Manna issue 73 Editorial 編輯的話
by T. Chen
編輯的話
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
(1 Pet 4:10)
各人要照所得的恩賜彼此服事，作神百般恩賜的好管家(彼前4:10)
minister vi. 服事
manifold a. 各式各樣的
What is your gift?
你有什麼恩賜呢？
Some of us can answer this question immediately. Few
may not be so sure. Others may even say they do not
have any talents.
我們中有些人可以立即回答這個問題。
少部分人可能沒那麼肯定。甚至可能有人會說，他們沒有才能。
talent n. 天賦
In fact, all of us have gifts or skills that we employ for
our own benefit—be it in our studies, at work or simply
for our own enjoyment. But when it comes to offering
our gift for the Lord’s use, hesitation sets in. I recall an
instance where an elderly brother told me, “What can
an old man like me do? I don’t wish to be bothered. Just
let the young people work.” But what do the young say?
“I’m too busy” or “I don’t think I’m suitable. I’m sure
there are more talented and experienced people who can
do the job.”
事實上，無論我們是在學習，工作或者單純享樂，我們都有自己的恩賜或才能。
但若是要把恩賜獻給主用，就有人會開始猶豫了。
我記得一個例子，有位年長的弟兄對我說，"像我這樣的老人能作什麼呢？我不希望被人打擾。就讓年輕人們來作吧!"
但年輕人怎麼說呢？"我太忙"或"我不太合適。
我肯定有許多的充滿才華和經驗豐富的人更加適合這份聖工。
employ vt. 使用，利用
offer vt. 奉獻
hesitation n.猶豫
recall vt. 回想
bother vt. 打攪
But is it really true that only the young and strong, the
smart and skillful, or the experienced among us can serve
God?
是不是真的只有年輕力壯和聰明靈巧，或者有經驗的人才可以服事神？
In fact, serving God is fundamental to every Christian’s
life of faith. Just as food is essential to sustain our physical
life, serving God is an integral part of our spiritual life.
Hence, serving God is something that everyone can and
must do. Faith and service complement each other, for
in serving God, we experience Him and this, in turn,
strengthens our faith. When God created Adam, He had
a purpose for man: to tend the Garden of Eden. This
shows that we were created to work, not for ourselves,
but for God. Our purpose in life is to serve the Lord.
Even Jesus Christ came into this world in the form of
a bondservant, setting the most excellent example of
lifelong service. His ministry culminated in His sacrifice
on the cross for the sins of humanity. Through His death,
we have received the hope of eternal life. Shouldn’t we
repay such great love in return? But what can we do?
What can we offer?
事實上，對每一個基督徒的信仰生活而言，事奉神是至關重要的。
正如為了維持我們的肉體，食物是必不可少的，而服事神才能讓我們的靈命得以完全。
因此，每個人可以事奉神，也一定要這樣作。
信心與服事是相輔相成的，在服事中，我們有了體驗，也因此而加強了我們的信心。
當神造了亞當，祂給人使命來照顧伊甸園。
這表明了我們為了神的工而受造，不是為了我們自已。
我們的人生目的就是事奉神。
甚至耶穌基督以奴僕的形式來到這個世界，
留下了終身服事主最好的榜樣。
他最終極的事奉就是在十字架上為全人類的罪而犧牲。
因他的死，我們有了永生的盼望。因此，我譬難道不應該作些什麼來回報神的大愛嗎？
但是，我們能做什麼？我們能獻上什麼？
fundamental a. 基礎的；根本的
essential a. 必要的
sustain vt. 維持
integral a. 完整的，整體的
complement vt. 補充，補足
culminate vi. 達到最高點；達到高潮
“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)
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。
(羅馬書12：1)
beseech vt. 懇求；哀求
In fact, the best gift that we can offer to God is
ourselves—our time and our energy. We can devote these
to the work of God, be it serving within the church,
preaching the gospel to our friends and relatives, or
helping those in need. Our church attendance to worship
God, and our intercessory prayers for our brethren are
also forms of service. In short, there is work for every
child of God, for He wants us to share in His work and
ultimately, in His glory.
實際上，我們可以給神最好的禮物就是我們自己-我們的時間和我們的精力。
我們可以投入在聖工上，在教會中服事神，傳福音給我們的親朋好友，或是幫助貧困窮苦的人。
來參加聚會敬拜神以及為弟兄姐妹代禱也是事奉。
總之，神的兒女都有工作，祂要我們分享他的聖工，也一起同享最終的榮耀。
devote vt. 奉獻
intercessory prayer n. 代禱
Therefore, we must prepare ourselves to serve God by
removing our self-centered concerns. Be willing to heed
the Spirit’s voice and cultivate a godly disposition. Stay
in constant touch with God through His Spirit and His
word. Reflect upon what we can do for God—it does not
matter how small or insignificant the task, as long as we
sanctify ourselves and have the heart to serve Him, He
will accept our service.
所以，我們必須作好準備除去自我中心的心態來服事神。
願意聽從聖靈的聲音，培養靈性。
不斷透過聖靈和聖經的幫助來與神保持聯繫。
不管是多麼微小的工作，我們都要好好反省一下，到底我們能為神做什麼，
只要我們潔淨了自已，專一來服事神，祂就會悅納我們的事奉。
godly disposition n. 靈性
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Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)