My Life For You
My Life For You
- Greg Waybright
- James 4:7-12
- Examining Our Ways
- 35 mins 57 secs
- Views: 1367
Pastor's Letter
My Life For You - Week 6
Some have called it "The Palm Sunday Mystery." How could a crowd welcome Jesus with such enthusiasm on one day—and then cry out for his execution a week later? Why did the cheers turn to jeers? Some say that they must have been two different crowds. And, that's partially true. But, the point is Jesus' general reception. How did it change so rapidly?
Some have called it "The Palm Sunday Mystery." How could a crowd welcome Jesus with such enthusiasm on one day—and then cry out for his execution a week later? Why did the cheers turn to jeers? Some say that they must have been two different crowds. And, that's partially true. But, the point is Jesus' general reception. How did it change so rapidly?
The Bible says that there was a "great crowd that had come for the feast." Who were these people? They were in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, when the Jews remembered their deliverance from Egypt. Dr. D.A. Carson describes what they might have been experiencing:
The Passover Feast was to Jews what the Fourth of July is to Americans. ... It was a rallying point for intense, nationalistic zeal. This goes some way to explaining their fervor that tried for force Jesus to become their king.
And this patriotic sentiment helps us understand what the crowds were yelling: "Hosanna," which simply means, "Save us now!" (Note: Not just "Save us," but "Save us—now!") They were thinking that Jesus might be a military or political leader who would rescue them from being under the rule of the Roman government. However, Jesus had come for a greater salvation—not for one people group but for all. Not from political bondage but from the bondage of sin. Not simply to change things in one part of the world but to make all things new in all of creation.
Palm Sunday is simply one example of something that people did all through the gospels and have continued to try to do throughout history. People gave Jesus
- • an identity that wasn't his (a political/military rescuer),
- • an agenda that wasn't his (to overthrow the Roman government), and
- • a schedule that wasn't his (he had to do it "now").
Then, people once enthusiastic about Jesus turned quickly when his way was not their way. Put in those terms, the "Palm Sunday Mystery" suddenly isn't so mysterious after all. Let's own up to it: We still try to force Jesus into our agendas and schedules. Personally, I look at these people and see too much of myself in them. Do you? We still imagine that our top priorities must surely be Jesus'. We praise God enthusiastically when we think that our prayers will be answered the way we want them answered, i.e., now. Then, we become impatient when God won't act in keeping with our demands.
We'll seek to follow Jesus rather than make demands upon him this Palm Sunday 2014.
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
Study Notes
My Life For You - Week 6 - Study Notes
English
My life for you
James 4:6-10
I want to talk today simply about two different approaches to how we live each day of our lives, e.g., how we make many of our decisions, how we use our resources, and how we engage people. One approach I'll call "my life for me" and the other I'll call "my life for you". In the "my life for me" approach, each one of us focuses on furthering our own personal goals and pursuing personal happiness and success. In the "my life for you", we focus on how our lives might contribute positively to those God brings into our lives. I hope to show you how each of these approaches can become a way of life affecting almost everything we do.
This is a perfect weekend for us to consider this topic because we have three important emphases going on: 1) Palm Sunday, 2) many of our LAC people being baptized and 3) hearing from Pastor James of the 1st Church of Jerusalem in another hard-hitting and practical text, James 4:6-10. Although these may seem to be very different from one another, I find they are held together by what they teach us about these two diametrically opposed ways that we can wake up in the morning and live every day of our lives either in focusing on ourselves or on serving others.
The way of our culture: My life for me
I've lived long enough to know that, in our world, every generation looks at the next generation as being the "me generation". I know that when I was in high school, the older generation called us the me-generation. And, if you know anything about the 1960s, you'll know my generation said the same thing about our parents. "Don't trust anyone over 30!" activist Jack Weinberger proclaimed. "They just live for themselves." So, I doubt that any one generation has been more a "me generation" than any other. In fact, it is clear to me that ever since Adam and Eve insisted on being their own masters, every generation has tended toward being a "me generation". Our strong human tendency in any generation is to live "my life for me."
