5. Manna issue 87 - Reach Out To The Lost Sheep 找到外面的迷羊
Timothy Yeung—Vancouver, Canada 加拿大溫哥華 Timothy Yeung
“What man of you,” says Jesus,
“having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them,
does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness,
and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?”
(Lk 15: 3–4).
As it turns out, many of us would not go on such a mission.
Anything from fear to sheer complacency persuades us to stay with our ninety-nine,
leaving that lost one to stray afar.
4你們中間誰有一百隻羊失去一隻，
不把這九十九隻撇在曠野、
去找那失去的羊，直到找著呢？
(路 15：3-4)
事實證明，我們許多人不會這麼作。
從產生未知的害怕到純粹的自我安慰，都說服了我們要守在自已的九十九羊身邊，
放任那迷路的羊到遠方流浪。
But God has no such weakness.
Jesus came into this world to recover those lost souls.
He often compared Himself to that shepherd, willing to risk all for one.
但是神沒有這樣的弱點。
耶穌來到這個世界上，是為了找回那些迷失的靈魂。
他經常把自己比作那牧羊人，願意只為一個人冒著一切的危險。
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
(Lk 19:9– 10)
9耶穌說：今天救恩到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫。
10人子來，為要尋找，拯救失喪的人。
(路 19：9-10)
Again and again, Jesus assures us He cares, above all, for the lost and stray.
But why?
Why this obsession over the wanderers and those by the wayside,
especially if they were the ones who chose to leave the well-trodden path?
More pertinently, why should we also care?
耶穌一次又一次地向我們保證，超乎一切，他首先關心的是那迷路的人，及那走偏的人。
但為什麼呢？
為什麼對那流浪的人和路旁的人們，是如此的執著，
尤其是，如果他們選擇了離開那條大家都安全行走的道路呢？
與這主題更相關的是，我們為什麼還要關心呢？
THE PRECIOUS ONE PERCENT 那至為寶貴的百分之一
Firstly, every sheep is precious in God’s eyes.
In the parable of the lost sheep, that one stray represents one percent of the shepherd’s flock.
What is puzzling, and what makes this parable so powerful,
is the fact that the shepherd abandons the rational calculations we are always so eager to perform.
The mathematics of divine love does not count the individual sheep
as one of many dispensable and replaceable creatures.
To God, each sheep equals one hundred percent
—the subject of His full and undivided love and devotion.
首先，每隻綿羊在神眼中都是寶貴的。
在迷失的綿羊的比喻中，那隻流浪的羊，是代表了那牧者羊群的百分之一。
那令人困惑，那使這個比喻更加強大的是，
牧羊人放棄理性推論，而這種情況是我們一直都很容易這麼作。
神大愛的數學計算，並不是以單隻羊來計算，
就好像，這一隻羊是眾多其他羊之一的生物，可有可無和可加以替換。
在神看來，每隻綿羊都等於百分之百
-都是祂全心全意，無法分割的愛，與完全投入疼愛的對象。
Movies and fiction tell us to rejoice at the downfall of the bad guy.
Not so with God.
Every “fallen” man is one waiting to be picked up
and placed onto the higher ground of fellowship with God.
He does not delight in the perishing of any of His creatures;
He wishes for all to come to Him, regardless of our pasts, repentant and resolute.
電影和小說告訴我們，要為壞人的傾倒而感到高興。
神並不是這樣。
每個“墮落”的人，都是一個等待被揀選的人，
並提昇到與神相交的更高境界。
祂不喜悅任何所創造的生物滅亡；
祂希望所有人都回到祂身邊，無論我們有什麼過去，悔恨和決心，。
Secondly, there is no place too remote, no distance too great,
that God cannot call back His flock.
What was the shepherd thinking?
Did he consider the vastness of the wilderness he had to search?
Maybe wild predators had already got to that lamb.
These factors did not stand in the way of his devotion to those under his charge.
