八福
渴望与目标
经文
希伯来书十二1-13
1我们既有这许多的见证人，如同云彩围着我们，就当放下各样的重担，脱去容易缠累我们的罪，存心忍耐，奔那摆在我们前头的路程，
2仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣（或作：仰望那将真道创始成终的耶稣）。他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。
3那忍受罪人这样顶撞的，你们要思想，免得疲倦灰心。
4你们与罪恶相争，还没有抵挡到流血的地步。
5你们又忘了那劝你们如同劝儿子的话，说：我儿，你不可轻看主的管教，被他责备的时候也不可灰心；
6因为主所爱的，他必管教，又鞭打凡所收纳的儿子。
7你们所忍受的，是神管教你们，待你们如同待儿子。焉有儿子不被父亲管教的呢？
8管教原是众子所共受的，你们若不受管教，就是私子，不是儿子了。
9再者，我们曾有生身的父管教我们，我们尚且敬重他，何况万灵的父，我们岂不更当顺服他得生吗？
10生身的父都是暂随己意管教我们；惟有万灵的父管教我们，是要我们得益处，使我们在他的圣洁上有分。
11凡管教的事，当时不觉得快乐，反觉得愁苦；后来却为那经练过的人结出平安的果子，就是义。
12所以，你们要把下垂的手、发酸的腿、挺起来；
13也要为自己的脚，把道路修直了，使瘸子不至歪脚（或作：差路），反得痊愈。
信息分享
昨天我们结束时说，生命中有些事情，例如想要有钱的渴望，可以视为合理的期盼，但它们只能是一种渴望，不应将它们变成一种目标。
渴望与目标的区别很大。目标是一种需要坚毅和委身来达成的计划，使定立目标的人愿意负上无条件的责任。而渴望是我们渴求得到的东西，但却是需要另一个人的合作或配合才能达成。渴望永远不应该成为我们背后的动力，不然的话，它就会变成我们的目标──而很可能受到阻拦，因而引起我们的负面情绪。还记得我们昨天提到的那个人吗？他的目标本来是赚钱，但是他一旦将目标改变为讨主喜悦时，并明白自己对赚钱的兴趣只是一种渴望以后，他便立即获得了释放。
要记住，情绪不稳定的缘由，往往总是由于所定立的目标受到了阻拦。让我用另一个例子，更清楚地勾勒出目标与渴望之间的分别。你有没有曾经试过在与另一个基督徒谈话时，发现对方不懂得应用一个圣经原则，而这原则却是你认为相当简单的？你告诉他我们需要按照神的话来处事，但是这对你来说清楚得像阳光一样的真理，于他却无法理解。如果你因此感到沮丧的话，那么你很可能是在允许一个渴望转变成为目标。当你希望你的朋友愿意接受你所说的话的时候，那只是你的一个渴望，然而由于这样的渴望给你带来了沮丧的情绪，这就表示你坚决的想要他听你的话，于是这种渴望就变成你的一个目标了。
「合理的期盼永远都不应成为目标」
进深研究
诗三十七1-11，二十一2，七十三25；箴十24
1. 诗人的渴望是甚么？
2. 当我们因主而喜乐的时候会怎么样？
祈祷
慈爱的天父，我再次求您帮助我明白关乎渴望与目标的重要真理。如果我可以解决这个问题，我的生命便能翻到崭新的一页。亲爱的主，求您帮助我。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。
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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