This "my life for me" perspective plays out in a couple of ways in different cultures. In Western society, it is very individualistic. It's been largely an "every man for himself" way of living. We've even developed philosophies to support an individualistic, me-centered way of life. In the past century, American psychologist Abraham Maslow developed his hierarchy of human needs, a theory of psychological health built on the idea that we can only become actualized persons by meeting our own innate human needs. Maslow established a well-known chart that showed how we must give these personal needs priority in our decisions and pursuits. This way of life culminates, he wrote, in what he called "self-actualization". The impact of this kind of philosophy has often been self-obsession. "Do more for yourself. You deserve it." "You're problem is that you do too much for others. You need to look out for yourself."
Of course, the culture in Bible times was not so individualistic as American society has become. It was more family or clan centered. It was more "my life for us" (i.e., me and my clan) than "my life for me alone". The result is much like what we see in James' letter. People were welcoming only people like themselves into the church. Others were excluded. So, the impact on the church was very destructive to the churches being what they should be – places of hope for those in distress, places of welcome for those not welcomed elsewhere... James called the church people away from a "my life for us" culture that excluded Gentiles, immigrants, and widows. In effect, "my life for us" is similar to "my life for me". In both, we live for personal benefit in ways that keep us from obeying Jesus' command to love all people.
So, beware. The way of the world around you will not be treating all people as valuable and all people as being made in God's image. The way of the world will tell you that -- "all you have is yours so you had better hold on to it." And, it will tell you that you had better watch out for yourself and for your own."
But Jesus shows us a better way.
The Way of Jesus: My life for you (The Lesson of Palm Sunday)
This is Palm Sunday. Many people are baffled by what the Bible says transpired on this day. Some speak of "The Palm Sunday Mystery." The question is this: How could a crowd welcome Jesus as king with such enthusiasm on one day — and then cry out for his execution a week later? It seems that Jesus' reputation and his miracles led to people in Jerusalem thinking he was a warrior king who would rescue them from an oppressive government. They were partially right. He was a king. But they were wrong because he was not the kind of king they expected. He was a rescuer – but not the kind of rescuer they were demanding. Jesus had come to set people free – but not just those of one nation. He was coming to make all things right for people of every nation, ethnicity and people group who would trust in him.
Jesus was not confused about his identity or mission. He knew he was in nature God. He knew he was the one who had come in the line of David to be the king over all kings. He knew that he had power over all authorities and that he even could call 10,000 angels to defeat anyone who would stand against him. But, Jesus' life was marked by "my life for yours". He said that greater love has no one than this – to lay down his life for a friend. And he not only said it. He did it. He did not consider his position of equality with God something to use for his own benefit but emptied himself to the point of crucifixion...
On Palm Sunday we remember that, just before going into Jerusalem, Jesus said, "The leaders in the world lord their positions over their people and seek only their own benefit. Not so with you! For even the Son of Man did not come to be serve but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mk 10:42-45)."
On Palm Sunday, we remember that the King over all kings, the one with all authority in heaven and earth, chose to iave his life for us. He gave his life for you! Jesus lived a life of service. He served to the point of death so that your deepest needs might be met. And, when you follow him, he calls you to find your lives by serving as he served. He calls you to a "my life for you" life of service.
The Challenge (James 4:6-10) – The struggle of "my life for you" in a world of "my life for me"
James 4:6-10 is a profound text that speaks into the struggle to live in ways that go against our natural tendency to live for ourselves. James said that the devil, the world's systems and our own human nature will tempt us to live self-centered ways
Notice that v.6 & v.10 are like bookends. They both call us to being humble before God. According to v.7a, this life of humility begins by "submitting to God". As we have seen throughout the book of James, our submission to God must result in us loving people who are made the image of the God to whom we are submitting. Pastor James was very concerned that many of his church people who claimed to love Jesus did not love people as Jesus loves people. They were not caring for people in distress like widows. They were not welcoming strangers into their church. And, even within the church, they were fighting viciously with one another.
In 4:7b-9, James says, "This has to change!!" So, like a loving parent lovingly but firmly reprimands a wayward child, Pastor James "lays down the law" in no uncertain terms. Look at what he said:
• V.7b – Resist the devil! James says, "What you're doing looks more like the devil than like your savior Jesus! Resist the devil's way of putting self at the center of your life (which is what Lucifer did according to Isaiah 14:12-15): Lucifer said in his heart: "I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol -- to the lowest depths of the Pit. James says to us that self-centered living is the path of death and a sure sign that God is not reigning in and through us. "My life for me" is the devil's way!
