害怕死去的麥子
神與人之間的伙伴關係
經文
歌羅西書一15-29
15愛子是那不能看見之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。
17他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。
18他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裡首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
19因為父喜歡叫一切的豐盛在他裡面居住。
20既然藉著他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，便藉著他叫萬有，無論是地上的、天上的，都與自己和好了。
21你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裡與他為敵。
22但如今他藉著基督的肉身受死，叫你們與自己和好，都成了聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可責備，把你們引到自己面前。
23只要你們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，不至被引動失去（原文是離開）福音的盼望。這福音就是你們所聽過的，也是傳與普天下萬人聽的（原文是凡受造的），我保羅也作了這福音的執事。
24現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。
25我照神為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的執事，要把神的道理傳得全備，
26這道理就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕；但如今向他的聖徒顯明了。
27神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裡成了有榮耀的盼望。
28我們傳揚他，是用諸般的智慧，勸戒各人，教導各人，要把各人在基督裡完完全全的引到神面前。
29我也為此勞苦，照著他在我裡面運用的大能盡心竭力。
信息分享
今天我們要繼續思想日前討論過的問題：自我降服是否表示我們變成被動和盲從？表面看來似乎是這樣，因為我們聽命於「別人」。那麼，我們是否順從於任何出現的東西，讓「別人」來為我們做一切的事情？
數天前我們提到杜威認為「科學」鼓勵控制，而「宗教」則鼓勵順從。事實上當我們降服於基督的時候，我們的經歷不是被動，而是一種新的控制。耶穌說：「我父作事直到如今，我也作事」（約五17）。在神的宇宙中，總有一些富有創意的事情必須完成，但到底是哪一種富創意的事情呢？留意羅馬書八章28節說：「我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處」。
怎會如此？我們知道萬事本身是不會為了好的目的而互相效力的。修訂本聖經這樣翻譯說：「在所有的事情上，神與那些愛祂的人一起為了善而工作。」請注意這其中的分別──「神與那些愛祂的人」，不是「神向」，而是「神與」。你看到這經文背後的真理嗎？只要我們願意和合作，神就能夠從發生在我們身上的一切顯示祂的美善。所以，關鍵就是在乎我們的願意和合作。為了從壞中實現善，神要求我們與祂「一起」工作，這不是順從，而是控制。再來看看今天的經文：「我勞苦，竭力」，那指的是人；「照著祂在我裡面運用的大能」，那是指神；這是一幅多美好的圖畫，人和神在「控制」中一起工作。
「神要求我們與祂一起工作」
進深研究
弗三1-19；約十四20，十七23；啟三20
1. 保羅為以弗所人的祈禱是甚麼？
2. 這產生了甚麼結果？
祈禱
我的父，我的神，我知道只要降服於您，我就能夠與您合作。這實在是美好得不像真的，卻又實在太美了而不能不是真的。天父，我感謝您。阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
The divine - human partnership
Bible reading:
Colossians 1:15-29
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Message
We spend another day focusing on the question: Does self-surrender mean that we become passive and acquiescent? At first sight, it seems to be so - we surrender to Another. Do we resign ourselves to whatever comes, letting this "Another" do everything for us?
We talked a few days ago about John Dewey's suggestion that "science" encourages control, while "religion" encourages acquiescence. Actually, when we surrender to Christ, we experience, not passivity, but a new type of control. Jesus said: "My Father is always at his work...and I, too, am working" (John 5:17). In God's universe, there is always work to do - creative work. But what sort of creative work? Listen to this: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God" (Rom. 8:28, AV).
How can that be? We know that all things do not of themselves work together for good. The Revised Standard Version puts it like this: "In everything God works for good with those who love him." Note the change - "with those who love him". Not "to", but "with". Can you see the truth underlying this text? Given our consent and co-operation, God is able to retrieve some good out of everything that happens to us. Given our consent and co-operation - ah, there's the rub. In order to achieve good out of bad, God requires us to work "with" Him - this is not acquiescence, but control. Look again at the text for today: "I labour, struggling" - the human; "with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me" - the divine. What a picture the human and the divine working together - in "control".
"God requires us to work with Him"
Prayer
My Father and my God, what can I say? I surrender to You, and the next thing I know is that I am taken into partnership with You. It just seems too good to be true - but too good not to be true. Thank You, Father. Amen.
Further study
Ephesians 3:1-19
John 14:20; 17:23
Revelation 3:20
1.What was Paul's prayer for the Ephesians?
2. What does this produce?
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。