[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 以賽亞 Isaiah 50-52]
7 「知道公義，將我訓誨存在心中的民，要聽我言！不要怕人的辱罵，也不要因人的毀謗驚惶。 8 因為蛀蟲必咬他們，好像咬衣服；蟲子必咬他們，如同咬羊絨。唯有我的公義永遠長存，我的救恩直到萬代。」…12 「唯有我，是安慰你們的。你是誰？竟怕那必死的人，怕那要變如草的世人， 13 卻忘記鋪張諸天，立定地基，創造你的耶和華。又因欺壓者圖謀毀滅要發的暴怒，整天害怕。其實那欺壓者的暴怒在哪裡呢？
以 賽 亞 書 Isaiah 51:7-8;12-13
7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”… 12 “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, 13 and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?
以賽亞鼓勵那些知道上帝律法的人「不要怕人的辱罵，也不要因人的毀謗驚惶，」因為他們就像枯萎的草，而上帝是創造天地的那一位！長久以來，教會陷入了懼怕人甚於懼怕上帝的陷阱，因此不敢反對罪惡，以免我們「受到人的責備。」我們以傳福音為藉口，試圖為我們的沉默辯護；我們試圖安撫世界關於上帝明確表示祂厭惡的罪。
上帝不僅會根據我們所說的來審判教會，還會根據我們沒說的來審判教會。在上帝的名和上帝的真理被玷污的時候，尤其是在我們的下ㄧ代，現在是教會不僅要保護和教導他們自己的孩子，而且還要勇敢地向世界宣講福音的真理 – 上帝的公義，上帝的憤怒，和祂的大愛！
如今，無論基督徒聚集在哪裡，似乎都出現了一個共同的擔憂：傳講真理比以往更加艱鉅。在這個時代，傳講真理是一件艱難的事，膽怯者難以做到。
～阿爾伯特·莫勒博士《他並不沉默》
願那些「知道公義，將我訓誨存在心中的民」為上帝發聲，因為上帝是值得懼怕的那一位，而不是人!
禱告：親愛的主，在這個世俗的時代，求祢賜給祢的教會勇氣，不懼怕人，乃是敬畏神，使真理被人聽見！奉耶穌的名，阿們！
Isaiah encourages those who know God’s law to “fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings”, for they are like grass that withers while God is the One who created the heavens and the earth! For too long the Church has fallen into the trap of fearing man rather than God, therefore not speaking up against sin, in order that we might avoid “the reproach of man”. We use the excuse that we are sharing the Gospel in an attempt to justify our silence; we try to appease the world regarding the practices that God has clearly stated that He hates.
The Church will be judged by God not only by what we say but also by what we do not say. In a time when God’s Name and God’s Truth is being defiled especially where our children are concerned, it is time for the Church not only to protect and teach their own children but also to speak boldly to the world the truth of the Gospel, of God’s justice, God’s wrath, and, at the same time, His great love!
A common concern seems to emerge now wherever Christians gather: The task of truth -telling is stranger than it used to be. I this age, telling the truth is tough business and not for the fainthearted.
~He is Not Silent by Dr. Albert Mohler
May those “who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law” speak out for God because God is the One who is to be feared rather than man.
Prayer: Dear Lord, in this secular age, please give your church courage not to fear man but God, so the truth can be heard! In Jesus name, Amen!
