Daily Devotional

Synced Daily Devotionals Week 4

Patience - Week 4

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Monday

John 1.1-4, 14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind... 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

There was a brief period of time between when I bought my wife’s engagement ring and when I asked her to marry me. This small blip on the calendar seemed like forever to me in the moment! That engagement ring was burning a hole in my pocket and I had to constantly remind myself NOT to propose each time I saw her. I had to stick with the plan.

I needed to wait.

I had to be patient.

Anyone who knows me at all know that patience is not my strong suit. I have a hard time waiting for things, whatever they may be. If an app on my phone loads slowly, I get frustrated. If I’m inconvenienced for one second while driving, I’m tempted to lash out verbally. I hate giving gifts because the waiting for my loved ones to open them kills me!

So, needless to say, the patience that Jesus exhibited while here on earth is completely foreign to me.

Have you ever thought about just how patient Jesus was? We all could probably point to a story or two from his life that demonstrates that patience was a part of his makeup. But I want to approach Jesus’ patience from a slightly different angle.

Jesus was born and lived thirty years in near anonymity before he officially started his ministry. Think about that. Thirty years!

The Word (the second Person of the Trinity) became flesh (a human, one of us [!]), here on this dirty, stinky, sweaty planet and waited thirty years to really get down to business. That’s amazing! He could have done his ministry in way he chose. But he chose to be patient. He chose the slow game.

So the next time that I’m faced with a minor incident that makes me wait a bit, I need to remember that Jesus was patient when he began his ministry.

And he continues to be patient with me – allowing me time to be formed into his likeness over time.

How has Jesus been patient with you lately?

~Matt Barnes

Tuesday

Matthew 14.13-21

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Long-suffering: the ability to bear with others where they are.

Why do we get so frustrated with others when they don’t meet our expectations? Why do we get so frustrated in moments of high stress, demand, and emotion? Maybe we haven’t learned to be long-suffering.

Being a dad comes with ample opportunity for frustration and long suffering. There are times when I ask my oldest daughter to pick up her toys or dresses only to be completely ignored. Usually I’m thinking several steps beyond what I need her to do now to how her doing that affects the fun we can have later. But she doesn’t see things the way I do, she’s three feet shorter and 26 years younger. Insert frustration, disappointment, and suffering. In these moments of frustration I have an opportunity to help her see what I see and to love her regardless.

Jesus finds himself in a situation with a similar opportunity for disappointment and frustration. There are 5000 men plus women and children who have eagerly followed him, devouring His teachings. The challenge is, however, His words are all they’d devoured. Even bigger challenge is, who has enough food or money on hand to feed over 5000 people? The disciples propose to send everyone home and Jesus surprises them by saying “You give them something to eat.” Can you see the disciples looking at Jesus with twisted faces full of confusion? This is one of many times that Jesus was disappointed with His boys, but we don’t see Jesus react out of that disappointment. We see Jesus purpose to be patient and long suffering with His disciples.

Jesus was keenly aware of what was most important, even when emotions were high. In this case the people eating was important, but what was more important was His disciples being able to walk by faith and believe that there is a solution in any circumstance with God. Instead of getting frustrated and angry with His disciples, He remembers His duty to train and prepare them for the difficult times ahead, and He does just that.

How often would our frustration be reduced if we were to take a moment to remember what is most important? Would our attitudes change if we thought through why we chose to raise our children we did, became their friend in the first place, chose that place of employment, picked that class, the list could go on.

What helped Jesus to be patient with his disciples in times of challenge was having a keen awareness of what was most important. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be even more aware of what is most important and this enables us to be much more patient if we follow His lead. Christ is calling us to more! How much would it help our neighbors if we were to think more about what it means to “Love our neighbors as ourselves”? Would we be more patient?

Let’s follow Christ’s lead in this area of patience and see how it transforms our families, careers, and communities! Let’s be laser-focused on what matters most.

~Mark Fields

Wednesday

John 3.1-15

1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

“Don’t forget to turn off the light when you leave the room; please put the milk back in the refrigerator, remember to hang up your clothes, be kind to your siblings, if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all...”

