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Following Jesus is the way to a rich and satisfying life.
跟随耶稣,能得到富足的生命。
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
我来了,是要叫羊(或作“人”)得生命,并且得的更丰盛。-约翰福音10章10节
When I stopped by to visit my sister’s family, my nephews eagerly showed me their new chore system, a set of Choropoly boards. Each colorful electronic board keeps track of their chores. A job well done means the kids can hit a green button, which adds points to their “spending” account. A misdeed like leaving the back door open results in a fine being deducted from the total. Since a high-points total leads to exciting rewards such as computer time—and misdeeds deduct from that total—my nephews are now unusually motivated to do their work and to keep the door closed!
有一回,我去拜访姐姐一家人。我一到门口,几个外甥就迫不急待地带我去看他们新的家务分配系统。那是几个五颜六色的电子版,上面详实纪录着每个人负责的家务事。如果谁做得好,就可以按下绿色按钮,得到奖励;若做不好,像是没关后门,就会被扣分。分数越高奖励就越诱人,如延长使用电脑的时间(若被扣分就缩短时间)。现在外甥们有强烈的动机去做家务,并且会把门关好了!
The ingenious system had me joking that I wished I had such an exciting motivational tool! But of course God has given us motivation. Rather than simply commanding obedience, Jesus has promised that a life of following Him, while costly, is also a life of abundance, “life . . . to the full” (John 10:10). Experiencing life in His kingdom is worth “one hundred times” the cost—now and eternally (Mark 10:29–30).
看到这激励孩子的妙招,我不禁开玩笑地说,希望我也有这么强烈的动机!其实,上帝早已给了我们服事的动机。耶稣不只是单纯地要我们顺服,祂还承诺,当我们付上代价跟随祂时,我们将“得生命,并且得的更丰盛”(约翰福音10章10节)。我们活在上帝的国中,所得的丰盛生命远超过所付的代价,且是从现在直到永远(马可福音10章29-30节)。
We can rejoice in the fact that we serve a generous God, One who does not reward and punish as we deserve. He generously accepts our weakest efforts—even welcoming and rewarding latecomers to His kingdom as generously as old-timers (see Matt. 20:1–16). In light of this reality, let us joyfully serve Him today.
我们应该欢喜,因我们服事的是一位慷慨的上帝,祂不是按我们所当得的奖励或报应我们。祂欢迎并接纳一切进入祂国度的人,甚至是最后进来的人,只有最微小的付出,祂也同样慷慨地给予工价(参阅马太福音20章1-16节) 。有了这样的确信,我们今日就应喜乐地服事祂。
Lord, help us to remember there is great meaning in following You and that it is all so worth it.
亲爱的主,求祢帮助我们谨记,
跟随祢是何等宝贵,撇下一切来跟从祢必是值得的。
Mark 10:28-31New International Version (NIV)
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
整理:于姊妹
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