5. Manna issue 92 - Take Root And Grow 紮根生長
Fu Ming Tse—Taichung, Taiwan 台灣台中 車富銘
We have witnessed seismic shifts in society, changing lifestyles,
and the clash of ideologies in the last few decades.
These pressures have greatly challenged Christian values,
leading to problems within the community of faith,
such as the creeping in of deviant behavior and believers going astray.
We must thus be rooted in faith
and pursue spiritual growth to help us discern right from wrong,
navigate the trade-offs between sacrifice and gain,
know the truth of the Bible, and establish the correct life goals.
Positioning ourselves properly in these fast, ever-changing, and chaotic times
enables us to adapt and stand firm in the truth.
我們見證了社會的巨變，生活方式的改變，
以及過去幾個世紀意識形態的衝突。
這些壓力大大挑戰了基督教的價值觀，
導致信仰團體內產生問題，
例如，離經叛道的行為潛入，以及信徒誤入歧途。
因此，我們必須信仰紮根，
並追求靈命成長，以幫助我們辨別是非，
在犧牲與獲得之間，取得權衡，
認識聖經的真理，樹立正確的人生目標。
在這個快速、不斷變化和混亂的時代，正確定位自己，
使我們能夠適應，並堅定地持守真理。
HAVE A ROOTED FAITH 具備紮根的信仰
In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord Jesus told the parable of a sower.
Among the seeds sown:
在馬太福音中，主耶穌講了撒種的比喻。
在播下的各樣種子中：
“Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth;
and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth.
But when the sun was up, they were scorched,
and because they had no root, they withered away.”
(Mt 13:5–6)
5有落在土淺石頭地上的，土既不深，發苗最快，
6日頭出來一曬，因為沒有根，就枯乾了；
(太 13：5-6)
The Lord Jesus explained that these represent those
who hear the word and receive it with joy.
But without roots, they only endure for a short while.
They immediately stumble when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word
(Mt 13:20–21).
As the Lord’s disciples, we must be deeply rooted in the faith
before we can become sturdy, grow, and bear fruit.
主耶穌解釋說，這些代表那些人，
他們聽道，而且歡喜領受。
但沒有紮根，所以只能維持短暫的時間。
因為道理的原故，有患難或逼迫出現，他們就立刻跌倒
（太 13：20-21）。
作為主的門徒，
在我們變得堅韌、長大和結果之前，
必須深深紮根於信仰。
Receiving the word of God, understanding the mystery of the truth,
and experiencing God’s precious salvation will produce unwavering faith.
The outcome of this faith is the salvation of our souls
(1 Pet 1:9).
If the seedlings do not take root and,
thus, wither, the efforts invested in the sowing will be wasted.
God once warned that His
“people [were] destroyed for lack of knowledge”
(Hos 4:6).
We must have a rooted faith in our Christian lives and service to God;
we ought to set the following goals in our pursuit of a rooted faith:
領受神的道理，明白真理的奧秘，
經歷神寶貴的救恩，就會產生堅定不移的信心。
這種信仰的結果，就是我們靈魂的得救
（彼前 1：9）。
如果種子撒下沒有生根，
因此就會枯萎，而播種所投入的心力，都將付諸流水。
神曾經警告過，祂的
“6民因無知識而滅亡。”
（何 4：6）。
在我們的基督徒生活中，以及事奉神的時候，應該具備根深蒂固的信仰；
在追求紮根的信仰時，我們應該設定以下目標：
1. Be Rooted in Christ 根植於基督身上
In the history of the church, there was an apostle named Paul.
Initially, he did not know Jesus and persecuted those who believed in Him
(Acts 9:1–5).
Subsequently called to believe in the Lord,
Paul declared how excellent it is to know Christ
(Phil 3:8).
To him, neither tribulations nor distress, nor persecution,
nor famine, nor nakedness, nor peril, nor sword
could separate him from the love of Christ
(Rom 8:35–39).
在教會歷史中，有一位使徒，名叫保羅。
起初，他不認識耶穌，迫害信祂的人
（徒 9：1-5）。
接下來卻蒙召信主，
保羅宣稱，認識基督是多麼的美好
（腓 3：8）。
對他來說，不論患難、困苦、逼迫，
不論飢餓，赤身露體，危險，刀劍
都不能使他與基督的愛隔絕
（羅 8：35-39）。
Moreover, Paul did not consider his own life
when proclaiming God’s gospel of grace and fulfilling the mission entrusted by the Lord
(Acts 22:22–24).
He knew, believed, and loved Jesus deeply.
He rooted his entire life in Christ and was so firmly grounded
that he lived and died for the Lord
(Rom 14:7–8).
