有一次我针对今天的这段经文讲道,我说,有时即使是基督徒也会有疑惑。第二天我接到一个电话,有人告诉我说我错了。他说,基督徒,是不会疑惑的。
但是,很显然,有些基督徒的确会疑惑。我们有些人甚至会说出我们今天读到的经文中,那个孩子的父亲所说同样的话:“我信!但我信不足,求主帮助。”
在这个将临节,我们需要相信,在伯利恒城马槽里降生的婴孩是神的儿子,祂不是由地上的父亲所生,乃是受圣灵感孕而生。我们需要相信,这个婴孩是世界的救主,藉着祂我们可以得到永生。我们需要相信那么多事实,而其中许多都是违反理性的。
我们大多数人都会有信心软弱的时候。生活中的有些情况会令我们产生疑惑。就连施洗约翰下监之后也开始疑惑,要知道,他曾经大胆地宣告说:“看哪,神的羔羊,除去世人罪孽的!”(约 1:29;路 7:18-23)。
当疑惑来临的时候,你可以和基督徒朋友谈一谈,也要告诉主。要读圣经,求耶稣除去你的疑惑,直到你确信自己所学有关神的一切都是真实的。祂能够也愿意坚固你的信心。
天上的主啊,我们相信你,但有时我们会有疑惑。我们信不足,求主帮助!阿们。
马可福音 9:14-32
14耶稣到了门徒那里,看见有许多人围着他们,又有文士和他们辩论。
15众人一见耶稣,都甚稀奇,就跑上去问他的安。
16耶稣问他们说:“你们和他们辩论的是什么?”
17众人中间有一个人回答说:“夫子,我带了我的儿子到你这里来,他被哑巴鬼附着。
18无论在哪里,鬼捉弄他,把他摔倒,他就口中流沫,咬牙切齿,身体枯干。我请过你的门徒把鬼赶出去,他们却是不能。”
19耶稣说:“唉!不信的世代啊,我在你们这里要到几时呢?我忍耐你们要到几时呢?把他带到我这里来吧!”
20他们就带了他来。他一见耶稣,鬼便叫他重重地抽风,倒在地上翻来覆去,口中流沫。
21耶稣问他父亲说:“他得这病有多少日子呢?”回答说:“从小的时候。
22鬼屡次把他扔在火里、水里,要灭他。你若能做什么,求你怜悯我们,帮助我们!”
23耶稣对他说:“你若能信,在信的人,凡事都能。”
24孩子的父亲立时喊着说:“我信!但我信不足,求主帮助!”
25耶稣看见众人都跑上来,就斥责那污鬼,说:“你这聋哑的鬼,我吩咐你从他里头出来,再不要进去!”
26那鬼喊叫,使孩子大大地抽了一阵风,就出来了。孩子好像死了一般,以致众人多半说:“他是死了。”
27但耶稣拉着他的手,扶他起来,他就站起来了。
28耶稣进了屋子,门徒就暗暗地问他说:“我们为什么不能赶出他去呢?”
29耶稣说:“非用祷告,这一类的鬼总不能出来。”
30他们离开那地方,经过加利利,耶稣不愿意人知道。
31于是教训门徒,说:“人子将要被交在人手里,他们要杀害他,被杀以后过三天他要复活。”
32门徒却不明白这话,又不敢问他。
"'"If you can"?' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible for one who believes.' Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, 'I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!'" - Mark 9:23-24
In a sermon on today’s text I said that sometimes even Christians have their doubts. The next day I received a phone call from someone who told me I was wrong. A Christian, he said, does not doubt.
But, of course, some Christians do doubt. Some of us have even said the same thing that the boy’s father said to Jesus in the story we have read today: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
In this Advent season we are asked to believe that the baby born in a stable in the town of Bethlehem was the Son of God, born not of an earthly father but conceived by the Holy Spirit. We are asked to believe that this child would be the Savior of the world and that through him we can have eternal life. There are so many things we are asked to believe, and many of them go against human reasoning.
Most of us have moments in our lives when our faith is weak. Some situations in life can make us doubt. Even John the Baptist, who once boldly said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” began to doubt when he was in prison (John 1:29; Luke 7:18-23).
When doubts come into your life, talk about it to a Christian friend, and tell the Savior. Read the Bible, ask Jesus to remove your doubts, and be assured that everything you’ve learned about God is true. He is able and willing to strengthen you.
Lord in heaven, we too believe, but sometimes we doubt. Please help us overcome our unbelief. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