讀經： 腓立比書四章1至9節 1我所親愛、所想念的弟兄們，你們就是我的喜樂，我的冠冕。我親愛的弟兄，你們應當靠主站立得穩。 2我勸友阿爹和循都基，要在主裡同心。 3我也求你這真實同負一軛的，幫助這兩個女人，因為他們在福音上曾與我一同勞苦；還有革利免，並其餘和我一同做工的，他們的名字都在生命冊上。 4你們要靠主常常喜樂。我再說，你們要喜樂。 5當叫眾人知道你們謙讓的心。主已經近了。 6應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。 7神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。 8弟兄們，我還有未盡的話：凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的，若有甚麼德行，若有甚麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念。 9你們在我身上所學習的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看見的，這些事你們都要去行，賜平安的神就必與你們同在。 |
| 今天選讀的經文與昨天相同，但我們今天將集中思考經文的第6和第7節。保羅教導我們甚麼呢？「凡事不要憂慮，只要凡事禱告」。我們究竟有沒有這樣做呢？ 首先，是「凡事不要憂慮」。你曾否試過遇上一個大難題，以致它霸佔了你的思想，使你除了它之外，甚麼也想不到？你曾否試過徹夜難眠，思潮起伏，想的盡是同一個問題，卻苦無出路？如果你試過的話，你就知道甚麼是「憂慮」了。然而，基督徒是否應該凡事憂慮呢？ 那麼，當我們為到某些事情感到掛慮的時候，我們該怎麼辦呢？保羅教導我們，應該藉著禱告，將一切交在神的手裡。可是，難道連生活上的小事，也該向神禱告嗎？保羅確實教導我們說：「要凡事禱告」。 你曾否聽過小孩子祈禱？你是否覺得他們的禱告是多麼簡單，卻又是多麼動人？小孩子相信神不單關心他們今天發生的大小事情，就是連明天的一切也都同樣關心。基督曾經怎樣說？「要像小孩子…」。我們禱告的時候，為何不可以學像小孩子呢？我們是向我們的天父禱告啊！發生在我們身上的大小事情，天父都一樣關心。既然如此，為何不可以凡事祈求呢？今天讓我們試試看吧！ 我們要學習透過禱告，把我們的祈求和難題全交在神的手中。許多時候，我們把需要告訴了神，但轉過背後，立即又為到那些需要擔憂。這是不對的。反之，我們禱告的時候，必須做兩件事：首先，要為到祂在過往所做的一切感謝祂；其次，要為到祂將來做的一切信靠祂。只有這樣，我們的內心才會得著「平安」(7節)。 牢記： 每當遇到困難，總要緊記腓立比書四章6節。 |
Bible Reading: Philippians 4: 1 - 9 1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. |
| Our reading today is the same as yesterday's but now we are thinking particularly of verses 6 and 7. What does Paul say? 'Be anxious about nothing and pray about everything'. Can we really do that? First of all 'be anxious about nothing'. Have you ever had some big problems on your mind and you just can't think of anything else? Have you ever just awake at night and gone over and over the same questions and never come up with the right answer? If so, you know what being anxious really means. Is it right for a Christian to be like that? What do we do if we become anxious about something? Paul says we should pray and leave it with the Lord. But can we pray about every little problem that comes up in our lives? Paul says we can 'Pray about everything'. Have you ever listened to a child's prayers? Do you remember how beautifully simple they are? They believe that God is interested in everything that has happened to them that day and in everything they may want for tomorrow. What did Christ say? 'Except you become as little children …' Why can't we be more childlike in our praying? We are talking to our Father, our heavenly Father, and he is interested in everything that concerns us. Why not talk to him about everything then? Try it today. As we pray we need to leave our requests and our problems in God's hands. Too often we tell him what we need, then worry again about our needs. But when we pray we must do two things - firstly, thank him for what he has done and secondly, trust him for what he is going to do. That will bring peace to out hearts (v. 7). REMEMBER: 'Philippians four verse six, if ever you feel in a fix Remember dear friend, this message I send Philippians four verse six.' |
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