Oct 23-24, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Jason Cheung

To have a following is a weighty thing!

People gravitate to people.  Charisma and character attract attention.  Numerical follows on social media platforms can be a nice hobby, or a full-time, monetized income generator.  But numbers carry a weight that can become a burden.

As Christians, careful discernment is needed to understand which of these two questions is foremost in our minds and hearts.

Who follows us?

or

Who do we follow?

One of the traps of pastoral ministry, I’ve been warned, is the track to become “a better leader.”  The goals are admirable, and local churches can become well-tuned and efficient.  I have nothing against organizing well, as administration is indeed a gift of the Spirit.  (Right now, if you look at my desk, it needs some work-of-the-Spirit organizing!)  But, administration – like all spiritual gifts – are mere tools for the building up of God’s church, for the glory of Christ.  Leadership, however, in the church today has become such a principal focus that our call to follow Jesus has been blurred.

John Goldingay, an Old Testament professor, made this comment about this kind of obsession with leadership:

When my students are reading the part of the Old Testament that includes Nehemiah, they often want to write papers on leadership.  Come to think of it, whatever parts of the Old Testament they are studying, they want to write papers on leadership.  My heart sinks when they ask if they can do so, though I don’t ever expect them to understand why it does.  Our culture is deeply preoccupied with leadership, and so people assume that the Bible must be preoccupied with leadership, because we expect the Bible to focus on the questions that concern us.  Part of the reason the Bible itself is not very interested in the question is that it is more interested in what God has done to put the world right.  If you like, it is interested in God’s leadership not ours. 

Picture Christ’s church as counter-cultural families in which hierarchical structures are not what we’re known for, but rather sacrificial love (John 15:13).  Imagine a kingdom-minded church where mutual dependence and sharing is the norm and not the exception (Acts 2:42-47).   Envision a church where its mission is not first concerned of its own well-being, but that of the neighbour (Luke 10:25-37).

The way for our church to become like this is to determine which of these questions is top-of-mind, and at the centre of our heart:

 Who follows us? 

or

Who do we follow?

Jesus has inaugurated an upside-down kingdom where the poor will become rich, and the weak will become strong.  And in his church, any leader of any kind must be the servant of all (Mark 9:35).  So, strange as it may sound, if you want to be a leader in Christ’s church, stoop and serve.

And if this is too difficult to imagine, pause — and look very closely at Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man.

He dined with sinners and outcasts.

He washed the filthy feet of his disciples, his followers.

He carried the cross and bore the punishment for the sin of all.

Why do we even care how many people follow us? 

Our lives belong to Jesus, and our basic call is to faithfully live and speak and love in such ways that usher people toward Jesus.  Not to gain a following.  But to guide others to become followers of Jesus. 

And so, let us deny ourselves, pick up the cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). 

Our own importance is replaced with the glory of Christ.

Our way now is the sacrificial way of the cross.

Our only leader is none other than the Lord Jesus himself, our Good Shepherd.

Let’s faithfully follow him.

Oct 23-24, 2021
張志成牧師

擁有追隨者是非常沉重的事!

人與人之間互相吸引，是因個人的魅力和性格吸引別人的注意。在社交媒體平台上能帶動有追隨者原是不錯的「嗜好」，甚至如果是全職，可以帶來經濟收入。但追隨者數字上升也同時可能會成為負擔。

作為基督徒，需要仔細辨別了解這兩個問題，哪一個在我們的思想和內心最為重要。

誰跟隨我們？或者我們跟隨誰？

我被提醒在牧養事工其中一個陷阱，是走上作 「更好的領導者」的途徑。作領導的目標本身是令人敬佩的，使地方教會可以變得協調和高效率。我不反對要有好的組織，因為行政管理確實是屬靈的恩賜。（此刻，你看看我的辦公桌，它需要一些管理屬靈恩賜去執拾！）但是，行政管理 － 就像所有屬靈恩賜一樣 － 是為建立上帝的教會、榮耀基督的工具。然而，領導－已成為今天教會一個主要的焦點，以至我們對跟隨耶穌的呼召變得模糊不清。

