2016年4月3日
鐵匠與國王
The Blacksmith and the King
读经: 出埃及記31章1-11節
Reading: Exodus 31:1-11
無論做什麼，都要從心裡做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的。-歌羅西書3章23節
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23
全年读经: 士師記19-21章;路加福音7章31-50節
Bible in a Year: Judges 19–21; Luke 7:31-50
在1878年，蘇格蘭宣教士亞歷山大·麥凱抵達今日的烏干達。開始時，他在穆特薩國王的部落開了一間鐵匠舖，引起當地村民的好奇圍觀。他們疑惑這個外國人竟然動手做工，因為在當地這是婦女的工作。當時烏干達的男人不需要動手勞作，只需要突襲其他村落，擄掠奴隸，販賣給其他部落。然而，這個外國男人竟然在此用手打造農具。
麥凱的工作和生活態度，使他和村民建立了良好的關係，連國王也接見了他。穆特薩王還接受麥凱的建議，結束了部落的奴隸販賣。
舊約聖經記載，上帝揀選比撒列和亞何利亞伯，並賦予他們恩賜，讓他們用手建造會幕，製作敬拜上帝所需用的一切器具（出埃及記31章1-11節）。他們以才幹和勞力尊榮、服事上帝，麥凱也是如此。
我們常常把我們的工作分為教會的和世俗的，但事實上，並沒有這等分別。上帝造我們時，已經讓我們每個人都具備能力，可以為上帝的國度做出獨特而有意義的貢獻。即使我們無法選擇工作的地點或方式，上帝要我們更認識祂，祂必會讓我們看見該怎麼事奉祂。
天父，讓我看見祢在我生命中所定的計畫。
幫助我無論遇到任何人，或在任何地方工作，
都能看見祢的大能正在運行。
無論我們在哪裡，上帝都會指示我們如何服事祂。
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In 1878, when Scotsman Alexander Mackay arrived in what is now Uganda to serve as a missionary, he first set up a blacksmith forge among a tribe ruled by King Mutesa. Villagers gathered around this stranger who worked with his hands, puzzled because everyone "knew" that work was for women. At that time, men in Uganda never worked with their hands. They raided other villages to capture slaves, selling them to outsiders. Yet here was this foreign man at work forging farming tools.
Mackay's work ethic and life resulted in relationships with the villagers and gained him an audience with the king. Mackay challenged King Mutesa to end the slave trade, and he did.
God calls us to know Him more fully—and He will show us how to serve Him
In Scripture, we read of Bezalel and Oholiab, who were chosen and gifted by God to work with their hands designing the tent of meeting and all its furnishings for worship (Ex. 31:1-11). Like Mackay, they honored and served God with their talent and labor.
We tend to categorize our work as either church work or secular. In truth, there is no distinction. God designs each of us in ways that make our contributions to the kingdom unique and meaningful. Even when we have little choice in where or how we work, God calls us to know Him more fully—and He will show us how to serve Him—right now.
Father, grant me an awareness of my place in Your work. Help me to see You at work in the people and places where I spend my time.
God will show us how to serve Him—wherever we are.