事奉，即使在不方便的情況下

我翻譯的中文:
原文在後麵

他們在路上的時候，一個人對耶穌說“你 無 論 往 哪 裏 去 ， 我 要 跟 從 你 。耶 穌 說 ， 狐 狸 有 洞 ， 天 空 的 飛 鳥 有 窩 ， 隻 是 人 子 沒 有 枕 頭 的 地 方 。 “ -- 路加福音 9 ： 57-58

耶穌從來沒有呼召我們盲從。當我們跟從他，熟悉了他 的性格時，就知道他總是在我們信心步子的另一端等候。他把我們放到一個我們必須信靠他和他的應許的焦點位置，但他也告訴我們，跟從他時應該期待什麽

他要我們考慮獻身的代價，因為他知道這獻身是要求獻上我們的所有。（你 們 哪 一 個 要 蓋 一 座 樓 ， 不 先 坐 下 算 計 花 費 ， 能 蓋 成 不 能 呢 ？ -- 路加福音 14:28 ）。實質上，耶穌是警告我們放棄跟從他的浪漫想法，他了解當我們真正誌願無論何時何地時跟從他時 – 或者說那美好幻想與做門徒所要付的代價發生衝突時，我們那些玫瑰夢就會枯萎，常常這樣的跟隨是很不方便的 。 做門徒意味著我們放棄任何要保持一點點個人生活不被我們與耶穌的關係影響到的想法。我們不能對耶穌書說“好的”，卻期望能夠保留一部分的獨立。他要求的是全部。

我們不再有選擇隻在我們覺得方便時才事奉的權利。“狐 狸 有 洞 ， 天 空 的 飛 鳥 有 窩 ， 隻 是 人 子 沒 有 枕 頭 的 地 方 。 “ -- 路加福音 9 ： 58

當我們懷著關於門徒的浪漫想法時，我們可能想象我們為耶穌放棄所有，這個世界會仰慕我們的信仰，人們會對我們付出的犧牲和事奉表達由衷的感激。 然而，做門徒的代價可能是整個世界的鄙視和嘲笑。當我們跟從耶穌，做他教導的事時，甚至主內的弟兄姐妹也可能會覺得你丟棄了自己的未來去幫助那些不可能回報你的人。做門徒可能意味著要為那些不會感謝你所做一切的人去犧牲 – 正如耶穌死在十字架上時，仍被嘲諷和與愚弄。

跟隨耶穌到任何他要我們去的地方，這樣的恩典隻有通過基督的呼召，神的力量注入到我們裏麵時才會實現。恩典令我們能夠順服耶穌，不論環境和後果。 你的多少事奉是建立在自己方便的基礎上，多少事奉是建立在耶穌的要求之上？ 耶穌愛你，為你做了最好的計劃。他來不是要滅人的性命；他來是要把你轉到正確的方向上。

Thursday, September 15, 2011  

Serving Even When It Is Inconvenient
by Jon Walker

As they went on their way, a man said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.” (Luke 9:57-58 TEV)

Jesus never calls us to blind obedience. As we follow him and become familiar with his character, we learn he is always waiting on the other side of our steps of faith. He forces us into a place where we must trust him and his promises, but he also tells us what to expect when we follow him (John 14:1-4).

He wants us to count the cost of our commitment, because he knows it will demand every thing we have (Luke 14:28). In essence, Jesus warns us away from a romantic view of following him. He understands that when we volunteer to go anywhere at any time, our romanticism will wither when our commitment becomes inconvenient — or when it collides with the full cost of discipleship.

Discipleship means we give up any thought that there will be bits and pieces of our lives that can remain unaffected by our relationship with Jesus. We can’t say “yes” to Jesus and expect to hold on to a portion of our independence. He demands it all.

We no longer have the choice to serve only when and where it is convenient for us. “Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest” (Luke 9:58 TEV).

When we have a romantic view of discipleship, we may imagine ourselves giving up everything for Jesus as the world admires our faith and people express their heartfelt gratitude for our sacrificial service.

But the cost of discipleship may bring the scorn of the world to your doorstep. When you follow Jesus and do the things he tells you to do, even fellow believers may think you’re throwing away your future to help people who can give you nothing in return. Discipleship may mean sacrificing for others who will have no appreciation for what you have done — much like Jesus was ridiculed as he died on a cross.

The grace to go wherever Jesus tells us to go comes only through the call of Christ and the power of God infused into our being. Grace obligates us to obey Jesus, regardless of the circumstances or consequences.

How much of your service to Jesus is based upon what is convenient for you, and how much of it is based upon you doing what Jesus has told you to do? Jesus loves you and plans his best for you. He brings no condemnation; he wants to turn you in the right direction.

[盈袖2006]

青青,真高興看到你.是啊,我覺得我們所做的把我們帶得和神更近,他的力量和愛就更多進到我們裏麵.

感謝神,給你機會講福音,也相信他會進一步預備你,並為你鋪路.
謝謝你的禱告.
我也會堅持為你禱告,為你在中國的工作.願神親自帶領你!

[苗青青]

耶穌是信心堅定的，而我們是會軟弱的，但神會帶領我們做我們能做的，慢慢的通過經驗而加深信心，我們能做的會越來越多。

謝謝盈袖為我禱告。去台灣時，我也為接待我的一位政府官員禱告，很奇妙的是他第二天的晚餐時開口問我的信仰，使得我有機會一個晚餐都在和他分享我的信仰曆程以及基督是誰。 我體驗到禱告的力量，感受到神在他心裏做工，使我得以有機會，我的信心增加，真好。
你最近一切都好嗎，也為你的健康平安祈禱。