5. Manna issue 65 - The Joy and Grace of Serving the Lord 服事主的喜樂和恩典
Grace F.L. Ho—Malaysia 馬來西亞 Grace F.L. Ho
“The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows …”[i]
“服事越久，越覺甘甜 …”[i]
Serving the Lord certainly grows sweeter as years go by,
although we may meet with difficulties along the way.
In fact, these hardships help us to see the Lord’s guiding hand
and strengthen our trust in Him.
Therefore, whenever we are weak and unsure of the next step,
we need to rely on the Lord
—we will be awe-stricken at how the Lord solves our problems and leads us on.
Such is the unspeakable joy that I have experienced in serving the Lord,
especially since I joined the missionary work in India.
隨著歲月的流逝，事奉主一定會變得更加甜蜜，
儘管一路上，我們可能會遇到困難。
其實，這些苦難幫助我們看見主引導的手
並且加強我們信靠祂。
因此，每當我們軟弱無力時，無法確定下一步怎麼走，
我們就需要依靠主，
—我們就會震驚，主是如何解決我們的問題，並且帶領我們前進。
這就是我事奉主，所體會到無法言語的喜樂，
特別是自從我參加了印度的宣教事工。
By the guidance and mercy of God,
I have been helping with Youth and Children Ministry in southern India since 1999.
In recent years, I also joined in the gospel outreach work in Chennai city (Tamil Nadu, South India),
and in Darjeeling (Calcutta area, in the north-eastern part of West Bengal).
靠著神的引導和憐憫，
自 1999 年以來，我一直在協助印度南部的青年兒童宣教事工。
最近幾年，我也加入了清奈市（印度南部泰米爾納德邦）
和大吉嶺（加爾各答地區，西孟加拉邦東北部）
的福音開拓工作。
WORKING FOR AND WITH GOD 為神作工，與神同工
My greatest fear in serving the Lord is to work against God’s will.
I have a phobia about working by my own inclination.
Doing so would be disastrous as it would be a waste of time, effort, human resources and money;
nobody would be edified and God could not be glorified.
There is, however, a deep satisfaction and comfort when you know God is with you in your work.
In fact this is all that matters.
We are sent to do His work, not ours.
我事奉主的最大恐懼，就是違背神的旨意。
我會害怕按著自己的喜好作工。
這樣做將造成災難，因為這將浪費時間、精力、人力資源和金錢；
沒有人會得到造就，神也不會得到榮耀。
然而，當你知道神在你工作時，與你同工，就會有一種深深的滿足感和安慰。
事實上，這才是一切最重要的。
我們被派去進行祂的工作，而不是自已的工作。
In 2001, I was tasked to plan and execute all Religious Education and Youth programs in India.
While planning for the first Intermediate Youth Bible Camp in 2002,
I was unsure whether our plans were suitable.
Thank God, the Lord knew my concerns and allayed my fears.
During the Bible camp,
a young sister saw a vision of several shepherds with a flock of sheep and lambs in a jungle.
Among the shepherds was a man in a radiant white robe whose face she could not see.
Yet, she knew that He was Jesus Christ.
Praise the Lord, we were strengthened with the knowledge
that the Chief Shepherd was with us in our mission.
2001 年，我的任務是計劃和執行印度所有的宗教教育和青年活動。
在籌畫 2002 年第一屆中級青年查經班時，
我不確定我們的計劃是否合宜。
感謝神，主知道我的擔憂，並且減輕了我的恐懼。
在查經班期間，
一位小姐妹看到了異象，叢林中有幾個牧羊人帶著一群綿羊和小羊羔。
牧羊人之中，有一個身穿發光潔白長袍的男子，他的臉模糊不清。
然而，她知道祂就是耶穌基督。
讚美主，我們得到更多的力量，
因為知道，在我們的任務中，有牧羊人首領與我們同在。
IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER 禱告的重要
Preparing for a mission trip usually calls for many hours and days of knee work.
We need to pray to understand what God wants us to do and to ask for His guidance.
I would usually ask some close church friends at home and abroad
to pray for the work we are sent to do whenever we embark on a missionary trip.
Quite often, when I see God’s blessings and guidance in the midst of our assignment,
I can only sigh with thankfulness for the prayers of these concerned brothers and sisters.
My joy is complete when, upon returning,
I can share with them on how the Lord has worked through their intercessions.
準備一次宣道旅行，通常需要好幾個小時和數天時間膝蓋跪下禱告的工作。
我們需要禱告，以了解神要我們做什麼，並祈求祂的帶領。
每次我們開始宣教之旅的時候，
我通常會詢求一些國內外親密的教會朋友，
來為我們被派去進行的聖工禱告。
很多時候，當我們的差派中，我看到神的祝福和引導時，
對於這些關心弟兄姊妹的祈禱，我只能感慨感激萬千。
回來之後，
當我可以分享，那些主如何通過他們代禱所成就的事，
我的喜樂就完全了。
LEARNING TO WORK WITH OTHERS 學習與別人同工
Serving the Lord is indeed full of challenges.
