害怕死去的麥子
孤單，但不是獨自一人
經文
約翰福音十六19-33
19耶穌看出他們要問他，就說：我說等不多時，你們就不得見我；再等不多時，你們還要見我，你們為這話彼此相問嗎？
20我實實在在的告訴你們，你們將要痛哭、哀號，世人倒要喜樂；你們將要憂愁，然而你們的憂愁要變為喜樂。
21婦人生產的時候就憂愁，因為他的時候到了；既生了孩子，就不再記念那苦楚，因為歡喜世上生了一個人。
22你們現在也是憂愁，但我要再見你們，你們的心就喜樂了；這喜樂也沒有人能奪去。
23到那日，你們甚麼也就不問我了。我實實在在的告訴你們，你們若向父求甚麼，他必因我的名賜給你們。
24向來你們沒有奉我的名求甚麼，如今你們求，就必得著，叫你們的喜樂可以滿足。
25這些事，我是用比喻對你們說的；時候將到，我不再用比喻對你們說，乃要將父明明的告訴你們。
26到那日，你們要奉我的名祈求；我並不對你們說，我要為你們求父。
27父自己愛你們；因為你們已經愛我，又信我是從父出來的。
28我從父出來，到了世界；我又離開世界，往父那裡去。
29門徒說：如今你是明說，並不用比喻了。
30現在我們曉得你凡事都知道，也不用人問你，因此我們信你是從神出來的。
31耶穌說：現在你們信嗎？
32看哪，時候將到，且是已經到了，你們要分散，各歸自己的地方去，留下我獨自一人；其實我不是獨自一人，因為有父與我同在。
33我將這些事告訴你們，是要叫你們在我裡面有平安。在世上，你們有苦難；但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。
信息分享
讓我們再多花一天的時間來思想孤單這個題目。經過數天的思想，我們清楚地明白，在孤單的時候我們最能將自己交給神，學習怎樣全然和完全的倚靠祂。
我越閱讀那些為神成就了大事的人的傳記，就越能明白他們對神那種深刻的認識很多時候都是源自十分孤單的時刻。正是在這些時刻，「讓人滿有驚喜的神」顯現了自己，讓他們明白祂的恩典和能力，是他們以其他方式所不能明白的。神的榮耀不是在最黑暗時才最有力地穿透天空嗎？神的力量不是在我們最軟弱和最不足時最能支持我們嗎？神的愛不是在我們感到最缺乏愛、與別人最隔離時才深刻地滲透我們嗎？
當我們準備好向自己的私慾死去，樂意無懼地跟隨我們的主，走祂認為是對我們最好的道路時，我們就會經歷到不僅是暫時，更是永恆的賞賜。落在地裡死了的種子能夠帶來豐富的收成。很多基督徒不能在生命中結出很多的果子，是因為他們害怕或者不願意在各種事情上全然委身於神的旨意。我們想自救，可是結果是怎樣？結果是我們並不喜歡這個自救的自己。儘管路上有千百種困難，神的道路仍是最好的，這是絕對不會錯的！
「神的榮耀在最黑暗時才最有力地穿透天空」
進深研究
約十一1-46，十四18；來十三5
1. 馬利亞和馬大在孤單的時刻感到怎麼樣？
2. 耶穌告訴她們甚麼？
祈禱
神我的天父啊，求您給我耶穌的勇氣，祂雖然經歷孤單，與別人隔絕，卻繼續實行您完美的旨意。求您今天在我裡面增強那份信念，相信我在與您同行時，也許感到孤單但不是獨自一人。阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
Lonely - but not alone
Bible reading:
John 16:19-33
19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, "Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, 'In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me'?
20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.
21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.
26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.
27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.
28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
29 Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech.
30 Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
31 "Do you now believe?" Jesus replied.
32 "A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Message
We spend one last day looking at the issue of loneliness. Our meditations on this subject have made one thing clear - it is in the periods of loneliness that we most abandon ourselves to God and learn how to depend upon Him utterly and completely.
The more I read the biographies of those who have achieved great things for God, the more I realise that their deep knowledge of Him came, in part, out of moments of profound loneliness. It was in such moments that "the God of remarkable surprises" revealed Himself and gave them an understanding of His grace and power such as they could never otherwise have known. Is it not true that God's glory bursts through most powerfully when the sky is at its darkest? Does not His strength uphold us most when we are feeling weak and inadequate? And does not His love penetrate most deeply when we feel unloved or isolated from others?
When we are prepared to die to our own interests and are willing to follow our Lord fearlessly along the path which He sees is best for us, we experience, not just temporal, but eternal rewards. The seed that falls into the ground and dies is the one that yields a rich and bountiful harvest. Many of us fail to be fruitful in our Christian life and experience because we are afraid or unwilling to face the issues which demand a whole-hearted commitment to the will of God. We save ourselves - and then what? We finish up by not liking the self we have saved. Make no mistake about it - God's way is best, even though a thousand hardships beset the path.
"God's glory bursts through most powerfully when the sky is darkest"
Prayer
O God my Father, give me the courage of Jesus who, despite His loneliness and isolation, went on to achieve Your perfect will. Quicken within me today the sense that when I am walking with You I may feel lonely, but I am never alone. Amen.
Further study
John 11:1-46; 14:18
Hebrews 13:5
1. How did it seem to Mary and Martha in their moment of loneliness?
2. What did Jesus say to them?
本文英文版權屬 CWR 所有，承蒙允准刊載。
背景音樂版權屬 讚美之泉音樂事工 所有，承蒙允准使用。