Manna issue 73 The True Gift 真實的禮物
K.C. Tsai—Toronto, Canada
蔡恆忠執事 - 多倫多，加拿大
GOD’S GIFT 神的禮物
I give your priesthood to you as a
gift for service, but the outsider who
comes near shall be put to death.
(Num 18:7b)
我將祭司的職任給你們當作賞賜得以事奉我，凡靠近的外人必備治死(民.18.7b)
Just as God gave the priesthood to
Aaron and his sons, any opportunity
to serve Him is a gift and a privilege
bestowed by Him. It is not for man
to decide whether he wants to serve
the Lord. God has the absolute
sovereignty to choose His servants.
Therefore, if we are determined
to serve God, we should seize the
opportunity to cultivate ourselves
spiritually and await His calling. If
we steadfastly continue in spiritual
cultivation and sanctification, God
will reveal His purpose for us in His
time.
正如神將祭司的職分交給亞倫以及他的兒子，
任何事奉她的機會是被神所賜予的禮物、特權。
是否要事奉神並不是人所可以決定的，
神有絕對的權力來決定誰將成為他的僕人，
因此，假使我們下定決心來事奉神，我們應該把握住機會加強自身的靈性並等候他的到來，
若是我們堅信不移地修養我們的靈性、聖潔，在他將來的時刻必會為我們顯明他的旨意
Priesthood聖職~ bestow 賜予~ sovereignty 權力；主權~ cultivation 造就~
sanctification 成聖
Participating in church work
requires time and effort. Many regard
it as a sacrifice and a contribution of
their talents. They may even claim
that a certain task was completed
because they had sacrificed much
precious family time and contributed
their talents. But is this really the case?
The God whom we serve is almighty,
lacking in nothing. He does not need
man to complete His work. On the
contrary, His providence surrounds us
and it is we who are always in need
of Him.
參加教會的工作需要時間和精力。
許多人認為這是一種獻祭，以及貢獻他們的才華。
他們聲稱甚至可以完成一個某些特定的任務，因為他們已經犧牲了很多寶貴的家庭時間，貢獻了自己的才華。
但事實真是如此嗎？我們所服務的神是萬能的，什麼都不缺乏。
他不需要別人來完成他的工作。相反，而他的眷顧圍繞著總是需要他的我們。
Require 要求；需求~ contribution 貢獻~ almighty 大能的~ providence 眷顧
By the word of the LORD the
heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the
breath of His mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea
together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world
stand in awe of Him.
For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
(Ps 33:6–9)
6諸天藉耶和華的命而造；萬象藉他口中的氣而成。
7他聚集海水如壘，收藏深洋在庫房。
8願全地都敬畏耶和華！願世上的居民都懼怕他！
9因為他說有，就有，命立，就立。
(詩 33：6-9)
The Lord speaks, and it is done; He
commands, and it stands fast. This is
why He is worthy of our worship and
our trust. His power is absolute and
requires no human assistance (Isa
40:12–17). However, out of His love,
He is willing to work with His loved
ones, allowing them to participate in
His salvation plan and to share in His
glory.
耶和華所說的，必會成真的;他的命令，它永遠長存。
這就是為什麼他是值得我們崇拜和信任。
他的能力是絕對的，不需人為幫助（以賽亞書40：12-17）。
不過，由於他的愛，他願意用和他所愛的門徒的一同作工，使他們能夠參與他的救贖計劃，並在共享他的榮耀
Assistance 幫助；援助~ participate 參與
A SMALL GESTURE OF THANKS 感謝的小動作
On the third occasion when Jesus
appeared to His disciples after His
resurrection, He performed a miracle
by the Sea of Tiberias (Jn 21:1–14).
The disciples had fished the entire
night without success. Then Jesus
appeared and, on His advice, they
caught 153 large fish. This miracle
immediately strengthened their
waning faith. Jesus’ crucifixion
had left the disciples at a loss so
they returned to their previous
occupation of fishing. But seeing
Jesus immediately brought to mind
His promise to them at their initial
calling: they would be fishers of men.