• V.8b – I can picture myself being like a teenager thinking, "I can't take this reprimand anymore" and saying to James, "OK, OK – I've got it". Then, I might start to walk out of the room. But James says, "Get back here. I'm not done. It's not just the devil. You've got something wrong inside your life. Clean up your ways, you sinner. Purify your heart, you double-minded worldly person pretending to be a Christian." Do you see it? This is a powerful call to whole-lived recommitment to submitting to God by keeping his command to love your neighbor as yourself.
• V.9 – Once again, I picture being one who thinks, "I'm glad that's over. It was hard but the I've survived." And, perhaps I am trying to get away from James for a second time when he says, "Get back here! I don't see there is any remorse at all in your heart for your sins. You've got a smirk on your face that shows me you're not ready to change and to obey God! Your heart has to change from one who makes light of everything and who thinks that it doesn't matter what God thinks." Then James quoted the OT prophets when they called people away from their self-centered and frivolous ways. James declares: Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
Do you feel the convicting power of his words in your own hearts? Do you see places today where you have turned away from God and never returned? Do you see areas in which you have known there is something God would have you do, some person God would have you to help and bless, but you have not done it. I say, "Submit to God! Humble yourself right now in the presence of God and he will lift you up." Never forget that God gives grace to the humble. To humble yourself before the Lord means to recognize your own spiritual poverty and your own desperate need for God's mercy. When you realize God is ready and willing to show you mercy, then you will never be too proud to live a "my life for you" life as Jesus did.
What "My Life for You" Looks Like
I started my message by saying that this is a message not so much about a one-time decision you make but more about establishing way of life that is consistent with Jesus' life and is in keeping with God's Word. So, now I want to ask, in what ways would an intentional "my life for you" approach change your life? Let me mention just some of the ways that people I've spoken to have suggested:
Pastor Carol Kenyon said our parents who choose to love and raise special needs children live this kind of life. Their entire waking life often revolves around helping their child navigate every part of this world. They often put aside their own careers and aspirations for their child. I would add that I think every good parent lives "my life for you" daily. It begins with the pain of child birth and continues with choices to give up time and personal priorities and money – yes, lots of it – out of love for your child.
Pastor Annie Neufeld reminded me that something most kids struggle with is allowing a sibling to push the elevator button, to give up the right to ride shotgun in the car, or to allow someone else in the family pick the radio station to listen to. These things seem small – but what I'm talking about is a way of life that affects both big and small things. Even our children will need to be nurtured to act as Jesus acted as give up preferences for one another. It will not come naturally.
Eric Johnson said, "The simplest example I can think of is allowing someone with minimal groceries to go ahead of me in line when I have a full shopping cart." The same choice comes about when someone wants to pull in ahead of us while we're driving.
Debbie Gonzalez said: A "my life for you approach" is a choice we make when we are asked to take care of a sick or dying parent, to volunteer at a children's hospital, to give up your spring break or vacation to go on a missions trip, to drive a friend to downtown LA to a doctors appointment on your day off...
In a church, this life is the willingness to leave your group of friends at church to welcome someone who does not seem to belong (welcoming the stranger). It's taking the first step in reconciliation even if we feel that 92.3% of the blame belongs to the other person. Sometimes this life is one in which you get up the courage to tell someone about Jesus – fearing that you will be mocked but you give witness to Jesus anyway both out of love for God and love for that person's soul.
Joanne Matthew wrote, "'My life for you'" is taking over a meal to someone who is sick, smiling and saying good morning to a random person on the street, being willing to watch a movie that you are not too keen on just because the other person would like it, crossing the street a little faster just so the car that's waiting for you can wait a little less.
And, I think Joanne summarized it better than anything I have thought of: "Living a 'my life for you' life is having a heart that is willing to be inconvenienced.
The Impact of a "My Life for You" Way of Life
When a church like ours has more and more of us allowing the Spirit of God to empower us to move from self to service of others, then, according to James 3:16-17, this God-glorifying way of life will have a peace-making healing affect. It works out like this: You give up something simply to bless someone else and that other person says, "Thank you." What a powerful phrase! "Thank you." It means, "I recognize and appreciate something you have done that helps me or brings me joy." When we engage in an act of service and it's followed by a thank you, a bond is formed. Pride is taken away. People begin to be connected to one another. I am convinced that a life of service and gratitude should be at the heart of any church in which Jesus is Lord. In that kind of community that reflects the ways of Jesus himself, love reigns. Healing, restoration and growth takes place. And people will be drawn to the one who works this in our lives. Jesus said, "By this shall all know that you are my disciples: If you love one another."
