在我的工作中,我常和年轻人一起寻找他们的身份定位,寻索神创造他们要成为怎样的人。我们会探讨不同类型的性格,了解某种职业及其晋升之途怎样适合某类型性格的人。我们透过评估和思考人生经历,从而确定个人的热情、天赋、恩赐,和能力。我们也会反思职业的使命和呼召。
明白个人的恩赐、热情,和呼召不仅能帮助这个人识别出自己能做或可能会做什么,也能识别出那些很不适合他们的事情。它能使一个人摆脱“包办一切”的概念,使他们能对一些事放手。
活在复活中的生命使我们知道自己的完全归属,并使我们在基督里找到自己的身份定位。明白基督的复活带给我们的自由,能帮助我们聚焦于如何活得丰盛。当我们尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力寻求神时,神会启示什么是对我们最好的,并帮助我们认识到在自己心里的黑暗,正是这黑暗,使我们一直远离神希望我们得到的丰盛生命。
今天,让我们把心思意念重新定位去寻求神,好使我们发现那自由,以致能在祂的爱中过丰盛的生命。
主耶稣,我们只有在祢的里面才能找到真正的我。求祢调整我们的心意与祢相合,并将我们的意念聚焦在祢想要我们做的事。求祢在我们里面作工,使我们凡事讨祢喜悦。在祢圣灵的大能中祷告,阿们。
歌罗西书 3:1-11
3 所以,你们若真与基督一同复活,就当求在上面的事,那里有基督坐在神的右边。
2 你们要思念上面的事,不要思念地上的事,
3 因为你们已经死了,你们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面。
4 基督是我们的生命,他显现的时候,你们也要与他一同显现在荣耀里。
5 所以要治死你们在地上的肢体,就如淫乱、污秽、邪情、恶欲和贪婪,贪婪就与拜偶像一样。
6 因这些事,神的愤怒必临到那悖逆之子。
7 当你们在这些事中活着的时候,也曾这样行过。
8 但现在你们要弃绝这一切的事,以及恼恨、愤怒、恶毒、毁谤并口中污秽的言语。
9 不要彼此说谎,因你们已经脱去旧人和旧人的行为,
10 穿上了新人;这新人在知识上渐渐更新,正如造他主的形象。
11 在此并不分希腊人、犹太人,受割礼的、未受割礼的,化外人,西古提人,为奴的,自主的,唯有基督是包括一切,又住在各人之内。
Since . . . you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. — Colossians 3:1
In my work, I often come alongside young people as they begin to seek out their identity and figure out who God created them to be. We talk about different types of personalities and learn about different career paths and vocations that might fit well with those personalities. We work through assessments and think about life experiences as we identify individual passions, talents, gifts, and abilities. We reflect on the ideas of mission and calling.
Understanding individual gifts, passions, and callings helps an individual identify not only what they can and might do, but also what might not be the best thing to do. It frees a person from the notion of trying to “do it all” and allows them to let go of some things.
Resurrection living offers us a place to fully belong and to find our identity in Christ. Understanding the freedom we have through Christ’s resurrection helps us focus on how to live fully. When we seek after God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, God reveals what is best for us and helps us recognize the dark places inside ourselves that draw us away from the full life he desires for us.
Today, let’s set our hearts and minds on seeking God so that we can discover the freedom to live fully in his love.
Our true identity is found only in you, Jesus. Align our hearts with yours and focus our minds on what you desire for us. Work in us whatever is pleasing to you. In the power of your Spirit we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