是什么让我们逃避?
从各方面来看,以利亚刚刚完成了一次成功的复兴。巴力的假先知被击溃,以色列人民宣布效忠真神。上帝应允了以利亚的祷告,结束了一场严重的旱灾(列王纪上 18章)。但是,以利亚并没有满怀信心,安息在带来这一切美好事物的耶和华身上,他逃跑了。为什么呢?
有时,我们实在是太疲惫了,无法留在原地。即使是成功的时刻,也会有反对和恐惧的乌云,逃避似乎更容易。也许你被生活中的不确定性压得喘不过气来,或者你觉得无法再应付一天困难的人际关系。又或者你只是单纯地感到疲惫,你以为到别处去——无论是身体上还是属灵上——就能解决问题。但是,当我们逃避挑战时,我们往往会错过上帝希望我们学习的课程——关于我们自己和祂的关顾。
值得庆幸的是,上帝愿意在我们逃避时与我们相遇。祂带着一个亲切的问题来到以利亚面前:“你在这里做什么?”上帝面对以利亚的伤害和恐惧,赐下祂的应许,就是祂会同在,并持续动工。
在基督里,上帝来到我们身边,祂成就了更多。当你疲惫不堪,想要逃离时,让基督的同在引领你回家,在祂里面安息。
“亲爱主,牵我手.......我疲惫,我软弱,我苦愁……亲爱主,牵我手,到天庭。”奉基督的名,阿们。
列王纪上 19:1-10
1亚哈将以利亚一切所行的和他用刀杀众先知的事都告诉耶洗别。
2耶洗别就差遣人去见以利亚,告诉他说:“明日约在这时候,我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一样,愿神明重重地降罚于我!”
3以利亚见这光景就起来逃命,到了犹大的别是巴,将仆人留在那里。
4自己在旷野走了一日的路程,来到一棵罗腾树下,就坐在那里求死,说:“耶和华啊,罢了!求你取我的性命,因为我不胜于我的列祖。”
5他就躺在罗腾树下,睡着了。有一个天使拍他,说:“起来吃吧!”
6他观看,见头旁有一瓶水与炭火烧的饼,他就吃了喝了,仍然躺下。
7耶和华的使者第二次来拍他,说:“起来吃吧!因为你当走的路甚远。”
8他就起来吃了喝了,仗着这饮食的力,走了四十昼夜,到了神的山,就是何烈山。
9他在那里进了一个洞,就住在洞中。耶和华的话临到他说:“以利亚啊,你在这里做什么?”
10他说:“我为耶和华万军之神大发热心。因为以色列人背弃了你的约,毁坏了你的坛,用刀杀了你的先知,只剩下我一个人,他们还要寻索我的命。”
"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life." - 1 Kings 19:3
What makes us run away?
By all accounts, Elijah had just finished a successful revival. The false prophets of Baal had been routed, and the people of Israel had proclaimed their allegiance to the true God. God had answered Elijah's prayers for an end to a crippling drought (1 Kings 18). But instead of resting confidently in the Lord, who had brought about all these good things, Elijah ran away. Why?
Sometimes we are just too worn out to stay where we are. Even our moments of success can be clouded by opposition and fear, and it can seem easier to run away. Maybe you're overwhelmed by the uncertainties of life, or you feel unable to cope for another day with a difficult relationship. Or maybe you're just plain tired and you think that being elsewhere—physically or spiritually—will fix things. But when we run from our challenges, we often miss the lessons God wants us to learn—about ourselves and his care.
Thankfully for us, God is willing to meet us when we run away. He came to Elijah with a gracious question: "What are you doing here?" And God responded to Elijah's hurt and fear with a promise of his presence and ongoing work.
By coming to us in Christ, God has done even more. When you're worn out and tempted to run away, let the presence of Christ lead you back home to rest in him.
"Precious Lord, take my hand . . . I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. . . . Guide my feet, hold my hand, lead me home." In Christ, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