The Joy of a "My Life for Yours" Way of Life
Our culture usually tells us that we'll find fulfillment by doing things for ourselves. Jesus calls us to give up our lives for others as he did. So, this leads to a big question: Is there joy in living that kind of life? A "my life for me" approach promises so much to you when you do things for yourself, focus on your own advancement, build a bigger home, accumulate a bigger bank account... How can we counteract the allure of that with one sermon?
So I ask you to consider the joy you have had when you have gone on a mission trip and served people who had nothing but seemed to give back more to you than you ever could have given. I want you to consider the joy that you have when you do a small act of kindness and see the smile break out of someone's face and hear them say, "Thank you".
When Joanne Matthew wrote me about living a "my life for you" life, she added: I have to admit that thinking about how to live this way has given me a joy that is not to easy to describe."
I asked Jeremy Rose about this. He assed me that deep down, everyone in the world knows that real life and joy is found when we give up our won convenience to serve others. Then, Jeremy listed a couple of movies for me:
1) The Hunger Games: Katniss Everdeen volunteers herself for the Hunger Games in place of her younger sister who would most certainly die in the games. It seemed to be a sure a death sentence for her, but she ends up winning the games and lives.
2) The Avengers: Both Captain America and Iron Man (in separate movies) make decisions to give up their lives and plummet to almost certain deaths to save humanity. They both live.
3) Despicable Me: Gru risks his life and reputation as a super-villain for the sake of three girls that he adopted to use as bait, but ends up rescuing them.
So, the world recognizes the truth of living this Jesus-directed life of service – but then all the forces of our world so often turn us back into a "my life for me" pattern. We need to the power of God to live as God calls us to live. And we have it. So, let us hear the powerful words of
Jesus as he declared:
If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.
Jesus, Mark 8:34-35
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
