2025年度經文:耶和華啊,求你使我們被擄的人歸回,好像南地的河水復流。流淚撒種的……,必要歡歡樂樂的帶禾捆回來。(詩篇126:4-6)請點閱
「耶和華啊,求你使我們被擄的人歸回,好像南地的河水復流。流淚撒種的,必歡呼收割;那帶種流淚出去的,必要歡歡樂樂的帶禾捆回來。」(詩篇126:4-6)
主題經卷:以斯拉記+尼希米記
我們訂2025年的主題是《你們世人要歸回》(參詩篇90:3)
《參考資料》
一.悔改是一種歸回
- 福音從悔改開始,而悔改是一種歸回。舊約時代以色列人因罪,神使他們被擄到外邦,眾先知則說了許多歸回的預言;而這些歸回的預言,總是被新約使徒們引用到彌賽亞的來到,與救恩的成全上。
- 另一方面,那許多經文首先應驗在以斯拉記、尼希米記,但那些預言所蘊含的榮耀、豐富的描述,只有應驗在福音時代更偉大的歸回,才相稱。
- 向著神所有的追求,可以匯集在「追求認識神」這條水流中,像使徒保羅一般(參腓3:10)。這包括思想神的屬性,且像司布真一般,學習、默想並尊敬它們;讓至高者美妙的屬性,成為我們欣羨、愉悅的對象。司布真又說:當我們這樣將神的形像,持續地擺在我們面前時,我們將逐漸蛻變成祂的形像。
- 所以歸回最首要的意義,就是從各國、各族、各民、各方,有人聽信福音、望向基督耶穌,而悔改歸向神。當年神百姓受神管教被擄至外邦。在轄制、捆綁、缺乏、羞辱中,醒覺過來為自己的罪虛心痛悔,而歸回應許之地;正與今天在福音中,世人如浪子般回轉,悔改歸回父家一樣的意義。
- 悔改,是人看見神造人的原初目的,從律法(神的道)看見自己本來該有的面目,也就是耶穌的形象,因而意識到自己虧缺了神的榮耀,偏行己路(罪即射不中鵠的),而回轉歸向神。
- 您要不要思想,有哪些事、在哪些方面,我需要悔改,需要從何種光景中,回轉成何種光景?
二.歸回神的旨意
- 舊約時代的歸回,並不只應驗在新約救恩時代的悔改;歸回不只指向人從罪中回轉,信靠基督而罪得赦免、因信稱義、重生得救,成為神的兒女。
- 歸回更完滿的意義,是人悔改轉向神時,意志要轉向神的旨意,決心並獻身遵行神的旨意,讓神的旨意得以成全在我們身上,也在這地上,如同在天上一般。歸回神旨意,是歸回的核心價值之一。
- 多少基督徒說是悔改得救,停留在罪得赦免、因信稱義上,就宣稱自己已經是基督徒,是神的兒女,將來能進天堂。他們被教導、帶領,在世上生活最重要的使命,就是傳福音,引人來經歷他們所經歷的。
- 但其實他們所經歷的,並不是福音的全部。我們的歸回必須更往前去,要效法保羅遇見主時問「主啊,我當如何行」一般,開始將生命對準要遵祂而行,要遵行主道;也像保羅一般竭力追求,想更認識基督,以認識祂、得著祂為至寶。
- 所以歸回應該是像基路伯一般,由於向四方都有臉面,向四方都能直行,所以行走不需轉身,只要神旨意指向何方,他都能立時邁向那個方向!
- 歸回也是一種「溫柔」的表現,是我們生命被馴服了的光景。一位修女對「溫柔」這個希臘字作出這樣的詮釋:一匹良駒全速在戰場上馳騁,在主人一聲令下,牠雖然不解,卻立刻停下來,看主人要牠做什麼。
- 請讀這些經文:雅1:21、腓2:12~13、西4:12、弗1:5、1:9~10、帖前5:16~18,以及其他您會讀到的經文,來思考:還有什麼神的旨意是我尚未遵行的,還有哪些神的道是我尚未順從的?
