Subject: 神的話如鏡God’s Word Likes a Mirror
Scriptures: James雅各1: 21 – 25
雅1:21 所以你們要脫去一切的污穢、和盈餘的邪惡、存溫柔的心領受那所栽種的道、就是能救你們靈魂的道。1:22
只是你們要行道、不要單單聽道、自己欺哄自己．
1. 介紹講題 - 在聖經中, 用不同的比喻來形容上帝的話. 比如說,
來4:12 神的道是活潑的、是有功效的、比一切兩刃的劍更快、甚至魂與靈、骨節與骨髓、都能刺入剖開、連心中的思念和主意、都能辨明。
詩119:105你的話是我腳前的燈、是我路上的光。
耶23:29 耶和華說、我的話豈不像火、又像能打碎磐石的大錘麼。
彼前1:23 你們蒙了重生、不是由於能壞的種子、乃是由於不能壞的種子、是藉著 神活潑常存的道。
這些比喻幫助我們認識神的話, 寶貴神的話, 體會神的話, 運用神的話. 剛剛所讀的經文, 說到 “神的話如鏡.”
2. 照鏡子的反思 - 鏡子是日常生活不可缺的一部分, 我們每天使用.
有一種鏡子叫 “哈哈鏡.” 它的鏡面是凹的或凸的, 因此, 鏡中的人相被扭曲了, 可以變修長, 可以變矮胖, 也可以奇形怪狀, 看了令人哈哈大笑, 所以叫 哈哈鏡. 可是平面鏡確忠實的反映人本來真實的面貌. 所以要鏡子忠實的反映我們的形像, 我們必須用正確的鏡子.
* Example – 有一位減重的朋友對櫥窗的展示又愛看, 又怕看. (Why?)
* Example – 白雪公主的童話故事. “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of all?” The mirror told the truth, “Snow White is the most beautiful.” The wicked (惡毒的) queen was very jealous of Snow White. So she decided to poison her…the story goes on. 這故事提醒我們, 鏡子反映人本來真實的面貌.
o 有關外表的問題Physical appearance – These are “What” questions.
“What happen to my hair? What happen to my wrinkles?”
* Example – 同事說, 找事可要先染黑頭髮, 顯得年輕, 才能與年輕人一拼. I thought about that and was serious about it, but I noticed I could not dye my eyebrows! 黑頭髮, 白眉毛, 引人側目, 渾身不自在, 萬一找不到事, 不知道是因為白眉毛, 還是能力不夠, 只好對自己說, “白髮是男人的冠冕,” 到自助餐廳就可以冠冕堂皇打個 “senior citizen 資深公民” 折扣了.
o 有關人際關係與環境的問題Relationships – These are “why” questions.
人常會顧影自憐一番…
Why am I so busy everyday? 為什麼每天這麼忙? 為誰忙來著?
Why do my relationships in a shambles? 為什麼我老是懷才不遇? 老不加薪?
Why is the life so hard? 為什麼度日如年? 一日如千年…
還沒想完, 又要趕上班, (等下班), 上琴課, (等下課), 上教堂, 上中文班, …沒完沒了.千年如一日…
o 有關自我認知的問題Identity Question – These are “who” (identity related) questions? “Who am I?”
其實, 當你勇於問自己 “我是誰?” 時, 這可是莊嚴的一刻. 它可以是你一生的轉捩點, 是極為正面, 寶貴的時刻…from “Why ” questions to “Who am I?”以及一連串的問題:
* Example – Questions to Buddhist friends. Interestingly they can not answer these questions. Can you answer these questions?
* Example – I thought about many ABC’s, including my three kids. When they go
to colleges, suddenly they become NBC (No-Body Chinese) because of identity
crisis – Who am I?
* Example - The story of Mohammed Ali. While Ali was asked to put on seat belt before the plane takes off, “do you know who I am, I am the Superman. I am the greatest.” “Superman needs no airplane,” the stewardess answered. Ali also used to say, “I am the greatest.” After he got Parkinson disease, he then said, “I am not the greatest, God is.” When the boxing gloves were hung and the trophies were collecting dust, who is Ali, the greatest?
The life which is unexamined is not worth of living – Plato. 一個未被檢視的生命, 不值得生活下去. 但是你用什麼來檢視人生呢?
哀3:40 我們當深深考察自己的行為、再歸向耶和華。Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentation 3: 40)
神的話如鏡, 是我們最好的檢視. 所以, 對著鏡子看自己, 它會提醒我們去 面對, 去思考我們本來的面目, 核心的價值.
3. 神的話像鏡子一樣God’s word likes a mirror.
鏡子(Mirror) 可以當名詞, 也可以當動詞.
雅1:23 因為聽道而不行道的、就像人對著鏡子看自己本來的面目．1:24 看見、走後、隨即忘了他的相貌如何。
林後3:15 然而直到今日、每逢誦讀摩西書的時候、帕子還在他們心上。
改變Metamorphosis: Meta = Change, Morphe = form.
所以神的話有能力, 能改變我們. 神的話像鏡子反映 (reflect) 我們本來的面目, 也提醒我們去 面對自己, 更進一步藉著聖靈的同在, 改變 (transform, or transfigure, metamorphosis) 我們, 使我們更像祂, 能反映 (mirror) 祂的榮耀. 信主, 成為基督徒之後, 你有改變嗎? 我們一起來看怎麼讓神的話來改變我們呢?