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我今天想簡單談談我們每天生活的兩種不同方式,就是有關我們如何做很多決定,如何使用我們的資源,以及我們怎樣與人相處。一種方式叫做“利己的生活”,另一種是“利他的生活”。在“利己的生活”方式中,每個人都只關注個人的目標,追逐個人的快樂和成功。在“利他的生活”方式中,我們關注於如何服事那些神帶進我們生活中的人。我希望能讓你看到這兩種方式是如何影響我們幾乎所有的事情。 對我們而言,在週末來思想這樣一件事是非常好的,因為我們會談到三個重點:1)棕枝節,2)許多LAC人會受洗,3)聽到一世紀耶路撒冷教會的雅各牧師的另一段有力且實用的經文——《雅各書》4:6-10節。儘管這些可能看起來彼此很不相同,我發現他們組合在一起,可以教導我們兩種截然相反的方式:當我們清晨醒來,可以讓這一天為自己而活,也可以為他人而活。
我們文化的方式: 利己的生活
我活到這個歲數足以了解,在我們的世界,每一代人都把下一代看做是“自我的一代”。當我還是高中生的時候,老一輩人把我們稱作“自我的一代”。在60年代,我這一代在談到父母的時候總會說相同的話:“不要相信30歲以上的人。”政治活動家Jack Weinberger說:“他們只是為自己而活。”所以,我覺得任何一代都比其他時代的人更自我。實際上,很清楚的是,自從亞當和夏娃堅持自己做主以後,每一代人都在成為“自我的一代”。在任何時代,我們人類強烈的趨勢都是“利己的生活”。 這種“利己的生活”會在不同文化中呈現不同的方式。在西方社會,形成了極端個人主義,強調“人人為我”。我們會發展哲學來支援這種利己的、自我為中心的生活方式。以前的一位美國的心理學家Abraham Maslow提出了他的人類需要層次,這是一種心理健康理論,它是基於我們只有通過滿足自己的本能需要,才能成為現實的人。 當然,聖經時代的文化並不像現在的美國社會如此的自我。那時是以家庭和家族為中心,更多的是为我们(如為了自己和家族)而活。但是,結果就像我們在《雅各書》中看到的一樣。人們只歡迎和自己相像的人,其他人則會被排斥。因此,這對教會有很大破壞性——教會本該成為那些貧困者、那些在其他地方不受歡迎的人的希望和醫治之地……而聖經裡所講到的挑戰,是我們如何從“利己利家”的這種排斥外邦人和外來移民及寡婦的文化中回轉過來。實際上,“利己利家”與“利己”是非常像的。兩者都是為了個人利益,都使我們違背基督要愛所有人的命令。 因此,要當心。你身邊的這種世界的方式,不把所有人都當做是有價值的、都是照著神的形象造的。這種世界的方式告訴你——“你所擁有的都是你的,你最好把它們抓牢。”它還告訴你——“所有發生的事情會把你引向自我實現,因此你要關注你自己和你擁有的。” 但耶穌指給我們一條更好的道路。
耶穌的方式: 利他的生活(棕枝主日的教訓)
今天是棕枝主日。許多人對聖經上這一天所發生的事情感到奇怪。有些人稱之為“棕枝主日之謎”。困惑在於:為什麼一群滿懷熱情、像對待國王一樣迎接耶穌的人,在一個星期後,卻又喊著要處死耶穌?似乎是耶穌的名聲和神跡使耶路撒冷的人們認為耶穌是軍隊的王,會把他們從一個暴虐的統治下拯救出來。他們的想法並不都是錯的。耶穌是一個王。但他們錯了,是因為耶穌並非是他們期望的那種王。祂是一個拯救者——但不是他們要求的那種拯救者。耶穌來使人得自由——但不僅是為了一個國家。祂來是為了搭救所有的國家、民族和所有信祂的人。 耶穌很清楚祂來到世上的身份或使命。祂知道自己的本性是神。祂知道祂是要從大衛的根和後裔而出為萬王之王的神。祂知道祂有能力掌管一切的權柄,也能夠呼召百萬的天使來打敗敵擋祂的人。但是,耶穌的生命打上"我的生命傾出為你"的印記。祂說,人為朋友捨命,人的愛心沒有比這個大的。祂不僅說,祂是如此行。耶穌不以自己與神同等為強奪,乃是倒空自己直到十架... 在棕枝主日,我們記著耶穌往耶路撒冷去之前,他說:“外邦人有尊為君王的,治理他們,有大臣操權管束他們。只是在你們中間,不是這樣。因為人子來,並不是要受人的服事, 乃是為了服事人。並且要捨命,作多人的救贖。(馬可福音10:42-45 ) 。 在棕枝主日,我們記著萬王之王,掌管天上地下一切的權柄的主,祂選擇了將自己的生命給我們。祂取了自己的命給你!耶穌過的是一生事奉的生活。耶穌服事直到死地,好叫你至深的需要得到滿足。當你跟隨祂的時候,祂呼召你來像他一樣的服事好叫你可以找到生命。祂呼召你過一個"我的生命為你"的事奉生活。
挑戰( 雅各書4:6-10)在世界中"利人的生活”與“利己的生活"之間的爭戰
雅各書4:6---10是一段深刻的經文,說明我們要過一個與我們利己生活這樣的自然傾向相反的一種生活方式之間的掙扎。雅各說魔鬼,世界的體系和我們的人性都會誘惑人過一個自我中心的生活方式。 請注意6節和10節就像一對書夾。兩節經文呼召我們在神面前的謙卑。 7節上,謙卑的生命始於"順服神"。當我們看過整本雅各書,順服神的結果必定是順服愛人,愛每個按照神的形像被造的人。雅各牧師為教會的許多人聲稱愛耶穌卻並沒有像耶穌愛人一樣去愛人甚為憂心。他們沒有看顧在患難中的寡母,不歡迎外人到教會中來。甚至在教會中,他們彼此相爭得厲害。 在4:7上-9節,雅各說"非改不行!!" 因此,就像慈愛但是嚴厲的父母斥責一個任性的孩子,雅各牧師好不含糊地"規定律法"。你看他怎麼說的:
第7節下—抵擋魔鬼!雅各說,“你當前所做的看起來更像魔鬼,而不像我們的救主耶穌!抵擋魔鬼自我中心的生活方式”(根據以賽亞書14章12-15節撒旦所做的正是如此):撒旦在心裡說:'我要升到天上,我要高舉我的寶座在神眾星以上;我要坐在聚會的山上,在北方的極處;我要升到高雲之上,我要與至上者同等。 '然而你必墜落陰間,到坑中極深之處。雅各對我們說,自我中心的生活是通向死亡的道路,也是神不在我們裡面,透過我們的生活掌權的明確標誌。 “利己生活”是撒旦的方式!
