7月20日靈修禱文

Mark 10:17-20

The response from this person to Jesus is a very typical reflection of people with self-centred life, and are unable to be Christ-centred.  Why so?  This person comes to Jesus, he only looks for answers to his own questions, but he does not seriously listen to what Jesus is saying.  In our daily communication, we often hear "You listen to me first!  You listen to me first!".  This person believes what he has heard from Jesus is "Jesus wants him to keep the commandments.".  From his response, we can imagine the pride shown on his face and the complacency in his heart.  This person may indeed does better than many others, he kept the commandments since he was young, he even kneels in front of Jesus to demonstrate his modesty.  However, the first sentence Jesus says "Why do you say I am good? no one is good but one, and that is God." did not draw his attention nor thinking: Who is this Jesus in front of his eyes?  What is the relationship between Him and eternity, and the relationship between Him and me?  What is the relationship between God's commandments, my heritage and the eternity afterall?  Sadly, this person is red in the face after the conversation, and he leaves in sorrow.

Dear Lord Jesus, we act alike that person most of the time.  Although people come to you, their heart did not genuinely listen to your words in peace.  We lack the understanding of you and ourselves.  Sometimes, we even feel that we are not bad afterall and believe that we also have some kindness and virtue.  We believe that we can earn God's grace by our praise in the mouth and performance by the hands.  We pray that Holy Spirit Advocate shines upon us, just like how it shines upon Paul "For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out (Romans 7:18)".  May the Father's love continue to attract and protect us, and do not let us to keep away from you.  Despite we are foolish and ignorant just like that person, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27)”.  We know that Father God does not want to adjust and modify our natural life, you are recreating us in Jesus Christ.  Because of your faith and power, the goodness in life will certainly be built within us.  Amen!

Rev. Jun Cai

馬可福音 10:17-20

這個人對耶穌的回復，非常典型地反應了人時常活得自我中心，無法以基督為中心。為什麼這樣說？這個人來到耶穌面前，他只是為自己的問題尋找答案，他並沒有認真聽耶穌在講什麼。在日常的交流中，我們也常常聽到“你先聽我說！你先聽我說！”。這個人以為自己聽到的是‘耶穌要他遵守誡命’，從回復中，我們應該可以想像到他臉上的自豪和心中的自滿。這個人確實可能比很多人都做得好，他從小遵守誡命，他甚至跪在耶穌面前表明他的謙虛。可是，耶穌的第一句話“你為什麼稱我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再沒有良善的”並沒有引起他的注意和思考：眼前的這位耶穌到底是誰？他和永生之間、他和我之間到底有怎樣的關系？神的誡命、我的產業和永生之間到底有怎樣的關聯？……很可惜地，一番對話之後這個人的臉上變了色，心中憂憂愁愁地走了。

親愛的主耶穌，很多時候我們和那個人一樣，人雖然來到您的面前，但是心並沒有真正地安靜聆聽您的話語，我們對您、對自己都缺乏真正的認識。我們甚至覺得自己有時候還不錯，也有幾分良善和美德，以為靠著自己口中的贊美和手中的表現就可以掙得神的恩典。懇求聖靈保惠師光照我們，如同光照保羅一樣“我肉體之中沒有良善，立志為善由得我，只是行出來由不得我（參羅馬書7:18）”。願天父的愛繼續吸引保守我們，不要讓我們遠離您，盡管我們和那個人一樣愚鈍和無知，但是“在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能（馬可福音10:27）”。我們知道父神不是要調整修改我們天然的生命，您是在基督耶穌裡重新創造我們，因著您的信實和能力，那良善的生命必然被建造在我們的裡面！阿們！

蔡軍 牧師