牧者心聲
感恩的力量
羅惠芬牧師
2024 年 5 月 4 日 / 5日
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羅馬書十六章有一段特別長的問安內容，其中反映了保羅屬靈生命一個寶貴特質：常存感恩。這一章經文令人覺得保羅十分認識羅馬教會，彼此關係密切，但其實保羅並沒去過羅馬教會，他對這教會的認識很可能是從教會的成員聽聞而得，這些成員包括與他同工的百基拉、亞居拉（3節）、耳巴奴（9節），還有與他一同坐監的安多尼古和猶尼亞（7節）。保羅不僅記得羅馬教會成員的名字，還記得發生在他們身上的事。為何保羅這麼在意所聽聞的事？這一章經文多次出現「在基督裡」、「在主裡」等用語，表明了保羅很關心教會和福音工作。保羅因為關心，所以很留心去聽；因為關心，所以保羅看自己如同羅馬教會的一分子，與羅馬教會弟兄姊妹在基督裡一起事奉，一起經歷神的大能和的恩典。
感恩的心，確實能帶給人祝福！我見過這樣一句話："A grateful heart can offer a new lens for life."（「感恩的心會給你新鏡片去看人生。」引自https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22322-the-transforming-power-of-a-grateful-heart）
我們在經營人生的過程中，常體會到生命的重，生活是吃力的、辛苦的，不管有多大的能力、智慧，我們都要在自身的限制和不足之中掙扎，同時還要面對競爭和敵對、以及各種失誤和不公平所帶來的虧損和傷害。所以，人很容易會失去生活的熱誠和動力，感到生活只是營營役役地打轉（loop），教人失去期待，失去理想，見到的只是人生的責任、付出、勞累、失望和不安。
然而感恩的心是生活中有力的調和，能化解生活擔子形成的負面迷霧，令人見到生活苦況之中還是有美好，見到自己努力的價值、以及所得的收獲成果，這一切就是盼望的理由和動力，叫我們無需再懷疑自己的人生。感恩的心也叫人見到自己其實不是孤軍作戰，有神、有人的記念與同行，令人體會到在人間的冷漠之中仍有溫暖，世界不是一面倒的荒誕扭曲，冥冥之中仍是有真理。
感恩是教會的特點。觀察神的作為，是最直接見到神恩典的途徑，我們要學習張開眼睛和耳朵，關心自己的屬靈生命，關心弟兄姊妹彼此的成長，也關心教會的發展和天國的擴展。當我們多去留意，就會發現神的作為和恩典，人生就會常存感恩。我們假如事奉時感到困倦疲乏，產生埋怨，最要緊的是回想神的恩典。我祈求神讓你看見祂的作為，使你為教會感恩，為自己感恩，這樣，生活就會重新得力。
The exceptionally long greetings in Romans 16 reveal a valuable characteristic of Paul's spiritual life: Being thankful always. This chapter gives the impression that Paul was very familiar with the church in Rome and that they had a close relationship. In reality, Paul never visited the Roman church. What he knew about the church probably came from its members. These people included his coworkers Priscilla and Aquila (v.3), Urbanus (v.9), and Andronicus and Junia (v.7) who had been in prison with him. Paul not only remembered their names but also what they went through. Why did Paul attach so much importance to what he heard about? The phrases "In Christ" and "In the Lord" appear many times in this chapter, underlining Paul's care for church and gospel work. Paul's care makes him listen attentively. It makes him consider himself as part of the Roman church, serving side by side in Christ with brothers and sisters and experiencing the great power and grace of God together.
A grateful heart can be a real blessing to others! It has been said: "A grateful heart can offer a new lens for life." 1
In dealing with life, we often find life demanding, difficult, exhausting. And however much our capacity and wisdom may be, we are bound to struggle within our limitations and inadequacies. This is not to mention the competition and antagonism we have to face, as well as the losses and damages from errors and unfairness. We can easily lose our enthusiasm and motivation in life, feeling that life is just an arduous, endless loop. That may further make us lose sight of our hopes and aspirations and see that there are only duties, giving, exhaustion, disappointments and uncertainties in life.
Nevertheless, a grateful heart can serve as an effective buffer in life. It can ease away the negative fog over the burden of life and let people see the goodness behind the toil, the value of one's endeavors, and the rewards from all the hard work. All of this is reason and motivation for hope, and we will no longer cast doubt on life. A grateful heart also lets us see that we are not alone – that there is God and other people who remember us and walk with us. There is still warmth in callousness. The world is not all absurd and twisted. Truth still prevails.
Gratefulness is a characteristic of the church. The most direct way to see the grace of God is to observe His works. We need to learn to open our eyes and ears, take good care of our spiritual lives, pay attention to the growth of brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as the development of the church and the advancement of the Kingdom of God. When we pay more attention, we will discover the works and grace of God. We will always be grateful. So, if we feel weary and burdened in our ministries, when we have grievances, the most important thing will be to remember the grace of God. I pray that God will let you see His works so that you will give thanks for the church and for yourself. In doing so, your strength will be renewed.
1 https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/22322-the-transforming-power-of-a-grateful-heart
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