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二○二一年四月十七日／十八日 Click here for English 祂沒有留下一樣好處不給我
蕭壽華牧師
每當領聖餐的牧者唸出「沒有甚麼能使我們與基督的愛隔絕」，我總會被前面一句經文感動：「神既不愛惜自己的兒子，為我們眾人捨了，豈不也把萬物和他一同白白地賜給我們嗎？」這反問的語句正講出我們常會對主有不滿──為甚麼不給我他的才智、表現？為甚麼拿去我需要的工作？為甚麼我會失去……？主不一定會直接回答我們，但祂卻要我們不可忘記：祂已把祂最珍愛的獨生兒子賜給我們。既是這樣，祂又怎會吝嗇、留下好東西不給我們呢？ 主也多次應許跟隨祂的人不會有缺乏（參詩二十三 1，三十四 9-10）。當我們經歷某方面的不足，或是失去自己所珍惜的人與物時，我們可憑著神的應許，選擇去相信我並沒有缺乏，只是我的牧者要以意想不到的方式給我好東西。我所需做的，是繼續信靠祂的愛，在一切事上遵行祂的旨意，因我知道敬畏祂的一無所缺！ 誠然，過程中我們必有許多情緒，正如詩篇的作者許多時都會坦然向神述說他們的不安，他們沒有否認自己的焦慮，只是心思上不斷轉移向主、仰望主，相信祂沒有「留下一樣好處不給那些行動正直的人」。 我多年前有一段情緒低沉的日子，身體及生活適應出了問題，在禱告中我忍不住流淚向神哀訴。就在那刻，心靈聽到響亮的一句話：「我的恩典夠你用的！」雖是熟悉的一句話，但很奇怪，我的眼淚立刻止住了，情緒也很快安定下來。第二天我因意外受傷，經歷更大的軟弱，但在往後的一段日子，我卻體會到自己竟然仍有力量，完成意想不到的成果。我明白了恩典「夠用」是甚麼意思──我所需要的力量、供應，神早已預留給我，我不用憂愁慌張，只管安然面對，支取那完全配合需要、必定足夠的力量。 保羅面對撒但的攻擊，經歷身體的苦痛，主告訴他，祂會把他的軟弱轉變成他的好處，使他更能顯出神的能力！事實上保羅的軟弱沒有改變，但他的心思改變了：「我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、急難、逼迫、困苦為可喜樂的」（rejoice in / content with my weaknesses）（林後十二 10）。人對事情的心思改變了以後，便會看軟弱為可喜悅的事。保羅「滿足」在這種軟弱中，因他知道主的恩典「夠用」，可以充分地滿足他的不足。他身體雖仍痛楚軟弱，但心靈卻可安然接受，因他知道自己正在領受好東西。 Pastor's Sharing No Good Thing Does He Withhold from Me Rev Gordon Siu Each time when the pastor administering the Holy Communion reads out the line "Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ," I am reminded of, and moved by, the preceding verse, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:32) This rhetorical question brings out our common grievances against the Lord: Why don't I have that man's talents and performance? Why is my needed job taken away? Why do I lose…? The Lord may not answer us directly. But He wants us to remember: He has given us His beloved only begotten Son. And as such, how will He be mean and withhold good things from us? The Lord has time and again promised that His followers would lack nothing (Psalm 23:1, 34:9-10). When we come across deficiencies or lose beloved ones or things, we can hold on to the promise of God and choose to believe that "I lack nothing." It is only that my Shepherd wants to give me some good things by surprise. What I need to do is continue to trust in His love. In all my ways submit to Him. All of this because I know that fearing Him, I lack nothing! Admittedly, during the process, we will invariably be subject to emotional disturbances. It is just like the writers of the Psalms. They often admit their restlessness to God. There is no denying of their anxiety. But their hearts and thoughts keep shifting to the Lord. They look upon Him, resting in the belief that "no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless" (Psalm 84:11). Many years ago, I went through an emotionally depressive period. I had problems adjusting to my physical conditions and way of life. In my prayers, I cried out to God in tears. And it was then that a line rang loud and clear in my heart: "My grace is sufficient for you!" (2 Corinthians 12:9) A familiar verse. But amazingly, it stopped my tears and calmed my nerves. The next day, I was injured in an accident, leaving me in an even greater weakness. In the following days, I found that I still have strength, and achieved unexpected, good results. I came to understand what it means by "sufficient" – the strength and supplies that I ever need, God has already prepared for me. I have no need for anxiety or panic. All I need is address the problems calmly, drawing on God's befitting and definitely sufficient strength. Under Satan's attack and having experienced a lot of physical pain, the Lord told Paul that He would turn his weakness into benefit for him so that God's power can be better revealed in him! Indeed, Paul's weakness did not change. What changed was his perspective: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with [or "rejoice in"] weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities" (2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV). When the heart changes, man can delight in weaknesses. Paul was content with his weaknesses because he knows that the Lord's grace is sufficient and can fully meet his deficiencies. Despite his physical pain and weaknesses, Paul could calmly accept it all in his heart because he knew he was in the process of receiving good things from God. |