There are certain things – sometimes the seemingly simplest things - that just don't seem to sink into our children's heads even though we have said them a zillion times. We've all been there, but we still find ourselves repeating the reminders, over and over again. We've said these things so many times; shouldn't that make it easier for them to remember? Are they just not listening? How many different ways and examples can we give them? They should know better by now...look how old they are already!

An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?" The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, come in or stay out!'"

Thankfully, that sense of frustration that we sometimes feel rising inside of us is not how God responds to us when we just “don’t get it – even though we know better – after all these years.”

In John chapter 3, Nicodemus comes to talk with Jesus. He has seen Jesus do many signs and is certain that God is with Jesus. He is trying to figure out just who Jesus is. Nicodemus is a Pharisee, a learned teacher himself. He has heard and studied the Scriptures his entire life. Deep down inside Nicodemus is wondering if Jesus is the long-awaited, promised Messiah. Could it be? Nicodemus is pondering the things he has heard and studied about – things that he already knows. Jesus answers Nicodemus’ tentative query with a direct and gentle invitation to become a new man – to be born anew of the Spirit and water. Nicodemus is confused by Jesus’ reply. Jesus has been waiting patiently for Nicodemus to “get it” – for it to “sink in.” Nicodemus has been waiting for the Messiah and to be born of the Spirit but didn’t know that he already had been hearing the Spirit’s beckoning for years. Three times Jesus continues to show Nicodemus his true need for rebirth.

Jesus is long suffering. He yearns for us to come to repentance and have fellowship with Him. He patiently draws us to Himself. Jesus displays God’s patient character in his work of salvation.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3.9

We should be patient, even as He is patient. As the Spirit produces patience in us, He is making us more Christ-like. The patience of Jesus is seen in His relationships with people. As followers of Jesus, we are called to demonstrate patience in our relationships and circumstances. Jesus’ immense patience is an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life. God desires that become more and more like Him:

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3.18

God is the Source, and His Spirit the means of this very valuable fruit.

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” ― C.S. Lewis

Questions:
1. What are some of the ways that Jesus has extended His patience to you?
2. How are you demonstrating patience in your relationships?
3. Think of some practical ways to practice patience on a daily basis.

~Aleta Helwig

Thursday

John 9.1-7

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Do you ever feel like you’re asking the wrong questions? It’s not always easy to realize that without someone who knows better letting you know.

In today’s passage we find this very situation. This question that the disciples ask Jesus may seem odd at first glance. However, when you pause to think about it, we often have the same kinds of questions when wrestling with the problem of pain and suffering – especially when its purpose and meaning is hardest to grasp. Since the Garden of Eden, the truest and most all-encompassing problem of pain and suffering has been the brokenness of our relationship with God. Think back to the Garden. He was physically present, walking with Adam and Eve. They spoke to him, in person. There was nothing that separated them in a physical and spiritual sense.

Until both were broken...

The physical and the spiritual relationship with God were painfully ripped away by sin. Since humanity’s banishment from that intimate relationship it has been God’s plan and desire to be revealed IN our lives – a restored intimate relationship from WITHIN. He gives us that opportunity for restored relationship through Jesus Christ and through the work of his Spirit.

A very common discipline practice for parents is giving their child a “Time-Out” when they do something wrong. This kind of punishment involves quiet alone time, often in a specific location, so the child can calm down and consider what they did wrong. As a parent you find out very quickly that the “Time-Out” is not nearly as important as the “Time-In” to sit down with your child to discuss what went wrong, how he or she should act next time, and why the right behavior is expected and wrong behavior unacceptable. Without the “Time-In” the “Time-Out” is just a punishment with no real meaning or purpose.

I am thankful we have a God who has taken “Time-In” with us – to the point of sending his Son. Even in this wrong-headed question the disciples ask, Jesus patiently enters in to show grace and teach them about God’s purposes. He enters into the life of the blind man to bring healing. He declares that God’s ultimate desire is that he might be displayed IN our lives. He declares that there are abundant opportunities for the works of God to be displayed in us. And this is a work he invites us into. He says, “As long as it is day, WE must do the works of him who sent me.” While he is in our lives, while the Spirit lives and moves and breathes in our lives, let us be his lights in this dark world.

