2008-05-19 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧，歡迎訂閱，推介及奉獻支持。 《網絡天糧》查詢，請電郵：ccf@ccfellow.org 訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持 機會是轉瞬即逝的 粵語 國語 第 19 天 讀經：馬可福音十章45至52節 　　我們從福音書讀到耶穌治病的故事，通常都只知道患者的病症，例如，是十個痲瘋病人、一個生下來瞎眼的，和一個癱子等，卻很少知道病者的名字。今天選讀的經文，則是一個少數的例子，把病者的名字告訴我們。 　　當然，我們相信基督一定知道每個病者的名字。在祂的眼中，不僅是一大群混雜了男女老少的人，經常圍在祂的身邊；祂實在看見了一個一個有不同需要的人。當我們知道，基督原來認識我們的名字，更知道我們的境況和需要，豈不感到很大的安慰和鼓舞？在祂的心中，我們每個人都佔著一個重要的位置。 　　在巴底買這個討飯的瞎子口中，聽到怨懟的話是很正常的。像他這樣可憐的人，很容易會憤憤不平地說：「再沒有人理我死活的了！連神也忘記我了！」不過，經文記載的他，卻不是這個樣子。他好像已經接受了自己的命運，但同時，卻對自己獲得醫治仍然心存盼望。我們怎麼知道呢？憤憤不平的人，通常一開口就只有埋怨和訴苦，很難被外界的事物吸引而有興奮的表現。巴底買卻不是這樣，他一聽見耶穌在他附近經過，就曉得祂是神的兒子，立即呼求祂的幫助。 　　巴底買深知這是他得醫治的機會。耶穌在他附近經過，只有短短幾分鐘時間，他若不立即呼叫，機會就轉瞬即逝了。 　　可幸的是，基督從來不會因為行色匆匆，忙於處理其他事情，而忽略任何人的需要。祂不理會那簇擁著祂向前走的群眾，曳然止步站著，要聽聽巴底買向祂求些甚麼。 　　巴底買來到基督面前，不單要直接說出他的需要，更要公開表明自己的信心。可是，當他真心向基督求取醫治，他的眼睛就立時開了！不過，這僅是他人生轉變的開始，第52節告訴我們，他自那天起，就跟隨耶穌上路。我們從這個故事得到的教訓是：作門徒是始自我們來到耶穌面前祈求幫助，但接著，卻要天天地跟隨主。 反思： 這是耶穌最後一次經過耶利哥，巴底買可能是最後一個得到耶穌醫治的人。如果巴底買沒有趁著耶穌經過的片刻，高聲呼求幫助，他的人生便不能揭開新的一頁了。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JESUS IS PASSING BY Day 19 BIBLE READING: Mark 10:45-52 Here is one of the few stories where we know the name of the person Christ healed. We sometimes give names to those who were healed; such as 'the ten lepers', 'the man born blind', 'the lame man' and so on. But we have not been told their names. Christ would have known their names, of course. To him men and women weren't just crowds, they were individuals with individual needs. Isn't it encouraging to realise that Christ knows our names, our circumstances and our needs? To him, every one of us is important. It would have been easy for Bartimaeus to become bitter. He could easily have said 'No-one cares whether I live or die. Even God has forgotten me.' But it seems as though he accepted his situation, even though he longed to be healed. How do we know this? Bitter people never become excited about anything except their own bitter circumstances. When Jesus came by, Bartimaeus recognised him as the Son of God and excitedly called out to him for help. Bartimaeus knew this was his opportunity. He knew it would be gone in a few minutes as Jesus passed on by. He had to act at once. And that is what he did. How wonderful to think that Christ is never too busy to help an individual. He stopped the whole movement of the crowd just to listen to Bartimaeus and help him. Bartimaeus had to confess his need. He had to openly declare his faith. He had to ask for help. Immediately the cure came. But it was only the beginning. Verse 52 says Bartimaeus began following Christ that day. Discipleship begins the moment we come to Jesus for help, but it goes on from day to day as we follow Christ. A THOUGHT: Bartimaeus was one of the last persons healed. Jesus never went to Jericho again.