3. Manna issue 93 - Renewing Our Service to God 更新自已服事神
Timothy Yeung—Vancouver, Canada 加拿大溫哥華
INTRODUCTION 介紹
Though serving God is the duty of every born-again Christian,
we may sometimes find that our service lacks strength and direction.
Some brothers and sisters serve,
yet struggle with the fundamentals of their faith,
eventually leaving the church.
Others lack the strength to carry on in their service
because of personal issues and external factors.
How do we find inspiration and power from God to continue serving diligently?
The answer is to renew our attitude to service through spiritual cultivation.
How can cultivating our faith help us to renew our service to God?
雖然事奉神是每一個再生基督徒的責任，
我們有時會發現，自已的服事沒有力量和方向。
有的弟兄姊妹事奉，
他們卻掙扎於信仰的基本原則，
最終離開了教會。
其他人缺乏力量繼續服事下去，
由於個人問題和外部因素。
我們如何從神那裡，找到感動和力量來繼續勤奮服事下去呢？
正確答案是通過靈修，來更新自已服事的態度。
如何訓練信心，以幫助我們更新自已服事神呢？
SERVING GOD WITH A RENEWED MINDSET 以新的心志服事神
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.
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(Rom 12:1–2)
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。
2不要效法這個世界，
只要心意更新而變化，
叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。
(羅 12：1-2)
Paul tells us that when we serve God,
we must serve with a renewed mind.
This means removing our old mindset—the mindset of the world.
The world focuses on outcomes, achievements,
and other metrics to judge performance, rather than looking at core beliefs and values.
What God wants from us and how He judges our service is different
from how the world measures success.
So what should our mindset be?
保羅告訴我們，當我們事奉神的時候，
我們必須有更新的心志來服事。
這就代表了，去除自已的舊思維—世上的想法。
世上會關注的是結果，成就，
和其他的指標來判斷績效，而不是看核心思想和價值觀。
神要我們達成的，以及祂如何評判我們的服事，是不同於，
世界如何衡量成功的標準。
那麼我們應該要有怎樣的心態呢？
We must start by asking the question:
what is the work of God?
Does it refer to taking on duties in the church?
Charitable acts?
Or making a sacrifice?
When asked to define “God’s work,”
Jesus gave a straightforward answer:
我們必須開始問這個問題：
神的工作是什麼？
是不是代表著，在教會中盡本分呢？
還是施捨行善的行為？
還是做出犧牲？
當要給“聖工”下定義時，
耶穌給了一個直接了當的答案：
Then they said to Him, "What shall we do,
that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent."
(Jn 6:28–29)
28眾人問他說：我們當行甚麼，
才算做神的工呢？
29耶穌回答說：信神所差來的，
這就是做神的工。
（約 6：28-29）
Re-establishing Our Faith in Sound Doctrine 重建自已健全教義的信仰
As we serve God, let us not forget the fundamentals of our faith
—the truth that leads to salvation.
The basics of serving God lie not in carrying out church work but in believing in Him.
This means believing in God’s word and having deep conviction in sound doctrine:
當我們事奉神的時候，不要忘記信仰的基本原則，
—通往救恩的真理。
事奉神的基礎，不在於執行教會的工作，而在於相信祂。
這代表著，相信神的話語，並且深信純正的教義：
Hold fast 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 committed 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)
But you must continue in the things which you have learned
and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures,
which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(2 Tim 3:14–15)
14但你所學習的，所確信的，要存在心裡；
因為你知道是跟誰學的，
15並且知道你是從小明白聖經，
這聖經能使你因信基督耶穌，有得救的智慧。
(提後 1：13-14)
If we desire to serve God in a certain ministry or volunteer for church duties,
let us reflect on our attitude and relationship to God’s word:
do we wish to serve others or be in the spotlight,
but find no interest in studying basic doctrine,
believing this to be for truth-seekers or new believers?
Do we enjoy digging into the Bible in seemingly new and obscure ways
but lack the zeal to build a strong foundation on the basic beliefs?
On the contrary, we should have a humble attitude toward God’s word,
and unshakeable faith in the basic beliefs.
Only through humility can we have insight into God’s word and strengthen our foundation
so that we will not be influenced by worldly knowledge and reasoning,
or attempt to use logic to change the understanding of the basic beliefs.
That is why Paul encouraged Timothy not to deviate from the pattern of sound words.
This is the true, and most important, way of serving God.