舊約聖經教授約翰戈爾丁蓋 (John Goldingay) 對迷戀這種領導的學生有以下的評論：

當我的學生研讀舊約尼希米的部分時，​​他們會想寫關於領導的論文。試想想，無論他們在研讀舊約的任何部分，他們都會想寫關於領導的論文。當他們諮詢我可否這樣行，我的心沉了下來，但我也不期望他們明白我為何沮喪。我們的文化非常重視領導，因此人們認為聖經也必然是關注領導，因為我們希望聖經是關心我們關心的問題。聖經本身對這個問題不在乎的部分原因是，它更在乎的是上帝做了什麼使世界變得正確。無論你同意與否，聖經是指向上帝的領導，而不是我們的。

把基督的教會想像成抗文化的家庭，其中的等級架構不是我們所熟識的，它是犧牲的愛（約翰福音 15:13）。想像一個有神國度的教會，在那裡互相扶持和分享是常態而不是例外（使徒行傳 2:42-47）。試思想一個教會，它的使命首先不是關心自己的福祉，而是關心鄰舍的福祉（路加福音 10:25-37）。

我們的教會能否成為這樣的模式是確定以下哪個問題是最重要的，並且是我們的核心：

誰跟隨我們？或者我們跟隨誰？

耶穌開創了一個顛覆的國度，讓窮人變富，弱者變強。在祂的教會裡，任何類型的領袖都必須是所有人的僕人（馬可福音 9:35）。所以，雖然聽起來很奇怪，但如果你想成為基督教會的領袖，就屈身服侍吧。

如果這太難以想像，停一停  ‒ 仔細看看耶穌，神的兒子，也是人子。

祂與罪人和被拒絕的人共進晚餐。

祂為跟隨祂的門徒洗腳。

祂背起十字架，承擔了所有人的罪債。

為什麼我們關心是有多少人跟隨我們？

我們的生命是屬於耶穌，我們被呼召是要忠心跟隨耶穌，作好見證，領人歸向耶穌；不是為贏得追隨者，而是引導他成為耶穌的跟隨者。

就當捨己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我（路加福音 9:23）。

我們個人的榮縟被基督的榮耀所取代。

我們現在的道路是十字架犧牲的道路。

我們唯一的領袖就是我們的好牧人主耶穌。

讓我們忠心跟隨祂。

Jul 31 – Aug 01, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Jason Cheung

“Did you pack your lunch?”
“Your hat?”
“Where are your sunglasses?!”

Before stepping outside this summer, these are the questions we always ask our three children. In other words:

Be prepared.
Protect yourself.
Make sure you’re not in a position where you lack.

Much of my life has been a long preparation to not lack. My education, instilled well into me, was the ticket up the ladder of security. Work hard so you may have everything you need. Do well in school, so you’ll have no deficiencies. Even in relationships: be a good friend, so you don’t become lonely.

I eventually noticed that even good things were not good in themselves, but merely means so I lack nothing.

So, this was my way of life:

Get a good job. I lack nothing.
Save, plan and invest well. I lack nothing.
Be kind and loving, so others will be the same to you. I lack nothing.

To be sure, a vocation that makes a good living is good. Being financially wise and a steward is very good. And of course, in all our relationships, acting in kindness and love, is truly the way of Christ. But, notice how all these good things can be turned, ever so slightly, for the ultimate benefit of ourselves.

David wrote the beloved Psalm 23 out of a view of life that was far from perfect, yet he dwelled in goodness. There were dark valleys to walk through, evil to contend with and enemies near. Yet, David writes from an assured place with the Lord, his Shepherd. He begins with calm and confidence: The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

In my life, I have rushed many things, anxious to not be left behind, eager to be ahead of the pack. I have made plans. Prepared for worst-case scenarios. Controlled the schedule of my life as much as I could. And yet, my plans fail. So, these words pull me deeper: The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.

The great challenge is to recognize every way we have filled our lack with self-sufficiency. And instead, to look to the Lord, as David did, seeing him as he is: our good and loving Shepherd. In Him, we lack nothing.