~Jeremy Rose

Friday

John 13.6-10

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”

Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. What? There’s a scene that would have sparked scandal and controversy if there ever was one. Jesus, the rabbi, the master, the Lord of all, doing the work of the lowliest servant in the household! God forbid! That was Peter’s reaction for sure. He was indignant that his master should wash his feet.

Jesus’ reply to Peter is contrastingly patient and loving. Not only does he take time to explain why he was doing this (Peter needed the washing to be obedient and to identify with Jesus), he is also so patient with Peter’s impetuous reply, asking Jesus to wash his entire body! The washing that Jesus was doing was foreshadowing the cleansing that would happen at the cross.

As part of a worship leading course I once did, we were asked to write a worship song. It was this incident recorded in John’s gospel that inspired me. It struck me that while Jesus was exhibiting patience and that patience came from a deep well of love and compassion for Peter and his disciples. So, this is what I wrote:

So you took off your robe
Poured water on my feet
Jesus how your love makes my life complete
Wash more than just my feet, wash every part of me.

I need you Jesus, I need your heart
Teach me to love Lord, more than enough
Down at your feet Lord, is where I will sing
I need you Jesus, you are more than enough for me.

What we need to understand is that in order to have any of the fruit of the Spirit that Jesus had, we must first have love. His love. It is from that love of God that the Spirit comes. And it is from the Holy Spirit that the other fruit come. If you are finding it hard to be patient with someone in your life, think of how much God loves that person - that he sent Jesus to die on the cross for him or her. If we only learned to see others through Jesus’ eyes, we would have all the love and the patience we will ever need.

~Walter Alexander

Saturday

John 20.24-28

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus has come back and He has ultimately conquered the grave! He is living breathing and walking. Seeing Him is not enough for some like Thomas. Their pain and humanity demand something more of Jesus. Jesus in this passage has Thomas touch his side. In the midst of Thomas’ pain and doubt Jesus responds with wonderful grace.

Sometimes, it takes me a while to understand things. I remember school being difficult because I would watch kids understand math problems and memorize stuff so much faster than I could. I was often embarrassed. I was especially ashamed when I couldn’t please a teacher with being able to understand what they were presenting to me. At the zoo I needed glasses but didn’t have them. Kids would point out animals that I couldn’t see because of my vision. I would lie and pretend as though I could see everything they would point out. That example of inability to understand or see something began to feed a harsh voice on the inside – a voice that would say, “ How could you not understand this? How could you not get this? What’s wrong with you?” It’s a voice that I have to combat all the time. Sometimes we can even translate that same inner voice to the voice in which Christ interacts with us.

If we don’t understand something He is trying to convey to us, His tone is that of one of a disappointed father. This is especially the case if our voice towards Jesus is harsh. We assume His tone with us would be harsh as well. We assume He would repay us with the same in which we give Him

Try this. Refer back to the words of Jesus and Thomas and focus on the words of Thomas. You are going to read them out loud and try different tones. Say the words of Jesus starting with a harsh angry tone. How does it sound and feel? Now try it with sarcasm. How about that? Now, try this. Read it out loud with a tone of love, kindness, and gentleness. How does that sound and feel? What does the last tone convey about the heart of Jesus towards us?

Thomas is doubtful even in the face of Jesus. But Jesus extends grace and kindness to let Thomas know that He has come back and He loves him. Imagine how Thomas must have felt knowing that Jesus went to whatever lengths it took to show Thomas His love.

1. Name a time when Christ has gone out of His way to connect with you.
2. What did it feel like?
3. What does it mean to you that Christ sees you with the same heart He sees Thomas with?

