認識和遵行神的旨意
約翰福音七章1至17節
1這事以後,耶穌在加利利遊行,不願在猶太遊行,因為猶太人想要殺他。
2當時猶太人的住棚節近了。
3耶穌的弟兄就對他說:你離開這裡上猶太去罷,叫你的門徒也看見你所行的事。
4人要顯揚名聲,沒有在暗處行事的;你如果行這些事,就當將自己顯明給世人看。
5因為連他的弟兄說這話,是因為不信他。
6耶穌就對他們說:我的時候還沒有到;你們的時候常是方便的。
7世人不能恨你們,卻是恨我,因為我指證他們所做的事是惡的。
8你們上去過節罷,我現在不上去過這節,因為我的時候還沒有滿。
9耶穌說了這話,仍舊住在加利利。
10但他弟兄上去以後,他也上去過節,不是明去,似乎是暗去的。
11正在節期,猶太人尋找耶穌,說:他在那裡?
12眾人為他紛紛議論,有的說:他是好人。有的說:不然,他是迷惑眾人的。
13只是沒有人明明的講論他,因為怕猶太人。
14到了節期,耶穌上殿裡去教訓人。
15猶太人就希奇,說:這個人沒有學過,怎麼明白書呢?
16耶穌說:我的教訓不是我自己的,乃是那差我來者的。
17人若立志遵著他的旨意行,就必曉得這教訓或是出於神,或是我憑著自己說的。
信息分享
猶太人的住棚節很快便到了。耶穌的弟弟提議耶穌上耶路撒冷過節。對猶太人來說,到耶路撒冷守節是一件極為平常的事;可是,耶穌卻說祂還有另一個考慮,就是這是否神的時間要祂上去?耶穌無論做任何事,都是依循神為祂所定的時間表去做;而祂知道,現在還未是神的時間要祂去。
對其他人來說,那刻可能是適當時間去耶路撒冷過節;但對耶穌來說卻不是。當我們想做某件事的時候,看見別人可以去做,但神卻不容許自己去做,我們一定感到很難受。這時,我們要切實遵行神為我們所定下的旨意,而不要羨慕別人。
當神的時間到了,耶穌便上耶路撒冷過節去了,神在那裡亦大大使用和祝福祂。當我們照著神的旨意和神的時間去做某件工作,神就會祝福和使用我們。
耶穌在第17節說:「你們若真的願意遵行神的旨意,祂就一定會向你們顯明祂的旨意。」
你是否真的願意遵行神的旨意,姑勿論哪是甚麼旨意?抑或,你希望先知道神對你有甚麼旨意,然後再決定是否遵行?
耶穌卻教導我們說:「你如果希望神向你顯明祂對你一生的旨意,那麼,你先要向祂立志,無論哪是甚麼旨意,你都願意去遵行。當你這樣立志之後,神必在祂的時間和以祂的方法,向你顯明祂的旨意!」請讀詩篇一四三篇10節,並以它作為你今天及日後的禱告吧!
牢記:
等候神的差遣,卻不要讓神等候你去遵從。
KNOWING AND DOING THE WILL OF GOD
John 7: 1 - 17
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
6 Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
8 You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.”
9 When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.
10 But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11 Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”
12 And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”
13 However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.
14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught.
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, “How does this Man know letters, having never studied?”
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.
17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.
Message
His brothers wanted Jesus to go to Jerusalem to the Feast (Festival) of Tabernacles. There was nothing wrong in a Jewish man going to this Feast. But Jesus said there was something else involved for him, was it God's time for him to go? His whole life was run by God's clock and God's time was not yet fully come.
It would be all right for others to go to the Feast just then, but not for him. Sometimes it is hard for us to see others being allowed to do the things we would like to do, but the Lord doesn't allow us to do them. We need to follow what his will is for us personally and not look at what others are doing.
When God's time came, Jesus did go up to the Feast at Jerusalem and God used and blessed him there. When God's will and God's time come together, that is the time for us to act and that is when God will bless and use us.
In verse 17 Jesus said, 'If you are really willing to do God's will when he makes it known to you, he will always show that will to you'.
Are you really willing for God's will whatever it may mean? Or do you want to know what it is first of all and then decide if you want to do it or not?
Jesus says, 'If you want God to show his will for your life, first of all tell him you are willing to do it no matter what it is. Then he will reveal it to you in his own time and way!' Read Psalm 143:10 and make it your prayer today and always.
A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:
Wait for God to speak but don't make him wait for you

