2016年1月24日
榮耀上帝
Honoring God
读经: 約翰福音15章1-5節
Reading: John 15:1-5
[耶穌說]常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子。-約翰福音15章5節
[Jesus said,] "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.
John 15:5
全年读经: 出埃及記9-11章;馬太福音15章21-39節
Bible in a Year: Exodus 9–11; Matthew 15:21-39
那天，教會來了幾位新朋友。當聚會正在進行，台上牧師的講道還未結束，此刻，我注意到其中一位新朋友突然離席，我出於關心，也很好奇，想知道是怎麼一回事，於是也跟著她走出去。
我上前問她：「怎麼這麼早就要離開了？是不是有什麼問題？」她直截了當地回答我：「是，問題出在今天的講道內容，我無法認同講員的論點。」當天的講員提到，我們這一輩子的任何成就，都應將功勞和讚美歸於上帝。這位新朋友滿腹牢騷地抱怨：「我自己應該也有些功勞吧！」
我向她解釋講員說這番話的用意，我們的努力確實值得肯定和讚賞，然而這些天賦與才幹都是來自上帝，所以祂應得到這份榮耀。即使是上帝的兒子耶穌也曾說：「子憑著自己不能做什麼，惟有看見父所做的，子才能做」 （約翰福音5章19節） 。耶穌對跟隨祂的人說：「因為離了我，你們就不能做什麼。」 （15章5節）
我們感謝上帝，因著祂，我們才得以成就每一件事。
主，讓我不忘記是祢為我成就這一切，
是祢賜我能力來完成所有的事。
上帝的子民遵行祂的旨意來榮耀祂。
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The church service was still in progress, and we had some visitors there that morning. The speaker was only halfway through his sermon when I noticed one of our visitors walking out. I was curious and concerned, so I walked out to talk with her.
"You're leaving so soon," I said, approaching her. "Is there a problem I can help with?" She was frank and forthright. "Yes," she said, "my problem is that sermon! I don't accept what the preacher is saying." He had said that no matter what we accomplish in life, the credit and praise belong to God. "At least," the woman moaned, "I deserve some credit for my achievements!"
Jesus is the one who helps us accomplish everything.
I explained to her what the pastor meant. People do deserve recognition and appreciation for what they do. Yet even our gifts and talents are from God, so He gets the glory. Even Jesus, the Son of God, said, "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing" (John 5:19). He told His followers, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (15:5).
We acknowledge the Lord as the one who helps us to accomplish everything.
Lord, let me not forget to acknowledge You for all that You do for me and enable me to do.
God's children do His will for His glory.