2021 01 29
作者 Article by Billy Ng
重拾愛主之初心
已留在家中工作十個月了,近日看到教會 2021 年主題「復興與更新」, 當中五個分題、九段經文, 我將所有經文重溫一次,啟示錄 2:1-7 節 – 讓我重拾愛主之初心, 最為觸動我。
使徒約翰寫信給七所教會, 第一封信是給以弗所教會, 說完了一些鼓勵說話, 馬上就責備教會說:「然而,有一件事我要責備你(以弗所教會), 就是你把起初的愛心離棄了。」(啟 2:4) 有人說魔鬼常用的招數之一, 就是擾亂我們, 將我們的初心, 被其他次要的事務蒙蔽、誤導、甚至被牽引著。抗疫如是、教會事務如是、愛主的心也如是。
政府的抗疫政策或許有混亂的地方,有不便的地方, 但我仍然相信政府對抗疫的初心沒有變, 讓我們繼續支持和鼓勵,一切為人民服務, 特別是前線醫護及提供我們日常所需的人。頌主堂過去幾年, 經歷了很大的改變, 牧師的變動、教會領袖的轉換, 一切相信都是在上帝的安排中, 讓我們不忘教會在社區的使命, 關懷他們的生活及靈命, 讓更多人明白和感受到上帝的愛。
那麼我們愛主的初心, 有沒有因長期疲乏地抗疫、教會多年來管理層的變動, 而有所改變呢?回想當初信主的時候, 教會牧師常常鼓勵我們, 不要要求教會(或他人)為我們做什麼, 而是要問我們可以為教會(或他人)做些什麼! 正如主耶穌的教導,「非以役人, 乃役於人。」讓我們面對著轉變才是常態的社會, 盡心、盡意、盡力的愛主、愛人,重拾愛主的初心。
Restore our first Love for Jesus
I have been working at home for ten months. Recently, I saw the Church’s theme for 2021: "Revive, Restore & Renew". The theme is based on five subtopics and nine pieces of scriptures. I re-read all of the passages, in particular, Revelation 2:1-7, “Restore our first Love for Jesus”, moved me the most.
In this passage, John the Apostle was writing to the seven Churches. The first letter was to the Church in Ephesus. After speaking some words of encouragement, he immediately rebuked the church and said, "But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2: 4) Some people say that one of the devil’s common tricks is to confuse us: Our first love for Jesus will be deceived, misled, or will even bring us in another direction by some unimportant matters. In the context of today, this has been shown through the government policies implemented in response to COVID-19, through the interruption to our church affairs, and our love for our Lord Jesus.
The policies to fight against COVID-19 may be confusing and causing us some inconvenience, but I still believe that the government’s original intention to fight against the virus has not changed. Let us continue to support and encourage people around us during this unprecedented time, especially the front-line health care workers and those who provide us with our daily needs.
In the past few years, St. E has undergone significant changes including changes to the pastoral and church leaders. I believe that all of these things are within God’s plan. Let us not forget the church’s mission in our community – tending to their living and spiritual needs. Enable our neighbours to hear, understand and feel the love of God.
Did our first love for Jesus change due to our tiredness in fighting against the virus and the changes in the church leadership over the past few years? I recalled when I first became Christian, my priest often encouraged us not to ask what the church (or others) can do for us, but to ask ourselves what we can offer for the church (and for others)! As the Lord Jesus taught, “To serve but not to be served.” We should recognize that constant change is the new norm. Let us encourage one other to love the Lord and our neighbours with all our heart, mind and strength, so that we will restore our first love for Jesus.