Mark 4:16-17, 20 (NKJV) These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.….But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.
In the Bible, the Word is referred to as a seed. Because we are given freewill to choose, it is we, and not God, who determine how much His Word will take root in our hearts to produce peace. If we are reluctant towards or disinterested in the Word, it cannot take root in our hearts, and fear will soon dominate our minds and hearts whenever we hear of negative news or go through any tribulation or adversity. However, if we have the right attitude towards the Word and allow it to take root by watering it, it will produce many folds in our lives. Watering the seed means we meditate on the Word and taking God’s Word and His promises seriously by choosing to focus on God, filling our minds intentionally and proactively with His Word and His character as revealed in the Bible. This will prevent the seed from being stolen when tribulations, adversities and negative news come.
Philippians 4:8-9 (NKJV)Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
What we say and hear, and what we fill our minds with will all affect us emotionally. Therefore, what we think will either allow fear or faith to dominate our lives. Just like faith is being built up when we listen to the preaching and teaching of the Word because it carries power, our words also carry power because we are made in the image of God. Whenever we complain or say negative things, we are consciously or subconsciously filling our minds with negativity, and letting our joy and peace be stolen. Instead, we should cast out fear in our minds and hearts by replacing it with the Word of God. While we don’t deny facts or credible reports, we can choose to reject and stop fear from occupying any position in our minds and let the Word of God dominate our thoughts.
It is a matter of choice to hold onto our peace or let it be stolen from us. Meditating on the truth and allowing God’s peace to dominate our minds and hearts is how we keep our minds stead on God.
Sermon Series: Keeping the Peace of God
保住平安还是失去平安
马可福音4:16-17，20那撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，立刻欢喜领受， 但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了…那撒在好地上的，就是人听道，又领受，并且结实，有三十倍的，有六十倍的，有一百倍的。
在圣经里，神的道被称为种子。因为我们被赐与自由意志作选择，就由我们——而不是神——来决定神的道在我们心中扎根到多大程度以产生平。如果我们不愿意或对神的道不感兴趣，主的话就无法在我们心中生根，于是每当我们听到负面消息或经历任何苦难或逆境，恐惧就会很快占据我们的头脑和心思。然而，如果我们对神的道有正确的态度，并藉着浇灌让它生根，道的种子将在我们的生命中倍增。浇灌种子意味着我们默想主的话，认真对待神的话语和应许，选择专注于神，有意地、主动地把祂的话语以及经文中所揭示的祂的品格充满我们的心思意念。在苦难、逆境和负面消息到来时，就能防止种子被偷走。
腓立比书4:8-9 弟兄们，我还有未尽的话：凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的，若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。 你们在我身上所学习的，所领受的，所听见的，所看见的，这些事你们都要去行，赐平安的上帝就必与你们同在。
我们所说、所听、所想都会在情感上影响我们。因此，我们的思想将决定我们的生命由什么掌控：是惧怕，还是信心。正如当我们聆听讲道和圣经的教导时，信心就得到建立，因为它承载着力量，我们的话语也承载着力量，因为我们是按照上帝的形象造的。每当我们抱怨或说消极的话，我们是在有意无意地以消极情绪填满我们的心思，让我们的喜乐与平安被偷走。我们应该反其道而行之，以上帝的话语来取代抱怨，从而消除心中的恐惧。虽然我们不否认事实或可信的报道，但我们可以选择让上帝的话语主宰我们的思想，拒绝并阻止恐惧占据我们心思的任何位置。
是持守平安，还是任它被偷走，这是一个选择。默想真理，让上帝的平安主宰我们的思想和心灵，如此我们就能让思想安稳在上帝那里。
讲章系列：与全能者的平安同在
Image Source: pixabay.com