三.歸回神的家
- 人聽信福音重生得救後,就受洗,要跟隨耶穌,成為基督徒,被歡迎加入教會(神聖的大家庭──神的家)。保羅在林前12:13說:「我們…都從一位聖靈受洗,成了一個身體,飲於一位聖靈。」
- 我們悔改得救,是否真實歸回神的家?您在神的家中,真實像神的兒女,或是仍然像奴僕一般?我們懂得享受神嗎?我們來到神面前,是否帶著隨時可以上桌得享神兒女的食物之態度,而不需要在一邊苦苦哀求,要得神的賜予呢?
- 神的桌子,神兒女的食物,包括了喜樂、愛、恩慈、溫柔、憐憫、成聖、醫治、自由、安息等等。這都是神兒女可以自由取用的,你可以隨時說:我要喜樂起來,我要去愛,我不要思慮煩擾,我要安靜下來,我要歸回安息。
- 歸回的人會自然喜歡遵行神旨意,但那是自由而行;詩人說:「我要自由而行,因我素來考究你的訓詞。…我要在你的命令中自樂,這命令素來是我所愛的。」(詩篇119:45、47)而且不因遵行得完全才蒙悅納,乃是因為知道蒙神悅納,而喜歡遵行。就如保羅說的,知道自己不被定罪,才進入生命聖靈的律裡(參羅8:1~2)。
- 歸回父家的人也不再與人爭競,並且不需要與人爭競,因為父家一切所有的,我們都可隨時支取。像應許之子以撒一般,將非利士人爭奪的井取名相爭與為敵,然後給了非利士人,意思是相爭與為敵都給你們,我擁有的是利河伯,是寬闊之地(參創26:19~22)。
- 讓我們來思考:我有充分歸回、進入神的家嗎?我有意識到自己是與眾聖徒在光明中同得基業嗎?或是我還在與人爭名次、爭地位、爭財富、爭成就呢?
《神旨意的金言雋語》
- 這是耶穌為神而活與服事神的秘訣:祂帶著禱告的心等候天父的指示,並等候著得著力量去遵循這些指示。耶穌並沒有神聖繪製的藍圖,祂乃是在禱告的生活中,逐日察驗父神的旨意。Here is the secret of Jesus’ life and work for God: He prayerfully waited for His Father’s instructions and for the strength to follow them. Jesus had no divinely-drawn blueprint; He discerned the Father’s will day by day in a life of prayer.(Charles E. Hummel)
- 但以理說,神的名是應當稱頌的,從亙古直到永遠,因為智慧能力都屬乎祂。祂改變時候、日期,廢王、立王,將智慧賜與智慧人,將知識賜與聰明人。祂顯明深奧隱祕的事,知道暗中所有的,光明也與祂同居。(但2:20~22)and said: Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
- 當那列王在位的時候,天上的神必另立一國,永不敗壞,也不歸別國的人,卻要打碎滅絕那一切國,這國必存到永遠。(但2:44)In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
- 即便如此,我們所事奉的神,能將我們從烈火的窯中救出來;王啊,祂也必救我們脫離你的手。即或不然,王啊,你當知道我們決不事奉你的神,也不敬拜你所立的金像。(但3:17~18)If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.
- 這是守望者所發的命,聖者所出的令,好叫世人知道,至高者在人的國中掌權,要將國賜與誰,就賜與誰,或立極卑微的人執掌國權。(但4:17)The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.
- 你所見的樹漸長,而且堅固,高得頂天,從地極都能看見。葉子華美,果子甚多,可作眾生的食物;田野的走獸,住在其下,天空的飛鳥,宿在枝上。(但4:20~21)The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds.
- 在你國中有一人,他裡頭有聖神的靈,你父在世的日子,這人心中光明,又有聰明智慧,好像神的智慧;你父尼布甲尼撒王,就是王的父,立他為術士、用法術的和迦勒底人,並觀兆的領袖,(但5:11)There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners.