And when they reached the shore,
they saw fish being cooked over a
fire, and bread. Jesus then said to
them, “Bring some of the fish which
you have just caught.”
當主耶穌在他復活後的第三次顯現在門徒面前，他在提比哩亞行了一個神蹟（約翰福音21；1-14）。
門徒們捕撈了整夜的魚都毫無所獲，之後主耶穌到來，門徒聽從了他的建議，因而捕撈了153條大魚。
這個神蹟使他們衰退的信心再次強健。
耶穌受難後離開了門徒令門徒們無所適從，他們因而重操舊業回到捕魚的工作。
但看到耶穌立刻讓他們想起他們最初被呼召時主給他們的承諾：他們將成為得人的漁夫。
當他們到達岸邊時，他們看見在火光上已有烤熟的魚和麵包。耶穌便對他們說：「帶一些你們剛打到的魚。」。
Occasion 顯現~ resurrection 復活~ crucifixion 受難
We rarely notice this detail but
Jesus’ choice of pronoun was
meaningful. The disciples had actually
not caught anything. The fish in their
boat were entirely the result of the
Lord’s grace. Their professional skills
and experience which they applied
the whole night had netted them
nothing. But Jesus regarded these
fish as the fruit of their labor!
我們很少注意到這個細節，但主耶穌所選擇的代詞是有意義。
門徒實際上沒有抓到任何東西。在他們的船上的魚完全主施恩的結果。
使他們撒網了整整一夜了，所賴以使用的專業技能和經驗卻是讓他們一無所獲。
但是，耶穌將這些魚視為他們的勞動成果!
Net 撒網~
Without going out to sea to fish,
Jesus already had fish and bread
prepared for His loved ones. Yet
He asked them to take the fish
that they had caught to the fire. It
was certainly not because He had
not prepared enough nor because
He could not have produced some
more. Instead, He invited them to
contribute because He delights in
offerings that come from a sincere
and thankful heart. It means much to
Him to see a genuine willingness in
His beloved people to present part of
what He has given them back to Him
(1 Chr 29:14). It may be the smallest
gesture but to the God who loves us
unconditionally, it touches Him to see
that we love Him too.
沒有出海捕魚，耶穌已經為他所愛的門徒準備魚和麵包。
然而，他要求他們取所抓的魚並將魚拿去烤。
這當然不是因為他沒有準備不足也不是因為他不能製造更多一些。
相反，他邀請他們也作出貢獻，因為他所喜悅的事物是來自真誠和感恩的心。
這意味著展現一部分他真心願意給予他所愛之門徒﹝代上29；14﹞。
它可能是最微小的姿態，但在無條件愛我們的神眼中，反倒是他一看就知道我們也是愛他的。
Contribute 貢獻~delight 喜悅~ offer 提供~ willingness 意願~ gesture 手勢~
Unconditionally 無條件
A CLEAN VESSEL, READY FOR THE MASTER’S USE
一個潔淨的器皿，準備好為主用
Moses 摩西
Moses was learned in all the wisdom
of the Egyptians and mighty in words
and deeds (Acts 7:22). Motivated
and talented, he decided—at the
age of forty—to do something for
his people. He presumed that his
brethren would understand that God
would deliver them by his hand (Acts
7:25).
What possessed Moses to make
such a bold assumption?
摩西學了埃及人的一切智慧和強悍的言行（徒7:22）。
充滿激情並且才華橫溢，他決定，在年約40時，為他的人民做一些事情。
他推測，他的弟兄們會明白，神會通過自己的手來拯救他們（徒7:25）。為什麼摩西會有這麼大膽的假設?
Deeds 行為~ Motivated 刺激~ brethren 弟兄~ bold 大膽的~ assumption 假設
Moses was young and powerful,
possessing great talents and holding
a position as Egyptian prince. He
thought that he had been given all
these to deliver his people. But God’s
time had not yet come. Besides, God
did not need to tap on Moses’ talents
or connections to save His people.