Paul writes,
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
(1 Cor 3:11).
此外，保羅在宣傳神恩典的福音，實行主託付的使命時，
並不愛惜自己的生命
（徒 22：22-24）。
他認識、相信、並深深地愛著耶穌。
他把自已整個生命，都根植於基督裡，並且非常堅定地紮根，
以致於他會為主而活，為主而死
（羅 14：7-8）。
保羅寫道，
“11因為那已經立好的根基就是耶穌基督，此外沒有人能立別的根基。”
（林前 3：11）。
The Lord Jesus performed many miracles on earth,
including feeding five thousand with just a few loaves of bread.
However, when He started to talk about the bread of life,
many people stopped following Him.
At that moment, the Lord Jesus asked His disciples,
“Do you also want to go away?”
Peter answered Him,
“Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life”
(Jn 6:66–69).
主耶穌在地上行了許多神蹟，
其中用幾塊餅餵飽了五千人。
然而，當祂開始談到生命的餅時，
許多人就不再追隨祂了。
就在那時，主耶穌問門徒說：
“你們也要去麼？”
彼得回答祂說，
“主阿，你有永生之道，我們還歸從誰呢？
你有永生的話”
（約 6：66-69）。
These two examples remind us
that faith should not be rooted in material things, interpersonal relationships, or physical healing
(Lk 17:11–19).
Instead, it must be rooted in Christ.
這兩個例子提醒我們
信仰不應根植於物質的事物、人際關係或身體健康
（路 17：11-19）。
相反的，它必須根植於基督。
2. Be Rooted in the Church 根植於教會
The church is the body of Christ
(Eph 1:22–23).
Redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus
(Acts 20:28),
the church is where God manifests His manifold wisdom and executes His saving grace
(Eph 3:10).
He established the end-time true church
through the promised Holy Spirit, revealed the truth of salvation,
and gathered His people from all nations, all tribes, all places, and all peoples;
they shall flow to this spiritual Mount Zion
(Acts 2; Isa 2:2–4).
教會是基督的身體
（弗 1：22-23）。
被主耶穌的寶血重價贖回
（徒 20：28）
教會是神彰顯祂百般智慧，並實行祂救贖恩典的地方
（弗 3：10）。
他建立了末世的真教會
藉著所應許的聖靈，並啟示救恩的真理，
從各國、各族、各方、各民聚集了祂的子民；
他們將流歸這座屬靈的錫安山
（徒 2；賽 2：2-4）。
The True Jesus Church is the true vine that the Lord Jesus spoke of
(Jn 15:1–8).
The Lord Jesus said:
真耶穌教會，就是主耶穌所說的真葡萄樹
（約 15：1-8）。
主耶穌說：
“I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you can do nothing.
If anyone does not abide in Me,
he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
(Jn 15:5–6)
5我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。
6人若不常在我裡面，就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，人拾起來，扔在火裡燒了。
(約 15：5-6)
The Lord Jesus specifically emphasized the importance of being united in Him.
If we abide in Him always, He will abide in us,
enabling us to be fruitful and enjoy an abundant spiritual life.
Rooted in the Vine, we have a robust stem,
ensuring that we remain strong and sturdy.
The church is the house of God and the gate of heaven
(Gen 28:17).
She has the abidance of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
We ought to preserve ourselves in the love of God and be rooted in the church, the house of God.
主耶穌特別強調，與祂聯合的重要性。
如果我們常住在祂裡面，祂就會住在我們裡面，
使我們能夠結實纍纍，享受豐盛的屬靈生命。
植根於葡萄樹，我們有一個健壯的樹幹，
確保我們能保持強壯堅韌。
教會是神的家，是天國的門
（創 28：17）。
教會有神的同在，也有聖靈的內住。
我們應該保守自己在神的愛中，並且紮根教會，紮根神的家中。
3. Be Rooted in the Truth 根植於真理
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth
(1 Tim 3:15);
the truth is the foundation of our faith.
Paul urges us to be steadfast in this faith,
not moving away from the gospel preached to every creature under heaven
(Col 1:23).
教會是真理的柱石和根基
（提前 3：15）；
真理是我們信仰的基礎。
保羅敦促我們要堅守這個信仰，
不偏離福音，去傳道給普天下的萬人聽
（西 1：23）。
Hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me,
in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was commited to you,
keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
(2 Tim 1:13–14)
13你從我聽的那純正話語的規模，
要用在基督耶穌裡的信心和愛心，常常守著。
14從前所交託你的善道，
你要靠著那住在我們裡面的聖靈牢牢的守著。
（提後 1：13-14）
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord,
so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith,
as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
(Col 2:6–7)
6你們既然接受了主基督耶穌，就當遵他而行，
7在他裡面生根建造，信心堅固，
正如你們所領的教訓，感謝的心也更增長了。
（西 2：6-7）
Paul reminds us that the Spirit expressly says
that some will depart from the faith in latter times,
giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons
(1 Tim 4:1).
