Luke 5:3-6 (NKJV) Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Many of us are at a crossroads in our lives right now because of the sluggish economic climate. Therefore, we all need a firm footing to move forward with confidence.
The current crisis has brought about one thing: a return to the basics of walking by faith for all Christians. There seems to be considerable uncertainty over the coming few years. Many people will need to make significant adjustments to their lives. We can plan, strategise, and execute our plans, but ultimately, we will still have to revert to walking by faith because of the current shortage of opportunities in the marketplace.
All of us would like to face the future with confidence. As Christians, we can have faith in God that He has a good future in store for us. We are very blessed to have the Lord to journey with us daily, for He is the best coach, guide, helper, or strategist we could ever have in our lives.
From the opening passage, there are two things we can learn from Simon Peter. He was open to having Jesus come into his sphere of influence and his life. Second, he was also obedient to the Master. Sadly, not everyone is open to having Jesus speak into their lives, especially when it involves their professional careers. Many have separated the sacred from the secular. However, our work should be our worship to God. He wants us to be a good testimony for Him in the marketplace.
Meanwhile, many Christians are not interested in knowing God’s will for their lives because of their pride. They want absolute control over their business and their lives. Oftentimes, they will only listen to God when they have come to the end of themselves, humbled only when they are faced with an incurable illness, a scenario they cannot solve or escape, or a possible business failure. That’s when they are humble, teachable, and willing to worship God wholeheartedly.
However, it does not have to be like this. It is much better to walk in God’s will so we can be full of faith, confident, strong, and courageous when the storms come. It is very difficult to anchor our faith during the storms of life unless we know that we are in the middle of God’s will. Living out the consecrated life by living in God’s will gives us a faith that is rooted in His Word to us.
Reflection: Do you know if you are walking in God’s will right now? What keeps you from seeking His will and being obedient to it?
Sermon Series: Walk into the future with a word given by God
带着信心面对未来
路加福音 5:3-6 有一只船是西门的，耶稣就上去，请他把船撑开，稍微离岸，就坐下，从船上教训众人。讲完了，对西门说：“把船开到水深之处，下网打鱼。” 西门说：“夫子，我们整夜劳力，并没有打着什么，但依从你的话，我就下网。” 他们下了网，就圈住许多鱼，网险些裂开，
由于经济环境低迷，我们许多人目前正处在人生的十字路口。因此，我们都需要一个稳固的根基，才能带着信心继续向前。
当前的危机带来了一件事：它使所有基督徒重新回到凭信心行走的基本功课上。未来几年似乎充满许多不确定性。许多人需要对自己的生活作出重大的调整。我们可以计划、制定策略，并执行我们的计划，但最终，因为市场中机会的减少，我们仍然必须回到凭信心行走的道路上。
我们每个人都希望能够带着信心面对未来。作为基督徒，我们可以相信神，因为祂已经为我们预备了美好的未来。我们非常蒙福，因为主每天与我们同行；祂是我们生命中能够拥有的最好教练、引导者、帮助者，以及策略制定者。
从开篇的经文中，我们可以从西门彼得身上学习两件事。第一，他愿意让耶稣进入他的影响范围和生命当中。第二，他也愿意顺服主。然而，令人遗憾的是，并不是每个人都愿意让耶稣在他们的生命中说话，尤其当这涉及他们的职业生涯时。许多人将属灵与属世分割开来。然而，我们的工作应当成为对神的敬拜。祂希望我们在职场中成为祂美好的见证。
与此同时，许多基督徒因为骄傲，而不愿意寻求神对他们生命的旨意。他们希望完全掌控自己的事业和人生。很多时候，他们只有在走到自己的尽头时，才会愿意听神的话；他们只有在面对无法医治的疾病、无法解决或逃避的困境，或可能面临事业失败时，才真正谦卑下来。那时，他们才会变得谦卑、愿意受教，并甘心全心敬拜神。
然而，事情不一定非要如此。更好的方式是行在神的旨意中，这样，当风暴来到时，我们可以充满信心、有把握、有力量，并且勇敢面对。除非我们知道自己正处在神的旨意当中，否则在生命的风暴中持守信心是非常困难的。借着活出分别为圣的生命，并行在神的旨意中，我们能够拥有一个建立在祂向我们所说的话语之上的信心。
默想：你是否知道自己现在正行在神的旨意中？是什么阻碍你寻求神的旨意，并顺服祂的带领？
讲章系列：带着神所赐的话语迈向未来