[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 使徒行傳 Acts 24-26]
19 「因此，亞基帕王啊！我沒有違背那從天上來的異象； 20 我先在大馬士革，後在耶路撒冷和猶太全地，以及外邦，勸勉他們應當悔改歸向 神，行事與悔改的心相稱。 21 為這緣故，猶太人在聖殿裏拿住我，想要殺我。 22 然而，我蒙 神的幫助，直到今日還站立得穩，向尊貴的和卑微的作見證。我所講的，並不外乎眾先知和摩西所說將來必成的事， 23 就是基督必須受害，並且首先從死人中復活，把亮光傳給猶太人和外邦人。」
使徒行傳 Acts 26:19-23
19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
當保羅在亞基帕王和總督非斯都面前辯護時，他清楚地闡述了上帝賦予他的使命（26:18）。保羅滿懷信心地說：“亞基帕王啊，我沒有違背那從天上來的異象。”
是什麼促使我們每天起床學習或工作？許多人的生活都被金錢或名譽所驅使，甚至對一些事工來說也是如此。保羅的生命受到他在大馬士革所領受的屬天異象的驅使，在異像中，耶穌指示他“要開［人］們的眼睛，使他們從黑暗中轉向光明，從撒但權下歸向 神；使他們因信[耶穌]而得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。……”（26:18）保羅以“從神而來的幫助”（26:22）忠實地順從了那個異象，即使這意味著失去生命。
異象就是ㄧ種屬靈的視力，通過聖言和聖靈看世界。首先是對我們目前的情況有一種神聖的不滿，然後上帝會向我們揭示天上的異象。
願我們的生命像保羅一樣，不被金錢或名利所驅使，而是被來自上帝的屬天異象所驅使！願我們順服異象，堅持到底。
禱告：親愛的主，願祢向我們展示祢對我們生命的異象，並賜予我們每天服從那個異象的心，直到我們見祢面！奉耶穌的名，阿們。
When Paul made his defense before King Agrippa and Governor Fetus, he laid out clearly the mission that God had given him (26:18). Speaking with confidence, Paul said, “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
What motivates us to wake up and to study or go to work each day? The lives of many individuals are driven by money or fame, true even for some in the ministry. Paul’s life was driven by the heavenly vision he had received at Damascus in which Jesus directed him “to open [people’s] eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me…” (26:18) Paul obeyed that vision faithfully with “the help that comes from God” (26:22) even if it would mean losing his life.
To have a vision is to have a spiritual form of eyesight, to see the world through the Word and through the Spirit. This begins with having a holy dissatisfaction with our current situation, after which God will reveal that heavenly vision to us.
May our lives, like Paul’s, not be driven by money or fame, but rather by a heavenly vision that comes from God! May we obey the vision and persevere to the finish line.
Prayer: Dear Lord, may you show us your vision for our lives and give us the heart to obey that vision every day until we see You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
吹號者 