1. Manna issue 95 - Life’s Triumphant Song 生命得勝之歌
KC Tsai—Toronto, Canada 加拿大多倫多
[W]hereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.
For what is your life?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
Instead you ought to say,
“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
(Jas 4:14–15)
14其實明天如何，你們還不知道。
你們的生命是甚麼呢？
你們原來是一片雲霧，出現少時就不見了。
15你們只當說：
「主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以做這事，或做那事。」」
（雅 4：14-15）
These verses describe the brevity of life
—it is like a vapor that exists for an instant and quickly dissipates.
In the context of eternity,
man only has a brief moment to grasp the opportunity
to know God and have fellowship with Him.
We have this limited time
to understand His will for our lives and do our best to obey and walk in His will.
Only then can we live a life glorifying to God and,
ultimately, return to Him.
這些經節描述了生命的短暫，
—就像雲霧一樣，存在一瞬間，又很快消散。
在永恆的背景下，
人只有短暫的時刻去把握機會，
去認識神，並與祂團契。
我們的時間有限，
了解祂對我們生命的旨意，並盡力服從並遵行祂的旨意。
只有這樣我們才能過著榮耀神的生活，
最終，回到祂身邊。
Elder James adds,
“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”
In all the plans a man makes,
there is a fundamental presupposition:
he must first be alive!
And we can only live for as long as our Lord gives us life.
雅各長老補充說，
「主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以做這事，或做那事。」
一個人所制定的所有計劃中，
有一個基本前提：
他必須先活著！
只要我們主賜給我們生命，我們就能活下去。
GOD’S ROLE IN OUR PLANS 神於我們計劃的角色
We often plan out our day down to the hour.
There is nothing wrong with this.
If we fail to plan, we are planning to fail.
Indeed, we will likely waste a lot of time
and be forced to rush at the last minute,
perhaps leaving some tasks untouched or unfinished.
If we have the foresight to make detailed plans,
we can be prepared for every eventuality
and use our time efficiently to complete our tasks.
For instance, before the end of the year,
the church should prepare an annual work plan for the coming year,
detailing the dates of training sessions
for various church workers, evangelistic events,
and the pastoral workers’ schedules between the different churches.
我們常常計畫自已的一天精確到小時。
這並沒有什麼問題。
如果我們沒有計劃，我們就是正計劃失敗。
確實，我們很有可能會浪費很多時間，
並且被迫在最後一刻衝刺，
也許留下一些任務沒有觸碰或未完成。
如果我們有遠見，會制定詳細的計劃，
我們可以為每一種可能發生的情況做好準備，
並有效率的利用自已的時間來完成我們的任務。
例如，年底前，
教會應制定來年的年度工作計劃，
詳細說明訓練課程的日期，
給各種教會工人，福音活動，
以及不同教會之間牧養工作的日程表。
While planning is undoubtedly important,
of greater importance is God’s will and whether our plans are in line with it.
雖然計劃無疑是很重要的，
更重要的是神的旨意，以及我們的計劃是否相契合。
There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel
—that will stand.
(Prov 19:21)
21人心多有計謀；
惟有耶和華的籌算，
—才能立定。
（箴 19：21）
At the same time, circumstances may change,
and our lives may pan out in such a way
that we cannot execute our plans.
同時，情況可能會發生變化，
而我們的生活可能會這樣成功
但我們無法執行自已的計劃。
Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
(Prov 27:1)
1不要為明日自誇，
因為一日要生何事，你尚且不能知道。
（箴 27:1）
Therefore, in our service to God,
we need to pray for Him to preserve our lives.
因此，在我們事奉神的時候，
我們需要祈求祂保全我們的生命。
SEEK GOD WHILE WE HAVE TIME 趁我們還有時間要尋求神
When Paul was at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece,
he spoke a moving sermon regarding God’s almightiness
and the purpose and meaning of our human lives.