第8節下-我可以想像自己就像一位青少年一邊在想,“我不能再忍受這樣的斥責了”,一邊對雅各說,“好了,好了—我知道了”。然後一個腳已經邁出房間。但是雅各說,“回來。我話還沒說完。這不僅只是撒旦的事。你生命的內在有問題。你們這些罪人,清潔你的生活方式。潔淨你的心,你這心懷二意、屬世假冒的基督徒”你看到了嗎?這是一個強有力的呼召,讓我們重新全人委身完全順服於神,遵守他的命令:愛人如己。
第9節-我再一次想像自己這樣想:我好高興,終於過了。雖然難,但還好倖存。 " 也許,你想方設法想第二次逃脫雅各說的話:回來! 我看不到你的心裡對你的罪有所悔恨。你不屑一顧的表情告訴我你沒有準備好改變順服神!你不以為然,以為對神無關重要的心要改變。"接著雅各引用舊約先知的話,呼召人從自我中心和輕浮的生活方式中轉身。雅各宣告: 你們要愁苦,悲哀,哭泣,將喜笑變成悲哀,歡樂變作愁悶。 你是否心中感受到在神的話語中悔罪的力量?你是否在自己身上看到某些轉離神,從未迴轉的地方?你是否能看到一些你熟視無睹、卻從未做過的神要你去做的事,一些神要你去幫助和祝福的人?我說,“順服神!在神面前謙卑自己,祂將抬舉你”。永遠不要忘記神賜恩典于謙卑的人。在主面前謙卑意味著承認自己靈魂的貧瘠以及對神憐憫的渴望。當你了解神隨時預備,也樂於賜你憐憫,你就會謙卑效仿耶穌"傾出生命為人" 的生活。
“为你而活”是什麼樣的?
我開始這篇信息的時候說過,與其說是做出一次性的決定,不如說是建立一種效仿耶穌的生活方式,遵守神的話語。所以,我現在要問:我們怎樣才能“利他而活”?我問過一些人,以下就是他們的建議: Carol Kenyon牧師說父母定意給有特殊需要的孩子更多關愛與扶助。他們的生命變得完全圍繞著幫助這個特殊的孩子,引導他獲得各種生活體驗。為了孩子,他們常常放下自己的職業與抱負。我還要加上,每一個好父母養育孩子時都在“為他而活”。從孩子出生的那一時刻開始,選擇忍受陣痛,繼而選擇奉獻時間、金錢,選擇放棄自己的生活重心—許許多多—這一切選擇都出於對孩子的愛。 Annie Neufeld牧師講的話讓我想到,很多時候孩子們為這樣的小事糾結:例如:允許其他兄弟姐妹按電梯按鈕; 放棄在車裡的某個座位;或在家裡讓別人選擇電台,自己則將就著聽…這些看起來都像是小事—但我所說的生活方式,包括生活中大大小小,所有層面。 Eric Johnson說,“我能想到的最容易的事,就是當自己的購物車滿載時,讓少量購物的人排在我前頭”。類似的選擇還可以是:開車時禮讓別人插進車道。 Debbie Gonzalez說:還有一些“利他生活”表現在我們面對以下情況如何選擇:當我們需要去照顧年邁有病的父母、到兒童醫院做義工、放棄自己的假期去宣教、或者犧牲休息時間開車送朋友或家人去LA市區看醫生等等。 在教會,"利他生活"可能是願意離開自己的小組與朋友去迎接、招待那些看起來未找到歸屬的人們(接待新朋友)。也就像,我們主動邁出和解的第一步,儘管92.3%的錯都在對方。有時候,"利他的生活"'需要我們鼓起勇氣宣講耶穌—儘管擔心被嘲諷,但依然為耶穌做見證,出於愛神以及拯救他人的靈魂。 Joanne Matthew這樣寫道:“利他生活”就是帶著食物去探訪病人;或者向街上的行人微笑並問候早安;準備陪伴別人看一場自己不太喜歡的電影,僅僅因為別人喜歡;為減少汽車等待行人的時間,走到遠處去過馬路。 Joanne 的概括更好:“利他生活”就是有心隨時願意放棄自己的便利。
“為你而活”生活方式的影響
當在一個像我們這樣的教會中,越來越多的人願意讓神的聖靈給我們力量使我們能夠從自我轉向服務他人。根據雅各書3:16-17,這種榮耀神的生活方式將會產生一種和平與治愈性的影響。它是這樣運作的:你為祝福他人而放棄了一些東西,然後別人對你說, “謝謝你。”多麼強有力的話語!謝謝你。這意味著, “我能分辨出並感激你為我做的事情,這幫助了我並給我帶來快樂。 ”當我們從事服務他人的工作,之後別人的一句謝謝你,一種紐帶便悄然而生。驕傲被拿走。人們開始彼此聯結。我深信在任何一個耶穌做主的教會裡,服務他人和感恩的生活都應該被擺在中心地位。在那些反映出耶穌祂自己樣式的社區中,愛會掌權。治愈,重生和成長會發生。人們會被生活中這樣做工的人吸引。耶穌說:“你們若有彼此相愛的心,眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。”
“為你而活”生活方式的喜悅
