9月18日靈修禱文|DEVOTION

Luke 5:3-9

The word of God is like a diamond, it emits different light when we read from different angles.  When I first read this passage, I was surprised by the fish caught by this net just like Simon and his companions at the time.  According to the terminology of the Christian groups nowadays, this is undoubtedly a miracle. But here comes the question, Simon and his companions did not cheer for this miracle, nor did they thank and praise loudly.  Instead, Simon fell at the feet of the Lord Jesus. From Simon’s words, we heard trembling and regret.  Why did Simon ask the Lord Jesus to leave him? Luke did not clearly tell the readers.  We can only pray that the Holy Spirit Advocate will enlighten us and guide our thoughts.  I was thinking that Simon might have seen another "miracle".  Although he was a professional fisherman who had worked all night and got nothing, the Lord Jesus specifically got on his boat and specifically spoke to him and issued commands to him on this tiring and frustrating day. Luke did not tell the readers what Simon was thinking when he heard a layman instructed him to drop the net for fishing. However, we can see some clues from Simon’s subsequent change in addressing the Lord Jesus and his performance in front of the Lord Jesus.  Simon truly recognized the one in front of him. Not only could He let people catch a lot of fish, but He could also make a professional fisherman work all night for nothing! He takes charge of the breath of human life, He sees through people’s hearts and minds, everyone is naked and open before Him, and all pride and ugliness are invisible before Him. A person who really sees God and miracles is likely to act like Simon, who can be both surprised by the greatness and almightiness of God, and shocked in the holiness and perfection of God, making one feels ashamed and embarrassed.  “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”.

Dear Lord Jesus, although it seems that we have figured out some of Simon’s feelings at the time and we slowly understand his cry in front of you, I do not dare and do not want to have such prayers.  I just want to beg you, Lord, to give mercy and grace to your children and keep us from leaving you!  Lord, we like to see the miracle of nets full of fish from our natural instincts, but we often forget that you sometimes lift up our lives through all the difficulties in life. If it is out of your wisdom and good intention that we get nothing after working all night, may the Holy Spirit open our eyes and ears. Lord, no matter how many unknowns and challenges there will be tomorrow, we will not be afraid as long as we focus on following you. Pray that we will also become a vessel in your hand to "fish for people" after you "fish for us".

Rev. Jun Cai

路加福音 5:3-9

神的話語如同鑽石，從不同的角度讀就發出不同的亮光。初讀這段經文和當時的西門及同伴一樣，驚訝於這一網所打的魚。按著今天基督徒圈子裡的話，這無疑是一個神跡，但是問題來了，西門和他的同伴們並沒有因為這個神跡而高興歡呼，大聲感謝贊美，反倒是西門俯伏在主耶穌腳前，從西門的話中，我們聽出了戰兢和懊悔。西門為什麼要求主耶穌離開他？路加沒有清楚地告訴讀者，唯有懇求聖靈保惠師光照我們，引導我們的思緒。我在想有可能西門看見了另一個“神跡”，他這個專業漁夫雖然整夜勞力卻一無所獲，然而就在這個勞累沮喪的一天，主耶穌專門上了他的船，主耶穌專門對他說話，專門對他發出命令。路加沒有告訴讀者，當西門這位專業漁夫聽到一位外行指導他下網打魚時，西門的內心在想什麼。然而，從西門隨後對主耶穌的稱呼改變和在主耶穌面前的表現中可以猜到一些端倪。西門真正地認出了眼前的這一位，祂不僅可以讓人打到很多魚，祂同樣可以讓一位專業漁夫整夜勞力一無所獲！祂掌管人的生命氣息，祂洞察人的心思意念，在祂面前每一個人都是赤露敞開的，所有的驕傲和不堪在祂面前無所遁形。一個真正遇見神、看見神跡的人，很可能會像西門一樣，既驚訝於神的偉大全能，又震懾於神的聖潔完美，以至於感到羞愧難當、無地自容，“主啊，離開我，我是個罪人！”

親愛的主耶穌，雖然好像揣摩到一些西門當時的感受，能夠慢慢理解他在您面前的呼求，然而，我卻不敢也不願有那樣的禱告，只想懇求您，主啊，憐憫恩待您的兒女，保守我們永不離開您！主啊，我們的本性都喜歡網滿了魚的神跡，卻常常忘了您有時恰恰是透過生活中的各種難處來造就我們的生命。如果整夜勞力一無所獲是出於您的智慧和美意，求聖靈開我們的眼睛和耳朵，無論明天還有多少的未知和挑戰，主啊，只要我們專心跟隨您，我們就不會害怕，在您得著我們之後，願我們也成為您手中得人的器皿。阿們！

蔡軍 牧師