He said:
當保羅在希臘雅典亞略巴古時，
他演說一篇關於神全能令人感動的佈道，
以及我們人類生活的目的和意義。
祂說：
“And He has made from one blood every nation of men
to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
so that they should seek the Lord,
in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us;
for in Him we live and move and have our being,
as also some of your own poets have said,
‘For we are also His offspring.’ ”
(Acts 17:26–28)
“26他從一本（有古卷作血脈）造出萬族的人，
住在全地上，
並且預先定準他們的年限和所住的疆界，
27要叫他們尋求神，
或者可以揣摩而得，
其實他離我們各人不遠；
28我們生活、動作、存留，都在乎他。
就如你們作詩的，有人說：
我們也是他所生的。
‘我們也是他所生的。’”
（徒 17：26-28）
Everyone in this world has a preappointed time
—an allotted period
—in which to seek the Lord and find the path that leads to Him.
We find meaning in life
when we use our time on earth to know and serve God.
This period of time is limited,
yet many spend it in vain on secular pursuits
with little or no spiritual significance.
每個在這個世界的人都有一個預定的時間，
—一段設定的時期，
—在那時去尋求主，並且找到通往祂的道路。
我們找到生命的意義，
當我們利用在世上的時間來認識和事奉神。
這段時間是有限的，
然而許多人卻白白浪費在世俗的追求上，
只有很少屬靈的意義，或就是沒有。
In reality, all that we do in our lives
can be divided into three categories:
事實上，我們一生中所做的一切
可分為三類：
Essential matters: Things we must put effort into, for example,
our studies, our career, raising children in the Lord,
daily spiritual cultivation, and so on.
These are our duty as men, which we must diligently pursue.
重要的事：例如，我們必須付出努力的事情，
自已的學習，事業，在主裡養育子女，
日常的靈修等等。
這是我們身為人的責任，我們必須努力追求。
Beneficial or bonus matters:
Things worth spending time on, for example,
spending quality time with our family,
exercising to maintain our health,
socializing with colleagues and friends with similar values, and so on.
利益或獎金的事情：
那些值得花時間做的事情，例如
與家人共度美好時光，
鍛鍊維持自已的健康，
與相似價值觀的同事和朋友交往，等等。
Trivial matters:
Things that we should spend less time on,
for example, mindlessly scrolling on our phones,
playing video games, bingeing films and television shows, and so on.
We ought to examine our relationship with such activities.
瑣碎的事情：
我們應該少花時間的事情，
例如，無意識的滑著手機，
打電玩、沉迷看電影和電視節目，等等。
我們應該檢視自已與這些活動的關係。
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE 在眨眼之間
WHEN WE ARE YOUNG, THE DAYS SEEM LONG,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE.
WHEN I CAME TO CANADA AT THE AGE OF FORTY,
MY MAIN CONCERNS WERE ABOUT
ESTABLISHING A HOME IN THIS NEW ENVIRONMENT,
BUILDING UP THE FAITH OF MY FAMILY,
AND STARTING A BUSINESS
—AS A NOVICE BUSINESSMAN
—THAT WAS SUSTAINABLE AND WOULD SUPPORT US
WHILE NOT IMPACTING OUR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD.
I CONSIDERED HOW I COULD EMBRACE THE CHURCH MINISTRY IN AN UNFAMILIAR LANDSCAPE,
NOT PUTTING MYSELF FORWARD FOR ANY PARTICULAR WORK,
BUT WILLINGLY ACCEPTING ANY HOLY WORK THE LORD SENT ME TO DO.
AT THE TIME, THIRTY YEARS SEEMED EXTRAORDINARILY LONG.
BUT I SLOWLY GREW OLDER, AND TODAY, LOOKING BACK,
THOSE THIRTY YEARS HAVE FLOWN BY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE.
AND GAZING FORWARD, IN ANOTHER THIRTY YEARS,
I MAY ALREADY BE WITH THE LORD.
