2020 07 21
作者 Article by: Bonny & Billy
「你們要靠主常常喜樂! 我再說,你們要喜樂!」
(腓立比書4:4)
記得在少年時期,每次參加團契,團契導師都會要求我們,除了團訓之外,再背訓一句金句,以上聖經金句,相信是我們其中一節最熟悉的金句之一。
初信主的時候,覺得要常常喜樂,並不容易。小孩子要快樂好容易,一件美味的甜品、去遊樂場玩耍,已是滿足快樂的源頭。但隨著年齡的增長,面對的事更複雜、挑戰困難多了,便不容易「常常喜樂」。此外今次疫情的出現,每天報導的新聞消息,「常常喜樂」可能是我們在這景況下,需要學習的最大功課。
前一陣子看過一本書「感謝生命的美意」,作者廖智,是當年汶川大地震中的倖存者,被活埋26小時,失去女兒、失去雙腿、失去婚姻,一位從前是舞蹈教師,面對如此沉重的打擊,她卻能藉著信仰鼓起勇氣,以「舞蹈人生」去見證上帝,她說「摔就摔吧,只要站起來就是好的。」她的故事,啟迪和牽動了我們的心靈,從她生命中的「靠主常常喜樂」,我們願意相信生命中沒有跨不過的難處和痛。
喜樂已經不是孩童時,由外在環境帶來的快樂,而是從內心感受,表現出來的;喜樂是從上帝而來的禮物和應許,我們可以選擇喜樂的同時,讓我們一同經歷、亦與人分享「靠主常常喜樂」。
我們可以祈禱說:「榮耀的天父,祢是賜予喜樂者,我為救恩之樂讚美祢,感謝祢差遣聖靈住在我心,使我心生喜樂。幫助我與人分享這喜樂,我要以祢為樂,我的救贖主。奉耶穌豐盛的聖名禱告,阿門!
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.”
(Philippians 4:4)
When we were young, every time we attended youth fellowship, the mentors would ask us to recite one bible verse on top of our fellowship verse. The above verse is one of our favourite bible verses.
When we first became believers, we felt that it was not easy to rejoice always. We were not like children, who would be happy and well satisfied with a delicious dessert or some fun in the playground. As we grew into adults, the situations we faced were more complicated and we encountered more and more challenges in our daily lives. In addition, with all the news we see on television about this pandemic, “rejoice always” may be one of the toughest lessons we need to learn.
A while ago, we read a Chinese book called “Be thankful to the beauty of our lives”. The author Liao Zhi, a survivor of the Wenchuan country earthquake in China, was buried alive for 26 hours. She lost her daughter, her legs, and her marriage. A former dance teacher, who had now lost her legs, is now able to stand firmly and faithfully with the Grace of our Lord. She is now witnessing God through her "Dancing Life". She said, "It is okay to fall, as long as you get back up”. Her story inspired and moved us. From her book, "Rejoice in the Lord always", we believe that there are no difficulties and pains in life that cannot be overcome.
Living in this manner means our joy is not only a childhood memory or a result of our external environment. But indeed, it is expressed from the heart; joy is a gift and promise from God. We can choose to rejoice. Let us experience together and share with others how we can "Rejoice in the Lord always".
Let us pray, "Our glorious Father in Heaven, You are the one who gives joy. Thank You for the grace of Your salvation. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide us in rejoicing with our whole heart. Help us to share our joy with others. We rejoice in you, our Redeemer. We pray in the name of our Saviour, Jesus, Amen!