如果我們想要在某個事工事奉神，或是加入教會職責的志工，
我們要反思自已對神話語的態度和關係：
我們是想要服事別人，還是想成為眾人關注的焦點，
但對於研究基本教義卻沒有興趣，
會認為這種事，只有慕道者或新信徒才需要嗎？
我們是否喜歡，以看似新奇但卻難解的方式，來深入研究聖經呢？
但卻缺乏熱心，建立基本信條的穩固基礎呢？
相反的，對於神的話語，我們應該要有謙卑的態度，
以及對基本信條不會動搖的信心。
只有謙卑，我們才能領悟神的話語，穩固自已的根基，
只有這樣，我們才不會受世俗的知識和因果推理所影響，
或想要用邏輯，來改變對基本信條的認知。
這就是為什麼，保羅鼓勵提摩太，不要偏離純正話語的規模。
這是真的，也是最重要，事奉神的方式。
Brethren, do we build ourselves up in the most holy faith
(Jude 20)?
Let us renew our service with a deeper understanding of
and conviction in the pattern of sound doctrine,
which makes us wise for salvation, given to the one true church.
弟兄們，我們是否在至聖的信仰中建立自己
（猶 20）？
讓我們以更深入的認知，以及確信純正教義的樣式，
來更新自已的事奉，
和對純正教義模式的信念，
這會使我們有得救的智慧，得到唯一真教會。
SERVING GOD WITH RENEWED STRENGTH 用新力量服事神
When we serve God in various church ministries,
be it through youth ministry, sermon speaking, interpreting, teaching religious education,
or participating in visitation groups,
we may find that after an initial period of excitement and learning,
we begin to feel fatigued.
We may lack the strength to continue.
當我們於各種教會事工事奉神的時候，
無論是青年的事工、講道、翻譯、教授宗教教育，
或參加訪問團，
我們可能會發現，一開毀有興奮感和學習之後，
我們開始會感到疲倦。
我們可能沒有繼續下去的力量。
When this happens, we can become unmotivated and easily dissatisfied.
We compare ourselves to other workers
and wonder why we are doing all the heavy lifting,
or why others are not participating.
We start to focus on the weaknesses of others and what they are not doing,
which discourages us even more.
This may even lead us to consider quitting
or scaling back our commitments to focus on our own lives.
How do we prevent ourselves from burning out?
What can be done to revive our zeal in the ministry?
發生這種情況的時候，我們會變得沒有動力，並且容易感到不高興。
我們會比較自已與其他的工人，
並且覺得很奇怪，為什麼我們要承擔所有繁重的工作，
或者為什麼別人不來參與。
我們開始注意別人的軟弱，和他們沒有做到的事情，
這會更讓我們灰心。
這甚至可能會導致我們想要辭去職務，
或者縮減我們投入的熱心，只注意自己的生活。
我們要如何防止自己心疲力盡呢？
我們可以做些什麼事，來恢復自已傳道的熱心呢？
Renewing Our Love to Jesus By Faith in His Salvation 信仰更新愛耶穌得著救贖
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, emphasis added)
12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 12:1，重點強調）
Paul was human and sometimes felt disheartened.
He faced persecution, hunger, imprisonment, danger, false brethren, loneliness,
and other challenges
(2 Cor 11:23–27).
But how did Paul maintain his zeal and persist in serving the Lord?
It all comes back to the foundation of his faith.
Through faith, Paul believed Jesus loved and died for him,
and these facts were all that mattered.
保羅也是人，有時會覺得灰心。
他面對逼迫、飢餓、監禁、危險、假弟兄、孤獨、
和其他的挑戰
（林後 11：23-27）。
但保羅是怎樣保持熱心呢，堅持事奉主的呢？
這一切都要回到他自已的信仰基礎。
通過信心，保羅相信耶穌疼愛他，並且為他而死，
這些事實才是最重要的。
Focusing on God’s mercy is the key to reviving our motivation to serve Him.
It is the only way to propel ourselves forward and get back on task
when we feel tired and discouraged.
專注於神的慈愛憐憫，才是重新得到事奉神動力的關鍵。
當我們感到疲倦和沮喪時,
這是唯一推動我們前進, 重新開始工作的方法。
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.
(1 Tim 1:15–16)
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。
(提前 1：15-16)
Paul took Jesus’ sacrifices and salvation very personally.
His strong faith in the personal nature of salvation
constantly reminded him of Jesus’ love,
inspiring him to live for Jesus every day of his life.
Even though Jesus came to save the whole world,
Paul knew he was the worst of all sinners and that Jesus died for him.
保羅個人非常重視耶穌的犧牲和救贖。
他對個人得救本質的堅強信心，
不斷提醒他耶穌的慈愛，
激勵他生命中的每一天，都為耶穌而活。
即使耶穌來拯救全世界，
保羅知道，他曾是所有罪人最壞的人，而耶穌卻為他而死。
When we focus on the cross,
all other things, including hardship, persecution, and the weaknesses of others,
fade into the background.
