[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 提摩太前書 1 Timothy 3 1-6]
4 要好好管理自己的家，使兒女順服，凡事莊重。 5 人若不知道管理自己的家，怎能照管 神的教會呢？… 12 執事只作一個婦人的丈夫，要好好管兒女和自己的家。 13 因為善於作執事的，為自己得到美好的地位，並且無懼地堅信在基督耶穌裏的信仰。
提摩太前書 1 Timothy 3:4-5
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?… 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
當保羅教導提摩太關於教會領袖的資格時，他沒有強調說話的能力、學歷或事工經驗的範圍。 相反，他指出了理想的性格品質，尤其是管理自己家庭的能力。 因此，一個人要成為教會的好領袖，首先要成為一個好丈夫、好父親。
神看重家庭，因為教會是神的家（提摩太前書 3:15）。可悲的是，教會受到世界的影響，像世人那樣尋找領袖，而放棄了神所尋求的資格。
值得慶幸的是，上帝使用 COVID-19 “帶我們回家”！ 而且，由於在家，我們不得不檢查我們的家。 教會的重點需要回到建立穩固的家庭，無論是在教導還是在實踐中。 這可以通過教會從以節目為導向轉變為以家庭為導向來實現。
撒但不懼怕只是將文字印在石牆上，甚至在佈道中宣揚這些文字的宗教。 他害怕的是，當神的話在榮耀上帝的婚姻和家庭的具體背景下道成肉身。
從家開始, 庫爾特·布魯納和史蒂夫·斯特魯普著
禱告：親愛的上帝，願祢幫助祢的教會認識到家庭的重要性，以及在家庭中培養堅強領袖的重要性，而這些領袖反過來又會成為教會的領袖。 奉耶穌的名，阿們。
When Paul instructed Timothy regarding the qualifications of church leaders, he did not emphasize the ability to speak, academic credentials, or the extent of experience in the ministry. Instead, he pointed out desirable character qualities and, in particular, the ability to manage one’s own home. Thus, to be a good leader of a church, an individual needs first to be a good husband and a good father.
God cares for the family because the Church is the household of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Sadly, the Church, having been influenced by the world, looks for leaders as the world would look, forsaking the qualifications which God seeks.
Thankfully, God has used COVID-19 to “bring us home”! And, as a result of being home, we are compelled to examine our homes. The focus of the Church needs to return to the building up of strong families, both in its teaching and in its practice. This can be done by churches changing from being program-oriented to being family-oriented.
Satan does not fear a religion that merely stencils words on a stone wall, or even preaches them in a sermon. What he dreads is when the Word becomes flesh and blood in the tangible context of a God-honoring marriage and family.
(It Starts at Home by Kurt Bruner & Steve Stroope)
Prayer: Dear God, may You help Your Church to see the importance of families and of building up strong leaders in families who will in turn be leaders for the churches. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
