Manna issue 71 - Editorial 編輯的話
by K.C. Tsai 蔡恆忠 執事
With what shall I come before God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, or with calves a year old? Will
He be pleased with thousands of rams, or ten thousand rivers of oil? O man, He has shown you what is good and
what He requires of you: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
- Micah
我應該帶什麼來到神面前？難道我應該帶著燔祭來到神面前？或是要帶著一歲的牛犢？
他會因為成千的公羊？或是上萬的四溢油脂的河流呢？人們啊，祂已經指示你什麼才是正確的事，
他到底需要你作什麼：行公義，好憐憫，並且謙卑與神同行。
- 彌迦先知
God’s abundant grace naturally motivates man to seek His pleasure and approval; with some form of offering or,
at least, with a reciprocal gesture of gratitude. However, our God is the Creator of the universe who does not need
anything. He gives to men life, breath, and all things. What can man ever present to Him?
With this understanding, the Israelites during Prophet Micah’s time questioned: what can we offer to please God
by whom all things are made? How about sacrificing thousands of rams or offering ten thousand rivers of oil? Their
questions seem to suggest that God is difficult to please and that He would not even be contented with such a plethora
of sacrifices—as if God would demand something beyond what they could afford. In response, God told them that
they had been shown what is good and what He required of them: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with Him.
神豐富的恩典自然而然會激起人們想要讓祂高興，得到祂的允許；
所以人們會用一些獻祭的形式，或者最少會用一種相對感謝的行為來表示。
然而，我們的神是宇宙的創造者，祂並沒有任何需要。
祂賜給人生命，氣息，以及所有一切的事物。
人們怎麼可能有什麼東西可現獻給祂呢？
有了這樣的認知之後，在彌迦先知時代的以色列人就產生一些疑問了：
到底有什麼東西我們可以獻給神，讓神喜悅呢？因為所有的東西都是他創造的啊？
是不是可以獻上成千的公羊，或是獻上上萬的油脂之河呢？
他們的問題好像就是在暗示，神是很難以取悅的，即使有這麼豐盛的祭品，祂也不會感到滿意 -
這聽起來就好像是，神會要求一些超過他們所能負擔的東西。
神這麼回答，告訴他們，他們已經被告知什麼才是對的事情，祂到底會要求他們什麼事情：
只要行公義，好憐憫，謙卑和主同行就好。
It is not about what we can contribute to God’s riches, since He lacks nothing. What He requires of us is simple—to
be a person after His heart. It is more about ourselves than what we can do for Him.
這並不是有關，要我們在神一切的豐富之上，再去貢獻什麼東給神，而且從古至今，祂從來不缺任何事物。
祂對於我們的要求其實是很簡單的 - 成為一個順從祂心意的人。
這是比單單有關我們自已，或是我們能為祂作什麼事情，更多其他的事情。
Today, we support the church’s work with monetary offerings and by serving with our talents. But does God delight
in our service? Are these offerings and services all that He requires of us? The Bible repeatedly reminds us that it is not
the scope of our service that pleases God, but the way we present ourselves to Him before rendering a service. God
has enough of burnt offerings of rams and oil. If we do not offer ourselves as a living sacrifice and walk humbly with
God, our service will be nothing more than the trampling of His courts, which is detestable to Him (Isa 1:11–15).
Through interactions with His people, God has shown us what is good in His eyes. Through His law and the
narratives of ancient saints, we are informed of what to do and what not to do. What He requires of us is to act
accordingly, making the right choices in life. And this is to live justly.
今日，我們用金錢上的奉獻，或是用我們的才能，來支持教會一切的工作。
但是神對於我們的服事，真的感到高興嗎？
這些全部的奉獻和服事工作，真的是祂要我們去作的嗎？
聖經重覆地的提醒我們，不是我們服事神的工作類型可以讓神高興，而是我們在祂面前，把自已在祂面前服事主的方式，才會讓祂喜悅。
神已經有非常充足的公羊祭品和油脂了。
若是我們不把自已當作活祭獻給神，並且謙卑的與神同行，
我們的服事工作就不值得一提，不過是在踐踏神公義的審判而已，對祂而言這是非常可憎的。(賽 1：11-15)
透過了與百姓的互動，神明白的告訴我們，什麼才是在祂眼中看為正的事。
透過祂的律法，以及古聖徒的描述，我們已經被告知了什麼事情可以作，什麼事情不能作。
祂對於我們的要求，就是可以依造這作指示而行，在生命之中作出正確的抉擇。
而且這就是堂堂正正的活著。
The Psalmist proclaims that “[r]ighteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne; [m]ercy and truth go
before His face” (Ps 89:14). Justice and mercy are two attributes of God, and He wants His servants to imitate Him.
This is easier said than done. To find favor in God’s eyes requires lifelong learning. The theme articles in this issue
discuss how we can learn to fear and love God and respond to His requirements. May the Holy Spirit enlighten and
guide us to walk humbly in His way to perfection.
詩篇的作者大聲宣佈，"14公義和公平是你寶座的根基；慈愛和誠實行在你前面。"(詩 89：14)
公義和憐憫是神的二種特質，並且祂要自已的僕人向祂來學習。
說起很容易，但作起來卻很困難。
要在神的眼中得到疼愛，需要用一生的努力來學習。
在本刊的許多主題文章裡，會討論我們如何學習敬畏及敬愛神，並且可以回應祂對我們的要求。
願聖靈開啟我們的內心，指引我們謙卑走在他的路上，直到一生完美。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
Manna 嗎哪 56 (1)