差遣门徒
圣经以很多种方式描述过耶稣的跟随者。我们被称为蒙恩的罪人,被接纳的儿女,以及基督身体中蒙爱的肢体。这些都是我们在基督里身份的重要标志。
但是,我们所拥有的另一个最重要的身份是“蒙差遣的人”。正如神差遣耶稣来到世上显明神的爱,现在耶稣也同样地差遣了我们。
在耶稣复活以后,跟随祂的人受了圣灵,获得能力投入事工。今天的我们作为跟随耶稣的人,乃是蒙召以我们的话语和行为分享耶稣的福音,邀请人们和我们一同来信靠耶稣。
很多时候,地方教会只忙于关心自己的事。基督徒花大量时间搞项目策划,处理内部冲突,使得他们很难有精力去和教会外部的人建立关系。难怪我们的许多教会都在缩水,许多教会所谓的“增长”,只不过是基督徒从一个教会换到另一个教会的结果。
然而,耶稣的教导清楚表明,跟随祂的人应该与神同工,参与到拯救失丧人群的使命中。只是谈论与人分享信仰是远远不够的——作为被神所呼召的人,这是我们身份的一部份标志。
父啊,求你使用我的话语和行动去帮助他人明白福音,照你的心意,看见并顾念他们的需要。阿们。
约翰福音 17:6-19
6你从世上赐给我的人,我已将你的名显明于他们。他们本是你的,你将他们赐给我,他们也遵守了你的道。
7如今他们知道,凡你所赐给我的,都是从你那里来的。
8因为你所赐给我的道,我已经赐给他们;他们也领受了,又确实知道我是从你出来的,并且信你差了我来。
9我为他们祈求;不为世人祈求,却为你所赐给我的人祈求,因他们本是你的。
10凡是我的都是你的,你的也是我的,并且我因他们得了荣耀。
11从今以后,我不在世上,他们却在世上,我往你那里去。圣父啊,求你因你所赐给我的名保守他们,叫他们合而为一,像我们一样。
12我与他们同在的时候,因你所赐给我的名保守了他们,我也护卫了他们,其中除了那灭亡之子,没有一个灭亡的,好叫经上的话得应验。
13现在我往你那里去,我还在世上说这话,是叫他们心里充满我的喜乐。
14我已将你的道赐给他们,世界又恨他们,因为他们不属世界,正如我不属世界一样。
15我不求你叫他们离开世界,只求你保守他们脱离那恶者。
16他们不属世界,正如我不属世界一样。
17求你用真理使他们成圣,你的道就是真理。
18你怎样差我到世上,我也照样差他们到世上。
19我为他们的缘故,自己分别为圣,叫他们也因真理成圣。
Sent People
"As you sent me into the world [Father], I have sent them into the world." - John 17:18
The Bible describes Jesus' followers in a number of ways. We are called forgiven sinners, adopted sons and daughters, and beloved members of the body of Christ. All of these are key aspects of who we are in Christ.
But one of the most important identities we have is as “sent people.” Just as Jesus was sent into the world to show God's love, so he now sends us to do the same.
After Jesus' resurrection, his followers received the Holy Spirit to empower them for mission. As Jesus' followers today, we are called to share the good news of Jesus in our words and actions, inviting people to place their faith in Jesus just as we have done.
Too often, local churches become wrapped up in their own concerns. Christians spend so much time running programs and dealing with internal conflicts that they have little energy to build relationships with people outside the church. It's not surprising that many of our churches are shrinking and that a lot of church “growth” is just a result of Christians transferring from one congregation to another.
Jesus' teaching makes clear, however, that his followers are partners in God's mission of saving people who are lost in sin. It's not enough to simply talk about sharing our faith—it's part of our identity in being the people God calls us to be.
Father, use my words and actions to help others understand the gospel and see their need for you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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