Loving our neighbors implies serving people very different from us, or even offensive to us. How is that possible? The key is to focus on Christ. We could see the apostle Peter’s focus shifting from himself to Christ via two fish-catching incidents. In both cases, Christ told him where to fish, leading to lots of fish. The first time was when Peter first met Christ. Peter’s response to the spectacular experience was: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:1-10). Peter’s focus was himself. The second time was after Christ’s resurrection. As soon as Peter knew the person teaching them how to fish was Christ, Peter at once jumped into the water to swim to Him (John 21:7). Peter could have run away because Christ might punish Peter for denying Him three times. Instead, Peter swam to Christ at once. Peter’s focus had shifted from himself to Christ. Peter changed because Christ let him in and never let him down. Christ let Peter in by opening up to him, making known to Peter everything He learned from the Heavenly Father (John 15:15). Christ never let him down. He even died for him to save him (John 15:13). Christ had become Peter’s greatest friend. Not just his great friend, Christ also had filled Peter’s deepest needs. Christ is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Peter didn’t have to yearn for others’ approval or material things on Earth. When Peter tried to compare himself with John, Christ told Peter to focus on his own path and story, and to focus on following Him (John 21:20-22). Peter became an overflowing spring that fulfilled the needs of countless people. But he didn’t accomplish this by himself. Peter also became a part of the body of Christ, which includes the Christian community. This community builds each other up, helps each other, and rejoices and mourns together. May the almighty Christ be our greatest friend and our focus. May we let Him fill our deepest needs. May we be a part of the community of Christ so that we might love and serve our neighbors. 专注基督而非他人或自己
爱邻舍意味着服侍与我们截然不同甚至冒犯自己的人。这怎么可能呢? 答案的核心就是以基督为中心。 使徒彼得经过两次捕鱼的事件,将焦点从自己转移到基督。在这两次事件中,基督都告诉彼得到何处捕鱼,使他们得到很多的鱼。 第一次事件发生在彼得初遇基督之时。 他如此回应这次特殊的经历:“主啊,離開我,我是個罪人!”(路加福音5:1-10)。彼得的焦点在自己身上。 第二次事件发生在基督复活之后。当彼得知道教他们捕鱼的人是基督时,立刻跳入水中游向祂 (约翰福音21:7)。彼得本该逃走,因三次拒绝了基督而可能受惩罚。相反地,他立即游向基督。彼得的焦点此刻从自己转移到基督身上。 彼得的焦点改变了,因为基督向他敞开大门,从不让他失望。基督接纳彼得,教导他, 使他知道自己从天父那里学到的一切(约翰福音15:15)。基督永不离弃彼得,甚至为拯救他而死(约翰福音15:13)。基督已成为彼得的好朋友。 基督不仅是彼得的好朋友,还满足他最深切的需求。基督是道路,真理和生命 (约翰福音14:6)。彼得不必再渴求人的认可,或世间之物。彼得试图将自己与约翰比较时,基督告诉他专注自己的路,自己的事,专注跟随祂(约翰福音21:20-22)。 彼得后来成为满溢的泉水,满足无数人的需求。但这不是他靠自己一个人做到的。 彼得也成为基督身体的一部分。 这身体包括基督徒的群体, 而这个群体彼此建立, 互相帮助, 一起欢乐,一同悲伤。 愿全能的基督成为我们最好的朋友, 最专注的中心。愿祂满足我们最深切的需求。愿我们成为基督群体的一部分,爱护并服事我们的邻舍。
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
|
© 2024 Insightfulsermons. All rights reserved. Insightfulsermons® is a registered trademark.