Delivering the people from slavery
could not be accomplished by might
or by power but only by the Spirit of
God.
摩西是年輕而有能力的，擁有優秀的才能，並有作為埃及王子的地位。
他認為他已經用盡所有來救自己的族人。
但神的時候還沒有到來。此外，神並不需要摩西的才能或關係來拯救他的子民。
靠著屬世大能大力是不可能拯救他的族人脫離奴隸的生活，只有完全靠著神的聖靈才能完成這項工作。
Position 身分~ deliver 拯救~ connection 關係
Hence, God waited another forty
years before He called His servant.
By that time, Moses had neither
eloquence nor self-confidence. In
human eyes, Moses was a “hasbeen.”
But in God’s eyes, this was
the right time for God’s call and
commission—when Moses can take
no credit for the deliverance of Israel.
From that moment, Moses would go
on to become a great spiritual leader,
a servant of God and His people,
denying himself in total obedience to
the word of the true Leader of Israel.
因此，神在他呼召他的僕人之前又等待40年。
在那時，摩西既沒有口才，也沒有自信。在人的眼中，摩西是一個「過氣的人」。
但在神的眼中，卻是一個呼召及委任他的好時機，是摩西沒有任何的可誇之處的時候來帶領以色列人。
從那時開始，摩西成為了一個偉大的精神領袖，一個屬於神和人民的僕人，
完完全全謙卑順服真正以色列人的領袖 "真神" 的話。
Eloquence 口才~ obedience 服從
The forty years Moses spent in the
wilderness were vital to his complete
submission to God’s leadership. It
was God who paved this way for
him. However, the earlier forty years
that he had spent in the Egyptian
palace were not without God’s
purpose. It had been a time for
Moses to acquire the knowledge of
Egypt while learning about his true
identity. Although being a part of
Israel—a people separate to God─
had become more precious to him
than the treasures in Egypt (Heb
11:26), Moses studied diligently and
became mighty in words and deeds.
Eventually, God made use of Moses’
knowledge and talents to pass down
His ordinances and to compile the
Pentateuch, leaving no excuse for
man to claim ignorance of His will
and His commandments.
這段在曠野的40年，是摩西完全順服神的帶領，佔了極重要的部分。
這是神特地為他鋪設好的。不過，在一開始的40年中在埃及宮殿中所學並非也不是神的旨意。
那是過去獲取埃及知識同時瞭解自己真實身分的一段時間。
雖然一部份有以色列人的淵源-但卻是一個與神隔絕的人，對摩西來說這屬於以色列的一切比起埃及的財寶卻更加寶貴(希11：26)，
摩西勤奮學習，在言行舉止上大有能力。最後，神使用了摩西知識和天資，來傳承他的律法並撰寫摩西五經，
使人們沒有任何藉口來忽視祂的旨意和誡命。
Acquire 獲得~ separate 分開~ ignorance 無知
Today, we do not have to hail from
royalty—as Moses did—in order
to be used by God. The Lord called
not only priests and scribes, but also
shepherds, farmers, tax collectors,
fishermen, and others.
今天，我們不必像摩西那樣被貴族們簇擁，才能被神所用。
被主呼召的人不僅祭司長和文士，也有牧羊人，農夫，稅吏，漁民和其他人。
Royalty 皇室：貴族~priest 祭司~ scribe 文士~shepherd 牧羊人
But in a great house there are not
only vessels of gold and silver,
but also of wood and clay, some
for honor and some for dishonor.