Jul 31 – Aug 01, 2021
張志成牧師

“你帶了午餐嗎？”
“你的帽子呢？”
“你的太陽眼鏡呢？！”

當孩子在出門之前，尤其是在暑假這段時間，我們總會提醒我們的三個孩子以下這幾件事：
做好準備。
保護自己。
確保你帶備一切所需。

我生命中的大部分時間都是為了將來的不缺乏而作長期準備。我從上學讀書接受教育開始、在耳濡目染的影響下，總是為了將來的生活預備。希望透過努力工作以致可以擁有需要的一切。努力讀書，以致將來不會有缺乏。即使在人際關係中：友善待人，以致不會感到孤單。

我發現，再好的東西，其實並不是真正的好，只是以為能夠幫助我的將來不致缺乏。
我以為：

找一份好的好工。我必不致缺乏。
有好的儲蓄、計劃和妥善投資。我必不致缺乏。
有善良和愛心，這樣別人才會對你一樣。我必不致缺乏。

可以肯定的是，一份好的職業能讓我們有好生活，這是好的。妥善理財和持家有道也是好的。當然，在我們所有的人際關係中，以良善和愛心行事，才是真正基督之道。但是，這些所有美好的事物都會改變，無論是稍微或者是明顯的改變，至終會影響我們的利益。

大衛所寫的詩篇 23 篇，他知道自己的人生並非盡善盡美，但他卻是住在一切美善之中。雖然走過死蔭的山谷，要面對邪惡的計謀，甚至敵人蠢蠢欲動。然而，大衛從他的牧者耶和華那裡找到安穩而寫出這一首詩篇。他以平靜和信心來宣認：耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。

我這一生，以衝動來行事，憂慮不落伍，急於走在前列。我制定了許多計劃。為最壞的情況做好準備。盡可能將自己人生的計劃掌控於自己手裡。然而，我的計劃失敗了。所以，這些話深深地打動了我：耶和華是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。

我們最大的挑戰是堅持倚靠自己來為將來可能會遇到的不足做準備。相反，我們應該要仰望主，就像大衛所行的一樣，看到神是那位善良而慈愛的牧羊人。在祂裡面，我們必不致缺乏。

Mar 20-21, 2021
張志成牧師

他卻對我說：「我的恩典是夠你用的，因為我的能力在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好讓基督的能力臨到我的身上。(哥林多後書12:9)

主啊，人怎能宣講祢永恆的話語？
他是一片脆弱模糊不清的玻璃；
可是祢叫他在祢的殿裡負擔得起
這個榮耀而超凡的地方
透過祢的恩典成為一扇窗戶。
– 喬治·赫伯特（George Herbert）《The Windows》（第一節）

「透過祢的恩典成為一扇窗戶」

上帝為何藉著祂無窮的智慧向破碎的罪人彰顯祂的恩典？

二十多年前，上帝的恩典觸動我的心，激發我對祂的拯救的追求，並改變了我生命的歷程。然而，這個莫大的恩典仍然使我敬畏和懼怕：上帝竟愛罪人。

從前建築古舊的教堂時，當時窗戶的製造技術還是很基本的。因此，教堂的彩繪玻璃窗或是又薄和脆弱的，或者又厚實和「模糊不清」（或凹凸不平）。通常，他們都會選擇厚實/「模糊不清」，以致可以更加耐用。正如詩人赫伯特（Herbert）說，牧者既是「脆弱和模糊不清」。換言之，牧者既是軟弱又是堅強。這話何解？

彩繪玻璃不是在玻璃表層上塗漆來製成的。而是將玻璃加熱到一個程度，注入油漆，然後慢慢冷卻，完全冷卻後，玻璃窗呈現七彩繽紛的色彩，一件藝術作品就這樣創造出來。赫伯特指出上帝向我們做同樣的事，就像彩繪玻璃窗戶一樣，在我們的內心注入祂的故事：

當祂的故事傾注在你身上，
讓祂的生命在傳道者身上發光發亮，
閃耀光芒，彰主榮耀
光榮愈聖潔，得救的人愈多！

令我們無地自容是知道我們只是脆弱和模糊不清的玻璃。不是那麼堅強，也不是那麼美麗－但是，當基督的生命在我們的生命中注下祂的烙印時，祂的光輝和榮耀就在增長，並且被人們看到。

馬爾科姆·奎特（Malcolm Guite）這樣評論：「染色」(stained) 一詞幾乎總是指負面的東西。但是，在這裡唯一且唯一的上下文提到彩繪玻璃時是指救贖。所以，奎特對赫伯特的詩有以下的說法：

我看到赫伯特說的是…我們懷著我們的激情，有時是我們的過失，破碎和污漬，我們讓上帝注入祂的故事。因此，在某些方面，我們成為了恩典的窗口，而不是赫伯特說，是因為它成為一些純淨，清晰，美麗的事物…是通過這種火烙及冷卻的過程，我們的色彩和基督的熱情之色彩在玻璃中融為一體。

