2014-02-19 鞋子（一）‏

你知道吗？“Christian（基督徒）”这两个字在新约圣经总共只出现了两次。如果注意去观察，新约圣经较常使用的字眼是 “Discipleship（门徒）”。弟兄姐妹，今天我们信耶稣不是单单拿到了进天堂的免费入门票，然后就停止或结束了。我们在世上的职责不是单做一个信徒，而是一个跟随耶稣基督脚步的门徒！

来自纽西兰的一个著名布道家上台证道时做了这么一个举动。他邀请一个姐妹和一个弟兄上台，脱下自己的鞋子然后穿上彼此的鞋子。脚板比较大的弟兄穿上姐妹那狭窄的鞋子显示不舒服，而姐妹穿上弟兄宽大的鞋子也是如此。之后布道家就问会众说，“今天你所穿的信心的鞋子是否与你的体格相称？”

随着年龄的增长，我们知识、学位和事业的鞋子也跟着我们一起长大。我们不断地在换这些鞋子，一生忙于追求更好和更有素质的鞋子。相比之下，我们信心的鞋子有多大呢？今天我们对于上帝的信心是否与当年我们在主日学决志信主时一样地幼小？要做基督的门徒，我们的一生必须是一个不断在寻找和换上合适的鞋子，一个追求成长的过程。倘若我们对这不合尺寸的鞋子不理不睬，久而久之将会习惯成自然，灵命变麻木，更是看不到‘换鞋子’的需要和急迫性。

或许有些人会说，“需要一直换鞋子还真的是太麻烦了，干脆就不穿鞋子吧！”断乎不可！不穿鞋子就好像失去了保护层，如同失去了耶稣基督的保护与倚靠！试想想，人在哪里才会不穿鞋子呢？当我们在屋子里，不打算出去奔跑或旅行，定下来安顿自己的时候我们才不穿鞋子。除非你打算一生封闭自己不去见这个世界，你才可以不穿鞋子。既然你愿意出去为自己的学业、事业、生活和家庭努力地寻找最好和最合尺寸的鞋子，那你信心的鞋子同样的也需要不断地更新和提升！

一个不适合的鞋子不能够带你走很远的路，因为魔鬼撒旦就是喜欢攻击那些信心鞋子太小或不合身的信徒。试看想象自己今天穿着很小的运动鞋与亲戚朋友们一起去爬山，几分钟内山上的树根与尖锐的石头就能严重伤害你的脚。各位读者，人生路途不也是这么的坎坷与凹凸不平吗？你是否正面对经济上的缺乏？今天你与丈夫或妻子的关系是否已被魔鬼撒旦破坏，甚至每天回到家家里都是鸡犬不宁？

马太福音11:2说“凡劳苦当重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。”亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹，笔者鼓励您读完这篇文章后花一点时间反思。你所穿上的信心的鞋子是否与你相称？从要就读哪一间大学到要穿哪一件衣服，人生总是充满选择的。在你人生的这个环节，你也可以立定心志把不合身的鞋子换掉，以致你一生穿上舒服和合身的信心的鞋子，帮助你面对人生的每一项苦难与挑战。下一笔会提到如何‘换鞋‘，所以请继续守定blessedspot.blogspot.com 谢谢！

Spiritual Journal #6

            “By this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things” (1 John 3:19-20).

            We all know things about ourselves that no one else knows—failures, faults, sins—that although confessed to God and forgiven by Him may come back to accuse us again and again. Recently I read a Christian book called Sex is not the problem (lust is) by Joshua Harris. The author talks about how we always try to set our own standards and limits as to what we should not do to avoid ourselves from committing sins. This verse, along with what I read from the book, reminded me that it is our heart that matters for everything we do flows from our heart (proverbs 4:23). I understood that our source of strength to repent from sins, is the sole confirmation that we as sinners are in desperate need of God’s grace to save us from the wrath of this contemporary sinful world.

Spiritual Journal #5

            On my flight back to Kuching from Sibu during the Chinese New Year’s break, I was blessed to be able to experience God’s work. Before I went onto the plane, I prayed to God for me to have the courage and ability to share the gospel with the passenger next to me.

