当求在上面的事
作为一个在校园事奉的牧者，我用很多时间与留学生交往。每年都有数以百计来自世界各地的学生到来我们的社区学院就读；有些学生纯粹是为了在加拿大受教育而来，但很多人最终的心愿是要取得加拿大公民身份。大部份学生都要付上很大的代价，很多要离开家人和朋友——有些则要在此逗留多年。除了应付繁忙的学业课程之外，很多学生更要兼顾两份甚至三份的兼职。这些疲惫和饥饿的学生不顾困难奋力前进，定意要完成学业、取得工作许可证、永久居留权和最终得到公民身份！
求取得到某些事物，意味着渴望得到它的心愿超过得到任何其他的事物，就是付上什么代价也在所不惜。
求“在上面的事”的关键，就是渴望与三位一体的神建立关系，确信祂的友情和恩惠。承认我们是神国的子民，能推动我们按神的旨意生活，而不是跟从世界的方式。想像我们将会面对面见到耶稣，能够永远活在完全喜乐中的那一天——就是神呼召我们祈求的事。
祷告
天父啊，惟愿我们的心能因渴望更多认识你和更深爱你而火热起来。求你接纳我们最深切的爱慕，又叫我们里面思念最终家乡之情越来越深，直至你领我们在完全的荣耀里进入你国的那一天。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。
歌罗西书 3:1-4, 12-17
1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。
12所以，你们既是神的选民、圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。
13倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。
14在这一切之外，要存着爱心，爱心就是联络全德的。
15又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主，你们也为此蒙召，归为一体；且要存感谢的心。
16当用各样的智慧，把基督的道理丰丰富富地存在心里，用诗章、颂词、灵歌彼此教导，互相劝诫，心被恩感歌颂神。
17无论做什么，或说话或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着他感谢父神。
Set Your Hearts On Things Above
"Since... you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above...." - Colossians 3:1
In my work as a campus minister I spend a lot of time with international students. Each year hundreds of students come to our community college from around the world. While some of these students simply come for a Canadian education, many have their hearts set on obtaining Canadian citizenship. The cost for most students is high. Many leave family and friends behind—in some cases for years. And along with having a rigorous academic schedule, many of these students work two or even three part-time jobs. Tired and hungry, they press on, for their hearts are set on graduation, work permits, permanent residency, and eventually citizenship!
To set one's heart on something means to desire it more than anything else, regardless of the costs.
At the center of setting our hearts "on things above" is desiring a relationship with the triune God and knowing his friendship and favor. Counting ourselves as citizens of God's kingdom moves us to live God's way rather than by the way of the world. And dreaming of the day when we will see Jesus face to face and be able to live in perfect joy for eternity—that is what God calls us to set our hearts on.
Heavenly Father, may our hearts burn with a desire to know you better and love you deeper. Claim our deepest affections and cause an ever-deepening homesickness within us until the day you bring us into your kingdom in all its glory. For Jesus' sake, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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