害怕死去的麥子
金和銀……
經文
馬可福音一14-28
14約翰下監以後，耶穌來到加利利，宣傳神的福音，
15說：日期滿了，神的國近了。你們當悔改，信福音！
16耶穌順著加利利的海邊走，看見西門和西門的兄弟安得烈在海裡撒網；他們本是打魚的。
17耶穌對他們說：來跟從我，我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。
18他們就立刻捨了網，跟從了他。19耶穌稍往前走，又見西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰在船上補網。
20耶穌隨即招呼他們，他們就把父親西庇太和雇工人留在船上，跟從耶穌去了。
21到了迦百農，耶穌就在安息日進了會堂教訓人。
22眾人很希奇他的教訓；因為他教訓他們，正像有權柄的人，不像文士。
23在會堂裡，有一個人被污鬼附著。他喊叫說：
24拿撒勒人耶穌，我們與你有甚麼相干？你來滅我們嗎？我知道你是誰，乃是神的聖者。
25耶穌責備他說：不要作聲！從這人身上出來吧。26污鬼叫那人抽了一陣瘋，大聲喊叫，就出來了。
27眾人都驚訝，以致彼此對問說：這是甚麼事？是個新道理阿！他用權柄吩咐污鬼，連污鬼也聽從了他。
28耶穌的名聲就傳遍了加利利的四方。
信息分享
昨天我們看過處理難擔的苦難的最後一個答案：提醒我們在神的宇宙中，祂只容許那些祂能使用的東西出現。再看今天的經文：「約翰下監以後，耶穌來到加利利，宣傳神的福音。」在這位最好和最真實的先知被囚進牢獄，以及他傳揚福音的行動被邪惡和不公義的王制止以後，耶穌就開始傳講關於神的好消息。
神既然容許這種不幸的事情發生，那怎麼還能夠有好消息呢？然而這正是耶穌的宣告，而且是毫無愧色的宣告。為甚麼呢？因為耶穌知道神所容許發生的一切，神都會加以使用。神以行動來讓我們明白，就算是像約翰這麼忠心的人也不能免受苦難，而神容讓這一切事情發生，並不是代表神不美善。
你現在明白為甚麼神容許我們經歷苦難了嗎？祂這樣做是讓我們在苦難的烈火中煉淨，冶煉不公義這種低劣的金屬，並將苦難精煉為品格的金，以及神的旨意的銀。在新約有一處經文說，耶穌因為祂在十字架上的死而變得「完全」（路十三32）。讓我們來想一想：釘十字架這一件發生在人身上最殘酷的事，被轉化成為發生在祂身上一件最美好的事──祂因此變得完全。我們不要只是面對苦難，也應該利用苦難，這是我們必須努力培養的一種態度。
「神從最壞中帶出最好」
進深研究
詩一二一1-8，五十15；賽四十三2
1. 大衛的宣告是甚麼？
2. 你今天的宣告是甚麼？
祈禱
親愛的天父，感謝您讓我明白了這種生活方式──當人和環境都在最壞的境況當中，您卻從中帶出了您的最好。我領悟了，我跟隨您，我一無所懼。阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
Gold and silver...
Bible reading:
Mark 1:14-28
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,
24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"
26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him."
28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Message
Yesterday we looked at the final answer to dealing with unmerited suffering: reminding ourselves that in God's universe, He only allows what He can use. Look again at the words of our text for today: "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God." After the finest and truest of prophets had been put in prison and his preaching silenced by a wicked and unjust king, Jesus came preaching the good news about God.
How could there be good news about the God who had allowed such a thing to happen? But that is exactly what Jesus did proclaim - and proclaimed unashamedly. And why? Because Jesus knew that everything God allowed, He would use. By His action, He rejected the idea that a man like John should be exempt from suffering, and that God isn't good when He permits such things to happen.
Can you see now why God allows us to go through suffering? He does it so that, in the fires of affliction, we learn the secret of an alchemy which transmutes the base metal of injustice, and consequent suffering into the gold of character and the silver of God's purposes. In one place in the New Testament, Jesus refers to being "perfected" by His death on the cross (Luke 13:32, AV). Just think of it: the worst thing that can happen to a man - crucifixion - turns out to be the best that can happen to Him - perfection. This is the attitude we must cultivate if we are not only to face, but use suffering.
"God brings the best out of the worst"
Prayer
O my Father, how can I ever sufficiently thank You for showing me this way of life? Nothing stops it - permanently. When men and circumstances concentrate on doing their worst - You bring out of it Your best. I see, I follow, and I am unafraid. Amen.
Further study
Psalm 121:1-8; 50:15
Isaiah 43:2
1. What was David's declaration?
2. What is your declaration today?
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。