上帝為何藉著祂無窮的智慧向破碎的罪人彰顯祂的恩典？我總不能參透！

但祂做到了。
我的心很高興「透過祢的恩典成為一扇窗戶」。

張志成牧師

Nov 21-22, 2020
張志成牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹:

我們錯過了復活節。我們錯過了許多家人朋友的畢業典禮、婚禮、喪禮、生辰和嬰兒的出生等。

可悲的現實是 – 就現況的發展 – 我們可能會一直錯過這一切，直到…無可預料。

有一件事我知道就是沒有人不受影響。每一個人在其人際關係、學校/工作、夢想、家庭等，在某形式、某程度上都被顛覆了。我們許多的計劃，計劃B、C、D甚至E至Z的草案，或多或少都在改變中。

看似許多人都已經適應了，但其實我見大多數人都非常疲倦，精神和情感上都處於崩潰邊緣。COVID之前的挑戰是我們好像玩雜技一樣，習慣同時身兼百職。現在，感覺還是在玩雜技，但再投進來兩個大錘，同時又學習騎著單輪車…像在龍捲風中團團轉。

我發現自己僅是想去理解這些工作都已經感到疲於奔命。

這是為什麼即使我們所有人為了大家的安全，重新調整調節自己的生活，寜願錯過或改變我們一直喜歡的活動，我們仍然感到沮喪和洩氣，「將臨期」又到了！！有一個顧慮就是我們為了保護自己，免受更多損失，可能會盡量避免慶祝。請不要這樣想，讓我們放開懷抱，迎接「將臨期」，全心全意地抱著全新的盼望等候彌賽亞的降臨和再來。

COVID期間的「將臨期」可會有重大的意義。讓我們思想詩歌《以馬內利、懇求降臨》的第一節：

以馬內利，懇求降臨，

救贖釋放以色列民；

淪落異邦，寂寞傷心，

引頸渴望神子降臨

我被第三句吸引 – 淪落異邦，寂寞傷心。如果我們還沒有明白這一點，那麼我們現在就認真地要去思想：在COVID期間，孤獨使我們的憂傷更加複雜。錯過一些節日和重要的日子實際上是失去與家人朋友一起慶祝和記念快樂的時刻。因此，不僅是在禮儀上，乃是在關係上的損失。不過我們還是有指望的：此一節最後的一句不其然地將我們的眼目轉向神子的降臨。

實際上，以色列民流亡到巴比倫的經歷，仿佛是與我們今天的經歷有多處的迴響，例如：

• 我們不知道這次「流亡」會持續到幾時，
• 雖然我們還活存在，我們肯定還在受苦，並且
• 我們正在等待，無論需要多長時間，真正有效實在的幫助。

其實還有一個相似之處。此病毒使我們本省及至世界各地都陷入了同一個問題。這不僅是一個共同的事實，也是值得我們思考的契機。

如果「將臨期」使灰心喪志激發起希望的哀嘆，那麼作為上帝的子民，我們必須認識和必須在這次大流行中高唱這首獨特的詩歌。如果「將臨期」是要我們學習雀躍地等待，耐心地期待和刻意地去愛，那麼我們就把我們的哭泣和痛苦轉化為不斷迴響和充滿希望的樂章：

歡欣，歡欣，以色列民，

以馬內利必定降臨。

九個月之久的等待疫苗令我們都一致渴望有單一救援的計劃。作為神所差遣的教會，我們不該錯過這次的「將臨期」，因它是一個不可錯失的好機會，讓我們大聲宣告，我們深切期待，我們在黑暗中急不及待的等候，我們帶著盼望被拯救的呼求。

試想我們的世界，因上帝如此愛我們，重新聽到人們的歌聲是渴望疫苗，當然，還有許多不同的渴求，但我們最終的盼望就是耶穌。

請不要誤解我的意思！這不是鼓勵您只是大聲高唱自己喜歡的聖誕詩歌（當然您可以這樣做！）。我是呼籲所有忠心的聖徒再次向上仰望基督給我們堅固的盼望，並向傍以捨己為人和犧牲的精神去服事鄰舍。當高聲歌唱！讓您們的歌聲四起，向外傳揚。

