
今天師母去了一趟小韓國店
買完東西出來
遇到一位“師姐”跟他傳“福音”
她是台灣人,傳的是法輪功
看來我這一年來的觀察是對的
在美國,台灣人跟華人會去的地方
果然是商店跟餐廳!
想想,如果我們有好的福音可以讓人得到豐盛的恩典
那麼,我們就該有預備好的器皿跟態度來承接跟行動
今天的經文裡特別提到了以利戶對約伯的勸告
他的動機不是為了自己的名利或是要幫助約伯度過的苦難
而是簡單到不行的“為神而做”
再回顧你我來到教會的動機為何呢
你我是否發現答案似乎是五花八門的原因
因為“為神而做”好像是理論上的答案了
有的人因為人而來教會或是不來教會
有的人因為事而來教會或是不來教會
有的人因為物而來教會或是不來教會
這讓我想起了“麵粉教”這一名詞在台灣早期的教會認同
聰明的你應該知道我想起這詞的原因
在今日,來教會若不是為了信仰的緣故
那麼,一個人在教會不論多久的時間
都只會是一個基督教徒,而不是基督徒
我相信
你我對信仰的態度決定了教會的未來
你我對上帝的認知決定了教會的存在
讓教會成為上帝的教會的態度與認知
是此刻教會存亡與興盛的唯一道路
約伯記
36:1 以利戶又接著說:
And Eli'hu continued, and said:
36:2 你再容我片時,我就指示你,因我還有話為 神說。
"Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
36:3 我要將所知道的從遠處引來,將公義歸給造我的主。
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
36:4 我的言語真不虛謊;有知識全備的與你同在。
For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
36:5 神有大能,並不藐視人;他的智慧甚廣。
"Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.
36:6 他不保護惡人的性命,卻為困苦人伸冤。
He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
36:7 他時常看顧義人,使他們和君王同坐寶座,永遠要被高舉。
He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings upon the throne he sets them for ever, and they are exalted.
36:8 他們若被鎖鍊捆住,被苦難的繩索纏住,
And if they are bound in fetters and caught in the cords of affliction,
36:9 他就把他們的作為和過犯指示他們,叫他們知道有驕傲的行動。
then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
36:10 他也開通他們的耳朵得受教訓,吩咐他們離開罪孽轉回。
He opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
36:11 他們若聽從事奉他,就必度日亨通,歷年福樂;
If they hearken and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.
36:12 若不聽從,就要被刀殺滅,無知無識而死。
But if they do not hearken, they perish by the sword, and die without knowledge.
36:13 那心中不敬虔的人積蓄怒氣; 神捆綁他們,他們竟不求救;
"The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.
36:14 必在青年時死亡,與污穢人一樣喪命。
They die in youth, and their life ends in shame.
36:15 神藉著困苦救拔困苦人,趁他們受欺壓開通他們的耳朵。
He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear by adversity.
36:16 神也必引你出離患難,進入寬闊不狹窄之地;擺在你席上的必滿有肥甘。
He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.