~Perry Hawkins

Study Notes

{tab-ex=English|active}

Synced: A Patient Journey

{tab-ex=Chinese Translation}

Synced: A Patient Journey Chinese Translation

充滿忍耐的人生旅途

歌羅西書3：12-13；羅馬書12：14-21

            今天，我們要談一談忍耐，從前有人將它稱為“長期痛苦”。“聖靈的果子是……忍耐（歌羅西書5：22）。說實話，對我來說，在這個講道系列中，預備這篇講道是最令我感到內疚的。我覺得等待是一件很困難的事。我喜歡速戰速決。你一定聽說過這樣的話：“忍耐是一種美德。如果可能，你應當擁有它，然而女人中少有人擁有它，男人不可能擁有它。”這句話不乏其真實性，在我們家肯定如此。今天，我要承認，我常常面對“耐心的挑戰”。然而，我希望我的生命在這方面有所成長，因此我今天將這個信息帶給大家，並且深切地希望聖靈在你我之中繼續在這個方面做工。

            今天，我們來思考三個問題。第一，什麽是忍耐；第二，忍耐有什麽表現；第三，忍耐如何成長。

什麽是忍耐：要存……忍耐的心，倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕。主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人（歌3:12-13）。

            字典中給了我們這樣一個關於忍耐的定義: “忍耐是毫無怨言及憂慮地接受或容忍延遲、煩惱與痛苦的能力。”在我們的文化中，這個詞通常指的是在困境中、或面對麻煩人物時，能夠毫無怨言地等待下去。

            在聖經中，忍耐是聖靈所結的果子，這個詞在歌羅西書3：12中的原意是“堅忍(makrothumia)”，指的是當我們被人苦待的時候，還能夠優雅地等待而沒有過度的反應。在聖經中，也有其它詞語用於困境中仍有平安的境況，比如像“堅定”，“信實”等詞語。但是，在加拉太書5：22中譯為“忍耐”的詞，通常指的是面對麻煩人物仍然謙和有禮。你一定聽說過有些人在被打擾的時候會有“急脾氣”。在聖經中提到的忍耐，指的是對難對付的人有“很慢很慢的脾氣”。當聖靈在我們心中工作的時候，我們就不會對人很快地生氣。

            作為基督徒，有兩種信念應該能夠改變我們對待一些麻煩人物的方式，這應當與我們認識耶穌之前的方式有所不同:

信念之一：神對待麻煩人物满有忍耐 ---- 在出埃及記34章，摩西與神同行了很長時間。最後，他來到神面前說，“神啊，你知道我的一切，但是我不知道你是誰。請告訴我你的名字（也就是說，請你將自己啟示給我）。”然後，“神就近他，宣告祂的名，‘主啊，主啊，憐憫仁愛的神，你不輕易發怒……”。在整本聖經中，每當人們思考神是誰的時候，他們都一次又一次地回想到神對摩西所說的話。神恨惡邪惡，但卻對人“恒久忍耐。”

            當然，神有能力忍耐，因為祂知道一切。祂知道一切事物最終的結局，所以祂從不匆忙。我們無法知道一切。因此，我們的忍耐則全然仰賴於我們對神的信靠。如果沒有對神的信心，相信萬事在祂裏面都將是美善的，你就無法忍耐。如果沒有因著對神的信心而有的盼望，你就無法忍耐。聖經中所說的忍耐與對神的信心與忍耐有直接的關系。

            我們的目標是榮耀神，我們藉著尋求祂的道路向世人顯明神是誰。讓世人認出你是耶穌的門徒、並有祂聖靈同在的一個方法，就是你能夠對麻煩人物漸生忍耐，因為神對你滿有忍耐！

信念之二，我們無法以惡勝惡。羅馬書12：17和21都給了我們一個挑戰，是你在其他道德體系或宗教之中所無法找到的：“不要以惡報惡……，你不可為惡所勝，反要以善勝惡。”讓我直接問問大家，你相信這一點嗎？你真的相信嗎？

            當我們被他人所煩擾或錯待的時候，我們的自然傾向就是報復。弗洛伊德說，“我們必須寬恕我們的敵人，但卻並非在他們被絞死之前。”

