Robert渐渐觉得这种生活越来越没有意思 - 饮酒、熬夜、晚起、头痛、推脱。所以在1990年12月22日, 他自愿入医院戒酒,迄今他已经几十年没有再醉酒了。
当Robert讲述他的经历时,给人印象最深的就是当他说到1990的圣诞日,他从医院病房的窗户往外望,看见雪花轻轻飘落。他说就在那一刻 - 不单在他头脑中、甚至他整个人也感受到了 - 神正在告诉他一切都会改变。
在圣经中,有时会记载神以引人注目的方式显现,而事情的处境便立刻发生改变,就如神在荆棘火焰中向摩西显现、在何烈山安抚以利亚(列王纪上 19:7-18)、耶稣受洗时神开声说话和圣灵如鸽子降下(可 1:9-11) 、耶稣登山变像时神又再次发声(马可福音 9:2-8)、五旬节当圣灵降临伴随风声和火焰般舌头的异象(使徒行传 2)。
你曾否感受过神大能的显现、使你的生命发生了改变呢?让我们求神来帮助我们,去感知到、意识到、警觉到神如何在我们和我们周围的人身上工作。
主啊,你所造的世界充满了你的荣耀,有时你会使我们特别感受到你的同在和你在我们生命中的工作。我们感到有些时间和地方是因被你分别为圣而格外圣洁。求你赐我们眼睛去看见、赐我们智慧去明白你的作为。阿们。
出埃及记 3:1-14
1摩西牧养他岳父米甸祭司叶忒罗的羊群,一日领羊群往野外去,到了神的山,就是何烈山。
2耶和华的使者从荆棘里火焰中向摩西显现。摩西观看,不料,荆棘被火烧着,却没有烧毁。
3摩西说:“我要过去看这大异象,这荆棘为何没有烧坏呢?”
4耶和华神见他过去要看,就从荆棘里呼叫说:“摩西!摩西!”他说:“我在这里。”
5神说:“不要近前来。当把你脚上的鞋脱下来,因为你所站之地是圣地。”
6又说:“我是你父亲的神,是亚伯拉罕的神、以撒的神、雅各的神。”摩西蒙上脸,因为怕看神。
7耶和华说:“我的百姓在埃及所受的困苦,我实在看见了;他们因受督工的辖制所发的哀声,我也听见了。我原知道他们的痛苦。
8我下来是要救他们脱离埃及人的手,领他们出了那地,到美好宽阔、流奶与蜜之地,就是到迦南人、赫人、亚摩利人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人之地。
9现在以色列人的哀声达到我耳中,我也看见埃及人怎样欺压他们。
10故此,我要打发你去见法老,使你可以将我的百姓以色列人从埃及领出来。”
11摩西对神说:“我是什么人?竟能去见法老,将以色列人从埃及领出来呢?”
12神说:“我必与你同在。你将百姓从埃及领出来之后,你们必在这山上侍奉我,这就是我打发你去的证据。”
13摩西对神说:“我到以色列人那里,对他们说:‘你们祖宗的神打发我到你们这里来。’他们若问我说:‘他叫什么名字?’我要对他们说什么呢?”
14神对摩西说:“我是自有永有的。”又说:“你要对以色列人这样说:‘那自有的打发我到你们这里来。’”
"'Do not come any closer,' God said. 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'" - Exodus 3:5
It wasn't fun anymore. The drinking. The late nights, late mornings, headaches, and excuses. So on December 22, 1990, Robert checked himself into the hospital to detox as he began what is now a decades-long journey of sobriety.
What stands out most when he tells his story is that he distinctly remembers looking out his hospital window on Christmas 1990, watching the snow gently fall. In that moment he knew—not just in his mind but in his whole body—that God was telling him that everything was going to change.
There are moments in the Bible when God shows up in a striking way and things change. God meets Moses at a burning bush. God reassures Elijah at Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:7-18). God speaks and a dove appears at Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:9-11). God speaks again at Jesus' transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). The Holy Spirit comes with the sound of wind and tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2).
Have you had a time when you sensed the powerful presence of God and your life changed? Let's ask God to help us be alert, aware, and awake to the ways he is working in us and in the people around us in his world.
Lord, your world is full of your glory, and sometimes you make us especially aware of your presence and what you are doing in our lives. There are times and places that can feel sanctified and especially holy. Give us eyes to see and wisdom to understand what you are doing. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