2016年2月18日
安靜與服事 Solitude and Service
读经: 路加福音9章1-2節、10-17節
Reading: Luke 9:1-2,10-17
耶穌便接待他們，對他們講論上帝國的道，醫治那些需醫的人。-路加福音9章11節
He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.- Luke 9:11
全年读经: 利未記23-24章;馬可福音1章1-22節
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 23–24; Mark 1: 1-28
喜劇演員佛瑞德·阿倫（Fred Allen）曾說：「所謂的名人，就是窮盡畢生之力讓自己成名。之後，卻又戴上墨鏡，免得讓人認出來。」有了名聲通常也會失去隱私，有時還會引起群眾瘋狂持續的關注。
當耶穌開始傳道和醫病的時候，引起了公眾的注意。尋求幫助的人蜂擁而來，群眾總是緊跟著祂。但耶穌知道，花時間與上帝獨處是絕對必要的，這樣才可以恢復精神體力，謹記服事的目的。
耶穌的十二個門徒成功地達成「宣傳上帝國的道，醫治病人」的任務之後，耶穌就帶著他們到安靜的地方去休息 （路加福音9章2、10節） 。然而，群眾很快地就跟了過去，耶穌接待他們，並且「對他們講論上帝國的道，醫治那些需醫的人」 （11節） 。耶穌也沒有讓他們自己解決晚餐，而是親自為這五千人預備了一頓豐盛的戶外野餐！ （12-17節）
耶穌身邊總是圍繞著好奇的民眾以及痛苦的人們，但是祂會在服事之餘，有個人的安靜時間，讓兩者保持平衡。祂會安排時間，來到天父的面前休息、禱告 （路加福音5章16節） 。
願我們服事他人時，也能夠效法主耶穌的典範。
親愛的天父，讓我們效法祢的愛子救主耶穌，
學習在安靜及服事當中榮耀祢。
減少生活裡的雜音，才能聽見主的聲音。
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comedian Fred Allen said, "A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well-known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized." Fame often brings loss of privacy along with a relentless frenzy of attention.
When Jesus began His public ministry of teaching and healing, He was catapulted into the public eye and thronged by people seeking help. Crowds followed Him wherever He went. But Jesus knew that having regular time alone with God was essential to maintaining strength and perspective.
Jesus balanced service and solitude by taking time for rest and prayer with His Father.
After Jesus' twelve disciples returned from their successful mission "to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick," He took them to a quiet place to rest (Luke 9:2,10). Soon, however, crowds of people found them and Jesus welcomed them. He "spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing" (v. 11). Instead of sending them away to find food, the Lord provided an outdoor picnic for 5,000! (vv. 12-17).
Jesus was not immune to the pressure of curious and hurting people, but He maintained the balance of public service and private solitude by taking time for rest and for prayer alone with His Father (Luke 5:16).
May we follow our Lord's example as we serve others in His name.
Dear Father, as Jesus Your Son and our Savior honored You in solitude and service to others, may we follow His example in our lives.
Turning down the volume of life allows you to listen to God.