當感謝消失的那天──THE DAY THANKS WENT MISSING
思考一下自己所收到的最棒的禮物之一是什麼?我說的不是某個聖誕節早晨,你在聖誕樹下找到的東西,去想想那更大、更神奇的。譬如當你失業的時候,卻得到一個工作,是所有曾經寄出的履歷,都無法聯繫起來;或是當你生病的時候,恢復的比醫生所認定的還要快得多;亦或是你所擔心著那關愛的人,經歷了一連串無法理解的情境,最後問題得到了解決。你的反應是什麽?你是否會覺得意外的感激呢?
其他九個人在哪裡?我的牧師最近提醒我,聖經中一個非常令人驚奇的醫治作為。大多數被治癒的人,也都表現出相同的驚奇。為什麼他們會如此驚奇,是因為這根本不是任何人所能預料到的。
「耶穌往耶路撒冷去,經過撒馬利亞和加利利。進入一個村子,有十個長大痲瘋的,迎面而來,遠遠地站着,高聲說:「耶穌,夫子,可憐我們吧!」耶穌看見,就對他們說:「你們去把身體給祭司察看。」他們去的時候就潔淨了。內中有一個見自己已經好了,就回來大聲歸榮耀與上帝,又俯伏在耶穌腳前感謝他;這人是撒馬利亞人。耶穌說:「潔淨了的不是十個人嗎?那九個在哪裏呢?除了這外族人,再沒有別人回來歸榮耀與上帝嗎?」就對那人說:「起來,走吧!你的信救了你了。」(路加福音17章11-19節)
除一人外,都不知感謝。當耶穌用比喻來說明自己的觀點時,有時人們會誤解他的意思。但這裡祂對其他九個人的質疑卻不會被誤解,其他人在哪裡?沒有跡象表明耶穌生氣或吼叫。然而,這個簡單的問題卻能切中要害,這是高聲叫喊或揮舞拳頭所不能做到的。這些人得到了醫治,不是因為行動不便,而是因為大痲瘋!不是因為感冒,而是因為一種讓他們毀容、躲避和羞愧的疾病。十人中有九個人沒有表示感謝。這一天,感謝消失了。
總有事情攔阻感謝。我不知道這九個人的心裡是怎麽想的。但我有個猜測,根據我自己的人生經歷,感謝是這樣消失的:有時是很明顯的,比如我開著自己的箱型車在路上行駛,卻看到一輛我更想開的車,有時是很細微的,我會對居住在擁有更多的人之間感到不滿。更有時是因為忙碌或缺乏緊迫感,感謝也會消失。想著自己一直想寫的感謝信幾個月了,我到底在等什麽呢?難道更新自己的臉書頁面覺得更重要嗎?
一句簡單的話可以意義深長。你需要感謝誰?隨著本週感恩節的到來,這是一個特別合適的時間來思考這樣的問題。是否有一位老師對你的生命產生了影響?我的父母都是老師,所以我知道從前教過的學生,一句發自內心的「謝謝你」有著多麼大的意義。還有誰呢?也許是多年前幫助過你的人,而使你走到今天的位置?誰讓你的生命變得更美好只因他參與其中?你感謝過這些人嗎?你是否為他們成為你美妙的禮物而感謝上帝呢?
感恩節是一個特別的日子,被用來紀念我們值得感激的一切,但為什麽只能把我們的感謝限制在這一天呢?在祂的話語中,神告訴我們:「凡事謝恩」(帖撒羅尼迦前書5章18節)這種「感恩的態度」應該每天都在我們身上表現出來。
@2022版權所有 Matt Bell是Sound Mind Investing的管理編輯。他是四本個人理財書籍和兩個基於視頻的小組資源的作者。馬特在全國各地的教堂和大學演講,並被《美國日報》、《美國新聞與世界報道》和許多其他媒體引用。
備註:如果你有聖經,想閱讀更多的內容,可以考慮以下的經文(因篇幅有限,請自行查閱未列出的經文,詩篇100篇4-5節、詩篇105篇19-22節):
詩篇69篇30-33節
69:30 我要以詩歌讚美上帝的名,以感謝稱他為大!
69:31 這便叫耶和華喜悅,勝似獻牛,或是獻有角有蹄的公牛。
69:32 謙卑的人看見了就喜樂;尋求上帝的人,願你們的心甦醒。
69:33 因為耶和華聽了窮乏人,不藐視被囚的人。
詩篇95篇1-2節
95:1 來啊,我們要向耶和華歌唱,向拯救我們的磐石歡呼!
95:2 我們要來感謝他,用詩歌向他歡呼!