No wonder Paul writes:
當我們只專注於十字架的時候，
其他一切，包括艱辛、逼迫和別人的軟弱，
模糊淡出背景外。
難怪保羅寫道：
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
(Rom 8:35–37)
35誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？
難道是患難麼？是困苦麼？是逼迫麼？
是飢餓麼？是赤身露體麼？是危險麼？是刀劍麼？
36如經上所記：
我們為你的緣故終日被殺；
人看我們如將宰的羊。
37然而，靠著愛我們的主，在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。
(羅 8：35-37)
If we ever tire of serving God, we should examine our faith
(2 Cor 13:5).
Faith produces hope, and hope produces love,
and love in Jesus Christ can help us endure all difficulties in our life and service.
The love that compelled Paul to serve through hardship
will also help us serve Jesus to the end.
Therefore, we should pray and ask God to increase our faith.
如果我們曾經厭倦了事奉神，就應該檢視自已的信仰
（林後 13：5）。
信心產生盼望，盼望生出慈愛，
在耶穌基督的慈愛，可以幫助我們渡過生活和事奉中所有的困難。
那驅動保羅克服艱難服事的愛，
也會幫助我們事奉耶穌直到最後。
因此，我們應該禱告，求神加添我們的信心。
SERVING GOD WITH A RENEWED DIRECTION 新方向服事神
And do not be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
(Rom 12:2)
2不要效法這個世界，
只要心意更新而變化，
叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。
(羅 12：2)
Another reason for a weakened attitude to service may be that we lack direction.
Imagine sailing a ship without navigation or driving a car aimlessly,
wasting time and gas.
We would be frustrated, and every lost minute would feel like forever.
We need direction to be motivated.
At times, it is not that we lack focus
but that we are heading in the wrong direction.
Instead of being directed by God’s will,
we insist on our own,
and the resulting struggle between the two drains our time and energy.
Look at Peter’s service before he received the Holy Spirit:
服事態度減弱的另一個原因，可能是我們沒有方向。
想像一下沒有導航駕駛一艘船，或是漫無目的開著車，
只是浪費時間和汽油。
我們就會感到沮喪，逝去的每一分鐘都感覺像是永遠的長久。
我們需要有方向來得到激勵。
有時候，並不是我們不夠專心，
而是我們正朝著錯誤的方向前進。
沒有得到神旨意的引導，
我們堅持自己的想法，
且接下來的掙扎奮鬥，讓我們時間和精力兩者都消耗殆盡。
看看彼得得到聖靈之前的事奉：
From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples
that He must go to Jerusalem,
and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him,
saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"
But He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me,
for you are not mindful of the things of God,
but the things of men."
(Mt 16:21–23)
21從此，耶穌才指示門徒，
他必須上耶路撒冷去，
受長老、祭司長、文士許多的苦，
並且被殺，第三日復活。
22彼得就拉著他，勸他說：
主阿，萬不可如此！這事必不臨到你身上。
23耶穌轉過來，對彼得說：
撒但，退我後邊去罷！你是絆我腳的；
因為你不體貼神的意思，
只體貼人的
(太 16：21-23)
Peter believed in the correct thing,
that Jesus was the Son of God.
He forsook all to follow Jesus because he wanted to serve Him.
He, therefore, loved Jesus very much, to the point that he wished to save Jesus’ life.
Peter loved Jesus according to his logic.
However, Jesus sternly rebuked him and cast out Satan,
because, at that moment,
Peter had unwittingly worked for Satan to oppose Jesus’ salvation plan.
Peter’s direction was the opposite of Jesus’ direction,
which posed a problem for Peter and his ministry.
彼得相信正確的事情，
耶穌是神的兒子。
他撇下一切跟隨耶穌，因為他想事奉祂。
因此，他很愛耶穌，甚至到了想拯救耶穌性命的程度。
彼得按自已的想法愛耶穌。
然而，耶穌嚴厲地斥責他，並且驅趕撒但，
因為，就在那一刻，
彼得不知不覺中為撒但工作，去反對耶穌救贖的計劃。
彼得給的方向，與耶穌要走的方向正好相反，
這給彼得和他的事工引起問題。
This can happen to any one of us today.
We do what is right in our own eyes.
We think certain things are good for the church,
our family, and ourselves;
we impulsively argue or fight for what we believe is best.
However, true service is not about following our judgment;
it requires putting ourselves aside, humbling ourselves,
and seeking God’s will.
God’s will can be very different from our plans and preferences.
Sometimes His will goes against common logic
—His wisdom is hidden within His timing and arrangement.
Without humility, we will never really understand God’s will and timing.
