第三章
13 耶穌上了山,隨自己的意思叫人來;他們便來到他那裡。 14 他就設立十二個人,要他們常和自己同在,也要差他們去傳道, 15 並給他們權柄趕鬼。 16 這十二個人有西門(耶穌又給他起名叫彼得), 17 還有西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰(又給這兩個人起名叫半尼其,就是雷子的意思), 18 又有安得烈、腓力、巴多羅買、馬太、多馬、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、和達太,並奮銳黨的西門, 19 還有賣耶穌的加略人猶大。
默想:
- 耶穌的十二個門徒當中,我們所熟悉,就是幾位較出名(或惡名昭彰)的門徒,但對於這名單中耶穌所選召的其他幾位門徒,聖經並未多作記載,因此我們對他們也都一無所知。因此,他們雖然與彼得、約翰、雅各一樣,有三年多的時間與耶穌一起,得到耶穌的教導與關愛,同樣奉命出去傳道、醫病、趕鬼,但是他們在聖經中,在教會的歷史中,卻是似乎成了亟亟無名的小卒。
- 當我在學習成為耶穌門徒的過程中,或會有人邀請我擔任某個受人矚目的工作或崗位;然而,大多數的時候,做主的門徒,就是忠心辦理沒人會不受人留意的小事,只有神才注意的一些基督徒的例行事奉。
- 在教會中,小組裡,家庭中,或是公司,與親友來往中,我有沒有留意到一些默默無聞的服事者?這個星期找機會向他們表示感激,一個微笑、說一聲謝謝。
- 我是否願意做一個默默無聞的主的門徒?有什麼服事是不受人注意,但卻是實際的服事?我願意做嗎?告訴主,我的心願,求主幫助我,甘心也安心的在日常生活中,在不為人注意的事上,忠心地作主的門徒。
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。
Mark 3
13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Meditation
- We know a few of the more famous (and infamous) disciples, but there are many in this list we know nothing about at all. Though they were also with Jesus for more than three years just as Peter, John and James were. They also received teachings and care from Jesus, were commanded to preach, heal, and cast out demons. However, they remains to be the unnoticed in the Bible and in the church history.
- In our own discipleship, we may be asked to do some work or to take a stand that gets noticed by others. But often discipleship consists of faithfulness in the small, even mundane acts of Christian service perhaps unnoticed by all except God.
- Am I aware of any unnoticed servers at church, home, the office or any other places? Look for an opportunity to show appreciation, a smile, or a thank you to these people.
- Am I willing to be an unnoticed disciple of Christ? Is there any behind-the-scene work that needs to be done? Am I willing to do it? Ask the Lord to give me the willingness to do the not-easily-noticed services faithfully even without people’s recognition or appreciation.
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.