Therefore if anyone cleanses himself
from the latter, he will be a vessel
for honor, sanctified and useful for
the Master, prepared for every good
work.” (2 Tim 2:20–21)
每一個大屋子裏都有許多器皿，不僅有金器、銀器，
也有木器、瓦器；有的用在特別的場合，有的用在普通的場合。
人如果自潔，脫離一切邪惡的事，就能夠被主所器重；
因為他已獻給主，為主所重用，來做各樣善事。(提後2：21~22)
Vessel 容器~ sanctified 成聖
We do not have to be a vessel of
gold or silver to serve God. But we
do need to be clean and sanctified to
be ready for God’s use. The prophet
Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord
saying: “Whom shall I send, and who
will go for Us?” and replied, “Here
am I! Send me.” But this was after the
seraphim had touched his lips with a
live coal from the altar and cleansed
him (Isa 6:6–8). Isaiah knew it was
important to serve but understood
that being cleansed with the word of
God was even more important.
我們沒有一定要成為金銀製的器皿來服侍神。
但是我們仍要潔淨且成聖來準備給神用。
先知以賽亞聽見神的聲音說「我可以差遣誰呢?誰肯為我們去呢?」便回答「我在這裡，請差遣我。」
但這是在撒拉弗用壇上的紅炭來碰觸潔淨他的嘴唇之後(賽6：6~8)。
以賽亞知道替神服侍是重要的，但是被用神的話來潔淨自己更為重要的。
Coal 煤炭~ altar 祭壇
Paul 保羅
Paul was called when he was still
completely ignorant of the Lord Jesus.
He was on the way to Damascus
to persecute those who believed
in Jesus, when a light from heaven
suddenly shone on him. He fell to
the ground and heard a voice saying,
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting
Me?”
保羅被神呼召，在他對主耶穌還完全不了解的時候。
他在往大馬色的路上，要去迫害那些信耶穌的人，當時有道來自天國的光突然照到他。
他便倒地並聽見有聲音說「掃羅，掃羅，你為何迫害我？」
Persecute 迫害
Paul was caught unprepared. He
loved God and thought He had been
serving Him. Ironically, it turned
out that he had been persecuting
the Lord. A sudden blindness made
Saul see this reality. In complete
darkness for three days, he came to
understand the purpose of his calling.
Immediately afterwards, he began to
preach Christ in the synagogues in
Damascus, though without success.
Worse, he had to flee for his life,
leaving in a basket lowered from
the city wall, since the Jews were
watching the gates day and night,
plotting to kill him.
保羅非常措手不及。他愛神，並認為他一直服侍著神。
諷刺的是，事實證明，他一直在逼迫主。突然失明是掃羅看清了這個事實。
在完全黑暗的三天中，他才明白自己神呼召自己的目的。
緊接著，他在大馬士革的會堂裡開始宣講基督，然而沒有成功。
更糟的是，他還得為了保全生命來逃跑，從城牆下降籃子來逃離，
因為猶太人日以繼夜的看守大門，密謀要殺死他。
Ironically 具諷刺意味地~ synagogue 會堂~plot 密謀
When he eventually came to
Jerusalem, he spoke boldly in the
name of the Lord Jesus. He debated
the Hellenists who responded by
trying to kill him. Therefore, the
brethren had to send him away
to Tarsus. It was only later when
Barnabas took him to Antioch that
the Holy Spirit sent both of them out
to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.
當他終於來到耶路撒冷，他放膽傳講主耶穌的名。
和試圖殺死他的學者們辯論。因此，弟兄們只好送他去大數。
只是到了後來，當巴拿巴帶他到安提阿，聖靈叫他們兩個出去傳福音給外邦人。
Boldly 大膽地~Hellenist 希臘文化研究者~ gospel 福音~ Gentile 外邦人
Although Paul had the zeal to serve
God even before he was called and
had studied the Scriptures diligently
(Gal 1:14), he did not possess true
wisdom for salvation through faith in
Christ (2 Tim 3:15). After his calling,
he was truly sincere in his desire to
serve the Lord Jesus. But before the
Holy Spirit commissioned him, God
wanted Paul to reflect on all the
events in his life and to understand
who the Messiah truly was, according
to Moses and the prophets. Through
all these, he became more humble
and learned how to wait on God.