            因此，我們在世界所看到的是：當有人攻擊你的時候，你就反擊，當別人傷害你的時候，你就去傷害他們。聖經說，當你這樣做的時候，你就已經被邪惡所勝了。你已經被邪惡打敗，自己也變成邪惡的了。如果有人錯待你，你不肯像神赦免你那樣赦免他們，並且滿有恩惠、盼望和解，那麽你本身已經被邪惡所征服了。這是聖經中始終如一的信息。報復邪惡實際上就是在說：“我想讓你痛苦，就像你讓我痛苦一樣。”你可以抨擊對方，或者可以在自己內心裏希望對方失敗。

            這樣做會吞噬你的內心，會使你更加放縱自我和走向自憐。另一方在被傷害的同時，也會抨擊你。邪惡在這樣以惡報惡的循環之中不斷增長，最終邪惡是贏家。

            弟兄姐妹們，當我們跟隨耶穌的時候，我們相信：1）神對於像我們這樣的麻煩人物滿有忍耐（哈利路亞！），祂呼召我們在世上顯明祂的忍耐。2) 我們相信，邪惡無法戰勝邪惡，只有良善才能做到。這就是真正跟隨耶穌的人所相信的，也是神呼召我們要忍耐的必要條件。

忍耐有何種表現

讓我們面對它：在我們的生活中，有各色各樣的“麻煩人物”。1) 有一些人好像不喜歡你，雖然他們並沒有真的錯待你。2）還有一些人在過去錯待過你，他們所做的仍然會煩擾到你。3）還有人一直希望你失敗。每種麻煩人物都需要不同的忍耐。我們很難為每一種人都找到合適的解決方法。

            我發現，羅馬書12：14-21中，使徒保羅給了我們一些實用的方法，告訴我們，在我們的日常生活中，什麽是忍耐。今天，我想要很快地與你一同瀏覽一下他的話語。對人的忍耐是聖靈所結的果子。你要怎樣做，才能彰顯神的忍耐？

第一，向神禱告，使神的祝福臨到他們 ---- 為那逼迫你的禱告……(14節)

我敢肯定這一點，要想求神祝福那些反對我們的人，首先需要仔細反省我們的內心。我們必須要盼望那些麻煩我們的人得到好處，而非壞處，這需要你有意地去這樣做。你必須要有意地在禱告中停下來，這樣禱告：“主啊，我真的很生氣，這個人使我很有挫折感，但是我還是為他禱告，不是為了毀壞他而禱告，而是為了建造他而禱告。因為我知道，主耶穌也為如此我禱告”。我發現，當我為一個人禱告的時候，我就很難繼續恨他。

最重要的是，你一定要願意給別人得到原諒的機會。請記住，歌羅西書3：13很清楚地講明了我們需要給予別人何樣的赦免: “主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。”換句話說，我們的主不會簡單地把邪惡掃到地毯下面，假裝它不存在。祂呼召我們要誠實，認罪和悔改，而且是帶著被赦免的盼望去做的。你也應當這樣行。你必須求神在你的心裏作工，使你能盼望別人得到益處。

第二：感受他人所感受的–與快樂的人同樂；與悲傷的人同悲傷（15節）

            如果雙方都只是從自己的角度思考問題，就會加劇關系的破裂。當你想到這個麻煩人物是如何在經歷了所有的事情之後，而走到今天這樣的地步，成為了一個如此棘手的人物，你和他的關系就會開始改變了。當你開始求神使你能與人一同悲傷的時候，你會發現，自己沒有那麽不耐心了。就像哈波·李所說的，“若非站在另一個人的角度思考問題，你就不會真正地理解他……除非你鉆進他體內走一遭。”

            第18節加上了一個重要觀點：如果可能的話，盡你所能，與人和平共處。這需要你不去回避那些與你不同的人。如果你不花時間與一個人在一起，你就不能理解他的感受。當然，你不能強迫一個人花時間與你在一起。但是你應當對一個人隨時有敞開的心。還要註意一點，如果有時候有人有虐待傾向，你就不應當與他獨處。因此聖經說: “若有可能……”這是很重要的一個警告。

