福，自己的生命也蒙祝福、得以成長。
October is election month for our fellowships. Some fellowships are having a hard time finding members to participate in serving. Some other fellowships are different. Each and every one of their members has a role to play. They take turns to keep the fellowship up and running so they can continue to build up one another.
I came across Nehemiah 11:1-2 recently while preparing my sermon: “Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. ” At that time, Nehemiah and the leaders were looking at the acute problem of a deserted holy city. So they carried out a number of measures. While leaders would set an example and volunteered to move into Jerusalem, others would draw lots based on the principle of tithing to send one out of every ten of them to live in the holy city. The need to draw lots showed that some were not willing to live in the holy city and yet they were still willing to obey the plan and guidance of God. On the other hand, there were some who volunteered to move into the holy city. They were willing to sacrifice their comfort in order to respond to the needs of the holy city. We see that both kinds of offering were used by God. But the Scripture shows us that those who are willing are more blessed.
For many years, I have led senior fellowships and sisters’ groups. Many seniors and sisters are scared about serving. They feel that they do not know much and they have fear of disapproval by others. Some others may find it difficult to cooperate with others. They are therefore afraid of or are reluctant to serve. But after encouragement and exhortation, they understood that serving is a response to the grace of God and they should not mind what others might say. Moreover, we do not depend on ourselves but God. “We can always learn if we don’t know how!” Finally, they are willing to try and are willing to be trained and equipped. They gradually experience God in serving and their spiritual lives also continued to grow. These brothers and sisters passively obeyed in responding to serve at first, but in turn received the blessing of God.
A sister is physically deformed since small due to a blood vessel tumor. She also suffered much in her body, spirit and soul as she always had to go in and out of the hospital. Her school life was also affected. Coming from a family with difficult circumstances as well, she developed a sense of inferiority from young. But ever since her youth, her life completely changed after knowing God and experiencing being loved. Despite having to face limb amputation as a young adult, she was always grateful and joyful. The peace and joy in her life was felt by fellow patients around her, which became opportunities to share the gospel. Later, the sister shared her thoughts and experience in different schools and organizations. She became a blessing to many people, including a primary school pupil who was inclined to commit suicide.
We may not necessarily have legendary experiences like this sister. But if we are willing to respond to God, whether to passively participate in serving or willingly serve, God will still be pleased and will use us as long as we are willing to obey Him. May God bless our ministry so we not only become a blessing to others, but our own lives will also be blessed and that we will grow.
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