Friday, 14 May 2021
What does God expect of Me?
By : Prathab V

John 10: 10b (HCSB)
“I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. ”

In his 2009 book, The Hole in Our Gospel, the former CEO of World Vision Richard Stearns asks some very pointed questions: “What does God expect of us? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals and avoiding the most serious sins – or does God expect more?”

These are simple questions. But the answers are never simple.

“What does God expect from me?” is a very profound one but not an easy question to answer.

As I look to the scriptures, especially to Jesus as a guide, I notice that Jesus had a mission statement for His life on earth: “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV). My favourite Bible version, the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), renders the verse as “ A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”

Abundant life! This means “more than one would expect or anticipate.” Surely then, the Gospel is more than merely attending church, saying prayers and reading the Bible daily. Stearns goes on to say that for many of us, the Gospel has been “about saving as many people as possible – for the next life.” As a result, it has “minimised any concern for those same people in this life.” Perhaps, we have gotten dull preparing for the next life that we have forgotten about those who are suffering in this life with a bleak future caused by poverty, lack of food, water shelter – the basic needs. Many more are suffering abuse in silence, being forced against their will, not allowed access to education or even to seek jobs.

Women and children have suffered the most. But suffering and poverty hit boys and men too. It is a pandemic that has been with us for a long time. Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “ You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.” (Matthew 26:11, HCSB).

So, what does God expect of you? This is a very personal question. You will need to ask and settle the question with your Creator. To some, it may be serving in church worship team, joining the ushering team or presenting tithes and offering. But I am very certain that it is not just about going to church weekly and praying daily over meals. Don’t get me wrong. Attending church and praying daily are important. More than that, Christ’s Gospel of love, mercy and grace needs to be told to a lost world. “ Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8c, NIV)

How do I share the Gospel? I leave you with the words of St Francis of Assisi who put it simply as such: “Preach the gospel always; when necessary, use words.”

Prayer:

Father, please forgive me if I have been lulled to comfort and to my own needs in this world. Please ignite in me a desire and the courage to share your Word to those who have not heard of your Gospel. Use me as an instrument in Your hands Lord, as per Your will alone. In Jesus’ name, I ask, AMEN.

每日灵粮
星期五，2021年5月14日
标题：“上帝对我有什么期望？”
作者：帕拉他伯（Prathab V）
翻译：陈月妃

约翰福音10：10b “我来了、是要叫羊〔或作人〕得生命、并且得的更丰盛。”

在2009年出版的《我们的福音之孔》一书中，世界宣明会前首席执行官理查德•斯登（Richard Stearns）提出了一些非常尖锐的问题：“上帝对我们有什么期望？基督教信仰是关于什么？每个星期天去教堂，饭前祷告，避免严重的过犯——还是上帝期望更多呢？”

这些都是简单的问题。但其答案从来都不简单。

“上帝对我有什么期望？”这是一个非常深刻的问题，但不是一个容易回答的问题。

当我查看圣经时，尤其是在耶稣的指引下，我注意到耶稣对祂在世上的生活有一个使命宣言：“盗贼来、无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏．我来了、是要叫羊〔或作人〕得生命、并且得的更丰盛。”（约翰福音10:10，和合本）。我最喜欢的圣经版本是《霍尔曼基督教标准圣经》（HCSB），它把这个生命翻译为丰盛的生命。

丰盛的生命！这意味着“超出人们的期望或预期”。可以肯定的是，福音不仅仅是去教堂，每天祈祷和阅读圣经。Stearns接着说，对于我们许多人来说，福音是“关于尽可能拯救更多的人——为了来生。”也许，我们已经为来生作了无聊的准备，而我们却忘记了那些今生因贫困，缺乏食物，食水和住所（这些基本需求）而前途黯淡的人的痛苦。更多的人正默默地遭受虐待，被迫违背自己的意愿，被禁止接受教育甚至找不到工作。

妇女和儿童受害最深。但是苦难和贫穷同时也打击着男孩和男人。这流行病已经伴随了我们一段很长的时间。也许这就是为什么耶稣说：“因为常有穷人和你们同在．只是你们不常有我。”（马太福音26:11）。

那么，上帝对你有什么期望呢？这是一个非常私人的问题。你需要向你的创造者提问并解决这个问题。对某些人来说，它可能是参与教会敬拜小组的服事，加入招待小组或是献上什一奉献。但我非常肯定，这不仅仅是每周去教堂，每天吃饭时祈祷。请不要误会我的意思。去教堂和每天祈祷是很重要。更重要的是，还需要向这个失丧的世界讲述基督的爱，怜悯和恩典的福音。“你们白白的得来、也要白白的舍去。”（马太福音10:8c，和合本）

我如何分享福音？我留下阿西西的圣弗朗西斯（St Francis of Assisi）的一段简短而有力的话：“经常传福音；必要时使用文字。”

祈祷：天父，请原谅我，若我已在这世界中舒适得麻木不仁，并只顾寻求自己的需要。请在我内里激发一种渴望和勇气，向那些未曾听过你福音的人分享你的话语。耶和华啊，求你按你的旨意，使用我成为你手中的器皿。我奉耶稣的名求，阿们。