September 11, 2008 ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download READ: Romans 12:3-8
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. —Romans 12:6
「按我們所得的恩賜,各有不同。」 (羅馬書12章6節)
In September 2001, Lisa Jefferson had an unexpected opportunity to be used by God. Her now well-known 15-minute conversation with a passenger on United Flight 93 forever changed the direction of her life. In her book Called, she emphasizes that her listening skills and her ability to take charge and stay calm in a crisis were used to encourage fellow believer Todd Beamer in the last moments of his life.
2001年9月,聯合航空93號班機因被劫持而墜毀。麗莎.傑弗遜在毫無預期的情況下,被上帝大大地使用。她是一名接線員,在墜機前有機會與班機上的乘客通話,這廣為人知的15分鐘對話,改變了她的一生。在她所著的《呼召》一書中,麗莎特別講到上帝使用她的傾聽技巧,以及在危機中的冷靜及沉著應變,使得一位主內弟兄,陶德.畢默在生命的最終一刻,得著安慰和鼓勵。
She didn’t ask to be used that way. But God saw a woman who was available and matched her with someone who was in need. Lisa now shares her story with whomever she can to encourage believers to always be ready to serve.
麗莎並沒有求上帝這樣使用她。但上帝看她是合用的器皿,就使用她的恩賜來幫助有需要的人。現在,麗莎不斷與人分享她的故事,鼓勵弟兄姊妹隨時準備服事人。
Not only has God given us natural abilities, He also equips every believer with spiritual gifts for the purpose of ministry. God doesn’t use the unwilling—He won’t force us to serve Him. His part is to equip us (Eph. 4:11-13) and empower and prepare us for service. Our part is to be faithful and available and aware of opportunities to use our gifts (Rom. 12:6).
上帝不僅賜給我們天賦才能,也賜給每個信徒服事的屬靈恩賜。上帝不會使用不情願的人,他不會強迫我們服事他。他的工作是裝備我們(以弗所書4章11-13節)、預備我們,並賜給我們服事的能力。我們的工作則是要忠心、把握機會,發揮我們的恩賜(羅馬書12章6節)。
When you feel impelled to help fill a need, when you are inwardly driven to serve—listen to those thoughts. You don’t want to miss God’s call. — Cindy Hess Kasper
當你感到有一股力量驅使你去幫助人時,當你內心催促你去服事時,要順從這樣的聲音,不要錯失上帝的呼召。CHK
In gladness I go forth each day
Expectantly to serve and claim
The happiness that service gives
When freely rendered in God’s name. —Anon.
每日歡喜度日,
把握服事良機;
甘心為主服事,
必有喜樂滿溢。Anon.
God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary work.
上帝使用平凡人做不平凡的事。
Romans 12:3-8 (New King James Version)
羅 馬 書 12:3-8 (Chinese Union Version (Traditional))
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
3 我 憑 著 所 賜 我 的 恩 對 你 們 各 人 說 : 不 要 看 自 己 過 於 所 當 看 的 , 要 照 著 神 所 分 給 各 人 信 心 的 大 小 , 看 得 合 乎 中 道 。
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
4 正 如 我 們 一 個 身 子 上 有 好 些 肢 體 , 肢 體 也 不 都 是 一 樣 的 用 處 。
5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
5 我 們 這 許 多 人 , 在 基 督 裡 成 為 一 身 , 互 相 聯 絡 作 肢 體 , 也 是 如 此 。
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
6 按 我 們 所 得 的 恩 賜 , 各 有 不 同 。 或 說 預 言 , 就 當 照 著 信 心 的 程 度 說 預 言 ,
7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
7 或 作 執 事 , 就 當 專 一 執 事 ; 或 作 教 導 的 , 就 當 專 一 教 導 ;
8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
8 或 作 勸 化 的 , 就 當 專 一 勸 化 ; 施 捨 的 , 就 當 誠 實 ; 治 理 的 , 就 當 殷 勤 ; 憐 憫 人 的 , 就 當 甘 心 。