That is why Paul says of Jesus’ salvation:
今天，這可能發生在我們任何人的身上。
我們進行自己認為正確的事情。
我們認為某些事情對教會，
我們的家人和我們自己有好處；
我們為自已認為最好的事情，衝動爭論或爭取。
然而，真正的服事不是照著我們的判斷，
需要把自己放在一邊，謙卑自己，
並尋求神的旨意。
神的旨意可能與我們的計劃和喜好大大的不同。
有時祂的意志會違背常理，
—祂的智慧隱藏在祂的時機和安排中。
若沒有謙卑，我們永遠不會明白神的旨意和時機。
這就是為什麼，保羅說到耶穌的救恩：
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
"For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?"
"Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?"
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things,
to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
(Rom 11:33–36)
33深哉，神豐富的智慧和知識！
他的判斷何其難測！他的蹤跡何其難尋！
34誰知道主的心？
誰作過他的謀士呢？
35誰是先給了他，
使他後來償還呢？
36因為萬有都是本於他，倚靠他，歸於他。
願榮耀歸給他，直到永遠。
阿們！
(羅 11：33-36)
It is important to surrender to God’s will when serving Him.
Sometimes we must learn that God’s time is not our time.
Or that God does things His way,
while training us to submit to Him.
When Jesus was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane,
His own will was struggling with the Father’s will,
which is why He was in so much agony:
服事神的時候，順從神的旨意，是很重要的。
有時我們必須要學會，神的時機並不等同是我們的時機。
或是，神會按照祂自已的方式進行，
就同時為了訓練我們來順服祂。
當耶穌在客西馬尼園禱告的時候，
祂自己的想法，就與天父的旨意衝突，
這就是為何祂如此痛苦的原因：
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,
and said to the disciples,
"Sit here while I go and pray over there."
And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.
Then He said to them,
"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.
Stay here and watch with Me.”
He went a little farther and fell on His face,
and prayed, saying,
"O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
(Mt 26:36–39)
36耶穌同門徒來到一個地方，名叫客西馬尼，
就對他們說：你們坐在這裡，等我到那邊去禱告。
37於是帶著彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子同去，
就憂愁起來，極其難過，
38便對他們說：我心裡甚是憂傷，幾乎要死；
你們在這裡等候，和我一同儆醒。
39他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，
禱告說：
我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我。
然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。
(太 26：36-39)
Jesus, who had a body like everyone else,
would have naturally feared the impending torture of crucifixion.
He did not wish to drink the bitter cup,
so He asked the heavenly Father to take it away.
However, there is a crucial lesson in this struggle:
when Jesus chose to accept the will of the heavenly Father,
He chose a new direction, and His strength was renewed.
He said:
耶穌也大家一樣，有人的身體，
自然會害怕即將來到釘十字架的酷刑。
祂不想要喝下這苦杯，
所以祂請祈求天父把它拿走。
然而，這場衝突之中，有一個很重要的教訓：
就是當耶穌選擇接受天父的旨意時，
耐選了一個新的方向，而祂的力量就此得到更新。
祂說：
“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."
Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.
And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly.
Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
(Lk 22:42–44)
42說：父阿！你若願意，就把這杯撤去；
然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就你的意思。
43有一位天使從天上顯現，加添他的力量。
44耶穌極其傷痛，禱告更加懇切，
汗珠如大血點滴在地上。
(路 22：42-44)
We rely not on our strength but on strength from God,
which comes from submitting to Him.
When we choose to lay down our life, we obtain life.
Our service will be strengthened
when we serve God with this new direction of complete submission.
我們不靠自己的力量，而是依靠神的力量，
而力量來自於我們順服神。
我們選擇捨棄自已的生命時，就會得著生命。
當我們完全順服的，以新的方向事奉神的時候，
我們的服事就會得到力量。
CONCLUSION 結論
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isa 40:29–31)
29疲乏的，他賜能力；
軟弱的，他加力量。
30就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；
強壯的也必全然跌倒。
31但那等候耶和華的
必從新得力。
他們必如鷹展翅上騰；
他們奔跑卻不困倦，
行走卻不疲乏。
(賽 40：29-31)
Faith, spiritual cultivation, and service are inseparable.
If our service to God is not built and based on belief in sound doctrine,
then our service will be worthless in God’s eyes.
Moreover, there is so much to cultivate while serving God.
The only way to be a pleasing, living sacrifice to Him
is to serve with a mindset renewed by belief in sound doctrine,
strength renewed by faith in His salvation,
and a direction renewed by submission to His will.
These are the areas God wants us to work on
so we are continually inspired and empowered to glorify His name.
信仰、靈修、服事神是密不可分的。
如果我們服務神，不是建立在純正教義的信心之上，
那麼在神的眼中，我們的服事將毫無價值。
而且，事奉神的時候，還有很多事情可以學習。
成為神喜悅活祭的唯一方式，
是以對純正教義信心再更新的心態來事奉，
相信神的救恩而重新得力，
順服祂的旨意而重新找到方向。
這些是神要我們努力進步的地方，
所以我們不斷受到感動和重新得力，來榮耀祂的聖名。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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