當我們年輕的時候，日子感覺很漫長，
而我們會展望未來。
當我四十歲來到加拿大的時候，
我主要擔心的是，
在這新環境中建立一個家，
培養我家人的信心，
和創業
—作為一個新手商人，
—這是可持續的，並且會支持我們，
同時不會影響我們對神的忠誠。
我考慮如何在陌生環境中擁抱教會的事工，
自己不投入任何特定的工作中，
而願意接受聖靈差派我去做的任何聖工。
在那時，三十年似乎很漫長。
但我慢慢長大了，今日回顧以前，
這三十年來一眨眼就飛逝而去。
展望未來，若再過三十年，
我可能已經歸主了。
THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH 美好的信仰之戰
The apostle Paul wrote his final letter, 2 Timothy,
not long before he was martyred.
He was calm and without fear in the face of death,
describing his life being poured out as a drink offering on the altar,
offered up amongst the other sacrifices on the burning coals
(2 Tim 4:6).
He goes on to write:
使徒保羅寫了他最後的書信，提摩太後書，
不久他就殉道了。
面對死亡時，他坦然無懼，
描述他的生命倒在祭壇上作為奠祭，
與其他祭品一起獻上，倒在燃燒的炭火上
（提後 4：6）。
他繼續寫道：
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day,
and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
(2 Tim 4:7–8)
7那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了，
所信的道我已經守住了。
8從此以後，有公義的冠冕為我存留，
就是按著公義審判的主到了那日要賜給我的；
不但賜給我，也賜給凡愛慕他顯現的人。
（提後 4：7-8）
This, indeed, is a beautiful song of triumph for one’s life!
確實，這真是一首優美的人生凱歌！
Like an athlete reaching the finish line,
Paul seemingly breathed a sigh of relief,
knowing he had given it his all.
He had a clear conscience towards the visions and revelations
entrusted to him by the Lord.
He had done his best to finish the journey of faith
the Lord had prepared for him.
Though the gospel work was not going well,
he knew he had played his part to his utmost ability.
就像運動員到達終點一樣，
保羅似乎鬆了一口氣，
知道他自已已經盡力了。
他對主託付給他傳達的異象和啟示，問心無愧。
他已經盡全力走完了信仰之路
主已經為他預備好了。
雖然福音的工作進展不順利，
他知道自已已經盡好本份，發揮了最大的能力。
We yearn to one day echo Paul and heroically say,
“I have fought,” “I have finished,” and “I have kept,”
while envying his certainty of having a crown laid up for him.
Yet we cannot help but hesitate when we think about the path he walked.
How many of us would dare to traverse the same path?
After all, that journey is not one
that any ordinary person is ready to embark on.
我們渴望有一天能回應保羅，並勇敢說：
“那仗我已經打過”，“我已經跑完”，“我已經守住”
同時羨慕他很肯定自己有一頂冠冕存留。
然而當我們想到他所走過的路時，不禁會猶豫。
我們有多少人敢走同樣的路呢？
畢竟，那段旅程不是一次，
任何普通人都準備好開始的路程。
For the sake of preaching the gospel,
Paul met with difficulties and persecution.
He was struck and slandered.
In the eyes of the world, if the Lord Jesus truly is almighty,
then one who bears witness for Him should receive grace and blessings,
not tribulation.
He should receive respect rather than imprisonment.
While others may have been ashamed,
Paul found strength in his suffering
through the power of the Holy Spirit
and his deep understanding of the Lord.
He knew clearly that his persecution and incarceration
did not indicate his defeat or the gospel’s failure.
Instead, he knew that God watches closely to see
whether those who seek Him have a pure faith and a resolved heart,
and whether they let the peace of Christ rule in their hearts
(Col 3:15).
Through trials, God allows us to learn the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus,
and thereby count everything else as rubbish
(Phil 3:8).