A REAL transforming experience
n
Read God’s word, and let God’s
words imprint in our heart.
n
Examine “who I am” and my relationship
with God through His word
n
Ask the Lord “What do I need to change
according to your word?”
n Let the Spirit transform me to reflect His glory.
“深藏我心”應是 “深印我心.” 讓神的話刻在心板上. Let God’s word influences our thoughts and ideas, guides and disciplines our will, expresses in our doing and steer our direction.
When I was preparing this message, my wife asked me, “Tell me how God’s word has transformed you for these 40 yrs.” It was a loaded question! So I jokingly said, “白髮是男人的冠冕, 是智慧的象徵! 你看, 你老公, 越來越有智慧了! ” Then one day, I drove to the park during the lunch time and meditate, “How have I changed through God’s word?” You should do that too!
4. My REAL
Transforming Experiences
·
A new life - 大一時, 當我讀到Romans
這些經文如同鏡子反映我的本相, 我也願意接受耶穌基督為我的救主. For 40 yrs,
經歷了神的話有改變生命的能力, 告訴我改變的目標, 使我體會改變的喜樂, 確知改變的盼望. 在改變的過程中, 並不孤單, 有聖靈同伴同行.
信主後, 主常常題醒我 “你愛我比這些更深嗎?” (John 21: 14 – 17)
約21:14 耶穌從死裡復活以後、向門徒顯現、這是第三次。
主的話問到彼得的核心價值, 問到彼得這個人, 主三次題比得的名字, 約翰的兒子西門. 三次問比得同一個問題, “你愛我麼?” 也三次告訴Peter當作什麼. 這些話深深地影響了Peter. 歷世歷代, 讀這段經文也深深地影響了多少信徒的看法, 想法, 方法, 作法, 與一生 (結果).
o Relationship with “you yourself” (identity對自己的認知)
o Relationship with “these” 你愛我比這些更深麼 (value)
o Relationship with the Lord 你愛我…(motive)
o Relationship with the calling 餧養我的…牧養我的…(servanthood)
o Relationship with the people …我的小羊, 我的羊. (people)
a) 對自己的認知 (about identity), “Who am I?”
b) 對價值觀的修正 (value)
* Example – My daughter’s wedding. We were asked to give the blessing. We asked ourselves, “What family value do I wish to pass on?” “What do I believe and practice?” 願女兒, 女婿 1) 經歷神的愛, 被神的愛所吸引, 盡心, 盡性, 盡意, 盡力愛神, 也比彼此相愛. 2) 經歷神的同在, 一生跟隨主, 生命不斷的成長, 成為主忠心的僕人. 3) 經歷神的保守, 在困難中彼此扶持. 彼此鼓勵. 4) 經歷神的饒恕與恩慈, 也彼此饒恕, 以恩慈相待. 5) 經歷神的祝福, 子女蒙福, 家庭能反映神的榮光, 成為神祝福的管道, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 成為一家的座又銘. 這也是當我成家時給自己所立定的心志.
*Example - 年輕的朋友問我, “你當時是怎麼跟陳安姐求婚的?” I used a bible with these written words on the inside cover and gave it to her. She said, “So I do.” …Friends, 願神的話改變 你的價值觀, 婚姻觀, 家庭觀, 讓你的家庭能反映神的榮光, 全家蒙福.
c) 對事奉神的心態 (motive)
神藉著我們不同服的事來塑造我們更像祂. 主看重工人, 甚與工作. I asked myself, “事奉神, 還是事奉工作?”
* Example – My preaching
experiences…care my skills, content, delivery, etc. from class room, pulpit, to
park service. 神讓我警醒, 當神的話成為生命的糧, 有生命的見證, 被神的愛所摸著的生命更能觸摸而影響人的生命. 主說, “你愛我麼?” “你愛我比這些更深麼?” 讓神的話, 來檢視我們事奉神的心態.
5. Conclude with another REAL example
Read: 約6:35 耶穌說、我就是生命的糧．到我這裡來的、必定不餓．信我的、永遠不渴。
Examine: 餓與渴
是生命的必然現象. 思考到底什麼才能滿足你生命的需要?
* Example - The funny story about a parakeet in the cage …A charm, a swing, a ladder. Finally, “don’t they sell bird seeds?” said the parakeet. Evidently the real need for the parakeet was not satisfied.
Ask: What do I need to change?
* Example – A physicist in the subway. “I am the only one who knows quantum physics.” When it stops, all got off the train. Only he himself and another guy…homeless still in the train. What does it mean? Do I really care I am the only one who know the physics?
Let: Let the Spirit, through the word of God, lead you to the Lord, and transform your life. 到我這裡來的, 必定不餓．信我的、永遠不渴。
* Examples - 在弟兄姐妹身上的改變, 不信到傳福音, 軟弱到剛強, 冷淡到火熱. 狹隘到寬廣, 工作到工人…
神的話像鏡子反映我們本來的面目, 神的話可以改變(transform)我們, 使我們能反映祂的榮耀. 讓我們不單單聽道, 也要成為行道的人.