二○二○年七月二十五/二十六日 Click here for English version 保守自己常在神的愛中
蕭壽華牧師
在退休後的日子中,我用了很多時間重讀自己過去多年寫下的靈命札記,回想許多已淡忘了的經歷。初讀時我有一種強烈的自卑、虧欠情緒,但很快卻又看見神過去在我身上、在教會中奇妙的工作,感受到祂的恩典覆蓋我的軟弱,祂在我身上滿有慈愛。想不到這些回想過去的經歷,成為這段日子神與我親近同行的體會。 Pastor's Sharing
Abiding in God's Love
Rev Gordon Siu
Now that I am retired, I have spent much time reading the spiritual journals that I have accumulated over the years. Memories came back. Experiences were relived. When I read my notes, I was overwhelmed by a sense of inferiority and inadequacy. But then quickly, I noted the mighty hand of God in my life and in the church throughout. God's grace has covered my weaknesses and His lovingkindness has been with me. That walk down the memory lane was an unexpected experience of God's walk with me during this period. In Psalm 78, the psalmist commits to telling the next generation about God's power and the wonders He has done. The psalmist knew that if people forget God's wondrous works in the past, they will no longer follow the Lord. "We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds" (Psalm 75:1). This verse tells us that when people tell of God's wonderful deeds, God is near. Therefore, during personal Scripture meditation or corporate worship, God's people will hardly realize His lovingkindness and His nearness if they do not ponder His wondrous works in history and in their lives. The Lord has told us: "In this world you will have trouble." We will experience changes in the living environment, damage done by evil people in society, anxiety over family, ourselves and the future… We will seek a better guarantee, a more secure future. But if, for this reason, we forget to ponder the wonders God has done, we will be like the Israelites who "did not keep God's covenant and refused to live by his law. They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them" (Psalm 78:10-11). God will continue to leave us in trouble and adversity until we would cry out to Him, and He would deliver us from distress (See Psalm 107:6, 13, 19, 28). So man must remember God's lovingkindness and rely on His love before he can squarely face his troubles. "Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord" (Psalm 107:43). In the face of hardship, injustice and harm, the best guarantee man can ever have is to rely on and enter into God's love. One who tries hard to accumulate wealth during hard times and use every means to strengthen his own status and future cannot be established for he is not committed: "But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever" (Psalm 52:8). Those who have the love of God deep within their heart are the bravest. They are no longer subject to the toll of the world's values. They are content at heart. Therefore, they would not look everywhere and can focus on obeying God. And although they may suffer for righteous deeds and be hurt by those who do evil, they can nevertheless be strong and resilient, insisting on doing good. That is because they believe in God's sovereign grace. They also believe that God's lovingkindness will never leave them. Dear brothers and sisters, in these hard times, let us ponder God's deeds. Let us abide in the love of God. |
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