心存溫柔 To Have a Gentle Heart

(腓立比書 Philippians 4:1-9)

保羅從勸勉兩位爭吵的領袖要在主裡同心,到鼓勵我們心存溫柔(謙讓的心),到要求我們常常靠主喜樂;他為何把這些表面看來各不相關的東西串連在一起呢?

原來我們的喜樂都是從人際關係中來的。我們與人處不來,就不會有喜樂。但是要如何幫助人建立和諧的人際關係呢?保羅提出一個最有效,也最基本的方法,就是有基督耶穌的心腸。如果兩個人都同有基督耶穌的心腸,他們就能化解矛盾,可以相親相愛,享受和諧健康的人際關係,生活就必然充滿喜樂。

基督耶穌的心是什麼心呢?耶穌說,祂的心是柔和謙卑的心(太11:29)。這是一種什麼心呢?它所指的並不單是我們所理解的溫柔的言語和體貼待人的態度,當然這些都包括在內,而且是有了基督溫柔的心所必然產生的效果。耶穌基督的柔和謙卑是向著父神的,因為祂對父神和祂的旨意非常敏銳,而且充滿愛慕和順服。祂體會父神差祂來到人間的心意,甘心樂意體現神寬恕人的大愛,並為此而犧牲祂自己。這就是耶穌的柔和謙卑,也是保羅要求我們要有的基督的心,或在基督裡同心,而這樣的同心就會體現了基督的溫柔,有基督柔和謙卑的心。所以,保羅不是要求我們尋求人與人之間的同心,或同一的想法。這是很難的,是不可能的,也是不需要的。誰應放棄他的思想呢?誰有權要求別人放棄他的想法、委屈他的需要,來滿足另一個人的想法和需要呢?但是我們自己可以作出這樣的要求,要求自己放棄自己的思法,放棄尋求滿足自己的需要。然而這樣做實在太難,幾乎沒有人會願意這樣做的,因為所有人都是自私的,都是極自我中心的。

保羅不是向我們講人的道德和人的道理,他乃是要求我們被耶穌救贖的人,去體會耶穌的心,去體會神的愛。讓耶穌的生命影響我們的生命、讓耶穌溫柔的心成為我們溫柔的心。保羅說,我們當以耶穌的心為心(2:5)。

經文默想
當你重讀這主日的經文時,請你檢查自己的人際關係:在誰身上你是最缺乏基督的心的?保羅的教導能否幫助你有更多基督的心?

From urging two quarrelling people to have same mind in Christ, to encouraging us to be gentle, to urging again us to have joy in the Lord; why Paul had put three totally different things in one essay to teach the Christians in Philippi?

There is no surprise to know that our joy comes from our relationship with others. If we always have problem to relate to people, our life will be miserable. But how can we help people build good and healthy relationship? Paul told us a very effective and fundamental way, and it is to have the same heart of Christ. If two people have the heart of Jesus, they can resolve conflict and love each other again. Their relationship will be healthy and their lives will fill with joy and happiness.

What kind of heart did Christ have? Jesus said that he was gentle and humble in spirit (Matt 11:29). What does it mean to be gentle and humble in spirit? It does not only imply to soft words and compassion, of course they are included, but more important to a sensitive heart toward God and the obedience to His will. Jesus was so sensitive to God and filled with the Father’s love, that he could submit to God wholeheartedly with no reservation. His life was a manifestation of the forgiving love of God through His sacrifice. This is the gentleness of Christ that Paul urged us to imitate. This is the meaning of having the same mind or heart of Christ. Paul wanted us to have the same heart of Christ, so that we will also become a manifestation of Jesus’ gentleness. Paul did not mean that we should unify our thinking and needs, for it is not possible and unnecessary. Who has the right to overrule others thought and needs? Only we can ask ourselves to sacrifice for others, but not vice versa. But still it is too difficult to give up our perspectives and needs, because we are too selfish and self-centered.

Paul did not argue with us from morality or reason. He asked us, as a redeemed race, to have the same heart of Jesus to be sensitive to God’s love for people. Let Jesus’ life transform us to have the same compassion He has for others. Paul said that our hearts should be the same as that of Jesus (2:5).

Meditation on the Scripture:
When you reread the Scripture passage of this Sunday, please look into your relationships to find out to whom you have less Christ like compassion. Will this Bible passage help you to have the same mind of Christ?

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