害怕死去的麥子
沒有死亡,便沒有生命

經文
約翰福音十二20-25
20那時,上來過節禮拜的人中,有幾個希利尼人。
21他們來見加利利伯賽大的腓力,求他說:先生,我們願意見耶穌。
22腓力去告訴安得烈,安得烈同腓力去告訴耶穌。
23耶穌說:人子得榮耀的時候到了。
24我實實在在的告訴你們,一粒麥子不落在地裡死了,仍舊是一粒,若是死了,就結出許多子粒來。
25愛惜自己生命的,就失喪生命;在這世上恨惡自己生命的,就要保守生命到永生。
信息分享
今天我們開始思想聖經其中一個最深刻的真理──在生命之先必有死亡。我們不難找出很多經文來證明這點,不過今天的經文已經足夠了。那次序是不會錯的──只有當一粒麥子死在地土裡,它才能夠產生更多子粒來。沒有死亡便沒有生命,就是這麼簡單。明白這一點是非常重要的,我甚至覺得,那些還沒有掌握這觀念的基督徒,是很容易在屬靈的道路上迷失。
好些年前,一名機師在非洲一個小鎮外把飛機撞在田原上。調查人員嘗試找出撞機的原因。他們推測機師以為自己正在目的地降落,但實際上那只是一個名字相似的小鎮,兩個名字的拼寫只相差一個字母。由於這位機師計劃降落的地方比他實際著陸的地方要低一千呎,調查人員估計,他是相信自己還有一千呎才到達地面,所以才會撞機身亡。意外發生的原因是,他使用了錯誤的地圖。
如果我們對「在生命之先必有死亡」這觀念,有錯誤的「思想地圖」,我們可能迷路,結果就會帶來屬靈的傷亡。如果我們要活,要真正地活,我們就必須願意向所有的私慾死,意思是我們願意放下所有個人的慾望。所謂一失足成千古恨,走錯了一步,可能會浪費了我們的一生。
「在生命之先必有死亡」
進深研究
羅六1-23;路九24;林前十五36
1. 洗禮的意義是甚麼?
2. 甚麼是「屬靈」上的死亡?
祈禱
滿有恩典和慈愛的天父,求您幫助我不會使用錯誤的「思想地圖」。讓我清楚明白在生命之先總有死亡。奉耶穌的名祈求,阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
No death - no life

Bible reading:
John 12:20-25
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival.
21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
Message
Today we begin to examine one of the most profound truths in the Bible - the principle that life is always preceded by death. It is not difficult to bring together a host of corroborative Scriptures to prove this point, but let the one that is before us suffice for now. The order is unmistakable - it is only when a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies that it produces more seeds. No death, no life - it is as simple as that. Understanding this issue is so important that I would go as far as to say that Christians who don't grasp the concept can easily lose their way spiritually.
Some years ago I read of a pilot whose plane crashed in a field outside a small town in Africa. Investigators looking for the cause of the crash surmised that the pilot thought he was landing at his intended destination when in fact he was approaching a town with a similar name. The difference in spelling was a matter of just one letter. His planned destination was a thousand feet lower than where he actually landed, and he was killed (so it is thought) because he believed he had a thousand feet more than was actually the case. He worked from the wrong map.
If we have the wrong "mental map" of the issue that is before us - that life is preceded by death - then we can miss our way and end up as a spiritual casualty. If we are to live - really live - then we must be willing to die to all self-interest. A missed step here may mean a miss-spent life.
"Life on this planet is always preceded by death"
Prayer
Gracious and loving heavenly Father, help me I pray not to work from the wrong "mental map". Give me a clear understanding of the fact that life must be preceded by death. In Christ's Name I ask it. Amen.
Further study
Romans 6:1-23
Luke 9:24
Corinthians 15:36
1. What is the significance of baptism?
2. What is "spiritual" death?
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