牧者心聲

「我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛；我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛。你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」（約十三 34-35）這是救主送給我們的禮物，讓我們在屬靈的路上有同伴，一同學習成長、彼此相愛。

在迷惘與挑戰中，彼此守望

愛，首先體現在勸勉與職場守望上。曾有一位姊妹遭遇網絡詐騙，幸得組員及時勸勉她放下貪念、切勿誤信謊言，才免受更大的損失。在家庭生活中，當一位弟兄與家人相處出現張力，團友們不僅安慰、禱告，更帶著勇氣勸勉他用主的愛和家人相處，讓弟兄深受提醒。此外，職場也是實踐愛的地方，有弟兄加入基督徒同事帶領的查經小組，在職場中彼此守望，持守聖潔公義，他為著能在公司裡也能遇到屬靈夥伴同行而感恩。

在疾病與風浪中，互相扶持

當肢體軟弱、患病時，主內一家的愛顯得尤為真實。一位姊妹因癌症留院，團友們不單探訪、祈禱、讀經，還貼心地送上她喜歡的食物、代辦生活雜務；另一位長期患病的弟兄，團友不但與他祈禱，甚至替他按摩無力的雙腳以防肌肉萎縮，這種愛心服事正是在效法主犧牲的愛。

這種扶持不單安慰當事人，更祝福家庭。有姊妹照顧病重留醫多月的母親，組員們持續探訪與鼓勵，讓這對母女深深感受到主的愛，連過百歲的母親也確信主愛她們到底。二十年前，一位姊妹因升職壓力患上抑鬱症，當時的團職及團友不離不棄地探訪與代禱。她康復後重返團契，後來更成為團長及牧顧長。她常感恩地分享：「若當年沒有團友的關愛扶持，我可能早已離開了屬靈之家。」

在生命旅程中，一同傳承

因著愛，許多新朋友在教會找到歸屬。一位弟兄加入團契後，團友用心聆聽並回應他的信仰疑問，隨著彼此漸漸相熟，他參加了受浸班並受浸，感恩神賜他靈程友伴。更美好的是，這份愛能經受時間的考驗。一班夫婦在團契同行數十載，一同持守真理，在職場、家庭及健康上守望相愛。感謝主，他們的子女大多信主，其中兩對夫婦的「信二代」更結成夫婦，在主愛裡親上加親，成為美好的傳承。

弟兄姊妺，在你的生命中，又有甚麼友伴之間彼此相愛的經歷？願我們都繼續在主愛裡，作彼此的靈程友伴。如果你還未有屬靈友伴，鼓勵你早日加入團契或小組，與其他肢體同行天路！

&emsp “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). This is a gift our Savior has given us, so that on the spiritual journey we may have companions, learning and growing together, and loving one another.

 

Watching Over One Another amid Confusion and Challenges

&emsp Love is first expressed in exhortation and in watching over one another in the workplace. A sister once fell victim to an online scam. Thankfully, her group members exhorted her in time to let go of greed and not be deceived by lies, thus sparing her from greater loss. In family life, when a brother experienced tension in his relationship with his family, his fellowship members not only comforted and prayed for him, but also courageously exhorted him to relate to his family with the love of the Lord. This served as a profound reminder to the brother. The workplace is also a place where love can be practised. A brother joined a Bible study group led by Christian colleagues, where they watch over one another in the workplace and hold fast to holiness and righteousness. He is grateful that he has encountered spiritual companions even in his company who walk alongside him.

 

Supporting One Another amid Illness and Storms

&emsp When members of the body are weak or ill, the love of the family in Christ becomes especially real. When a sister was hospitalized because of cancer, her fellowship members not only visited her, prayed with her, and read Scripture with her, but also thoughtfully brought her the food she liked and helped her with everyday errands. Another brother, who has long suffered from illness, was not only prayed for by his fellowship members, but they even massaged his weakened legs to prevent muscle atrophy. Such loving service is truly an imitation of the Lord’s sacrificial love.

&emsp This kind of support not only comforts the person concerned, but also blesses the family. A sister cared for her seriously ill mother, who had been hospitalized for many months. Her group members continued to visit and encourage them, letting both mother and daughter deeply experience the Lord’s love. Even her mother, who was over a hundred years old, firmly believed that the Lord loved them to the end. Twenty years ago, a sister developed depression because of the pressure of a job promotion. At that time, her fellowship leaders and members persistently visited her and prayed for her. After recovering, she returned to the fellowship and later became both fellowship leader and lay pastor. She often shares with gratitude, “If not for the loving care and support of my fellowship members back then, I might have left my spiritual home long ago.”

 

Passing on the Faith Together on Life’s Journey

&emsp Because of love, many newcomers have found a sense of belonging in the church. After a brother joined a fellowship, the members listened attentively to his questions about faith and responded to them. As they gradually became more familiar with one another, he joined the baptism class and was baptized, giving thanks to God for giving him companions on his spiritual journey. Even more beautiful is that this love can stand the test of time. A group of married couples have walked together in fellowship for decades, holding fast to the truth and watching over one another in love in matters of work, family, and health. Thanks be to the Lord, most of their children have come to faith. Among them, the “second-generation believers” of two couples even got married. In the love of the Lord, their families have become even closer to one another, forming a beautiful continuation of the faith they have received.

&emsp Brothers and sisters, what experiences of mutual love among companions come to mind in your life? May we all continue, in the love of the Lord, to be spiritual companions to one another. If you do not yet have spiritual companions, I encourage you to join a fellowship or small group soon, and walk the heavenly path together with other members of the body!