            I was placed in the middle seat, so this aunty who is sitting on the outside had to let me in. We began talking and she asked me why I came to Sibu. After a short while, I managed to get her to listen to my testimony. I shared on how our God is an amazing God, one that plans the best for our life. I told her how the Lord has called me to the ministry and serve him full time as a pastor. She seems interested and she coincidentally has been someone who has been to the States too. However, due to it being a 30-minute flight, time ran out before I got to enter the topic of gospel and salvation. I did manage to ask her religion, she say she’s non-religious but she thinks every religion is good.

            Through this experience, I have felt motivated and look to share the gospel with every moment I can, even if there’s only a small amount of time. We might never know that the seed we planted will blossom some day. I believe as Christians, we should cherish every opportunity there is to share the gospel with anyone in order to accomplish Jesus’ mission to us in Matthew 28:19-20!

Spiritual Journal #4

            Last Friday, we went to General Hospital for school evangelism. My family group leader asked me whether I can share the gospel in Bahasa Malaysia. In my mind I thought, “of course not!” but I told them ‘yes’ as I knew that if they had to ask me this question, we must be short of people who can preach in B.M..

            I entered ward #14, and I saw this little girl on the bed. She was probably an Iban but I didn’t care much, I just told her we’re from MTS and we’re here to approach and care for them. After some conversation, I begin to share in B.M.. I don’t know where that ability came from, to translate the words and terms into Bahasa Malaysia and tell it to the girl. I suppose this is God’s way of speaking through me and it was the Holy Spirit working in me. That moment, I had a lot of confidence and when I invited her to accept Christ as her savior, she responded with a “yes”! May all credit and glory be unto God!

            Through this experience, I have gained more courage in sharing in B.M.. and I think this is God’s way of showing me that, 1) I should participate in more B.M. ministry activities, 2) when God work in you, nothing is impossible. Praise the Lord for His good deeds. Amen!

Reflection on class outing

            That morning, I was still feeling sick and felt reluctant to go to the trip. However, I just kept praying to God that may His will be done. If He wants me to go, then give me the strength and ability to do so. If not, then please show me that my body cannot stand and I need rest. In the end, I made the decision to go to this outing and it is one experience that I will never forget.

            Visiting Wong Nai Siong park reminded me that in order to do missions, we must step out of our comfort zone. Just like how Wong Nai Siong left his family, his properties behind to come to Sibu to evangelize and do missions. Often times as Christians, we prefer to stick around the church activities, having fellowship with people who are already Christians instead of responding to the need to spread the gospel to more people. Not only do we need to step out of our comfort zone, there are also sacrifices that we must make. Sacrifice the time that we use to play computer games, the money for petrol and materials, and most importantly our energy to do evangelism and missions.

            Hoover Memorial Park was also a good experience. After reading the story of Reverend James Hoover, I see that how one’s response to God calling can make a huge difference. As someone who is going to be a theological student soon, and a pastor in future, I asked myself the question, “Will there be a day where there is a ‘Paul Ling’ memorial park?” The purpose of this question is not to drive me to strive to achieve accomplishments to be known by people, rather as a form of constant reminder of my commitment to the ministry. It serves as my personal reflection on how much am I willing to give to God, in my whole life, so that He may use me to accomplish His will and plans in this world. Once again, I prayed to God that this fire will continue to burn in my heart so that I will learn from the example of Wong Nai Siong and James Hoover, to go ahead and evangelize the world and bring the gospel to the unreached.

            I also thanked God that He called me at this young age. There are many doubters, particularly my high school teachers that say one should not serve at such a young age. Some say I am too raw, too unequipped, too limited, but I trust that youth is the best asset I have. In fact, I can serve God for 50 years or more, which is something that one would dream of! With a teachable and humble heart, I fully believe that God calls me in His best timing, and He will prepare everything I need in the future. I pray that my life will be a burning sacrifice to God. And on the day where my life ends, may be like Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

P/S : Sorry for not posting in awhile, have been quite busy. Meanwhile, enjoy this post!