不可能发生的故事
随着我的孩子逐渐长大,他们有时会给我讲些事情,这些事让我不禁问道:“真的吗?真有这些事吗?”但我不得不承认,我也曾对我的父母讲过类似的事。
扫罗归信的故事也让许多人问道:“真的吗?”因为保罗是众所周知迫害基督徒的人。但那是他在去大马士革的路上遇见耶稣、见到异象以至瞎眼之前。后来,与他同行的人把他带进城,耶稣启示一个叫亚拿尼亚的门徒,去带给保罗信息,使他复明。亚拿尼亚的回应是:“真的吗?”他提醒主说,这个人是来缉拿基督徒的。
后来,其他人也开始震惊、惧怕。甚至在耶路撒冷的基督徒都不敢相信这个消息。只有勇敢、善良的巴拿巴把扫罗引荐给了使徒们。究竟是什么不同了呢?
扫罗不同了。扫罗遇见了耶稣。他曾经瞎眼,但如今他看见了真理。他是一个看似不可能的器皿——教会的迫害者——变成了服事耶稣的传道和教师。
或许,你很想为了神使用一项恩赐,却听见撒旦说:“真的吗?”不要灰心。我们都是神恩典中不配的器皿。
主啊,求你叫我知道,靠着你的恩典,藉着你的圣灵,你总是使看似不可能的罪人在你的国度中服事。愿我们为你而勇敢。阿们。
使徒行传 9:1-31
1扫罗仍然向主的门徒口吐威吓凶杀的话,去见大祭司,
2求文书给大马士革的各会堂,若是找着信奉这道的人,无论男女,都准他捆绑带到耶路撒冷。
3扫罗行路,将到大马士革,忽然从天上发光,四面照着他。
4他就仆倒在地,听见有声音对他说:“扫罗,扫罗,你为什么逼迫我?”
5他说:“主啊,你是谁?”主说:“我就是你所逼迫的耶稣。
6起来!进城去,你所当做的事,必有人告诉你。”
7同行的人站在那里,说不出话来,听见声音,却看不见人。
8扫罗从地上起来,睁开眼睛,竟不能看见什么。有人拉他的手,领他进了大马士革。
9三日不能看见,也不吃也不喝。
10当下,在大马士革有一个门徒,名叫亚拿尼亚。主在异象中对他说:“亚拿尼亚!”他说:“主,我在这里。”
11主对他说:“起来!往直街去,在犹大的家里访问一个大数人,名叫扫罗。他正祷告,
12又看见了一个人,名叫亚拿尼亚,进来按手在他身上,叫他能看见。”
13亚拿尼亚回答说:“主啊,我听见许多人说这人怎样在耶路撒冷多多苦害你的圣徒,
14并且他在这里有从祭司长得来的权柄,捆绑一切求告你名的人。”
15主对亚拿尼亚说:“你只管去!他是我所拣选的器皿,要在外邦人和君王并以色列人面前宣扬我的名。
16我也要指示他,为我的名必须受许多的苦难。”
17亚拿尼亚就去了,进入那家,把手按在扫罗身上,说:“兄弟扫罗,在你来的路上向你显现的主,就是耶稣,打发我来叫你能看见,又被圣灵充满。”
18扫罗的眼睛上好像有鳞立刻掉下来,他就能看见。于是起来受了洗,
19吃过饭就健壮了。扫罗和大马士革的门徒同住了些日子,
20就在各会堂里宣传耶稣,说他是神的儿子。
21凡听见的人都惊奇,说:“在耶路撒冷残害求告这名的,不是这人吗?并且他到这里来,特要捆绑他们,带到祭司长那里!”
22但扫罗越发有能力,驳倒住大马士革的犹太人,证明耶稣是基督。
23过了好些日子,犹太人商议要杀扫罗,
24但他们的计谋被扫罗知道了。他们又昼夜在城门守候,要杀他。
25他的门徒就在夜间用筐子把他从城墙上缒下去。
26扫罗到了耶路撒冷,想与门徒结交,他们却都怕他,不信他是门徒。
27唯有巴拿巴接待他,领去见使徒,把他在路上怎么看见主,主怎么向他说话,他在大马士革怎么奉耶稣的名放胆传道,都述说出来。
28于是扫罗在耶路撒冷和门徒出入来往,
29奉主的名放胆传道,并与说希腊话的犹太人讲论辩驳。他们却想法子要杀他。
30弟兄们知道了,就送他下恺撒利亚,打发他往大数去。
31那时,犹太、加利利、撒马利亚各处的教会都得平安,被建立,凡事敬畏主,蒙圣灵的安慰,人数就增多了。
An Unlikely Story
“[They] were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners...?’” — Acts 9:21
As my children were growing up, they sometimes told stories that made me ask, “Really? Did that really happen?” I have to admit that I also told similar stories to my parents.
The story of Saul’s conversion caused a lot of people to ask, “Really?” Saul was a well-known persecutor of Christians. But that was before he met Jesus in a blinding vision on the road to Damascus. Then, after Saul was brought into the city by the men traveling with him, Jesus told a disciple named Ananias to bring Saul a message and restore his sight. Ananias responded, “Really?” He reminded the Lord that Saul had come to arrest believers in Jesus.
Ananias’s fear was joined later by the astonishment of others. Even the disciples of Jesus in Jerusalem could not believe the news. Only the courage and kindness of Barnabas helped Saul get an introduction to the apostles. What changed?
Saul changed. Saul had met Jesus. He had been blind, but now he saw the truth. An unlikely instrument—a persecutor of the church—became a preacher and teacher for Jesus.
Maybe you have thought about using a gift for God and have heard Satan whisper, “Really?” Don’t be discouraged. We are all unlikely instruments of God’s grace.
Lord, help us to know that by your grace and through your Spirit, you bring unlikely sinners to service in your kingdom. May we be bold for you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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