9月8日靈修禱文|DEVOTION

2 Timothy 2:8-9

Since the pandemic outbreak, for almost half a year everyone has experienced many imposed changes. Originally planned travels to visit relatives were cancelled, so were originally arranged revival and gospel meetings and originally expected friends reunions .... As a saying goes: "Plans are unable to catch up with changes." However, God's words remind us that his love doesn't change, his way doesn't change and that Jesus Christ's gospel doesn't change. Recently, I often heard such saying as "how to re-open the church?"; "how to relaunch ministries in September?" Nevertheless, Jesus Christ's saving grace never ceases its work in people's hearts. Straying sheep are continuously led to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls (see 1 Peter 2:25). During Paul the apostle's era, there was no internet, no computer, no cell phone. But Paul's faith let him see that even if the gospel preacher was imprisoned, the gospel itself could not be imprisoned. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (see Romans 1:16). Paul the apostle was locked in a prison in the past; we cannot attend in-person meetings today. Despite these, nothing can prevent God's word from speaking to people's hearts. Though isolation due to the pandemic brings lots of inconveniences, brothers and sisters have increased their learning and sharing via the internet. Thank God. Before the pandemic, we never thought that we could, via the internet, complete the baptism and church membership registration classes on Thursday. About new believers in the Mandarin congregation, 2020 has seen the highest yearly figure for the past 10 years, despite it being a year full of difficulties and challenges. We never thought this would happen either. The experiences over the past 6 months let us see once again that pride and sloth in people's hearts are things that prevent people from coming to God, not Roman prison nor COVID-19. May God help us to be like Paul, though losing physical freedom, we always come to the Lord's presence in our hearts, and are seated with him in the heavenly places (see Ephesians 2:6). Amen!

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you never change! Although our circumstances are changing and people we encounter are changing, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). May Lord Jesus' constant faithfulness become our spiritual haven. May the Holy Spirit the Counselor always remind us who Lord Jesus is, and what he says and does. May we become messengers of Christ's gospel, and imitate Paul the apostle, not fearing to suffer for the sake of the gospel, awaiting the day we meet the Lord in glory. Amen!

Rev. Jun Cai

提摩太後書2:8-9

從疫情爆發至今將近半年時間了，每個人的生活都經歷了很多不得已的改變，原本計劃的探親旅行取消了，原本安排的培靈布道會取消了，原本期盼的朋友相聚取消了……真是應了一句俗語“計劃趕不上變化”。然而，神的話語提醒我們，神的愛沒有改變，神的道沒有改變，耶穌基督的福音沒有改變。最近常聽到一些說法“如何重開教會？”“九月份如何重開事工？”然而，耶穌基督的救贖恩典從來沒有停止在人心中的工作，迷失的羊群不斷被引領到靈魂的大牧人那裡去(參彼得前書2:25)。使徒保羅那個時代沒有網絡、沒有電腦手機，但是保羅裡面的信心讓他看見，即使傳福音的使者被囚禁，但是福音不會被囚禁。福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的人(參羅馬書1:16)。無論是使徒保羅被關在監獄裡，還是今天的我們不能面對面聚會，這一切的情形都無法抵擋神的道對人的心說話。感謝神，疫情隔離期間雖然有許多不方便，但是弟兄姊妹卻因此增加了在網上的學習和分享。疫情之前，從來沒有想到我們可以在網上在周四完成洗禮轉會班的學習，也沒有想到在充滿困難挑戰的2020年，神賜給國語堂得救的人數比過去十年中的每一年都多。過去半年的經歷再一次讓我們看到，能夠抵擋人來到神面前的，不是羅馬監獄，也不是新冠病毒，一直是人心中的驕傲和慵懶。求神幫助我們像保羅一樣，即使身體不自由，但是我們的心靈時常來到主面前，與主一同坐在天上(參以弗所書2:6)。阿們！

親愛的主耶穌，謝謝您永不改變！即或我們所處的環境、所遇到的人都在改變，但是，耶穌基督，昨日今日一直到永遠是一樣的(希伯來書13:8)。求主耶穌的信實不變成為我們心靈的港灣，求聖靈保惠師幫助我們時常想起主耶穌的所說、所是和所做。願我們都成為基督福音的使者，效法使徒保羅，不怕為福音受苦，期盼有一天在榮耀中與主相遇。阿們！

蔡軍 牧師