We know that a servant of God should have certain qualities
such as faithfulness, sincerity, integrity, honesty, gentleness, kindness, patience, understanding etc.
This is fairly easy to achieve when we are not faced with opposition or divergent opinions.
However, when we encounter difficult and self-centered people,
living up to those qualities turns into a challenge.
During these times, human relations become a thorn in our flesh.
Nevertheless, we need to be faithful to our work, do the necessary
and yet not hurt our co-workers.
As I carefully tread this delicate path,
I learn to trust God for wisdom to do the right thing.
服事主確實充滿挑戰。
我們知道，神的僕人應該具有某些特質，
如信實、真誠、正直、誠實、溫柔、善良、耐心、體諒等等。
當我們沒有面對反對或是不同意見時，這很容易實現。
然而，當我們遇到難相處、以自我為中心的人時，
要維持這些特質，就變成了挑戰。
在這段時期中，人際關係變成我們肉體上的一根刺。
不僅如此，我們需要忠於自已的工作，完成必要的任務，
還要能不傷害自已的同事。
當我小心翼翼地走在這條精細微妙的道路時，
我學會相信神的智慧，來做正確的事。
In one particular case a co-worker wanted to change a program
that had already been pre-arranged.
Remembering Paul’s exhortation to serve God and not man,
I eventually decided to abide by the given plan.
Looking back, I truly thank God
that He guided me without affecting the working relationship with others and the Lord’s work was not hampered.
As we serve we learn the intricate skills of working along with others.
This is a bonus grace for me.
在一次特殊情況下，有位同工想要變更活動，
而活動已經有預先安排好了。
要記住保羅的勸勉，我們是要事奉神，而不是人，
最終我決定保持即定的計劃。
回想往事，我真的感謝神，
祂帶領我，並且不影響自已與別人的工作關係，而主的聖工亦不受阻礙。
在我們服事的過程中，學習與他人一起工作錯綜複雜的技能。
這對我而言，是一個額外的恩典。
The intricacies of getting things done among people
with a different cultural background and work attitude
can sometimes be very trying and tiring too.
Although I have been in India so many times,
I still find it difficult to understand their culture and mindset.
Once, an Indian minister of our church told me frankly
that it takes an Indian to understand the Indian mind.
人與人之間完成事情的複雜性，
與不同文化背景與工作態度的人合作，
有時候也是很辛苦，令人疲累。
雖然我已經來過印度很多次了，
我仍然覺得很難理解他們的文化和心態。
有一次，我們教會一位印度裔的聖工人員坦白的告訴我，
只有印度人才會了解印度人的想法。
Thank God, over the years I have learned to work with our beloved spiritual family in India
despite the cultural differences.
As missionary workers, we need to understand that we are sent to help;
for this reason we are expected to show greater patience and love,
and to correct with gentleness and humility when necessary
(2 Tim 2:24–26).
感謝神，這些年來，我學會了與我們心愛的印度屬靈家庭一起作工，
儘管有文化的差異。
作為宣教工人，我們需要明白，自已是被派來給予幫助的；
因此，我們應該被預期能表現出更大的耐心和愛心，
並且必要時，以溫和謙卑的態度給予糾正
（提後 2：24-26）。
LIKE-MINDED CO-WORKERS 志同道合的同工
Working with a team of like-minded co-workers is a crucial factor in the joy of serving the Lord.
It is a blessing that we have a team of
dedicated, optimistic and passionately mission-oriented workers for the India missionary work.
We share the same goal and passion for the Lord’s flock.
Along the way, there may perhaps be an argument or two as we confer, discuss and plan,
but we know why we are there.
Every worker knows his mission and his call to serve the Lord’s young flock.
與一群志同道合的同工一起作工，是服事主喜樂的重要因素。
這是是一種祝福，因為我們有一支團隊，
很專注，樂觀和熱情任務導向的工人，執行印度宣教聖工。
為了主的羊群，我們有著相同的目標和熱情。
一路走來，當我們協商、討論和規劃時，可能會有一兩次爭論，
但我們都知道，自已為何會在那裡。
每個工人都知道自己的使命和呼召，來服事主的幼小羊群。
At the end of each mission trip, I always have this feeling:
thank God we had each other to complete His work!
As we part for home after every mission,
we hug and shake hands, thanking God for another completed assignment.
We are filled with the joy of having shared the fruit of labor.
Such is the joy and spirit of comrades-in-Christ!