其次，並沒有真的太遙遠的地方，也沒有距離是很遠的，
是神所不能召回祂的羊群。
牧羊人到底在想什麼？
他是否有想過，要搜尋的曠野到底有多大呢？
也許野外的掠食者已經捕到了那隻小羊。
這些因素，並沒有妨礙祂對所照顧之人的專心一致。
All of us have the gift of imagination
—there is little we are incapable of conceiving.
The trickiest concept for us, it seems, is the goodness of salvation.
We may know some troubled members who have not only lost their way,
but have turned their backs, stepped proudly onto the wrong path, and strode off defiantly.
It is admittedly hard in situations like this not to feel a certain helplessness,
even a niggling feeling of resentment: Let them learn the hard way.
They don’t deserve to be chased.
This is not the way to think because this is not how God thinks.
Created in His image, reborn in the blood of Christ, cherished by the Almighty,
each and every one of us is worth all the trouble.
Whenever it becomes difficult to see the goodness in people, see the goodness in God.
He has made the first and hardest move to reconcile us to Him,
and all who are redeemed should know better than anyone else the unmatched power of grace and love.
我們大家都有想像力天賦
－並沒有什麼小事物，是我們所無法察覺的。
對我們來說，最奇異的概念，似乎就是救贖的美好。
我們可能知道，有一些陷入困境的信徒不僅迷路了，
而且已經自我放逐，自豪地踏上錯誤的道路，輕蔑地跨步離開。
一般認為在這樣的情況下，很難不感到有某種無助感，
甚至懷抱著一種千絲萬縷的怨恨感：就讓他們去吃吃苦頭吧。
他們不配我們去追回來。
這不該是我們思考的方式，因為這不是神的想法。
我們是以神的形象所創造，於基督的寶血中重生，深受全能真神所珍惜，
我們每個人都值得，大家去面對一切困難追回來。
每當難以在人身上看到善良時，就應該從神身上找到良善。
他第一個採取行動，面對最艱難的情況，才使我們能與祂和好，
所有被救贖的人，都應該比任何人都更加了解，恩典與慈愛所帶來那無與倫比的力量。
This leads us to the third point. 這指引我們到第三個重點
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
However, for this reason I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering,
as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen. (1 Tim 1:15–17)
15基督耶穌降世，為要拯救罪人。這話是可信的，是十分可佩服的。在罪人中我是個罪魁。
16然而，我蒙了憐憫，是因耶穌基督要在我這罪魁身上顯明他一切的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。
17但願尊貴、榮耀歸與那不能朽壞、不能看見、永世的君王、獨一的神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！
(提前 1：155-17)
For those of us in the True Jesus Church, the elect of God,
even if we have surrendered ourselves to sin,
God will not quickly surrender us.
Paul, the self-appointed “chief of sinners,” knew how deeply lost and unworthy he was.
Knowing this does not give us license to despair
or to see the equal ugliness in others.
Rather, to know our baseness is the first step to knowing God’s glory and love.
The chief of sinners knew he was in the best place to tell other sinners of a greater Chief who,
though not one of them, loved them all to death and beyond, and desired to be with them.
對於我們在真耶穌教會中的人，是神的選民，
即使我們自己屈服於罪，
神不會很快投降，就送我們出去。
保羅，自稱為“罪人之首”，知道自己迷失了有多麼深，自已有多不配。
知道這一點，不是要讓我們放棄希望，
或看到別人身上，有同樣醜陋的部份。
相反，認識自已有多少底線，是明白神的榮耀和慈愛的第一步。
罪人之首，知道他自已身份，就是最合適向其他罪人說明，世上有一個更偉大的主宰，
雖然主宰不是眾人其中之一，但是神愛他們至死不渝，甚至超過一切，並且希望與他們同在。
We were all once lost, but now have been found.
In turn, Jesus has called us to find others.
But how shall we go about this search?
我們都曾經迷失，但現在都已經被神找回來了。
為了有所回報，耶穌呼召我們，去尋找更多其他人。
但是我們應該要如何進行這種搜索的工作呢？
REACH OUT LIKE JESUS 如同耶穌一樣，向外拓展
Firstly, we have to make the first move to reach out to our brothers and sisters,
instead of waiting for them to come to us.
