Many people are going through different forms of challenges in this world right now. From homemakers to corporate people, everyone is susceptible to various kinds of stress, pressures and hard-pressed situations. It might be easier for believers to go through tribulations, but it is a very different story for unbelievers who live in hopelessness. Does God want us to be indifferent to their plight? What should we do for believers and non-believers who are having a hard time?
Luke 10:29,36-37 (NKJV) But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”….. So which of these three do you think was neighbour to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
All of us are familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan. Unfortunately, it is rarely practised in many societies because we are wary of the inconveniences, possible accusations by the families of the injured and the responsibilities that come with helping someone. Therefore, many of us would rather contribute money than be personally involved in helping those who are wounded or journeying with those who need help.
Though we are not saved by works, we are definitely saved to do good works. Before we were saved, we tended to be self-centred and cared only for ourselves because sin is self-centredness. Sin causes people to ignore what God wants and desires for them. Because it is all about the self, the feelings and needs of others are the least of our concerns.
Luke 10:27 (NKJV) So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’ ”
Jesus has taught us about a new law that will fulfil all the laws. The commandment to love God and men basically sums up the Ten Commandments. It is a selfless and sacrificial kind of love that is enabled by the Holy Spirit working through the new creation. Sin that is dominated by self-centredness was active in our lives prior to our salvation, but we have been given a heart of flesh to replace the heart of stone. We now love because God first loved us, and the Agape love that flows out of our hearts is unconditional and selfless because it originates from God.
We must not be a consumer of Christianity where we are only concerned about what God can do for us. Instead, we should be an expression of God’s love by journeying with those who need us.
Sermon Series: Keep Your Peace (Part 2)
谁是我的邻舍？
在这世界上有许多人如今正在经历不同形式的挑战。从家庭主妇到企业员工，每个人都容易受到不同形式的压力、压迫和困境的影响。可能信徒在经历磨难时会比较容易一些，但对于生活在绝望中的非信徒来说，情况就完全不同了。上帝希望我们对他们的困境漠不关心吗？我们应该为那些正处于困境的信徒和非信徒做些什么？
路加福音10:29，36-37 那人要显明自己有理，就对耶稣说：「谁是我的邻舍呢？」…你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？」 他说：「是怜悯他的。」耶稣说：「你去照样行吧。」
我们都熟悉好撒马利亚人的故事。不幸的是，在许多社会中很少有这样的操练，因为我们担心会带来不便、可能被伤者家属指控、以及帮助他人所带来的责任。因此，我们当中的许多人宁愿捐款，也不愿亲自参与帮助那些受伤的人或陪伴那些需要帮助的人。
虽然我们不是凭行为得救，但我们得救肯定是为了行善。在我们得救之前，我们喜欢以自我为中心，只关心自己，因为罪就是以自我为中心。罪使人们忽视上帝对他们的要求和期望。因为关注的是自己，别人的感受和需求是我们最不关心的。
路加福音10:27 他回答说：「你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主—你的上帝；又要爱邻舍如同自己。」
耶稣教导我们一条新的律法，它将完全所有的律法。基本上十诫都包在爱上帝和爱人的命令里了。这是一种无私和牺牲的爱，是由圣灵通过新造的人而实现的。在我们得救之前，以自我中心的罪在我们的生活中很活跃，但如今我们被赋予了一颗肉心来取代石心。我们现在爱是因为上帝先爱我们，而从我们心中流出的Agape的爱是无条件和无私的，因为它源于上帝。
我们绝不能成为消费者心态的基督徒，只关心上帝能为我们做什么。相反，我们应该通过与那些需要我们的人同行来表达上帝的爱。
讲章系列：保持你的平安 (第二部分)
Image Source：pixabay.com