| 與人談論天氣非常容易，但要引入「屬靈」的話題卻相當困難。基督的做法是先引起對方的好奇心。祂一提出「活水」，她就立即想問個究竟。這給我們一個啟發，如果有人問：「週末過得愉快嗎？」我們可能會回答：「很好，謝謝。」很可能對方想知道你有甚麼活動，你若接著活潑生動地分享你的教會和崇拜的情形，便可能開啟一個繼續談論的話題。 接著，祂提出一個私人要求：「我能和你丈夫說話嗎？」這個要求真正掀開了她的私生活並觸及她空蕩蕩的心靈。今天有很多人都像她一樣，他們以為，過了下一個轉角，生活就會不一樣。他們心靈空虛孤單，幫助他們醒覺他們自己都沒有認識到的需要，就是我們傳福音的機會。幫助他們的最好方法，就是用心聆聽他們傾述自己。 那婦人的反應，就像常常發生的一樣。她的話若用今天的語言來說，可以是：「你有你的教會，我有我的教會。」今天人們就會這樣說，對很多人來說崇拜活動都與地點、傳統和儀式相關。然而，我們必須讓對方明白，最重要的不是甚麼教會或宗教，而是我們個人認識基督。 耶穌很有禮貌地繼續回答她：「最重要的，並不是在哪裡敬拜，而是怎樣敬拜。要用心靈去敬拜。神正要尋找這樣敬拜的人。」因此，我們真正認識基督，才能為祂作見證。我們在生活中親身經歷祂的實在，才有東西與人分享。 你向人傳福音之後，可能會回想檢討：「我應該這樣說或那樣說。」但請放心，我們只要以真誠的心努力為主作見證，即使有錯漏之處，甚至我們以為失敗的時候，神都會掌管使用我們。多年之後，你可能聽見有人說，正是你昔日所作的見證，開始了一連串的行動，最終將他帶到主裡面！記住，求主每天都給我們為主作見證的機會，然後靜待結果。 |
| It is very easy to talk with another person about the weather, but to introduce "spiritual" matters seems so difficult. Christ did it by arousing this woman's curiosity. He mentioned "living water" and she immediately wanted to know what He meant. If someone asks "did you have a good weekend", a suggestion for us might be to reply "Yes, I did". Very possibly they want to know what you did. If you follow it up with some bright words about your church or the services, it could create an opening to talk further. Then He followed up what He had said with a personal request, "Could I talk with your husband?" That really opened up her personal life and touched her unfulfilled heart. There are so many people like her. They think that around the corner life will be different. They are unsatisfied and lonely. One of our opportunities is to help them realize their unrecognized need. Listening and letting them talk are one of the best ways to help them. As so often happens, the woman said in modern language (v. 20), "You have your church and I have mine." People will say that today. For many worship is generally bound up with location, tradition, and ceremony. We need to share with them that it is reality which counts. It is not a denomination. It is knowing Christ for ourselves. Jesus was still gracious in His reply. He said quietly, "It's not where we worship but how. It must come from the heart. That is what God is looking for." Knowing Christ for ourselves is what makes our witness count. If we have proved Him in our own lives we will have something to share with others. You may think afterwards, "I should have said this or that." But be encouraged. God can overrule even if we say what seem to be the wrong words. God will use any sincere effort made for Him, even when we think we have failed. Years from now you may hear that it was your words which began the chain of events which led a soul to Christ. Remember: pray each day for an opportunity to share Christ and watch for the results. |
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