The day of the Lord’s coming will not arrive unless the falling away comes first
—when the son of perdition is revealed.
Therefore, our minds should not be shaken or troubled
(2 Thess 2:1–12).
We should earnestly heed the gospel we have received,
lest we drift away, corrupted by strange doctrines.
Let our hearts be strengthened by grace,
so that we can watch and stand fast in the faith
(Heb 2:1, 13:9; 1 Cor 16:13).
保羅提醒我們，聖靈明確說明，
後期時，有些人會離開信仰，
要留意那引誘人的邪靈和鬼魔的道理
（提前 4：1）。
除非大罪人先出現，否則主來的日子不會臨到，
—當沉淪之子顯露出來。
因此，我們的心不應動搖或煩惱
（帖後 2：1-12）。
我們應該認真留意自已所領受的福音，
免得自已隨波逐流，被奇怪的道理所污染。
讓我們的內心因著恩典而加添力量，
使我們能在信仰警醒，並堅定不移
(來 2：1，13：9；林前 16：13)。
GROW SPIRITUALLY 靈性增長
The Bible describes the man who trusts in the Lord as a tree planted by the waters,
spreading its roots by the river.
It will fear neither heat nor drought;
it will continue to thrive and bear fruit
(Jer 17:8).
Psalm 1 echoes this sentiment,
adding that the one who meditates day and night on the law of the Lord shall be like such a verdant tree,
whose leaves shall not wither.
If we are to grow and be rooted in faith, we must rely on God and His word.
聖經描述，信靠主的人就好像栽在水邊的樹，
在河邊盤根錯節。
它將不怕炎熱，也不怕干旱；
它會繼續茁壯成長，並結出果實
（耶 17：8）。
詩篇第一篇，呼應了這種情緒，
補充說，日夜思想耶和華律法的人，必像一棵青翠的樹，
他的葉子不會枯萎。
如果我們要在信仰中成長並紮根，就必須依靠神和祂的話語。
1. Have the Right Heart 具備正確的心態
In the parable of the sower, the Lord Jesus spoke about four types of heart
(Mt 13:3–23).
First, some seeds fell by the wayside,
and the birds came and devoured them.
This refers to the word in people’s hearts being taken away by the evil one because they do not understand.
Some seeds also fell on stony places where the earth was shallow, springing up quickly,
but withering in the sun.
This is when the word fails to take root in people’s hearts
—such faith is like a house built on sandy ground,
which is then washed away when the winds and rains come.
Some seeds fell among thorns;
these are the ones whose hearts have been deceived by the cares and the riches of this world.
Impeded by such cares, their spiritual lives do not grow.
The final category of seeds fell on good soil
and bear fruit to a hundred-fold, sixty-fold, and thirty-fold.
These are those who hear the word with a noble and good heart, keep it, and bear fruit with patience
(Lk 8:15).
As Paul says,
“I know whom I have believed
(2 Tim 1:12).
Those who “mix the word with faith” (Heb 4:2) will hear the word and understand it.
在撒種的比喻中，主耶穌講了四種心態
（太 13：3-23）。
首先，有一些種子掉在路邊，
飛鳥來吃掉他們。
這是指，人心中的道理，因為不明白，被惡者奪走了。
另一些種子也落在石子地，土壤潛薄，很迅速發芽了，
但卻在陽光下枯萎。
這就是，道理不能在人們的心中生根的情況，
—這樣的信心，就像建在沙地上的房子，
當風雨來時，它就會被沖走。
有些種子落在荊棘裡；
這些人的內心，就是被這個世界的憂慮財富所愚弄。
受到這些憂慮的阻礙，他們的屬靈生命就不會增長。
最後一類的種子落在了好土裡，
結出果實，一百倍、六十倍、三十倍。
這些人就是，以高尚善良的心聽道，遵守道理，並耐心地結出果實，
（路 8：15）。
正如保羅所說：
“我知道我所信的是誰
（提後 1：12）。
那些“將道理與信心融和”的人（來 4：2），一聽到道理，就能明白它。
2. From Milk to Solid Food 吃奶到乾糧
The Bible says: 聖經說到：
For though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God;
and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
But solid food belongs to those who are of full age,
that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(Heb 5:12–14)
12看你們學習的工夫，本該作師傅，
誰知還得有人將神聖言小學的開端另教導你們，
並且成了那必須吃奶，不能吃乾糧的人。
13凡只能吃奶的都不熟練仁義的道理，因為他是嬰孩；
14惟獨長大成人的才能吃乾糧；
他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。
（來 5:12-14）
Paul regarded the church in Corinth as babes in Christ who could only take milk and not solid food.