雖然保羅熱心於事奉神，甚至在他被呼召之前就已勤奮的研讀聖經(加1:14)。
他沒有那因信基督而得救的真智慧(提後3：15)。
在神呼召後，他便願意真誠的來事奉神。但在聖靈降給他之前，
神要保羅體現在生活中的一切事上，並從摩西以及先知們身上，瞭解真正的彌賽亞是誰。
透過這些事，他變得更謙卑，學會了如何來等待神。
Zeal 熱情~ sincere 真誠
Was Paul’s exceeding zeal for the
Jewish laws and traditions in his
youth all in vain? Had he studied
the Scriptures for nothing? No.
His knowledge of Moses and the
prophets came in very useful when he
witnessed for Christ and expounded
the truth of salvation. Well-equipped
with the knowledge of the Jews
when God called him, Paul went on
to be an indispensable vessel in the
house of God.
保羅在他年輕時所熱衷的猶太律法和傳統都是徒勞的嗎?
他所研讀的經文都是無用的嗎?
不，他那關於摩西和眾先知的的知識，在他親眼目睹耶穌及傳講得救的真理時，是非常的有用。
在神呼召他時他擁有全備的猶太知識，保羅也因而成為在神的家中不可或缺的器皿了。
Exceeding 極其的~ Well-equipped 齊全的~ indispensable 不可或缺的
Analogously, we do not know
when God will deem us ready for His
use. But we know that we can only
be called to serve if we persevere in
learning the truth and transforming
ourselves into a useful vessel. There
are various vessels in the house of
God, each with its unique function.
Most importantly, a vessel has to be
clean in the eyes of the Master and
dedicated to its unique usage.
相同地，我們不知道當神要用我們時我們是否準備好了。
但我們知道，若是我們堅持不懈地學習真理，轉換自己成為有用的器皿，必會被呼召來服侍主。
在神的家中有許多的器皿，各有其獨特的作用。
最重要的是，一個器皿要在主的眼裡是潔淨的，並竭盡其獨特的用途。
Deem 認為~ unique 獨特的~ usage 用法
OUR GIFT TO GOD 我們給神的禮物
With what shall I come before the
LORD, and bow myself before the
High God? Shall I come before Him
with burnt offerings, with calves a
year old? (Mic 6:6)
6我朝見耶和華，在至高神面前跪拜，當獻上甚麼呢？豈可獻一歲的牛犢為燔祭麼？
(彌 6：6)
When we come before God, we
naturally want to present an offering
to Him. But if everything comes from
Him, what can we offer to show
our gratitude and praise? We have
only ourselves to present to Him.
Therefore, Paul says, “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that you present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
to God, which is your reasonable
service” (Rom 12:1).
當我們來到神面前，我們自然要奉獻給他。
但如果一切都來自他，我們可以給予什麼來表達我們的感激和讚美嗎?
我們只有把自己送給他。因此，保羅說：
「所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。」
（羅12：1）。
The examples of Moses and Paul
remind us that the journey of faith
begins with an encounter with the
Lord and concludes with a living
sacrifice. In between, we are to equip
ourselves with the truth, identify
God’s purpose for our lives, and
watchfully wait for His calling.
摩西和保羅的例子提醒我們，信仰之行，
始於與主相遇，並在最後獻上活祭。
在這其間，我們要以真理裝備自己，
我們的生命中確定神的旨意，警醒地等候主的呼召。
Equip 裝備~ watchfully 警覺地
Once God calls us to serve, it is for
life. Serving Him is a life-long process
that gradually transforms our lives.
And this is the true gift from Him.
Hence, we ought to offer ourselves
as a living sacrifice—the true gift that
we can present to God in return for
all His goodness to us.
一旦神呼召我們來服侍，這是關乎生命的。
服侍他是一個終身職，會漸漸改變我們的生命。這是從他而來的禮物。
因此，我們應當現出自己為活祭，這是我們所能展現給神的禮物，以換取他給我們良善的祝福。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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