害怕死去的麦子
最深刻的法则
经文
马太福音十24-39
24学生不能高过先生；仆人不能高过主人。
25学生和先生一样，仆人和主人一样，也就罢了。人既骂家主是别西卜（别西卜：是鬼王的名），何况他的家人呢？
26所以，不要怕他们；因为掩盖的事没有不露出来的，隐藏的事没有不被人知道的。
27我在暗中告诉你们的，你们要在明处说出来；你们耳中所听的，要在房上宣扬出来。
28那杀身体，不能杀灵魂的，不要怕他们；惟有能把身体和灵魂都灭在地狱里的，正要怕他。
29两个麻雀不是卖一分银子吗？若是你们的父不许，一个也不能掉在地上；
30就是你们的头发也都被数过了。
31所以，不要惧怕，你们比许多麻雀还贵重！
32凡在人面前认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必认他；
33凡在人面前不认我的，我在我天上的父面前也必不认他。
34你们不要想我来是叫地上太平；我来并不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上动刀兵。
35因为我来是叫人与父亲生疏，女儿与母亲生疏，媳妇与婆婆生疏。
36人的仇敌就是自己家里的人。
37爱父母过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒；爱儿女过于爱我的，不配作我的门徒；
38不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒。
39得着生命的，将要失丧生命；为我失丧生命的，将要得着生命。
信息分享
希腊人寻求见耶稣导致耶稣说出以上伟大的真理。我们已经读过耶稣在约翰福音的一些著名的话，这里是另一句：「爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命，在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生」（约十二25）。
「爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命」，这是甚么意思？它表示当你只专注于自己的利益时，你的生命便会瓦解。除了自己，再没有中心，只为了走自己的路而生活的人只会破产、变得贫穷以及被打败。塞耶斯（Dorothy Sayers）有力地表达同样的真理，她说：「地狱，是永远只顾走自己道路的享受。」经文余下的部分给我们同样真实的提醒：「在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。」换句话说，在神的计划和目的中向神献上自己的生命，便会找到自己存在的真正意义。这是非常真实的道理，当你最属于祂的时候，也就是最属于自己的时候了。只要与神相系你必能自由行走。你伏在祂的脚下，就能够笔直地站在任何事情或任何人面前。你突然明白自己与宇宙的创造力量配合，你得着自由，一个有自由去创造、有自由去爱、有自由去做到最好、有自由成为祂想你成为的人。这不是默默的顺从，而是与那股令耶稣从死里复活的力量合作。难怪有人称这原则为「宇宙间最深刻的法则」。
「与神相系必能自由行走」
进深研究
太十九21-30；可八35；腓三8
1. 耶稣教导我们甚么？
2. 这在你生命中如何实行出来？
祈祷
神啊，谢谢您再次深深的打动我。求您继续进入我心，因为我渴望得到那在深处、您同在和力量的活水，阿们。
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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