2016年4月17日
犹疑的变色龙 Chameleon Crawl
读经: 使徒行传2章42-47节
Reading: Acts 2:42-47
他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里。-使徒行传2章46节
Every day they continued to meet together. Acts 2:46
全年读经: 撒母耳记下1-2章;路加福音14章1-24节
Bible in a Year: 2 Samuel 1–2; Luke 14:1-24
当我们想到变色龙，自然会联想到它们会随着环境而改变颜色。但是这种蜥蜴有另一种有趣的特性。有好几回，我看着变色龙在地上爬行，心想它们什么时候才能到达目的地。只看到变色龙勉强地、慢慢地伸出一只脚，然后又好像改变心意缩了回去；接着它们再试一次，小心翼翼踏出那踌躇不前的一步，仿佛只要一踩下去就会天崩地裂。于是，就有人打趣地说：「不要成为教会的变色龙，常说：『今天我要去教会。噢，不！下星期再去好了。算了，还是改天再去吧！』」这样的形容，总是让我不禁会心一笑。
大卫王常在耶路撒冷「耶和华的殿」中敬拜上帝，他不是迟疑不决的变色龙。相反地，只要有人对他说：「我们往耶和华的殿去」，他就感到欢喜（诗篇122篇1节） 。初代教会的信徒也是一样，「都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接，擘饼，祈祷……他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里」（使徒行传2章42、46节）。
的确，与弟兄姐妹一同敬拜、享受团契生活，是何等欢喜快乐！众人同心合意地祷告、颂赞、读经、彼此相顾，能让我们的灵命成长，并能促进肢体合一。
在父宝座面前，同心虔诚祈祷，同担忧惧，
同得安慰，同一盼望目标。
同心敬拜带来力量和喜乐。
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When we think of the chameleon, we probably think of its ability to change color according to its surroundings. But this lizard has another interesting characteristic. On several occasions I've watched a chameleon walk along a pathway and wondered how it ever reached its destination. Reluctantly, the chameleon stretches out one leg, seems to change its mind, attempts again, and then carefully plants a hesitant foot, as if afraid the ground will collapse under it. That was why I couldn't help laughing when I heard someone say, "Do not be a chameleon church member who says, 'Let me go to church today; no, let me go next week; no, let me wait for a while!'"
"The house of the Lord" at Jerusalem was King David's place of worship, and he was far from being a "chameleon" worshiper. Rather, he rejoiced with those who said, "Let us go to the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). The same was true for believers in the early church. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. . . . Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts" (Acts 2:42, 46).
What a joy it is to join with others in worship and fellowship! Praying and worshiping together, studying the Scriptures together, and caring for one another are essential for our spiritual growth and unity as believers.
Before our Father's throne we pour our ardent prayers; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our cares. John Fawcett
Worshiping together brings strength and joy.