Jesus has set the example.
In Luke 15:1–2, we read of Jesus doing what all the esteemed religious leaders failed to do.
Jesus had the respect and adoration of many,
but a growing suspicion and an agenda were being set against Him.
The worst thing He could do was to associate with the one group of people
whom both the common folks and the lofty Pharisees were united against: sinners.
But that is exactly what He chose to do.
He went into the houses of tax collectors, broke bread with prostitutes, and reached out to lepers.
Friend to the friendless and unloved, Jesus did more than receive these people when they came to Him.
He went to those abandoned long ago by their community, stood with them,
and shared their burdens when they were downcast.
We must try to do the same.
For the hand that steadied Peter on the waters,
that performed great miracles and blessed thousands,
was the same hand that reached out and comforted sinners.
首先，我們必須跨出第一步，去接觸我們的兄弟姐妹，
而不是等待他們來找我們。
耶穌樹立了榜樣。
在路加福音15章1-2節中，我們讀到，耶穌做了一切眾人崇敬宗教領袖，都沒有做到的事。
耶穌受到許多人的尊重和崇拜，
但是越來越多的猜疑及大家不滿的討論，正在針對他。
他能做的最糟糕的事情，是與一群人交往，
就是那些平民與高傲的法利賽人，兩者聯合起來反對的群體：罪人。
但這正是他選擇所要做的事。
他進入稅吏的屋子，與妓女一起剝餅吃飯，向外接觸痲風病人。
耶穌與那些沒有朋友又不被愛的人作朋友，當他們來到耶穌那裡時，耶穌所做的不只是接待他們而已，而是更多。
他接觸那些很久以前，就被社區拋棄的那些人，與陪伴他們在一起，
當他們垂頭喪氣時，分擔了他們的重擔。
我們必須嘗試這樣做。
就像穩定彼得在水面行走的那隻手，
創造了偉大奇蹟，祝福了數千人，
也同樣是那隻手，向外接觸安慰罪人。
Start with the little things.
Check in with our brothers and sisters regularly through texts and phone calls,
organize outings and arrange family visitations
—these are things we can easily do to remind others of the ever-present love of God in their lives.
Small but consistent actions,
such as sharing our favorite verses on social media and leaving notes of encouragement, can go a long way.
Even just telling people that we are keeping them in our prayers is a very meaningful gesture.
就從小事情開始作起。
定期用短訊和電話，與我們的兄弟姐妹聯繫打招呼，
安排一起戶外郊遊，並常去家庭訪問，
這些都是我們可以輕鬆達成的事情，以提醒其他人生命中，有永遠存在神的慈愛。
經由這微小但不間斷的行動，
例如在社群媒體上，分享我們最喜歡的經文，並傳遞鼓勵的小紙條，可以持續執行長長久久。
即使只是告訴別人，我們一直在為他們代禱，也是一種非常有意義的表達態度。
Secondly, we must remember to be patient and never lose hope.
Luke 15:11–32 tells the story of the prodigal son, a lost sheep if ever there was one.
Not only was this profligate wanderer physically far from his father,
his heart was also removed from his father’s love and his home.
A whole world separated son from father.
But not in the father’s mind.
This father patiently kept his eyes on the horizon,
waiting each day for the slightest hint of his son’s shadow,
ready to embrace and call that disgraced delinquent his son once more.
其次，我們必須記住要有耐心，永遠不要失去盼望。
路加福音15章11–32節，記載了浪子的故事，這是一隻迷失的羊，如果有的話。
這個任意揮霍的流浪漢，不僅肉體上要遠離父親，
他的心，也從父親的慈愛和家中遠離。
整個世界將兒子與父親分開。
但父親的腦中卻無法消除。
這位父親耐心地注視著遠方的地平線，
每天抱著些微的期待，等待兒子再出現身影，
準備好擁抱，呼叫那讓人丟臉，行為不當的人，再度稱為自已的兒子。
The father waited for the time he knew would come.
We too must wait for God’s time, and know, by faith, that it shall come.
It may take a long time for things to change.
But when it does, when minds and hearts change, they change quickly.
