Break for Busy Income Tax Season and Will Return in Late April, 2024 (518) 「灵粮主题 TODAY’s Topic」献终身忠心为主事奉而得主喜悦 Dedicate Your Life to Serving the Lord Faithfully and Please the Lord

「灵粮经节 TODAY’s Verses」：「无论做甚麽，都要从心里做，像是给主做的，不是给人做的，因你们知道从主那里必得着基业为赏赐；你们所事奉的乃是主基督。那行不义的必受不义的报应；主并不偏待人; Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.」（歌罗西书Colossians 3: 23-25 节）

「灵粮分享 TODAY’s Sharing」： 在今日灵粮所引用的经节中，使徒保罗提醒我们，行事待人，尤其是在教会机构中执行主大使命的工作人员，应该具备属灵的事奉态度和责任感，特别是做牧会传福音的， 以及在教会机构中服务的同工同僚执事们；无论做甚麽，都要从心里做，像是给主做的，不是给人做的，因为我们知道从主那里必得着基业为赏赐；我们所事奉的乃是主基督。所以对神要有至死忠心的事奉，荣耀归于神就能得着主的喜悦。如果我们想赢得青睐，就要把神放在我们生命中的优先位置，顺服、谦卑、荣耀祂、事奉并建立神的国度关系。

圣经学习工具工作人员 The Bible Study Tools Staff 于 2023 年 7 月 5 日整理了这段的分享有关于 “事奉神” 的方式与方法。 这是基督教信仰最重要的原则之一，因为信徒应该以喜乐的精神来帮助教会。 “彼此相爱。” “互相关心。” “为彼此祈祷。” “互相鼓励。” “互相帮助。” “互相商量一下。” “互相支持。” 圣经反复告诉我们，我们通过服务与神和他人的关系。 圣经教导我们，事奉神和他人不是做大事，而是用大爱做小事。 我们可以每天通过善待邻居、自愿花时间帮助他人以及为有需要的人提供帮助来服务神和他人。 使徒彼得在彼得前书 1 Peter 4: 10-11 节里的教导也都意眛着说：“你们各人应当运用你们所领受的一切恩赐来服事别人，成为神各样恩典的忠心管家。” 热心不可懒惰，心里要火热，侍奉主。这些经文都在鼓励我们，首先，请记住，我们行事为人，尤其是为他人服务可能并不总是那么容易，但神的恩典和力量会帮助我们。 其次，我们必须记住，没有什么是太小而神不会使用的。 我们为神所做的一切都不是徒然的！ 圣经中许多关于事奉的经文都在鼓励着我们的心灵与用事，增强我们对神有献终身忠心为主事奉的意愿，得来有主的喜悦与将来的永生赏赐！

今晨在「荒漠甘泉 Wells of Grace」里，读到考门夫人 Rev. Lettie Cowman 的专栏，在她的专栏里有一位牧者伯顿 Burton 写了一篇，有关 “不要为自己伸冤” 的分享。牧者引用罗马书 Romans 12: 19 节，描述保罗在这章书信里，教导我们行事为人，尤其是做一个传福音的牧者与人事奉，都要学像耶稣，献身做活祭，让祂使用你，做神传福音的好器皿。保罗在经节里提醒我们不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫我们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。鼓励我们做弟兄姊妹的要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让，在事奉里，更要彼此同心，不要以恶报恶；众人都要以为美的事留心去做。若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦，不要为自己伸冤，宁可让步，听凭主怒。因为早在旧约圣经申命記 Deuteronomy 32: 35 节里记載着主说的；伸冤在祂，神必报应。这也就是「今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY」主题所要分享的, “献终身忠心为主事奉而得主喜悦” 。避免在教会机构中有排弃他人事奉，居有妒忌之心的纷争。珍惜神给我们有机会在事奉人群，成为一个教会牧羊人的好管家，也就是给神做个传福音的好器皿。

