第十章

35 西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰進前來，對耶穌說：「夫子，我們無論求你甚麼，願你給我們做。」 36 耶穌說：「要我給你們做甚麼？」 37 他們說：「賜我們在你的榮耀裡，一個坐在你右邊，一個坐在你左邊。」 38 耶穌說：「你們不知道所求的是甚麼，我所喝的杯，你們能喝嗎？我所受的洗，你們能受嗎？」 39 他們說：「我們能。」耶穌說：「我所喝的杯，你們也要喝；我所受的洗，你們也要受； 40 只是坐在我的左右，不是我可以賜的，乃是為誰預備的，就賜給誰。」 41 那十個門徒聽見，就惱怒雅各、約翰。 42 耶穌叫他們來，對他們說：「你們知道，外邦人有尊為君王的，治理他們，有大臣操權管束他們。 43 只是在你們中間，不是這樣。你們中間，誰願為大，就必作你們的用人； 44 在你們中間，誰願為首，就必作眾人的僕人。 45 因為人子來，並不是要受人的服事，乃是要服事人，並且要捨命作多人的贖價。」

默想：

1. 耶穌對雅各和約翰的要求沒有譏諷或惱怒，卻拒絕他們的要求。我們可以向神求任何東西，不過神不見得會將我們所求的給我們，但祂卻要把最好的賜給我們。因此，有時為了我們的好處，祂會拒絕我們的請求。
2. 回想一下，有什麼禱告，是神至今沒有答應，或是已經拒絕的？現在憑著信心，為著神已經、或將要將最好的賜給我來感謝神。
3. 在基督的國度裡，「服事」才是成功之路，這是主留給我們美好的榜樣。祈禱是服事的一種，我是否留意萬民堂每星期的祈禱週誌，忠實地每天為教牧同工、教會、社區、弟兄姊妹的需要祈禱？求主幫助我。

 

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 10

³⁵Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”  ³⁶“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  ³⁷They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”  ³⁸“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”  ³⁹“We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, ⁴⁰but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”  ⁴¹When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴²Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Meditation

1. Jesus didn’t laugh or getting angry at James or John, but He did reject their requests.  We may want to ask for anything from God, but God wants to give us the best and not just anything we asked for.  So, it’s for our good that He may reject our requests.
2. Take a time to reflect.  Is there any prayer request of mine that God still hasn’t answered, or has refused?  Right now, offer a prayer of thanksgiving to God, for He has or will have given me the best.
3. In the kingdom of Christ, “serving” is the way to success.  This is the model Christ left us.  Prayer is one of the services for believers.  Have I noticed the PGC weekly prayer letter? Lord, help me to pray faithfully daily for pastors, the church, our community, needs of brothers and sister.

 

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.