They behaved as carnal men, affected by envy, strife, and divisions
(1 Cor 3:1–3).
保羅認為，哥林多教會就像基督裡的嬰孩，只能吃奶不能吃乾糧。
他們表現得像世俗之人，受到嫉妒、紛爭和分爭結黨的影響。
(林前 3：1-3)
Today, the combination of technology and the havoc wrought by the rampant pandemic
has created a volatile situation.
With the plethora of information disseminated through the internet and a range of media,
we should be even more cautious and discerning to guard ourselves.
If we are not watchful, the media we consume could become a snare,
letting bitterness takes root and confusing us in our faith.
Ultimately, we may be deceived.
今日，技術與到處犯濫流行病造成的破壞，相互結合
造成了動蕩的局面。
隨著大量信息通過網路和一大群媒體的傳播，
我們應該更加謹慎，辨別是非保護自己。
如果我們不注意，我們打發時間的媒體，可能會變成一個陷井，
會讓苦毒生根發芽，使我們的信仰混亂。
最終，我們可能受欺騙。
3. Maturing to Adulthood 成人老練
Maturing into adulthood is the natural manifestation of growth.
This growth process requires care and cultivation
to facilitate psychological maturity and spiritual progress.
Paul describes this as the time when:
成熟長大到成年，是成長的自然表現。
這個成長過程，需要照護和培養，
方可促進心理成熟和靈命進步。
保羅將其描述為：
[W]e all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
that we should no longer be children,
tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
(Eph 4:13–14)
13直等到我們眾人在真道上同歸於一，認識神的兒子，
得以長大成人，滿有基督長成的身量，
14使我們不再作小孩子，
中了人的詭計和欺騙的法術，被一切異教之風搖動，
飄來飄去，就隨從各樣的異端；
(弗 4：13-14)
With full maturity, we will be able to discern truth from deception.
In Paul’s time, some believers were turning away from Christ to a different gospel
(Gal 1:6–7).
He warned them not to let their minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ,
for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light to deceive people
(2 Cor 11:3–4, 14).
Therefore, beware of those preaching another Jesus, a different spirit, or a different gospel,
no matter how pleasing it may sound.
完全成熟之後，我們就能夠辨別真偽。
在保羅的時代，有一些信徒正在轉離基督，而轉向不同的福音
（加 1：6-7）。
他警告他們，不要讓他們的思想敗壞，而遠離基督裡單純，
因為連撒旦都偽裝成光明天使，來欺騙人
(林後 11：3-4，14)。
因此，要提防那些傳講另一個耶穌的人、他們有不同的靈，或傳不同的福音，
不論這些話語，聽起來有多麼討人喜歡。
Moses is a good example of spiritual maturity:
摩西是靈性成熟的好典範：
By faith, when he came of age,
Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,
than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the reward.
By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king;
for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
(Heb 11:24–27)
24摩西因著信，長大了
就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。
25他寧可和神的百姓同受苦害，
也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。
26他看為基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜。
27他因著信，就離開埃及，不怕王怒；
因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不能看見的主。
(來 11：24-27)
He could hold onto his values in the face of such great temptations only by attaining spiritual maturity,
looking past the temptations of Egpyt and his own suffering to focus on the invisible God and His rewards.
面對如此巨大的誘惑，只有在靈性達到成熟，他才能堅持自己的價值觀，
回首過去埃及的誘惑，以及他自己的痛苦，他才能專注於看不見的神，和神的獎賞。
Today, living in a rapidly changing society,
we are inevitably impacted by its pluralistic ideals and multiculturalism.
Although we have little control over our environment,
we can still preserve ourselves from getting lost in this great spinning wheel of our times.
This is because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
(Heb 13:8).
For our faith is the victory that has overcome the world
(1 Jn 5:4),
and we will become partakers of Christ
if we hold steadfastly to the beginning of our confidence to the end
(Heb 3:14).
今日，生活在一個瞬息萬變的社會，
我們不可避免地受到其眾多理念和多元文化主義的影響。
雖然我們幾乎無法控制自已的環境，
我們仍可以保守自已，避免迷失在我們時代的巨大轉輪中。
這是因為，耶穌基督昨日、今日、直到永遠是一樣的，
（來 13：8）。
因為我們的信仰，已經戰勝了世界
（約壹 5：4），
如果我們堅定不移地，保守自已的信心從開始到結束，
將來就與基督有份
（來 3：14）。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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