每次宣教之旅結束時，我總有這樣的感覺：
感謝神，我們彼此同在完成了祂的聖工！
每次任務結束後，我們離開回家時，
我們互相擁抱並握手，感謝神又完成了另一項任務。
我們會因為分享共同勞動的成果，而充滿喜悅。
這就是基督同伴的喜樂和精神！
OVERCOMING PHYSICAL CHALLENGES 克服物質的挑戰
Serving in India is not without physical difficulties.
The long tedious journey, the back-breaking terrain up mountains,
the dust, the grime and the polluted air
of choking carbon dioxide in the unending traffic jams in a chaotic city
are some of the physical discomforts we have to compromise with.
在印度服事，並非沒有肉體上的困難。
漫長乏味的旅程，上山崎嶇全身酸痛的地形，
在一個混亂的城市中，交通無休止的擁堵中，有塵土、污灰和令人窒息二氧化碳污染的空氣，
是一些我們必需妥協的身體不適。
Sometimes, we may still be traveling in the middle of the night,
reaching our destination well after midnight.
By the time we climb into bed it may already be 2 am or later.
Yet, we have to be up by 6 am the next morning to pray for strength and guidance in our work.
Tiring indeed and I often wonder how I “survived” given my frail physique.
But as I reminisce, my heart overflows with praise and thanksgiving for God’s abundant grace.
有時，我們可能半夜還在旅行，
午夜後才到達我們的目的地。
當我們爬上床的時候，可能已經是凌晨 2 點或更晚了。
然而，我們必須隔天早上 6 點之前起床，為我們的工作祈求力量和帶領。
確實很累，我經常想，自已是如何“活下來”的，因為我的身體虛弱。
但回想起來，我的心中充滿了對神豐富恩典的讚美和感謝。
Once, after coming home from a mission trip,
a minister in my local church approached me and held both my hands in his.
As he praised God for bringing me home in good health, tears welled up in his eyes.
I was touched beyond words.
Thank God, over the years and with each missionary trip I have become healthier.
This is a fact that local church members and my friends attest to.
Indeed, I am humbled by God’s grace and mercy for me, an unworthy maid in His service.
有一次，宣教之旅回家後，
本地教會有一位長執走向我，用他的手握住我的雙手。
當他讚美神讓我健健康康回家時，他的眼中泉湧了淚水。
我感動到說不出話來。
感謝神，多年以來，隨著每次宣教之旅，我已經變得更健康了。
這是本地教會信徒和我很多朋友可以作證的事實。
的確，因為神的恩典和憐憫，我很謙卑，因為我是一個不配服事的女僕。
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION 感動的源頭
A life of service to the Lord would have its source of inspiration to start with.
As for me, my first inspiration came from God’s love,
which has so very often touched me to tears and has motivated me to serve Him.
為主事奉的生活，將有它開始的感動來源。
至於我，我的第一次感動來自神的愛，
神的愛常常讓我感動落淚，並激勵我事奉祂。
I began to be interested in missionary work in my late teens,
when I read about various Christian missionaries.
In addition, I received much spiritual inspiration from our church’s elders
when I was assisting in theological seminars in Singapore in the seventies and eighties.
These full-time ministers made an indelible impact on me
with their dedication, humility, love and wisdom.
In addition, I could see how much beauty and meaning serving the Lord brought into their lives.
十幾歲後期的時候，當我讀到各種基督教傳教士的故事，
就開始對宣教工作感興趣。
此外，七八十年代我在新加坡協助神訓班時，
就從我們教會的長老那裡得到了很多屬靈的啟發。
這些全職傳道人對我產生了不可磨滅的影響，
他們獻身、有謙卑、愛心和智慧。
此外，我可以看到服事主，給他們的生活帶來了多少美好和意義。
UNTOLD JOY 無法形容的喜樂
Indeed, serving the Lord deepens and broadens our perspective of life.
Personally, I feel untold joy and inner peace
to know that the time, money and effort spent will never go to waste,
despite difficulties and hardships.
We can rest assured that
serving the Lord will bring an unfading and imperishable reward
from the Master on the day we meet Him,
along with the joy and grace we receive now on earth.
的確，事奉主加深並開闊了我們的人生觀。
就個人而言，我心中查覺有難以言喻的快樂和內心的平靜，
清楚知道所花費的時間、金錢和努力永遠不會浪費，
儘管困難重重。
我們可以放心，
在那日我們遇見祂，從主那裡，
會帶來不朽不滅事奉主的獎賞，
連同我們現在在地球上得到的快樂和恩典。
So dear readers-in-Christ,
do you sometimes feel a void in your life
although you attend church, pray and read the Bible?
That’s because the Lord has a task for you.
He’s waiting to give you the joy and grace of serving Him!
親愛基督裡的讀者，
你是否有時會感到生活空虛，
雖然你去教會聚會，有禱告和讀經呢？
那是因為主給你一個任務。
他正等著要給你服事祂的喜樂和恩典！
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
歡迎主內同靈來信加入翻譯
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