牧者接着解释道：我们前些也都说过，许多时侯，我们在行事为人，尤其是为他人服务可能并不总是那么容易，也许也会给人诬告嫌弃，所以要有耐心事奉主，不要为自己伸冤，静比动更费力。静是力量展示的最高效果。比如说，救主耶稣对那些毫无根据的最恶毒的控告受审判的时候，主始终什么都不回答，连一句话也不说，以致审判官觉得稀奇。对那些无理的侮辱，不堪的虐待和嘲笑，连旁人都会愤怒，可是耶稣始终镇静。祂大有能力，才能不动。所以我们在事奉里，凡曾受过冤枉撇弃、毁谤和虐待的，都知道维持镇静，需要何等大的力量。

再举一个例子，使徒保罗在使徒行传 Acts 20: 24 里也都这么见证着说：“没有一件东西可以摇动我。” 他不是说，“没有一件东西可以伤害我。” 伤害是一件事，摇动又是一件事。保罗的心很仁慈。我们没有读过哪位使徒像保罗那样痛哭过。痛哭无碍于一个人的坚毅。耶稣曾哭过，祂是有史以来最坚毅的人。所以，保罗不是说 “没有一件东西可以伤害我”，而是下定决心，不让任何事物摇动他。我们所计较的保罗并不计较，他不贪求安适，他不以性命为念。保罗追求的只有一件事，就是对主至死忠心，要得主的喜悦。所以，保罗比任何人更认识到，主的功德就是他的酬报，主的微笑就是他的天堂，将来的赏赐。大家星期五开心，周末愉快！

「灵粮祷告 TODAY’s Prayer」：当一切都说完了，在本期分享的总结里「今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY」也就引用哥林多前书 1 Corinthians 15: 58 节，让大家在主的爱里互相祷告，互相勉励。在我们生活里的行事为人，不管事奉的对象是谁，你也都是在施行服侍神给你的恩赐，待人服侍都要有神的大爱，因为你是为神工作，所以说，“献终身忠心为主事奉而得主喜悦。” 在这节经中，使徒保罗劝勉我们做的弟兄姐妹，得要弘扬仁慈和自我牺牲的精神来服务大众，展示神给这个世界的爱，而你作神的仆人也都要开展这项服务，注重爱人如己的博爱精神，说：“所以，我亲爱的弟兄们，你们务要坚固，不可摇动，常常竭力多做主工；因为知道，你们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的。”求神帮助我们，凡事都能遵守祂的旨意与吩咐，讨神喜悦地事奉与展示神的爱侍人。奉主名祷告，阿门！

In TODAY’s verses quoted for spiritual food today, the apostle Paul reminds us that when dealing with others, especially those who carry out the Lord’s Great Commission in church institutions, they should have a spiritual service attitude and sense of responsibility, especially those who are in the pastoral staff as preachers, as well as fellow co-workers and deacons serving in church institutions; whatever we do, we must do it heartily, as for the Lord, not for men, because we know that we will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward; we it is the Lord Christ whom we serve. Therefore, we must serve God faithfully until death. If we give glory to God, we can gain the favor of the Lord. If we want to win favour, we must make God a priority in our lives, obey, be humble, glorify Him, serve, and build God’s Kingdom relationships.

The Bible Study Tools Staff compiled this sharing on July 5, 2023 about the ways and methods of “serving God”. This is one of the most important principles of the Christian faith, for believers should help the church with a spirit of joy. “Love one another.” “Care for one another.” “Pray for one another.” “Encourage one another.” “Help one another.” “Consult one another.” “Support one another.” The Bible tells us repeatedly that we connect with God and others through service and relationship. The Bible teaches us that serving God and others is not about doing big things, but doing small things with great love. We can serve God and others every day by being kind to our neighbours, volunteering our time to help others, and providing assistance to those in need. The apostle Peter taught us this in 1 Peter 4: 10-11: “Each of you should use every gift you have received to serve others, being faithful stewards of God’s grace in all its forms.” Zeal do not be lazy, but be fervent in your heart to serve the Lord. These verses encourage us, first, to remember that it may not always be easy for us to walk in life, especially in service to others, but God’s grace and power will help us. Second, we must remember that nothing is too small for God to use. Nothing we do for God is in vain! Many verses about service in the Bible encourage our hearts and actions, strengthen our willingness to dedicate life to serving the Lord faithfully, and gain the joy of the Lord and the reward of eternal life in the future!

