May We Become A Blessing To Many愿成为多人的祝福
Author: Sis Kathleen Lee
Translate: Sis Charis Ong
“7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”
1 Peter 4:7-10
Most of us experience a sense of helplessness, fatigue, and frustration when ‘COVID-19’ is mentioned. Due to the outbreak of the disease, our government implemented the Circuit Breaker last year between April and May. Suddenly, our daily routine was shaken up: the adults had to work from home; the children needed to start Home-Based Learning; and the pre-schoolers could not attend childcare centres. Gathering, prayers and worship at religious centres were halted; all activities were suspended.
It was tough going through those two months, and with the gradual improvement in the situation, ‘freedom’ was at hand. Yet, many unknowingly fell in love with the new norm of working from home. The ability to work, worship, gather and attend courses online, from the comfort of home, felt not bad at all.
Yet, as children of God, we need to ask ourselves if this epidemic had given us a chance to meet God. Had it been helpful in giving us an insight to whether we had a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father? Or are we also flowing with the tide of times, falling in love with the convenience of worshipping the Lord online in our pyjamas, with breakfast on the side?
During my quiet time, 1 Peter 4:7-10 came into my mind:
“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and
sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all,
keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
Show hospitality to another without grumbling.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,
as good stewards of God’s varied grace”.
We have no way of knowing how the road ahead will be, or what kind of challenges await in our lives and our walk with God. However, we must remain self-controlled and sober-minded so that we may pray; we must also continue to love one another earnestly, and not let our love for God grow cold. Let us all be determined to be the good stewards of God’s varied grace.
文/李木兰姐妹
“7 万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎自守，警醒祷告。 8 最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。 9 你们要互相款待，不发怨言。 10 各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服侍，做神百般恩赐的好管家”
提起“2019冠状病毒”就令人感到无奈、厌倦和心烦。
去年四至五月份，因疫情扩散的甚快，政府实行了疫情阻断措施。煞那间，每个人的生活都受到了很大的影响：成人需居家办公、学生居家学习、学前孩童不能上托管中心。信徒也不能到教会敬拜或聚会。所有的活动都被暂停了。
好不容易熬过了那两个月，疫情渐渐地有了好转，可以“重获自由”。那知，很多人却在不知不觉中爱上了居家办公这种生活的新常态。感觉能在线上办公、参与崇拜、小组聚会、或参与某些课程也还不错。
但对天父上帝儿女们而言，这次的疫情，是否成了让我们遇见神的一个良机？它有否帮助我们看清自己与天父的关系是有多坚固？还是我们正在随波逐流，也爱上了线上崇拜，能穿着睡衣，边吃早餐边崇拜？
在静默思考中，想起了彼得前书4:7–10说：
万物的结局近了所以我们要
谨慎自守警醒祷告
最要紧的是彼此切实相爱
因为爱能遮盖许多的罪
我们要互相款待不发怨言
各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服事
做神百般恩赐的好管家
前面的道路如何，我们的生活和信靠神的心志会面对哪些的挑战，我们无从知道。但我们必需谨慎自守、警醒祷告；我们也需要彼此切实的相爱，并且爱主事主的心也不能少。让我们立志做神百般恩赐的好管家。