當生命被真光點亮 (王慕亮牧師)
在我們生活中很多的問題,不是靠我們的知識或思維的轉變就可以控制得了的。很多的道理我們知道,但是卻做不到。我們的信仰不是一個道理,或是一個思維的轉變,而是和又真又活的神發生關係,他在我們裡面可以帶來超越自我的能力。今天我們要看的是,兩個囚犯和獄卒的故事,他們在同一天都面臨到了人生的困境,但他們的反應卻完全的不同。從外在看拿刀的獄卒應該是強大的,但他的內在生命卻是非常的脆弱絕望;帶著鎖鏈渾身是傷的保羅和西拉,應該是軟弱愁苦的,但他們內心卻是充滿喜樂的和讚美。
保羅如同明燈,在這黑暗的一夜,給這人間最醜陋骯髒的牢房,帶來光明,給絕境者帶來重生,帶來喜樂的生命。奪走了我們喜樂和安息的,不是對方加給你的鎖鏈和捆綁,是我們的這將殘的燈火需要被神挑亮。
使徒行傳 16:22-34 (和合本)
- 眾人就一同起來攻擊他們。官長吩咐剝了他們的衣裳,用棍打;
- 打了許多棍,便將他們下在監裡,囑咐禁卒嚴緊看守。
- 禁卒領了這樣的命,就把他們下在內監裡,兩腳上了木狗。
- 約在半夜,保羅和西拉禱告,唱詩讚美神,眾囚犯也側耳而聽。
- 忽然,地大震動,甚至監牢的地基都搖動了,監門立刻全開,眾囚犯的鎖鍊也都鬆開了。
- 禁卒一醒,看見監門全開,以為囚犯已經逃走,就拔刀要自殺。
- 保羅大聲呼叫說:不要傷害自己!我們都在這裡。
- 禁卒叫人拿燈來,就跳進去,戰戰兢兢的俯伏在保羅、西拉面前;
- 又領他們出來,說:二位先生,我當怎樣行才可以得救?
- 他們說:當信主耶穌,你和你一家都必得救。
- 他們就把主的道講給他和他全家的人聽。
- 當夜,就在那時候,禁卒把他們帶去,洗他們的傷;他和屬乎他的人立時都受了洗。
- 於是禁卒領他們上自己家裡去,給他們擺上飯。他和全家,因為信了神,都很喜樂。
Acts 16:22-34 (NIV)
- The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.
- After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
- When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
- About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
- Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
- The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
- But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
- The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
- He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
- They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
- Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
- At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
- The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.