10/17/2013僕人的卓越表現

經文:馬可福音8－10章

中心思想:馬可福音9章

提要

        當反對耶穌傳道的勢力逐漸增加時，在加利利公開活動已經不安全了，於是祂橫越低加波利、該撒利亞腓利比及比利亞等地區，好避開川流不息的群眾及宗教領袖的死亡陰謀，耶穌在地上服事的最後幾天，祂開始預備門徒面對耶路撒冷的死亡之旅，在那裏祂的生命將要畫上休止符──而門徒要開始擔任他們報好消息的角色。

每日與主同行

        「現在看這裏──我有權利！」
        的確！做僕人並不意味你沒有權利，而是為了別人的好處甘願放棄所擁有的權利，真正的為僕之道是基於愛，而不是強迫。
        想想耶穌所擁有的權利：祂是上帝之子，世界的造物主；「與上帝同等」（腓2：6）；「與上帝同在」（約1：2）然而祂卻選擇生在馬槽裏──以一生的歲月向被社會遺棄的群眾傳福音，而不是統治諸王。
        就權利來說，祂足以享有皇室的特權，但祂「取了奴僕的形像…就自己卑微……以至於死，且死在十字架上」（腓2：7，8），在這麼做的時候，祂以身作則成為門徒的榜樣，「若有人願意作首先的，他必作眾人末後的，作眾人的門徒」（可9：35）
        在你家、辦公室、教會或社區裏，是否總有一個你希望別人能代勞的工作──一個你認為不值得做的工作？為了不讓別人來服事你，採取主動，當作服事主吧！畢竟，服事是一種愛的禮物，因感懷上帝賜你的大愛而贈送別人。

默想

我說，我說，我再說
        如果一句話很重要，遇到時機恰當就會重覆再三，看過馬可福音八章三十一節、九章三十一節、十章三十三節後，牢記在心。從這些經文中，你能說出耶穌一生的重心是什麼嗎？

金言

服事是一種愛的禮物，因感懷上帝賜你大愛而將這大愛贈送給人。

Magnificence of the Servant

Scriptures:Mark 8-10

Heart of the Passage:Mark 9

Overview

        As opposition to Jesus' ministry increases, it is no longer safe to move openly in Galilee. He traverses the regions of the Decapolis, Caesarea Philippi, and Perea, thereby avoiding both the crowds and the deadly plots of the religious leaders. In the concluding days of His earthly ministry, Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for the fateful journey to Jerusalem that will mark the end of His life—and the beginning of their role as bearers of glad tidings.

Your Daily Walk

        "Now see here—I have my rights!"
        That's right! To be a servant doesn't mean you have no rights, but that you have freely given up the rights you possess in order to benefit another. True servanthood is based on love, not coercion.
        Think of the rights Jesus possessed: He was the Son of God, Creator of the world; "equal with God," (Philippians2:6); "in the beginning with God" (John 1:2). And yet He chose to be born in a stable—to spend His life not lording it over kings, but reaching out to society's outcasts.
        Though by rights He could have enjoyed the privileges of royalty, He "took upon him the form of a servant, and ... humbled himself... unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8). And in doing so, He was modeling His own instruction to the disciples, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all" (Mark 9:35).
        Is there a job in your home or office, church or community for which you would rather someone else take the responsibility— a job you think is beneath you? Instead of waiting lobe served by another, take the initiative in serving as unto the Lord. After all, service is a gift of love to people given in gratitude for God's gift of love to you!

Insight

I Say... and I Say... and I Say Again!
        If a statement is important, chances are that it will be repeated. With that in mind, glance at 8:31; 9:31; 10:33. What would you say is the focus of Jesus' life as revealed in those verses?

Adage

Service is a gift of love to people given in gratitude far God's gift of love to you.