八福
渴望與目標
經文
希伯來書十二1-13
1我們既有這許多的見證人，如同雲彩圍著我們，就當放下各樣的重擔，脫去容易纏累我們的罪，存心忍耐，奔那擺在我們前頭的路程，
2仰望為我們信心創始成終的耶穌（或作：仰望那將真道創始成終的耶穌）。他因那擺在前面的喜樂，就輕看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦難，便坐在神寶座的右邊。
3那忍受罪人這樣頂撞的，你們要思想，免得疲倦灰心。
4你們與罪惡相爭，還沒有抵擋到流血的地步。
5你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話，說：我兒，你不可輕看主的管教，被他責備的時候也不可灰心；
6因為主所愛的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收納的兒子。
7你們所忍受的，是神管教你們，待你們如同待兒子。焉有兒子不被父親管教的呢？
8管教原是眾子所共受的，你們若不受管教，就是私子，不是兒子了。
9再者，我們曾有生身的父管教我們，我們尚且敬重他，何況萬靈的父，我們豈不更當順服他得生嗎？
10生身的父都是暫隨己意管教我們；惟有萬靈的父管教我們，是要我們得益處，使我們在他的聖潔上有分。
11凡管教的事，當時不覺得快樂，反覺得愁苦；後來卻為那經練過的人結出平安的果子，就是義。
12所以，你們要把下垂的手、發酸的腿、挺起來；
13也要為自己的腳，把道路修直了，使瘸子不至歪腳（或作：差路），反得痊癒。
信息分享
昨天我們結束時說，生命中有些事情，例如想要有錢的渴望，可以視為合理的期盼，但它們只能是一種渴望，不應將它們變成一種目標。
渴望與目標的區別很大。目標是一種需要堅毅和委身來達成的計劃，使定立目標的人願意負上無條件的責任。而渴望是我們渴求得到的東西，但卻是需要另一個人的合作或配合才能達成。渴望永遠不應該成為我們背後的動力，不然的話，它就會變成我們的目標──而很可能受到阻攔，因而引起我們的負面情緒。還記得我們昨天提到的那個人嗎？他的目標本來是賺錢，但是他一旦將目標改變為討主喜悅時，並明白自己對賺錢的興趣只是一種渴望以後，他便立即獲得了釋放。
要記住，情緒不穩定的緣由，往往總是由於所定立的目標受到了阻攔。讓我用另一個例子，更清楚地勾勒出目標與渴望之間的分別。你有沒有曾經試過在與另一個基督徒談話時，發現對方不懂得應用一個聖經原則，而這原則卻是你認為相當簡單的？你告訴他我們需要按照神的話來處事，但是這對你來說清楚得像陽光一樣的真理，於他卻無法理解。如果你因此感到沮喪的話，那麼你很可能是在允許一個渴望轉變成為目標。當你希望你的朋友願意接受你所說的話的時候，那只是你的一個渴望，然而由於這樣的渴望給你帶來了沮喪的情緒，這就表示你堅決的想要他聽你的話，於是這種渴望就變成你的一個目標了。
「合理的期盼永遠都不應成為目標」
進深研究
詩三十七1-11，二十一2，七十三25；箴十24
1. 詩人的渴望是甚麼？
2. 當我們因主而喜樂的時候會怎麼樣？
祈禱
慈愛的天父，我再次求您幫助我明白關乎渴望與目標的重要真理。如果我可以解決這個問題，我的生命便能翻到嶄新的一頁。親愛的主，求您幫助我。奉耶穌的名求，阿們。
The Beatitudes
Desires versus goals
Bible reading:
Hebrews 12:1-13
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son."[a]
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.
11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.
13 "Make level paths for your feet,"[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
Message
We ended yesterday by saying that some things in life. such as the desire to have money, can be legitimate concerns but they must be looked upon as desires and never become goals.
Permit me to differentiate between the two. A goal is a purpose to which a person is unalterably committed and something for which he or she assumes unconditional responsibility A desire is something wanted and which cannot be obtained without the cooperation of another human being. A desire must never become the motivating purpose behind our behaviour, for if it does, then it becomes a goal - and a goal that is likely to be blocked, causing negative emotions to arise. Remember the man we talked about yesterday? His goal, we said, was to make money. Once he changed his goal to pleasing the Lord and then saw his concern to make money as merely a desire, he found instant release.
Keep in mind that what causes emotional problems to arise is invariably a blocked goal. Take another illustration that might help to mark the difference between goals and desires more clearly. Have you ever found yourself talking to another Christian who seems to have difficulty in applying what seems to you a simple biblical principle? You point out the need to do as God says, but your friend fails to see the truth that to you is as clear as daylight. If you get frustrated, the chances are that you are allowing a desire to become a goal. To want your friend to listen is a legitimate desire, but to get frustrated over it means you are determined to make him listen - and that becomes a goal.
"Legitimate concerns must never become goals"
Prayer
Gracious Father, I come to You again to help me sort out this important issue of desires versus goals. I see that if I can resolve this problem, then a new chapter in my life is about to be written. Help me, dear Lord. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further study
Psalm 37:1-11; 21:2; 73:25
Proverbs 10:24
1. What was the psalmist's desire?
2. What happens when we delight ourselves in the Lord?
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