為了傳揚福音，
保羅遇到了困難和迫害。
他受到了打擊和誹謗。
在世人看來，若主耶穌真的全能，
那麼為祂作見證的人就應該會得著恩典和祝福，
而不是受到苦難。
他應該受到尊重，而不是監禁。
雖然其他人可能會感到羞恥，
保羅在苦難中找到力量，
藉著聖靈的力量，
而且他深深了解主。
他很清楚知道，自已遭受的迫害和監禁
並不是表示他的失敗或福音的失敗。
相反的，他知道神很密切的關注，
那些尋求祂的人有沒有純潔的信心和決心，
以及他們有沒有叫基督的平安在心裡作主
（西 3：15）。
透過試驗，神讓我們學習認識基督耶穌為至寶，
從而將其他一切視為糞土
（腓 3：8）。
Paul could say that he had fought the good fight
because he had done his utmost in contending for the true faith.
Despite formidable difficulties and dangers,
Paul relied on God to walk through them all.
He had finished his race with joy,
fulfilling the ministry he received from the Lord Jesus,
that is, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
保羅可說，他已經打了美好的仗，
因為他為了真正的信仰而竭盡全力。
儘管有巨大的困難和危險，
保羅依靠神來走過這一切。
他只要喜樂行完自已的路程，
成就他從主耶穌所領受的職事，
也就是說，可以證明神恩惠的福音。。
“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that will happen to me there,
except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city,
saying that chains and tribulations await me.
But none of these things move me;
nor do I count my life dear to myself,
so that I may finish my race with joy,
and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,
to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
(Acts 20:22–24)
“22現在我往耶路撒冷去，心甚迫切（原文是心被捆綁），
不知道在那裡要遇見甚麼事；
23但知道聖靈在各城裡向我指證，
說有捆鎖與患難等待我。
24我卻不以性命為念，
也不看為寶貴，
只要行完我的路程，
成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，
證明神恩惠的福音。”
（徒 20：22-24）
Paul spoke these words to the Ephesian elders
when he returned to Miletus at the end of his third missionary journey.
At every city on his journey back to Jerusalem,
the Holy Spirit testified to him
that chains and tribulations awaited him.
Yet, Paul still pressed on, despite dissuasion from all his coworkers.
Paul may not have fully understood the severity of the suffering he would face.
But he overcame his fleshly weaknesses and fear.
He could clearly discern what the Holy Spirit was telling him.
He knew that when the Holy Spirit revealed the upcoming tribulations,
it was not to stop him from going ahead.
He also believed these chains and tribulations
would bring unforeseen opportunities beyond his great suffering.
保羅對以弗所的長老這樣說，
當他第三次宣教之旅結束時返回米利都。
在他返回耶路撒冷旅途的每一個城市，
聖靈向他作見證，
有鎖鍊和苦難在等著他。
然而，儘管所有他的同事都加以勸阻，保羅仍然續續前進。
保羅可能沒有完全了解，他所將要面對苦難的嚴重性。
但他克服了肉體的軟弱和恐懼。
他可以清楚的分辨聖靈要告訴他什麼事。
他知道，當聖靈啟示即將到來的苦難時，
這並不是為了阻止他繼續前進。
他也相信，這些鎖鍊和苦難
除了他承受的巨大痛苦之外，還會帶來意想不到的機會。
DISCERNING THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
BEFORE WE CAN DISCERN THE WORKING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
WE MUST FIRST EXAMINE OUR VALUES AND CONCERNS.
ARE WE MINDFUL OF THE THINGS OF GOD OR THE THINGS OF MEN?
PETER PREVIOUSLY COULD NOT BEAR TO LET JESUS PROCEED TO JERUSALEM,
WHERE HE WOULD SUFFER MANY THINGS, BE KILLED, AND RISE ON THE THIRD DAY.
SO PETER TOOK JESUS ASIDE AND REBUKED HIM.
JESUS THEN 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).
分辨聖靈的工作，
在我們能夠分辨聖靈的作工之前，
我們必須先審視自已的價值觀和關心的事。
我們會關心神的事，還是人的事？
彼得以前不忍心讓耶穌前往耶路撒冷，
他會在那裡遭受許多苦難，受殺害，並且第三天復活。
於是彼得拉耶穌拉到一旁責備他。
耶穌卻轉身對彼得說：
“23撒但，退我後邊去罷！你是絆我腳的；
因為你不體貼神的意思，
只體貼人的意思。”
（太 16：21-23）。
When Paul reached Jerusalem,
the Jews from Asia saw him in the temple and stirred up the crowd,
causing an uproar in the whole city.