第三：要彼此同心，不要誌氣高大，倒要俯就卑微的人。不要自以為聰明 (12:16)。

使我們常常無法耐心對待那些棘手人物的，是“我沒有活得那麽糟糕”的想法。在第16節中，聖經把我們為何無法忍耐講得很清楚。它以“不要驕傲”為開始，並以“不要自負”為結束。還是讓我們面對實際情況吧：人們之所以無法忍耐，是因為驕傲的緣故，還因為拒絕放下以前的事所導致。

聖經中提到的漠視他人的狀況，是曾經在整個歷史中、在所有人群中都發生過的事，例如，回避一些被視為“下等”的人。通常情況下，這個詞指的是那些沒有權力、聲望和金錢的人。但它也曾指稅吏、羅馬士兵、撒瑪利亞人和那些得了麻風病的人。耶穌總是與那些所謂的下等人在一起，所以我們也必須如此行。

我要重復一個觀點，這一點是在新約中反復提出的。當我們在罪中接受了耶穌做我們的救主，蒙了神的憐憫，我們就發現，祂開始改變我們的一切。“我們不再為自己活，乃為替我們死而復活的主活...（哥林多後書5:15）”而其中一件耶穌必須要首先改變我們的事，就是我們的眼睛。我們必須開始以耶穌的眼目去看待別人，也就是說，將那些人視為神的形象所造的人，他們有可能在基督成為新造的人（林後5:18）。當我們這樣做的時候，我們會發現，我們不再會對任何人很快地做出負面反應。並且當你忍耐那些麻煩人物的時候，一個重要的信念將會在你的內心產生，那就是耶穌為你而死，同樣也為他們而死；這種信念會擊打那沒有忍耐的心態。

在馬太福音18：23-35中，耶穌講述了一個令人難忘的故事，那是關於一個仆人的故事，他欠了他的主人巨額的資金，並且大到無法償還。他得到主人的仁慈與憐憫對待，將他全部的債務都給予免除。這個仆人剛剛走出去，就碰見了另一個欠他錢的仆人，所欠的是一個小數目，並且這人求他憐憫。這剛剛被赦免的仆人，卻將那人投入監獄。主人知道了這件事，叫那第一個仆人去見他，對他說：“你這惡奴才，你央求我，我就把你所欠的都免了。你不應該憐憫你的同伴像我憐憫你嗎？主人就大怒，把他交給掌刑的……”

請聽一聽耶穌如何將這個故事應用於我們的生活中：“除非你們從內心裏彼此原諒，否則天父將會如此對待你們每一個人”。

第四：為著他們好處如此行 - 你的仇敵若餓了，就給他吃；若渴了，就給他喝......（12：20A）。

你可能還記得我們夏季的箴言講道系列，這節經文就是引自箴言25:21。在聖經的這個命令中，我們看到，神不僅希望我們“祝福那些逼迫我們的人”，正如羅馬書12:14所寫的，而且還教導我們有意去尋求滿足他們的需要。我們不僅要為他們祈禱，更應該按照神的供應，使他們的需求得到滿足。

魯益士曾在多處作品中都寫過這件事。他在二戰剛結束的一些作品中反思納粹的邪惡行徑時發現，當人們對其他種族仇恨行事，就像納粹對待猶太人那樣的時候，仇恨不會消失。它只會升級，恨上加恨。不過，魯益士說，反之亦然。他曾引用這句話說，“對那些反對者存愛心行事，將更加增強你對他人的愛心。”這句話曾引導被囚禁於獄中的納爾遜·曼德拉，使他得到了這樣的信念：具有永恒性的事物，是因著仁慈的行為而產生，而不是報復行為。他呼籲我們要記住，“當我們還是罪人的時候，基督為我們死。”這是耶穌的待人方式，也是聖靈將要在我們裏面所成就的。

