The Passionate Life 充满热忱的生活
Author : Bro Stanley Seow
“Follow your heart” can be dangerous advice given by this world because Jesus reminds us in Matthew 16:24, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. And from this, we know that we are called to surrender our own desires in order to follow Him.
Likewise, Peter warned, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11). It reminds us that there is a battle going on for our souls and we desperately need to guard our hearts. If we give in to the passions of the flesh, Jesus did forewarn, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
What then should we do? 1 Peter 2:12 elaborates, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
While we resist this world and the passions of the flesh, we are also called to engage the same world for the glory of God. We are called to be different and are challenged to let our actions do the talking.
Therefore, if the glory of God is our focus and our passion then following your heart can instead be good advice. The bible paints a beautiful picture of how God-fearing, Christ-centered and Spirit-filled people serve God with great zeal. Paul tells us in Philippians 1:20-21 that, “It is my eager expectation and hope that … Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” If we are saturated by Him, He will redefine the longings of our heart and we will be so radical in our living that even our enemies will look at our deeds and give glory to our Father.
What are you passionate for? Are you ready for the day of visitation?
文: 萧思豪弟兄
翻译：王佩瑾师母
“跟随你的心”可以是这个世界给与我们的一个危险的忠告，因为耶稣在马太福音16: 24里提醒我们，「 若有人要跟从我, 就当舍己, 背起他的十字架来跟从我。」而从这段经文里，我们知道神呼召我们必须放下私欲才能跟从祂。
同样的，彼得警告说：「亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。 我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲；这私欲是与灵魂争战的。」（彼得前书 2:11）。经文提醒着我们，一场抢夺灵魂的战争正在进行着，而我们必须牢牢地守护我们的心。若是向肉体的私欲妥协了，耶稣警告:「人就是赚的全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢？」（马可福音8:36）
那我们应该怎么办呢？彼得前书2:12继续说到：「你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的行为，便在监察的日子归荣耀给神。」
当我们与这个世界及肉体的私欲进行对抗时，我们也同时被呼召，要为了神的荣耀与这个世界接触。我们必须要与众不同，并通过我们的行为来说服大家。
所以，如果神的荣耀是我们的目标及热忱所在，那么跟随你的心就是一种好的忠告了。圣经里描述了那些敬畏神，以耶稣为中心的，及充满圣灵的人如何满是热忱地服侍神。保罗在腓利比书1:20-21写着，「照着我所切慕的，所盼望的 ... 无论是生是死总叫基督在我身上照常显大。因为我活着就是基督，我死了就有益处。」如果我们是被神充满的，祂将改变我们心里所向往的，而我们的生命也将变得截然不同，让我们的敌人看了都要将荣耀归给我们的天父。
你对什么充满热忱？你预备好迎接主的再来了吗？