| 我們一直在新約找福音信息，其實舊約有許多經文也清楚描述福音。本章的第1節就是一個誠意的邀請。假如你可以透過廣播，向全球論及人類最深切的需要，以及基督如何能滿足這需要，你會說甚麼呢？你所講的必須讓不同文化的人都能理解。你該怎樣表達，才能讓最多的人明白呢？ 神以非常簡單的語句發出邀請。祂談到信心，這是全人類共通的理念。祂用的另一個觀念是「喝水」，或者更確切講是「口渴」。所有人都知道甚麼是口渴，也知道甚麼是喝水。神向人發出了一個極美的邀請：「一切口渴的人都可以到我這裡來。」口渴一詞描述一種迫切的需要，口渴比飢餓更嚴重，每個人都有一兩次這樣的經歷。神說：「你的人生若有甚麼迫切需要，希望得著滿足的，到我這裡來，我要滿足你的需要。」 人有很多渴求，例如愛、友誼。有些人渴望有身份、地位、權力，並願意不惜一切代價來得到；許多人渴求知識，有些人渴求所謂成功；還有些人心靈渴求，他們或許生活很不如意，而希望他們的需要可得到永久解決。一些人為了滿足渴求而不擇手段；也有一些人會壓抑或隱藏自己的渴求。 神怎樣滿足人的渴求呢？祂用活水滿足我們。任何生物都需要水；我們也同樣需要神的恩典。水有潔淨的作用；神的恩典也能潔淨我們的罪。水能使人復甦和重新振作；基督所賜的活水同樣有這個效用。我們還需要甚麼呢？更寶貴的是，神將這活水白白賜給我們。神對我們說：「你們來吧！不用花錢的！我白白賜給你們。」這豈不是你知道的最偉大的邀請嗎？ |
| We have been looking at Gospel verses in the New Testament but there are many remarkable verses in the Old Testament clearly portraying the Gospel. Here in verse 1 is a remarkable invitation. Supposing you had the privilege of a worldwide broadcast about man's deepest need and how Christ could meet that need, what would you say? You would need to speak in such a way you could be understood in every culture. How could you help the greatest number of people to really understand what you were trying to say? God uses very simple terms in His invitations. He speaks about faith, something which is a universal principle. Another term He uses is "drinking", or more particularly "thirsting". Everyone knows what it is to be thirsty. Everyone knows what drinking is. Here is one of God's wonderful invitations, "all you who are thirsty come." Thirst is a desperate word, a most descriptive word. Physical thirst can be even more serious than hunger. Everyone has experienced it at one time or another. God is saying, "If there is a desperate need in your life for something that will really satisfy, come to me and I will meet that need." People thirst for many things, love and friendship for example. Others thirst for status, position, power, and will do anything to gain these. Many thirst for knowledge. Others thirst for so called success. Still others have a heart longing; they may have an unsatisfied life and long for some permanent solution to their need. Some try to satisfy these longings in various ways. Others try to stifle them or ignore them. What does God offer? Living water. Water is absolutely necessary for all forms of life. So is Divine grace. Water is a great cleansing agent. So is what God offers. It can cleanse away the stain of sin. Water refreshes and revives. So does Christ. What more do we need? And best of all it is free. "Come," says God, "and take what I offer without money and without cost." Isn't that the greatest invitation you have heard of? |
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