第十七章

1耶穌又對門徒說：絆倒人的事是免不了的；但那絆倒人的有禍了。 2 就是把磨石拴在這人的頸項上，丟在海裡，還強如他把這小子裡的一個絆倒了。 3 你們要謹慎！若是你的弟兄得罪你，就勸戒他；他若懊悔，就饒恕他。 4 倘若他一天七次得罪你，又七次回轉，說：我懊悔了，你總要饒恕他。 5 使徒對主說：求主加增我們的信心。 6 主說：你們若有信心像一粒芥菜種，就是對這棵桑樹說：你要拔起根來，栽在海裡，它也必聽從你們。

7 你們誰有僕人耕地或是放羊，從田裡回來，就對他說：你快來坐下吃飯呢？ 8 豈不對他說：你給我預備晚飯，束上帶子伺候我，等我吃喝完了，你才可以，吃喝嗎？ 9 僕人照所吩咐的去做，主人還謝謝他嗎？ 10 這樣，你們做完了一切所吩咐的，只當說：我們是無用的僕人，所做的本是我們應分做的。

默想：

1. 耶穌告訴門徒們，應當彼此扶持，來按照神的旨意生活。當我們中間有人違背神的旨意而犯罪時，我們應當勸戒他；他若悔改，我們就要饒恕。因此，每個信徒都應當有責任來關心其他人與神的關係。在教會這個群體中，每個人都能獲得饒恕與彼此的支持，使我們能過聖潔的生活。
2. 耶穌命令他的門徒，要正視犯罪的人，當他悔改時，就當接受並饒恕。能否遵從神的命令，並非信心的問題，而是順服的問題。
3. 我有多少次按兵不動，心中卻冀望著能有更多的信心，才去做我明知神要我做的事情？有多少次，我因自己的不足而祈求神加添信心？又有多少次我心中渴想更多的信心，只不過是我不願意順從神的掩護？
4. 安靜一下，容許聖靈在我心中繼續說話。如果聖靈在我內心作責備，就向神認罪，並求神的赦免。並求神的憐憫，賜我願意順服神的心。

 

 

Luke 17

¹ Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. ² It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. ³ So watch yourselves.    “If your brother or sistersins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. ⁴ Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”  ⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”  ⁶ He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

⁷“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? ⁸Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? ⁹Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? ¹⁰So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

Meditation:

1. Here Jesus shows us how we can help each other accept and live by values the Pharisees had rejected.  We are to rebuke one another when one of us sins, but be quick to forgive when he or she repents.   Each of us is to accept responsibility to care about one another’s walk with God.  In the community of faith each is to find forgiveness and support to live a godly life.
2. Jesus commanded his disciples to confront, to accept “I repent”, and to forgive.  Responding to a command isn’t a matter of faith, it is a matter of obedience.
3. How many times have I held back, wishing I had more faith so I could do something I knew God wanted me to do?  How many times have I pleaded for more faith in my inadequacy?  And how many times has the longing for more faith simply masked the fact that I have been unwilling to obey?
4. Allow the questions to speak to my heart.  Continue this quiet time with God.  If the Holy Spirit is rebuking me right now, confess it and ask for God’s forgiveness.  Pray for mercy to obey God willingly.

 

Family Time

V6, A mustard seed is very small but produces big results when planted.  What can you think of that is small but could produce great results?  What is a little faith?  Jesus told his disciples to use the little faith they had.  How do you think Jesus would want you to do more with the faith you have?