害怕死去的麥子
最深刻的法則
經文
馬太福音十24-39
24學生不能高過先生；僕人不能高過主人。
25學生和先生一樣，僕人和主人一樣，也就罷了。人既罵家主是別西卜（別西卜：是鬼王的名），何況他的家人呢？
26所以，不要怕他們；因為掩蓋的事沒有不露出來的，隱藏的事沒有不被人知道的。
27我在暗中告訴你們的，你們要在明處說出來；你們耳中所聽的，要在房上宣揚出來。
28那殺身體，不能殺靈魂的，不要怕他們；惟有能把身體和靈魂都滅在地獄裡的，正要怕他。
29兩個麻雀不是賣一分銀子嗎？若是你們的父不許，一個也不能掉在地上；
30就是你們的頭髮也都被數過了。
31所以，不要懼怕，你們比許多麻雀還貴重！
32凡在人面前認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必認他；
33凡在人面前不認我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不認他。
34你們不要想我來是叫地上太平；我來並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。
35因為我來是叫人與父親生疏，女兒與母親生疏，媳婦與婆婆生疏。
36人的仇敵就是自己家裡的人。
37愛父母過於愛我的，不配作我的門徒；愛兒女過於愛我的，不配作我的門徒；
38不背著他的十字架跟從我的，也不配作我的門徒。
39得著生命的，將要失喪生命；為我失喪生命的，將要得著生命。
信息分享
希臘人尋求見耶穌導致耶穌說出以上偉大的真理。我們已經讀過耶穌在約翰福音的一些著名的話，這裡是另一句：「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」（約十二25）。
「愛惜自己生命的，就失喪生命」，這是甚麼意思？它表示當你只專注於自己的利益時，你的生命便會瓦解。除了自己，再沒有中心，只為了走自己的路而生活的人只會破產、變得貧窮以及被打敗。塞耶斯（Dorothy Sayers）有力地表達同樣的真理，她說：「地獄，是永遠只顧走自己道路的享受。」經文餘下的部分給我們同樣真實的提醒：「在這世上恨惡自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。」換句話說，在神的計劃和目的中向神獻上自己的生命，便會找到自己存在的真正意義。這是非常真實的道理，當你最屬於祂的時候，也就是最屬於自己的時候了。只要與神相繫你必能自由行走。你伏在祂的腳下，就能夠筆直地站在任何事情或任何人面前。你突然明白自己與宇宙的創造力量配合，你得著自由，一個有自由去創造、有自由去愛、有自由去做到最好、有自由成為祂想你成為的人。這不是默默的順從，而是與那股令耶穌從死裡復活的力量合作。難怪有人稱這原則為「宇宙間最深刻的法則」。
「與神相繫必能自由行走」
進深研究
太十九21-30；可八35；腓三8
1. 耶穌教導我們甚麼？
2. 這在你生命中如何實行出來？
祈禱
神啊，謝謝您再次深深的打動我。求您繼續進入我心，因為我渴望得到那在深處、您同在和力量的活水，阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
"The deepest law"
Bible reading:
Matthew 10:24-39
24 "The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.
25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 "So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care.[a]
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.
33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law
36 a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'[b]
37 "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
Message
Out of this incident of the Greeks seeking an interview with Jesus came these great truths that Jesus uttered. We have already looked at some of our Lord's famous statements in John chapter 12 - here is another: "The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" (John 12:25).
What does it mean - "The man who loves his life will lose it"? It means that when you focus on your interests alone, your life will disintegrate. Those who have no one to centre on other than themselves and live only to have their own way finish up bankrupt, beggared and defeated. Dorothy Sayers put the same truth most effectively when she said: "Hell is the enjoyment of having one's own way for ever."
But the rest of the verse is just as true: "The man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." In other words, lose your life in the plans and purposes of God and you will find the true meaning of your existence. It is a paradox, but nevertheless true, that you are never so much your own as when you are most His. Bound to Him, you walk the earth free. Low at His feet, you stand straight before anything or anyone else. You suddenly realise that you have aligned yourself with the creative forces of the universe, so you are free - free to create, free to love, free to be at your best, free to be all that He desires you to be. And this is not just mere acquiescence. It is co-operation with the power that raised Jesus from the dead. No wonder someone called this principle, "the deepest law in the universe".
"Bound to God you walk the earth free"
Prayer
O God, once again You are boring deep - but You have my permission to keep going. When Your drill strikes hard resistances in me, don't hold back. I want the deep living waters of Your presence and power. Amen.
Further study
Matthew 19:21-30
Mark 8:35
Philippians 3:8
1. What was Jesus teaching?
2. How does this work out in your life?
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