這是我為您和我們教會的祈禱。

我不能否認：我仍然很難過。我期盼團契生活，我期盼會眾一起歌唱歡喜快樂的歌聲。我期盼孩子們在禮堂通道玩耍的景況。我會婉惜不能與你們在一起。

但這也是事實，我堅信：「神是我們的避難所，是我們的力量，是我們在患難中隨時都可得到的幫助。」（詩篇46:1）。

如果您感到沮喪，我邀請您站起來在教會高歌 – 當然，現在只能是虛擬。把自己放在教會的歌聲裡 – 然後細聽。如果您不能唱，不要擔心，只要聽聽完全明白您的聖靈，在天父的安慰下憩息，並且記住耶穌基督一定會來到你身邊。

祂一定會蒞臨。

主僕

張志成牧師

Nov 21-22, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Jason CheungDear Brothers and Sisters in RCAC,

We missed Easter.  We missed graduations.  We missed weddings.  We missed funerals.

We missed birthdays and births.

And the sad reality is – with the way things are – we’ll likely keep missing these things until…something.

One thing I’ve learned is that no one is unaffected.  Every person is in some way, somehow upended in relationships, in school/work, in dreams, in families.  Our big plans have more or less come to a halt.  And in its place – Plan B, Plan C, Plan D and early drafts of Plan E to Z.

While many have adapted, most people, I sense, are extremely tired, fatigued mentally, and emotionally on the edge of flat-lining.  The pre-COVID challenge used to be that we all juggled too many responsibilities at once.   Right now, it feels like we’re still juggling but with two sledgehammers thrown in, all the while learning to ride a unicycle…in the middle of an earth-sized tornado.

I find myself tired from just the work of trying to make sense of all this.

Which is why, even though we’ve all re-jigged, re-shuffled and re-everything our lives to keep one another safe, we sigh still, deflated, at the prospect of missing or altering yet another event we have always enjoyed: Advent.  Advent is about to begin.  And one danger is we might minimize its importance just to protect ourselves from missing it more.  Let’s not do this.  Let’s step into Advent, rather, full-hearted with a renewed expectation for the Messiah’s arrival and return.

Advent in this time of COVID can be immensely meaningful.  Consider the first stanza of the hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here

Until the Son of God appear.

The third line leaps out – we are mourning in lonely exile here.  If we’ve not realized it yet, we do well to acknowledge it now: In COVID our grief is compounded by loneliness.  The loss of events and milestones is actually the loss of being together to celebrate and remember these moments with others.  So the loss is relational, not merely a ritual.  But there is hope: the last line of this stanza, gently lifts the downcast heart upward.

In fact, the experience of the Babylonian exile for Israel, resonates with our experience today in interesting ways:

• We do not know how long this exile will last,
• Though we are surviving we are surely suffering, and
• We are waiting, however long it takes, for real and effective help.

And there is one other similarity.  The virus has bound us all – province-wide and world-wide – with one main problem.  And this isn’t just a common fact, it’s an opportunity to consider.

If Advent stirs the languishing heart toward hopeful lament, then, as the people of God, we must recognize the unique song we have to sing in and through this pandemic.  If Advent is about learning to wait eagerly, to anticipate patiently and so to love purposefully – then we have ahead of us a time to sow our cries and sufferings into a resounding, hope-filled refrain:

Rejoice!  Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to you,

O Israel.

Nine months of waiting for a vaccine has cultivated a common yearning for a singular rescue plan.  It should not be lost on us, as God’s sent church, that this Advent season is a full-term opportunity to declare aloud our deep longing, our restless waiting in the dark, and our hopeful cry for rescue.

Imagine our world that God so loves, hearing afresh the song of a people whose hope is for a vaccine, sure, but also for something much, much more.   Our ultimate hope is Jesus.

Hear me out!  This isn’t encouragement simply to belt your favourite Christmas hymns louder (though you can surely do this!).  This is rather a call to all the faithful saints to look upward again to the sure hope of Christ and to live sideways in sacrificial service to our neighbours.  Sing!  Of course!  But let your song resonate in every way outward.

This is my prayer for you, for our church.

I can’t shake this: I am sad still.  I will miss the festive fellowship, the joyful sound of our congregation singing.  I will miss seeing and hearing children play in the aisles of our sanctuary.   I will miss being together with you.

But this is also true, and to which I hold fast to:  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1).

