新視域的力量
為甚麼無故哭泣?

經文
約翰福音八31-41
31耶穌對信他的猶太人說:你們若常常遵守我的道,就真是我的門徒;
32你們必曉得真理,真理必叫你們得以自由。
33他們回答說:我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔,從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。你怎麼說你們必得自由呢?
34耶穌回答說:我實實在在的告訴你們,所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。
35奴僕不能永遠住在家裡;兒子是永遠住在家裡。
36所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由,你們就真自由了。
37我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫,你們卻想要殺我,因為你們心裡容不下我的道。
38我所說的是在我父那裡看見的;你們所行的是在你們的父那裡聽見的。
39他們說:我們的父就是亞伯拉罕。耶穌說:你們若是亞伯拉罕的兒子,就必行亞伯拉罕所行的事。
40我將在神那裡所聽見的真理告訴了你們,現在你們卻想要殺我,這不是亞伯拉罕所行的事。
41你們是行你們父所行的事。他們說:我們不是從淫亂生的;我們只有一位父,就是神。
信息分享
你可能已經意識到我們近日所探討的問題是極為重要的。當信徒在面對生命的難題時,如果單單接受那些不算是答案的答案,這種做法對基督教會帶來巨大的影響。讓我來把意思說清楚。
多年前,在一個禱告會結束時有一位姊妹走來問我:「我為甚麼常常會無故的痛哭得那麼厲害呢?」我告訴她這可能有好些原因,並建議如果情況持續,她應該向基督徒輔導員求助。我自己的看法是,那問題源自她生命中一些沒有解決的衝突,是她所需要找出來的。過了一段時間,我再次遇到那位姊妹,她說:「我仍然有那個問題,但我現在知道為甚麼它會發生在我身上,因為那是撒旦的攻擊。」
她的結論令我很憂慮,因為我感到她接受了一個有助減輕她的疑惑,但卻不能真正解決問題的答案。不錯,撒旦經常攻擊和騷擾我們,但我認為她裡面還有其他問題存在,是需要注意的。我於是溫和地向她提出這一點,可惜她堅持撒旦需要為這個問題負上責任,而她認為問題最終會消失的。我為那位姊妹禱告了很長的時間,因為我在她身上看見基督教會一個普遍的情況,那就是:總是尋找並滿足於有助減低疑惑,但無助於促進屬靈成長和理解的「答案」。
「我要真實地活著」
進深研究
詩五十一1-6;耶十七9;太十五16-20
1. 神對我們的內心有甚麼樣的要求?
2. 內心的狀況怎麼樣?
祈禱
神啊,我不想虛幻過活,我想做一個真實的人,真實地活著。求您幫助我在面對生命的難題時,懂得尋找真正的答案──您給的答案。奉耶穌的名祈求,阿們。
The Power of a New Perspective
"Why do I cry over nothing?"

Bible reading:
John 8:31-41
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"
34 Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.
38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father's presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]"
39 "Abraham is our father," they answered. "If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would[b] do what Abraham did.
40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things.
41 You are doing the works of your own father." "We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
Message
You have probably sensed that the issue we have been dealing with is extremely important. In fact, I know of nothing of greater consequence for the Christian Church than the need to resolve the issue of why it is, when facing the tough questions of life, we settle for answers that are not answers. Let me illustrate what I mean.
Many years ago a woman approached me at the end of a prayer meeting and said: "Why is it that I cry so much over nothing?" I replied that there could be a number of reasons and I recommended that if this situation continued she should seek the help of a Christian counsellor. My own feeling was that the problem arose from some unresolved conflicts in her life that needed identifying. Some time later I met the woman again and she said to me: "I still have the problem, but I know now why it happens to me - it is an attack of the devil."
I felt deeply saddened by her conclusion for I sensed that she had settled for an answer that helped to reduce her confusion but was not a real solution. Yes, the devil does attack and harass, but in my opinion something else was going on inside her which needed attention. I gently suggested this to her, but she was adamant that the devil was responsible and that the problem would eventually go. I prayed much for that woman because I saw in her what I see in many parts of the Christian Church - a tendency to reach out and settle for "answers" that help reduce the confusion but do nothing to stimulate spiritual growth and understanding.
"I want to be real"
Prayer
O God, I do not want to live my life amid illusions. I want to be real and I want to live really. Help me face the tough questions of life and not be content until I find the true answers - Your answers. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
Psalm 51:1-6
Jeremiah 17:9
Matthew 15:16-20
1. What does God require in the inner parts?
2. What is the condition of the heart?
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