This morning in "荒漠甘泉 Wells of Grace", I read Rev. Lettie Cowman's column. In her column, a pastor, Burton, wrote an article about "Don't avenge yourself." The pastor quoted Romans 12: 19 to describe how Paul taught us in the chapter that in our conduct, especially as a pastor who preaches the gospel and serves others, we must learn to be like Jesus and dedicate ourselves as a living sacrifice for Him to use. And be a good vessel for God to preach and deliver the gospel. Paul reminds us in the scripture not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, so that we can discover what is the good, perfect, and pleasing will of God. We are encouraged as brothers and sisters to be affectionate to each other, to respect others, to give way to each other, and to be of the same mind with each other in service, and not to repay evil for evil; and that everyone should be careful to do what is good for them. If possible, always try your best to be at peace with everyone, rather than avenging yourself, rather giving in and allowing the Lord's wrath. Because as early as Deuteronomy 32: 35 in the Old Testament, it is recorded that the Lord said: Vengeance is His, and God will repay. This is what the theme of "今日灵粮 Spiritual FOOD TODAY" is about to share, "Dedicate Your Life to Serving the Lord Faithfully and Please the Lord." Avoid disputes in church institutions that exclude others from serving and lead to jealousy. Cherish the opportunity God gives us to serve people and become good stewards of the church shepherd, which means being a good vessel for God to preach and deliver the gospel.

The pastor went on to explain: As we have said before, many times, it may not always be easy for us to behave, especially serving others. We may also be falsely accused and disliked, so we must serve patiently. Lord, do not avenge yourself, it is more laborious to be still than to move. Stillness is the highest effect of a display of power. For example, when the Savior Jesus was being judged against the most vicious and baseless accusations, the Lord never answered anything, not even a word, so that the judge found it strange. Even others would be angry at those unreasonable insults, unbearable abuse and ridicule, but Jesus remained calm. He is so powerful that He cannot move. Therefore, in our service, those of us who have been wrongfully abandoned, slandered, and abused all know how much strength it takes to maintain and remain composure.

To give another example, the apostle Paul also testified in Acts 20: 24: "Nothing can shake me." He did not mean, "Nothing can hurt me." Injury is a one thing; shaking is another thing. Paul had a kind heart. We don’t read of any apostle weeping like Paul. Crying has nothing to do with a person's perseverance. Jesus cried; He was the strongest man who ever lived. So, Paul was not saying, “Nothing can hurt me,” but he was determined not to let anything shake him. The Paul we care about does not care about things, he does not covet comfort, and he does not care about his life. Paul pursued only one thing, which was to be faithful to the Lord until death and to please the Lord. Therefore, Paul realized more than anyone else that the Lord’s merits are his reward, and the Lord’s smile is his heaven and future reward. Happy Friday everyone and have a great weekend!

When everything is said and done, in the summary of this issue, "今日灵粮 Spiritual Food TODAY" would like to quote 1 Corinthians 15: 58, allowing everyone to pray for each other and encourage each other in the love of the Lord. In the way we behave in life, no matter who we serve, you are also serving the gifts God has given you. You must have God’s great love when you serve others, because you are working for God, therefore, it is said, “Dedicate Your Life to Serving the Lord Faithfully and Please the Lord .” In this verse, the apostle Paul exhorts us brothers and sisters to promote the spirit of kindness and self-sacrifice to serve the public and show God’s love to the world, and you as God Servants of the Lord must also carry out this service, focusing on the philanthropic spirit of loving others as themselves, saying: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” Pray that God will help strengthen us to obey His will and instructions in everything, serve in a way that pleases God, as well as show God’s love to serve others. Pray in the name of the Lord, Amen!

(518) Whisper, Dr. John 张皇卿博士编写于 at 脸书网站：https://www.facebook.com/johnking9999 和 and 维克斯网站：http://johnking9999.wixsite.com/website  Edmonton, AB, Canada Friday 03. 08. 2024.