 If you are downcast, I invite you to stand amidst the singing of the church – only virtually now, of course.  Come, place yourself within the song of the church – and just listen.  If you cannot sing, do not worry.  Simply listen to the Spirit who knows you fully.  Seek and rest in the comfort of the Heavenly Father.  And remember Jesus Christ shall surely come to you.

He will surely come.

Your Servant in Christ

Rev. Jason Cheung

Aug 08-09, 2020
Rev. Jason Cheung

“…we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that…”
Romans 5:2b-3a

After our Sunday worship services on Zoom, some brothers and sisters stay behind to catch up with one another. Over these past four months, an unexpected joy filled my heart when I noticed crawling babies develop the ability to stand! And then, to walk! One week, they could not stand on their own; the next week – they’re on their own two feet…ready to conquer the world.

Part of me realizes this is normal. But given how much our life together has been disconnected – this simple joy has become a surprising source for rejoicing. It’s like spotting the first sign of a tomato on the vine. Like taking in the glorious view after a grinding hike to the summit.

Still, for me, finding reasons to rejoice during this pandemic has been a real struggle. I feel pulled within this paradox: as the pandemic continues, how can I truly find joy? As every aspect of our life has changed, what reason do I have to rejoice?

Paul speaks of two reasons for rejoicing in Romans 5:1-5, and the distinction of these reasons help us today.

The first reason for rejoicing, Paul says, is that because of faith “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). This is wonderful! Sinners justified by faith, now have peace with God. This is all grace, Paul says, and a grace in which we stand (a wonderful image). And the response to such peace with God, and standing in this grace, is a rejoicing “in the hope of the glory of God.”

This hope, assured in Christ, gives bright hope for tomorrow, hope for life eternal. This hope is unshakable; it will forever be ours. And so, of course we will rejoice in this!

But Paul continues at verse 3, and tells of the second reason for rejoicing: “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings…”

Why is the first reason for rejoicing not enough? By itself–being reassured of having peace with God, sounds quite good already! So why does Paul press further? Why does he say, “Not only that…”?

It is precisely because Paul understands that this future, eternal hope is not only
a joy to wait for, but a joy to see and experience now and today. And Paul knows what now and today looks like; it includes suffering.

A great deal of burden I feel these days is hearing of the suffering people are enduring amidst this pandemic, sometimes even caused by this pandemic. Times are heavy for families fighting illness or cancer together with their loved ones. New pressures are magnified in this time, stressing lives to the brink: job uncertainty, health concerns, the question: Will things ever be the same again? Some even feel guilty for their suffering – particularly in our times – thinking, I don’t have it worse than others, so why should I feel so bad? And so suffering continues silently.

It is remarkable how Paul reframes suffering with this sublime vision of hope. He startles us with this phrase, “…we rejoice in our sufferings,” but he immediately explains what he means. And Paul does this as though he is constructing a picture frame with four sides.

Side One: Suffering produces endurance. There is purpose to suffering, and within this new vision, we are called to endure whatever comes our way. As yet, in this first ‘side’ there is little solace here; only a hint of purpose, and an acknowledgement that suffering can produce in us perseverance.

Side Two: Endurance produces character. As suffering is endured for any amount of time it can harden you, or strengthen you. The word “character” here is proved through trials, a strengthening. Tutorials, webinars, workshops cannot produce character; only endurance through trials. This is a slow forging of strength through fire.

Side Three: Character produces hope. How does this happen? Perhaps reflecting upon all that has been endured–the trial, the suffering–and yet, still having the strength to stand…this can stir up hope within us. But make no mistake, this hope is the same hope Paul spoke of earlier: this is the hope of the glory of God.

Side Four: God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Paul’s paradigm of hope here and now, is understood through the tracing of God’s love, given by the Spirit, along every side of the frame. God, in his love, is there with us in suffering, in our endurance, and in the forging of character. This is no solitary journey. Even the producing of hope is a gracious, loving gift of God and his very presence with us.

—

There are two reasons to rejoice, but in the end, both land us firmly on the hope of God. And these two reasons do not oppose one another; they are of the same vision. While the first reason is cause for immediate rejoicing for the sheer gift that is the grace and peace of God, and while the second reason grows in us a maturity through the hard experiences of life, both are gifts of grace, both are good, both help us see, wait, experience and yearn for the glory of God.

Can we rejoice within this pandemic?
Can you rejoice, despite the trials you are facing, the uncertainty we are all up against?

We certainly can. By God’s good grace, we all can.

