香港的海员传道会和大部份传道机构不同,他们不会等待船上的人在港口登岸,他们乃是差遣牧师登船探访停泊在港内船只上的海员,而牧师则要乘坐小船才能来到船旁。当有船只停泊在港内时,访客需要爬上船旁边的绳梯才能登船。尽管绳梯是安全的,但它却时常会在风浪中左摇右摆。
我曾探访在香港的海员传道会,并且有机会登上停泊在港内的船只。在前往第一艘船时,我们的小船每每以几米的幅度快速上下浮动。有人给我一个关键性的提示:“你必须委身去做这事。”当你伸手准备扶绳梯时,疑惑会令你半途暂停,你便不能成事的了。你需要从小船上探身出去抓紧绳梯,如果你稍稍怀疑是否能够抓住绳梯,你便可能会掉进冰冷的海浪里。
雅各明白疑惑引起的问题。我们心里的疑惑能够在我们里面制造风暴,当我们的生命被自己制造的风浪吹动翻腾时,我们便找不到稳固的立足点。委身于主能帮助我们走过生命中的挑战,因为我们知道信心能生忍耐。
主耶稣,求你帮助我们一生委身于你、保守我们在你的话语上站立得稳、又以你的爱紧紧环绕我们。阿们。
雅各书 1:1-18
1做神和主耶稣基督仆人的雅各,请散住十二个支派之人的安!
2我的弟兄们,你们落在百般试炼中,都要以为大喜乐,
3因为知道,你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。
4但忍耐也当成功,使你们成全、完备,毫无缺欠。
5你们中间若有缺少智慧的,应当求那厚赐于众人也不斥责人的神,主就必赐给他。
6只要凭着信心求,一点不疑惑;因为那疑惑的人就像海中的波浪,被风吹动翻腾。
7这样的人不要想从主那里得什么,
8心怀二意的人在他一切所行的路上都没有定见。
9卑微的弟兄升高,就该喜乐;
10富足的降卑也该如此,因为他必要过去,如同草上的花一样。
11太阳出来,热风刮起,草就枯干,花也凋谢,美容就消没了;那富足的人在他所行的事上,也要这样衰残。
12忍受试探的人是有福的!因为他经过试验以后,必得生命的冠冕,这是主应许给那些爱他之人的。
13人被试探,不可说“我是被神试探”,因为神不能被恶试探,他也不试探人。
14但各人被试探,乃是被自己的私欲牵引、诱惑的。
15私欲既怀了胎,就生出罪来;罪既长成,就生出死来。
16我亲爱的弟兄们,不要看错了。
17各样美善的恩赐和各样全备的赏赐都是从上头来的,从众光之父那里降下来的,在他并没有改变,也没有转动的影儿。
18他按自己的旨意,用真道生了我们,叫我们在他所造的万物中好像初熟的果子。
"When you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." - James 1:6
There is a seafarers’ mission in Hong Kong that, rather than waiting for ships to come to the dock as most missions do, sends chaplains out to visit seafarers anchored in the harbor. The chaplains travel to the ships on small boats. When a ship is out in the harbor, visitors need to climb up the side on a rope ladder in order to get on board. Though it is safe, the rope ladder can sway back and forth a lot, out in the midst of the wind and waves.
I once visited the Hong Kong mission and had the opportunity to board ships out in the harbor. At the first ship, our small boat bobbed up and down several meters at a time. I was given one key piece of advice: “You must commit.” It would not work to let your doubts stop you halfway while reaching out for the ladder. You had to lean out of the boat to grab on, and if you had doubts about grabbing the ladder, you could plunge into the cold swells of the ocean.
James understood the problems of doubt. Doubts in our hearts can create our own internal storms. We cannot find solid footing when our lives are blown and tossed about by winds of our own making. Committing to the Lord helps us to move through the challenges of life, knowing that the testing of faith produces perseverance.
Lord Jesus, help us to commit our lives to you. Keep our feet firm in your Word and hold us tightly in your love. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