我們的文化常常告訴我們,我們會在為自我而活中找到滿足。耶穌呼召我們像祂一樣為他人而放棄我們自己的生活。因此,這將引出一個很大的問題:過那種生活會有樂趣嗎?當你在為自己做事時,“為我而活”的方式會承諾給你很多東西,比如專注於個人的升遷,建更大的房子,在銀行賬戶裡存更多的錢……我們如何能用一次佈道來抵消那些誘惑呢? 所以我要你去思考你曾有過的喜悅,當你在一次短宣和服務他人時,一無所有的他們回饋你的卻比你一直以來能夠給予的更多。我希望你去思考這些曾經的喜悅,因你一個小小的善意之舉,你看到笑容在他們臉上綻放,並且聽到他們說, “謝謝你”。當Joanne Matthew寫道關於過“為你而活”的生活時,她對我說:“我不得不承認,思考如何去過這樣的生活給了我難以形容的快樂” 。 我向Jeremy Rose問道這一點。他回答我說,在內心深處,世界上每個人都知道,當我們放棄自身的便利而去服務他人時我們會找到真實的生活和喜悅。 Jeremy給我列出了一些電影: 1 )飢餓遊戲: Katniss Everdeen志願代替她很可能會死在遊戲中的妹妹而自己加入了飢餓遊戲。這似乎是向她宣判了死刑,但最終她贏得了比賽和生命。 2 )復仇者聯盟:美國隊長和鋼鐵俠(兩部不同的電影)都決定放棄自己的生命,幾乎陷入死亡之中來拯救人類。但最終他們都活了下來。 3 )卑鄙的我:Gru為了當初收養來當作誘餌的三個小女孩冒著生命危險和作為超級惡棍的聲譽,最終拯救了她們。 因此,世界能分辨出這種耶穌導向的服事生活的真相--但世界上的各種力量常常很輕易地就把我們帶回到“為我而活”的形態中。我們需要神的力量來過神呼召我們去過的生活。並且我們是擁有這種力量的。所以,讓我們聽一聽耶穌所說的強有力的話語,祂宣稱: 若有人要跟從我,就當捨己,背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為凡要救自己生命的,必喪掉生命。凡為我和福音喪掉生命的,必救了生命。 耶穌,馬可福音8:34-35
荣耀归给神,
格雷格博士
主任牧师
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2014, Lake Avenue Church
Study Guide
My Life For You - Week 6 - Study Guide
My Life For You
James 4:6-10
- Read 4:6 and then 4:10. How is v.10 a response to v.6? In daily living, what do you think it means to humble yourself before the Lord?
- James describes "humble" as "submitting to God" in 4:7a. Was there a time today when you had to make a decision to submit to God rather than not submit?
- In 7b–9, James unpacked in three couplets what humble submission to God involves. Put into your own words what it means to "resist the devil" and to "draw near to God." How would you tell a new believer in Jesus to do this?
- The second couplet is in 4:8b. James' commands include both external behavior (cleanse hands) and internal attitudes (purify heart). Again, put what you think he means into your own words. How would you tell a new believer to do this?
- The third couplet in 4:9 is a strong call to take sin seriously. Do you think there is a tendency in our society toward taking God's mercy lightly? How do you respond personally to v. 9?
- Look at the promise in 4:10b. What does it mean to you? Does it cause you to celebrate God's grace? Why or why not?
- What is the main lesson you hope to apply to your life from this passage?
2014 Study Series • Copyright © 2014, Lake Avenue Church