Aug 08-09, 2020
張志成牧師

「… 並且以盼望得享神的榮耀為榮。不但這樣…」羅馬書5:2b-3a

每次用Zoom舉行主日崇拜後，一些弟兄姊妹會留步，在線上彼此相交。在過去的四個月裡，每個星期在鏡頭前看見有嬰孩的成長，由爬行 – 站立 – 到昂首踏步，我欣喜莫名！

一方面我明白這是正常不過的。但實在我們的生活的聯繫被隔斷了，這一點簡單的開心事足已令人欣喜驚訝，就好像見到樹上結出第一粒果子，又或是攀登到高峰俯瞰大地壯麗的景色一樣。

大流行衝擊著我們，生活各方面都起了變化，有什麼理由值得我們感到高興？如何真正找到喜樂？這確是個掙扎，真是矛盾！

保羅在羅馬書5:1-5中說到喜樂的兩個原因，而這些原因的精髓對我們今天很有幫助。

喜樂的第一個原因，保羅說，是因為信心，「就藉著我們的主耶穌基督與神和好」（羅5:1）。罪人因信稱義，可以與神和好，是好得無比！保羅說，這都是恩典，我們所站的這恩典中，我們的回應就是「盼望得享神的榮耀為榮」。

這盼望，確信在基督裡，給明天帶來光輝燦爛的盼望，永恆生命的盼望。這盼望是永不動搖的，永遠屬於我們。因此，我們當然會為此感到喜樂！

保羅在第3節繼續講到第二個喜樂的原因：「不但這樣，我們更以患難為榮…」。

為什麼第一個喜樂的原因 – 確信與神和好，已經相當不錯了！保羅還進一步敦促說：「不但這樣…」？

正是因為保羅明白，這個將來永恆的盼望不僅是等待喜悅，而且是今天我們切身體驗的喜悅，並且知道今天活在當下是包括苦難。

在這段大流行的日子裡，聽到受苦的群眾忍受著苦難，我感覺到沉重的負擔，有些甚至是因大流行造成的。面對及照顧患病的家人，這些日子的確是十分艱難，百上加斤，生活更加咄咄逼人。擔憂工作的前景，擔憂健康等。質疑情況是否不會改變？有些人甚至會安撫自己，不要感到如此難受吧，自己已比別人好！默默無耐地忍受著苦難。

保羅用崇高願景的盼望來重新解讀苦難，非常精彩，他說「…我們更以患難為榮」，這句話震驚了我們，接著他解釋了他的意思。保羅這個構思，就好像構建一個四面的相框。

第一面：患難生忍耐。苦難是有其目的，在這個新的視野裡，叫我們要忍受所經歷的一切。在此，這「第一面」沒有什麼直接安慰，只暗示其背後目的，並說明苦難讓我們產生毅力。

第二面：忍耐生毅力(老練)。忍受苦難，無論長或短，驅使您更加堅強。此處的「毅力」(老練)意思是通過試煉得到了明證，是一種強化。上學、網絡研討會、講座都不能產生毅力(老練)；唯有試煉才能產生忍耐。這是要經過長時間鍛煉出來的。

第三面：毅力(老練)生盼望。這是甚麼一回事？也許反思所經歷的一切 – 試煉、苦難，仍然站立得穩… 這樣就可以激發我們內心的盼望。這盼望與保羅先前所說的盼望是一樣的：得享神的榮耀為榮。

第四點：神藉著所賜給我們的聖靈，把他的愛澆灌在我們的心裡。保羅所說的盼望是神的愛藉著聖靈此時此地向我們展示。神藉著祂的愛與我們一同受苦，一同忍耐，和陶造我們。這不是一個孤單的旅程，神與我們同在，那產生出來的盼望是神給我們的恩典和慈愛的禮物。

最終，這兩個喜樂的原因，就是我們堅定活在神的盼望裡面。這兩個原因彼此配搭，有相同的願景。第一個帶給我們喜樂原因是上帝的恩典與平安，而第二個原因是經歷生命中的患難使我們成長；這兩個原因都是恩典的禮物，都有它的美意，幫助我們看見、等待、經歷和渴慕神的榮耀。

我們能否在大流行中仍喜樂？
儘管您是面對各樣的考驗，面前有許多未知之數，您是否能歡喜快樂？

我們當然可以。靠著上帝的恩典，我們所有人都可以。