They dragged Paul out of the temple
and immediately shut the doors.
They sought to kill him.
But he was saved by the commander of the garrison,
who wanted to prevent a riot.
當保羅到了耶路撒冷時，
亞洲來的猶太人看見他在聖殿裡，就煽動群眾，
引起了全城的騷動。
他們把保羅拖出了聖殿，
並且立即關上門。
他們想要殺死他。
但他被軍營的千夫長救了，
千夫長想阻止動亂。
From then on, Paul remained in chains for a long time
until he was imprisoned in Rome.
On this journey,
he stood before the two Roman governors and Herod Agrippa
to proclaim the name of the Lord, as foretold by the Lord
(Acts 9:15–16).
Whenever he had the opportunity,
he bore witness to the Lord.
After reaching Rome,
he wrote letters expounding on the truth while in prison.
Indeed, Paul truly testified to the gospel of the grace of God!
從此以後，保羅受捆綁了很長一段時間。
直到他被囚禁在羅馬。
在此旅程中，
他站在兩位羅馬總督和希律·亞基帕面前
來宣揚主的名，正如主所說的預言
（徒 9：15-16）。
每當他有機會的時候，
他為主作見證。
到達羅馬之後，
在獄中他寫信來闡述真理。
確實，保羅真的闡明了神恩典的福音！
Hence, in his final letter, Paul could sincerely write:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.”
因此，在最後的書信中，保羅可以很真誠的寫道：
“那美好的仗我已經打過了，當跑的路我已經跑盡了。”
This was a good fight because it was for the true faith,
and he never gave up contending.
Although he endured attacks from false apostles and false brethren,
Paul did his best to expound the gospel of salvation amid adversity.
He gave his all to preach the gospel within the sphere God had appointed for him
(2 Cor 10:13–18).
這是一場美好的戰鬥，因為是為了真正的信仰，
而他也從來沒有放棄抗爭。
雖然他忍受了假使徒和假弟兄的攻擊，
在逆境中，保羅盡力闡述救恩的福音。
在神為祂指定的範圍，他竭盡全力傳福音
（林後 10：13-18）。
Having done all this, Paul could finally proclaim,
“I have kept the faith.”
This is the triumphant song of his life.
It is the lifelong goal for one who seeks to receive favor
—to be able to say with courage and confidence at the end,
“I have kept the faith;
I can meet my Lord with a clear conscience.”
完成這一切之後，保羅終於可以宣告：
“所信的道我已經守住了。”
這是他一生的凱歌。
這是尋求蒙恩之人一生的目標
—最後能夠勇敢而自信地說，
“所信的道我已經守住了；
自已可以問心無愧的會見我的主。”
Each of us has an individual triumphant song for our lives,
which we ought to sing.
In this world, we often face hardships and difficulties,
whether in our daily lives or at work.
At times, we may experience misunderstandings and conflicts in our relationships.
Yet, in all situations,
we must know the Lord in whom we have believed
and faithfully do our utmost to serve Him.
In this way, we can be victorious and sing our triumphant song.
And joyously, the crown of righteousness laid up for Paul
will also be given to us on that day,
according to the Lord’s righteousness and faithfulness.
我們每個人的人生都有一首自己的凱歌，
是我們應該歌唱出來的。
在這個世界上，我們常常會遇到艱辛和困難，
無論是在我們日常生活中，還是在工作中。
有時候，在人際關係中我們可能會遭到誤解及遇到衝突。
然而，在所有情況下，
我們必須認識我們所相信的主，
並忠心盡自已的全力事奉祂。
只有如此，我們才能取得勝利，唱出自已的凱歌。
令人喜樂的是，公義的冠冕為保羅存留，
在那日也將賜給我們，
照著主的公義和信實。
小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com
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