Spiritual Thought for the Week 2009/2/1

本周默想分享
以色列王国的分裂是始於罗波安和耶罗波安的对抗。罗波安在耶路撒冷的圣殿，神的面前，领导国家。耶罗波安却在伯特利和但铸造了两个金牛犊，对众民说，以色列人哪，你们上耶路撒冷去，实在是难。这就是领你们出埃及地的神。。。这事叫百姓陷在罪里。因为他们往但去，拜那牛犊。（王上12：20-33）
主耶稣来到世上的目的，不但是将人从罪恶救出来，也是将人带到神面前，完全归给神。祂钉十字架流血，复活，升天，就是为人开创一条到神那里去的路。神舍去祂的独生子，为了要得着我们，在他面前成为圣洁，毫无瑕疵。但今天有多少信徒是真的来到神面前，也把人带到神面前，完全归给神呢？
我们的教会只将人领到十字架那里，求恩，得救是不够的。我们还要将人领到神的宝座前，否则我们还没有完成使命。因为主的宝血是为我们亲近神，开了一条又新又活的路。我们的教会必须带领信徒追求良善，勿以恶报恶，勉励灰心的，扶助软弱的，常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事谢恩，与弟兄姊妹彼此和睦，活在神的面前，让神得到喜悦和荣耀。
正如保罗劝勉歌罗西教会的信徒说，“劝诫各人，教导各人，要把各人在基督里完完全全引到神面前。”（西1：28）
到神面前是人最需要的。神是宇宙的中心，万有的主宰，万福的泉源，找到了别的东西而没有找到神，那是太可惜了。谁能与神相比呢？祂是真神，也是永生。在祂那里有永远的福分，无穷的喜乐，今生既可以预尝，将来更要完全得着。
所以将人带到神的面前，是我们教会也是每一个教友，唯一追求的路径和目标。牛年已到，我们有甚麽新春大计吗？唯愿我们不要学耶罗波安，只把人带到喜欢拜金牛犊，不喜欢重返圣殿的罪恶里。要学罗波安归回耶路撒冷的圣殿，来到神的面前。

Spiritual Thought for the Week
The split of the kingdom of Israel began when Rehoboam combated with Jeroboam. Rehoboam led the country by presenting the Lord in the Jerusalem temple to the people. In the mean time Jeroboam made two golden calves. One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. He said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there. (I Kings 12:28-30)
The purpose of Jesus Christ coming to this world is not only to deliver man out of the bondage of sin but also that He can present God to man and lead man back to God. He was crucified, bled, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven for the sole purpose that He can present us the love of God. God gave His only begotten Son to us for the sole purpose that we can come back to Him and worship Him. I wonder how many Christians really know their mission to present God to others so that others will present themselves to God.
Our church may bring people to the cross to seek blessings and get salvation. But this is not enough. We have to bring people to come before the throne of our gracious God Otherwise our job is only half way done. The blood of our Lord has opened up a new way of coming before God. Our task is to present the love of God to people so that people will respond to his love in a lively way. They will live in peace with each other. They will encourage the timid, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. They will make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. They will be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. Because this is God’s will for them in Christ Jesus.
This is the task of the church. Paul defined our task in his letter to the Colossians, “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”(Colossians 1:28)
Bringing man to come before God is the best work we can do to man. Man needs God. God is the source of all goodness, happiness and blessings. Bringing man to come before another man will only bring idol worship which leads to nothing but vanity and disappointment.Let us follow the example of Rehoboam who led his people to return to Jerusalem and worship the Lord. Let us refrain from following the example of Jeroboam who led people into idol worship which brings nothing but vanity and futility.