2016年2月8日
覆水難收 Can't Take It Back
读经: 加拉太書5章13-26節
Reading: Galatians 5:13-26
聖靈所結的果子，就是⋯⋯溫柔、節制。-加拉太書5章22-23節
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23
全年读经: 利未記4-5章;馬太福音24章29-51節
Bible in a Year: Leviticus 4–5; Matthew 24:29-51
我對自己的魯莽感到懊惱！我到加油站加油，有位女士的車正好擋著我，當時她正匆忙地下車去丟一些回收物品，但我卻不想等她。所以，我不耐煩地按了喇叭，然後氣呼呼地倒車，繞到另一邊去加油。然而，我馬上就對自己的不耐煩感到自責，我連（最多）三十秒也不願意給她。我向上帝道歉。沒錯，她是沒停在應該停的位置，但我應該對她更友善、更有耐性，而不是這樣苛刻。可惜，我還來不及向她道歉，她就已經走了。
當有人阻礙了我們的計畫，我們該如何回應呢？箴言就有許多經文值得我們深思。例如：「愚妄人的惱怒立時顯露」（12章16節） ；「遠離紛爭，是人的尊榮；愚妄人都愛爭鬧」（20章3節） 。此外，還有一處一針見血的經文：「愚妄人怒氣全發；智慧人忍氣含怒。」（29章11節）
要變得更有耐心和仁慈，有時看來是挺困難的。但使徒保羅說這是上帝的工作，是「聖靈的果子」 （加拉太書5章22-23節） 。當我們順服上帝並倚靠祂，祂就會在我們裡面結出這美好的果實。主，求祢改變我們。
主啊，使我成為一個溫柔之人。
讓我在生活不順心時，也不輕易感到焦躁不耐煩。
賜我節制和忍耐的靈。
上帝操練我們的耐心，讓我們有容人的雅量。
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I couldn't take my actions back. A woman had parked her car and blocked my way of getting to the gas pump. She hopped out to drop off some recycling items, and I didn't feel like waiting, so I honked my horn at her. Irritated, I put my car in reverse and drove around another way. I immediately felt bad about being impatient and unwilling to wait 30 seconds (at the most) for her to move. I apologized to God. Yes, she should have parked in the designated area, but I could have spread kindness and patience instead of harshness. Unfortunately it was too late to apologize to her—she was gone.
Many of the Proverbs challenge us to think about how to respond when people get in the way of our plans. There's the one that says, "Fools show their annoyance at once" (Prov. 12:16). And "It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel" (20:3). Then there's this one that goes straight to the heart: "Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end" (29:11).
As we cooperate with God and depend on Him, He produces the fruit of the Spirit in us.
Growing in patience and kindness seems pretty difficult sometimes. But the apostle Paul says it is the work of God, the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:22-23). As we cooperate with Him and depend on Him, He produces that fruit in us. Please change us, Lord.
Make me a gentle person, Lord. One who doesn't quickly react in frustration to every annoyance that comes my way. Give me a spirit of self-control and patience.
God tests our patience to enlarge our hearts.