- 那時總長和總督,尋找但以理誤國的把柄,為要參他,只是找不著他的錯誤過失,因他忠心辦事,毫無錯誤過失。(但6:4)At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.
- 然而至高者的聖民,必要得國享受,直到永永遠遠。(但7:18)But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.
- 我們的神啊,現在求你垂聽僕人的祈禱懇求,為自己使臉光照你荒涼的聖所。我的神啊,求你側耳而聽,睜眼而看,眷顧我們荒涼之地,和稱為你名下的城。我們在你面前懇求,原不是因自己的義,乃因你的大憐憫(但9:17~18)Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
- 為你本國之民,和你聖城,已經定了七十個七,要止住罪過,除淨罪惡,贖盡罪孽,引進(彰顯)永義,封住異象和豫言,並膏至聖者(至聖所)。(但9:24)Seventy “sevens” are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
- 他就說,但以理啊,不要懼怕,因為從你第一日專心求明白將來的事,又在你神面前刻苦己心,你的言語已蒙應允,我是因你的言語而來。(但10:12)Then he continued, Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
- 惟獨認識神的子民,必剛強行事。(但11:32)but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
- 智慧人中有些仆倒的,為要熬煉其餘的人,使他們清淨潔白,直到末了;因為到了定期,事就了結。(但11:35)Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
- 智慧人必發光,如同天上的光;那使多人歸義的,必發光如星,直到永永遠遠。(但12:3)Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
- 你且去等候結局,因為你必安歇,到了末期,你必起來,享受你的福分。(但12:13)As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.
《歸向神的金言雋語》
- 我們的道路不在於人類的聰明才智,而在於回歸上帝。Our way lies not in human ingenuity, but in a return to God.(Billy Graham)
- 復興就是神的子民回轉歸向神,神也回轉到他們中間,使每個人都看見其中的差異。Revival is when God's people return to God and God returns to them, and everyone sees the difference.(Henry Blackaby)
- 無論以何種方式,讓我回轉歸向上帝,並在善行上多結果子。當你比其他人更靠近神,然後從神那裡將榮耀帶到世人中間,沒有比這更崇高的事了。我全心信靠你永恆的美善,喔,神啊!我的靈以你這永不改變的存在為樂;你是我的磐石,我的亮光,我永遠所倚靠的。(貝多芬)In whatsoever manner it be, let me turn to God and become fruitful in good works. Nothing higher exists than to approach God more than other people and from that to extend His glory among humanity. I will place all my confidence in your eternal goodness, O God! My soul shall rejoice in Thee, immutable Being. Be my rock, my light, forever my trust.
- 這是受苦的最大悖論之一:那些沒有受過太多苦難的人,認為苦難會使人遠離上帝;但那些受過許多苦難的人,反而更加回轉歸向上帝,而不是遠離祂。This is one of the great paradoxes of suffering. Those who don't suffer much think suffering should keep people from God, while many who suffer a great deal turn to God, not from him.(Randy Alcorn)
- 要存心單純,帶著純淨的感情;單純使我們歸向神,純淨則使我們與神聯合並享受祂。Simplicity is the intention, purity in the affection; simplicity turns to God, purity unites with and enjoys him.(Thomas a Kempis)
- 我們都深陷罪孽中,與世界如此糾纏不清,所以若不是神首先以恩典呼召我們,我們永遠不會轉向神並尋求拯救。沒有神聖的召喚,沒有人能夠得救。We are all so sunk in sin, and so wedded to the world, that we would never turn to God and seek salvation, unless He first called us by His grace. Without a divine call, no one can be saved.(J. C. Ryle)
請思想下面真理與問題:
- 請用一句話,30字以內,說出我們有哪些需要悔改的事。
- 請用一句話,30字以內,說出我們當如何歸回神旨意。
- 請用一句話,30字以內,描述歸回父家的意義。