Our words, pleading and pitiful, may never seem to be enough,
but through God all things are possible.
For God can and does use sufferings, trials and all manner of dead-end situations
to bring about the greatest miracles and spiritual resurrections.
All that is asked of us is that we remain as the father
—waiting, watchful, praying always with all our faith
—so that we can endure until God’s time comes.
父親等著，知道那時間會再來。
我們也必須等待神的時機，並因著信心知道，它將會再來。
事情可能需要很長時間，才能改變。
但是，一旦改變，當思想和心靈改變的時候，就會迅速變動。
我們懇求和讓人同情的說辭，似乎永遠都不夠用，
但因為有神，一切皆有可能。
因為可以作到，且真的用苦難，試煉及各種走頭無路的情況，
帶來極大的神蹟，讓人的屬靈生命從新復甦。
對我們僅剩的要求是，我們可以像這個父親一樣
-總懷抱著自已一切的信心，持續等待，警醒，祈禱
-這樣我們就可以恆長忍耐，直到神的時候到來。
Thirdly, we must remember to not be judgmental towards those who are weak.
Jesus, betrayed and abandoned by those who promised Him their devotion, resurrected and glorified,
stood on the shore and approached these fallen men,
asking “Children, do you have any food?”
第三，我們必須記住，不要以批判的態度，對待軟弱的人。
耶穌，被那些口頭應允虔誠的人，所出賣和拋棄，又得了復活和榮耀，
站在岸邊，靠近那些墮落的人，
詢問“孩子們，您有食物嗎？”
“No,” they answered from their boat out on the sea,
not knowing who it was they were speaking to (Jn 21:1–5).
他們坐在船上，在外海上答道，“沒有”
不知道他們在跟誰說話（約 21：1-5）。
That was it.
Jesus did not interrogate them on their actions,
nor did He seek to sear guilt and shame into their hearts.
Without a shred of spite, He called out to His children,
and welcomed them back with a miracle of fish.
The simplicity of this love is what makes it the most beautiful and divine.
Just as the father greeted his prodigal son with a feast,
so Jesus fed His children, who had been equally lost and confused.
This was a double miracle:
the supernatural display of extreme power and extreme love.
And so, the children return home.
就是這樣。
耶穌沒有盤問他們的所作所為，
也沒有想要他們的內心上，烙印上罪惡愧和羞愧感。
他呼喚自已的子女，絲毫沒有夾雜任何悔恨，
並以補魚的神蹟，來歡迎他們回來。
這種愛的純粹性，使它得已成為最美麗及最神聖。
就如父親用盛宴款待自已在外流浪的兒子一樣，
耶穌餵養自已的兒女，即使他們過去同樣有過迷失，很糊塗，。
這是一個雙重的奇蹟：
是極致權能和極牧慈愛的超越自然的展示。
也因此，孩子們回家了。
CONCLUSION 結論
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty,
Or the captives of the righteous be delivered?
But thus says the LORD:
“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,
And the prey of the terrible be delivered;
For I will contend with him who contends with you,
And I will save your children.” (Isa 49:24–26)
24勇士搶去的豈能奪回？該擄掠的豈能解救麼？
25但耶和華如此說：就是勇士所擄掠的，也可以奪回；強暴人所搶的，也可以解救。
與你相爭的，我必與他相爭；我要拯救你的兒女。
(賽 49：24-26)
People lose their way sometimes.
It happens to the best of us.
The beauty of being a Christian, of knowing the God we know,
is that while we may have shameful histories and painful presents,
we also have an everlasting future built on blood, with love and grace, by Jesus Christ.
Let us continue to pray for the deliverance of those who are still lost,
by the power of our Almighty God.
人們有時會走迷了路。
它亦會發生在我們中，最好的人身上。
成為基督徒的好處，能認識我們所認識的神，
就是，雖然我們可能有可恥的過去和現在很痛苦，
我們還有耶穌基督，以愛與恩典在寶血上，所建立的永恆未來。
讓我們繼續依靠神全能的力量，來禱告，
為能拯救那些迷失的人。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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