腓立比書4章6-7節
4:6 應當一無掛慮,只要凡事藉着禱告、祈求,和感謝,將你們所要的告訴上帝。
4:7 上帝所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裏保守你們的心懷意念。
提摩太前書4章4-5節
4:4 凡上帝所造的物都是好的,若感謝着領受,就沒有一樣可棄的,
4:5 都因上帝的道和人的祈求成為聖潔了。
反省與問題討論
- 本文作者問到我們在生命中收到特別的、甚至是奇蹟般的禮物,你能想到自己在生命中有哪些禮物,是非常神奇或接近於神蹟的嗎?
- 耶穌基督治癒了十個痲瘋病人,但只有一個人回來表示感謝,這個故事很震撼。你對這個故事的反應是什麽?你認為自己為什麼會有這樣的反應?
- 過去或現在,你能想到哪些人值得你感謝,但由於某種原因,你還沒有對他們為你所做的事情表示感謝呢?如果有,他們可能是誰,你會如何修正這「消失的感謝」呢?
- 歸根究底,一個感恩的日子是提醒我們,思想神為我們所做的一切。在你的生命中,有哪些事情是祂賜給你或做過的,你可以特別感謝的呢?
THE DAY THANKS WENT MISSING
By Matt Bell
Think about one of the greatest gifts you have received. I am not talking about something you found under the tree one Christmas morning. Think bigger, more miraculous. Maybe it was a time when you were out of work and a job materialized that could not be traced to all the resumes you sent out. Or when you were sick and got better much faster than the doctors thought you would. Or when you were very worried about you cared for and through a series of circumstances you still cannot understand, the problem was resolved. What was your response? Weren’t you so incredibly thankful?
Where are the other nine? Our pastor recently reminded us of one of the most amazing acts of healing recorded in the Bible. It was followed by an equally amazing response by most that were healed. But what made their response so stunning was it was not at all what anyone would have expected:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well’” (Luke 17:11-19).
No thanks except from one. When Jesus used parables to make his points, sometimes people misunderstood what He meant. But there was no misunderstanding His question about the other nine men. Where were they? There is no indication that He was angry or yelling. Yet that simple question cuts to the core in a way a raised voice or shaken fist never could.These people were healed. Not of a limp, but of leprosy! Not of the flu, but of a disease that had left them disfigured, shunned, and shamed. Nine of the 10 expressed no gratitude. It was the day thanks went missing.
Things get in the way. I do not know what was going on in the hearts of those nine men. But I have a guess, based on happens whenever thanks goes missing from my life. Sometimes it can be obvious, like the times I am driving down the road in our minivan and I see a car I would much rather be driving. It can also be more subtle, discontent from living among others who have more.At other times, thanks goes missing because of busyness or a lack of urgency. I can think of thank-you notes I have been meaning to write – for months. What am I waiting for? Is an update to my social media page more important?
A simple word can mean so much. Who do you need to thank? With Thanksgiving coming for many of us this week, it is an especially appropriate time to consider such a question.Is there a teacher who made a difference in your life? Both of my parents were teachers, so I know how much a heartfelt “thank you” from a former student would mean. Who else? Who helped you get to where you are – maybe years ago? Who makes your life better just by being in it? Have you thanked these people? Have you thanked God for the wonderful gifts they are to you?
Thanksgiving Day is a special day designated for remembering all that we feel thankful for, but why should we limit our thanks to one day. In His Word, God tells us, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). This “attitude of gratitude” should be present in us every day.
© 2022. Matt Bell is Sound Mind Investing’s Managing Editor. He is the author of 4 personal finance books and two video-based small group resources. Matt speaks at churches and universities throughout the country and has been quoted in USA TODAY, U.S. News & World Report, and many other media outlets.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Matt Bell asks about special, even miraculous, gifts we have received in our lives. What gifts can you think of that have been miraculous – or close to it – in your life?
- The story about Jesus Christ healing 10 lepers but only one returning to express thanks is powerful. What is your reaction to this story? How do you think you would have responded?
- Can you think of people – past or present – who deserve your thanks, but for whatever reason you have not yet expressed thankfulness for what they have done for you? If so, who might they be – and how can you correct the “missing thanks”?
- Ultimately, a day of thanksgiving is a reminder to consider all that God has done for us. What are some things He has given you or done in your life for which you can be especially thankful?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 69:30-33, 95:1-2, 100:4-5, 105:19-22; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Timothy 4:4-5
相關(靈修文章):
# TAG
EN English flat earth MONDAY MANNA 中國成語 以色列 以色列新聞 你累了嗎 保捷 信仰見證 出埃及記 利未記 劉國偉 原文解經 地平 天人之聲 天堂 奇妙的創造 妥拉 家庭 市井心靈 平地球 張哈拿牧師 愛情 敬拜 智慧 梁永善牧師 歳首到年終 民數記 清晨妥拉 漫畫事件簿 為以色列代禱 琴與爐 真理 知識 箴言 考門夫人 聖經 聖經宇宙學 荒漠甘泉 見證 週一嗎哪 陳芳齡 靈修 靈修文章