第五：不要自己伸冤，寧可讓步，聽憑主怒.....”當你做有益於你仇敵的事情時，“就是把炭火堆在他的頭上。”（12：19-20）。

我覺得這是整本聖經中最深刻的教訓之一。在古代，這個有關“堆炭火”在仇敵頭上的舉動，與人們想要阻止敵人在城墻外攻擊的行動有關。你一定在電影中看到過類似的鏡頭，當蓄意害人的敵軍爬上城墻時，那些城墻內的人，會將燒紅的炭火倒在他們的頭上，為要阻止他們的進攻。

當你的頭發著了火的時候，就很難再去用劍了。聖經在這裏教導我們，雖然你應該滿足你敵人的需求，比如對食物和水的需求，然而你不應讓他們繼續做毀壞性的事情。聖經並沒有教我們忽略肆虐及不公之事，而是教我們使用神的恩賜去制止它。也正因如此，教會才會投入到像無家可歸、毒品和虐待等問題中去。

同時，很明顯，我們的目標不應該是傷害仇敵，而是阻止邪惡。很多時候，我們想要將炭火倒在那些麻煩人物的頭上，因為我們生氣或嫉妒他們。19節清楚地告訴我們，神才是審判惡人的那一位。神在申命記32和羅馬書12章中都曾宣告，“伸冤在我，我必報應。”有時候，神藉著他在世上所建立的掌權者去懲罰邪惡，正如保羅在羅馬書第13章所說的，神設立政府，設定條例懲罰國中邪惡，正如父母在家庭中，長老在教會中......但是，正如我們所知道的，這些權力機構，並不總是能做好他們的工作，他們的判斷並非總是公正。

但是在羅馬書12章，神應許我們，所有的罪惡都將被審判。並且祂將親自確保此事！所以，當我們面對惡人時，我們的工作並不是審判。那是神的工作。19節說：“聽憑主怒”。只有神才知道人需要何樣的審判。只有祂知道，是什麽導致一個人如此易怒和自我中心。只有神知道，他們的罪惡所當得的最恰當的審判是什麽。你我都不知道。所以，當別人任由他們的邪惡傷害他人時，我們應該設法阻止他們的惡行。但是，在末日之時，神才是審判者。

綜上所述，為著能成就這樣的生命，神呼召我們說，“聖靈所結的果子是忍耐，也就是說，要忍受棘手人物所帶來的痛苦。”總之，在你祝福他人之前，不要冒犯他們。在你希望他們得益處之前，不要有所行動。總要建立和平與關系。如耶穌所說，要愛你的仇敵。要活出這樣的生命，我們就需要像神一樣有忍耐的心。

忍耐如何成長 -- ……以神的慈悲勸你們……(羅馬書12：1)

            在這個系列的講道中，我們每周都會看到，僅僅憑借規則或我們自己的力量，我們無法成就這樣的生命。我們需要依靠聖靈的能力，才能有聖靈的忍耐。然而，在這篇信息即將結束的時候，讓我告訴你，這個果子在你內心成長的關鍵。我們可以在羅馬書12：1看到這一點。這節經文為整本羅馬書設定了背景。在前面十一章中，保羅教導我們，世上每個人都虧缺了神最初創造我們的榮耀，然而，我們即使是罪人，他對我們仍然滿有忍耐和慈愛，祂藉著賜給我們救恩，向我們顯明了祂的憐憫。你相信神向你顯明了祂的憐憫嗎？你是否真的相信，雖然你是罪人，聖潔與完美的神仍舊愛你？

            整個世界並沒有都經歷到神如何自己擔當了我們的罪惡所當得的刑罰，祂將我們的罪挪去，讓無罪的耶穌擔當了這刑罰。這就是我們所相信的，這就是我們的盼望。神對我們滿有忍耐，在我們“還是罪人的時候”，就愛了我們。當你和我真實地相信的時候，我們對那些棘手人物就會擁有像神那樣的心。你才會祝福那逼迫你的……你才會像基督赦免你那樣赦免他人。你就不會以邪惡戰勝邪惡，而是以良善戰勝邪惡…

            因為，聖靈的果子是忍耐。

 

祂的荣耀，

格雷格Waybright博士
主任牧師

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Greg Waybright • Copyright 2015, Lake Avenue Church