耶穌又對眾人說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我。」(路加福音9:23)
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
要成為主的門徒，跟隨祂，要付上的代價，耶穌告訴我們有兩件事是我們必須要做到的。
In order to be the Lord’s disciple, there is price to be paid to follow Him. Jesus told us that there are two things that we must do to follow Him.
First, deny yourself. To deny yourself means to die to yourself and to live for God. To deny yourself means to give up what you want and grasp what God wants. When “what you want” clashes with “what God wants”, which will you choose? We all can think about this question and how it can be applied in our life. Is there anything you do that’s out of your free will but against God’s will? When you can ask yourself this question and be honest with yourself, it takes a great deal of wisdom, courage, and maturity.
耶穌清楚地說，跟從祂的第一要點，就是要捨己。捨己，意味著在每個問題、糾結、決定、抉擇、作法，放棄自己的想要，抓住神的想要。箴言3:5-6說：「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上都要認定祂，祂必指引你的路。」
Jesus clearly states that the first thing you need to do to follow Him is to deny yourself. To deny yourself means that in every problem, decision, choice, approach, you give up what you want and grasp what God wants. Proverbs 3:5-6 say, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your path.
跟從耶穌，第二件要做的事情，就是天天背起自己的十字架來跟從祂。十字架是羞辱、是痛苦、是犧牲，沒有人會喜歡背十字架，但人生就是這樣。倘若受苦只是受苦，逆來順受，人就是白白吃苦；如果是為了基督信仰的緣故而承受痛苦犧牲，在神的價值定義中就是值得的。
To follow Jesus, the second thing you need to do is to take up your cross daily and follow Him. Cross is glory to Christians. Cross also means shame, pain, and sacrifice. No one likes to bear cross. But this is what life is like. There are responsibilities, burdens, challenges. If we suffer for no reason, then we are suffering in vain. If we are suffering and sacrificing for Christ, then it’s worthy in God’s definition of value.
我是第一代基督徒，比起許多在信仰上被逼迫的人，我覺得我比不上他們的辛苦，但身處民間信仰的家庭背景，還是免不了信仰上的爭戰。喜歡讀聖經、到在教會事奉，常常被長輩好心勸誡，信教不要信到走火入魔；飯前禱告，會被拿來當話題嘲笑消遣；在親戚喪禮拒絕拿香拜拜，會讓長輩覺得很丟臉；不吃拜拜的東西，被解讀成拒絕媽媽的愛心；辭掉工作進入教會全職事奉，鬧起家庭革命差點親子關係決裂。走過的一路並不容易，但是要跟從耶穌，就是要每一天背起自己的十字架來跟隨。基督為了我們吃苦，那我們為了基督吃苦，有什麼好計較的呢？更因你對耶穌的堅持，周遭的人要因此受益。
I am a first-generation Christian, which means that I am the first one and so far, the only one to become a Christian in my family. I have heard of how people are persecuted severely because their faith in Jesus. I am very fortunate comparing to those people. But there was still some spiritual warfare that I had to go through since I am from a family with a background of Taiwanese folk religion. My parents would worry that I become crazy and insane by spending too much time reading the Bible or coming to church. I would be mocked when I say grace before the meal. My parents would feel disgraced when I refused to hold incense to worship idols. When I refused to eat food that’s offered to idols, my mother would interpret it as me rejecting her love. When I quit my job and entered seminary school to serve in the church full time, my parents were so upset. It’s not easy to go through all these, but to follow Jesus means to take up your cross daily and follow Him. Christ suffered for us and gave up His life for us. So, there’s no need to fuss about it when we suffer for Christ’s sake. Moreover, when you stick it out for Jesus, not only you but people around you will gain benefits.
耶穌要門徒天天背起自己的十字架來跟隨。信仰不是停留在一開始的決志或受洗，而是每天的決定跟隨主。而且耶穌特別指出，我們要背的是「自己的」十字架，你的十字架是什麼呢？我很喜歡一個小故事。
Jesus asks the disciples to take up their cross daily to follow Him. Faith does not stop at the moment when you are baptized. It’s an everyday decision to follow Him. Jesus especially pointed out that we need to carry our own cross. What is your cross?
有一位姊妹抱怨著自己的十字架太重了，背不了，埋怨上帝為什麼要給她這個那麼難背的十字架。看著別人的十字架感覺都好輕，如果能跟別人換，就再好不過了吧！
A lady complains that her cross is too heavy to bear. She just can’t take it anymore. She complains why God gives her such a heavy cross to bear. She looks at other people. Their crosses seem to be lighter than hers. It would be so nice if she can exchange her cross with other people.
有一天，她做了一個夢，夢中她到了一個地方，在那裡橫著許多十字架 ── 各種設計不同、大小不同的十字架。有一個小十字架形狀最耀眼， 上面鑲嵌著寶石和黃金。這個人一看見就說：「啊！這一個背著一定舒適！」。結果她竟然背不動這個十字架。寶石黃金固然美麗，可是它們太重了！
One day in her dream, she goes to this special place with many crosses. Different sizes and different designs. There’s a small cross fashioned of pearls and diamonds and gold. It’s beautiful and shiny. She likes that cross and tries to carry it. But the cross is too heavy because of all the stones and gold. It’s beautiful, but she can’t bear it because of its heavy weight.
後來，她又看見一個可愛的十字架，雕刻的木架上，盤著美麗的紅玫瑰。她想，這超美的，一定可以背很久。她就將它舉起來，不料玫瑰下面，有許多尖銳的刺， 刺痛了她的皮肉。
Then, she sees a lovely cross of red roses. It’s dainty and fragile. She thinks, “it’s so light and elegant. It’s perfect for me.” She tries to bear the cross, but the thorns of the roses start to pierce her skin. She can’t bear this cross.
她一步一步向前走去，一個一個試著，發現每一個十字架，都不容易背。最後，她看見一個樸素的十字架，上面沒有寶石、也沒有雕刻。她拿起它來，覺得這是許多十字架中最容易背的一個。仔細一看，這原來是她自己的舊十字架。這個舊十字架， 竟是所有十字架中間，最好背最輕的一個！
She continues to walk. She tries every cross she sees. And she finds out that no cross is easy to carry. Finally, she sees one plain, old cross. No expensive stones nor flowers on it. She tries to carry it. It’s the easiest one to carry among all the crosses! She looks at it carefully and finds that it is HER old cross, the easiest one to carry among all!
智慧的上帝最了解我們需要背的是那一個十字架，不用抱怨自己的十字架，也不用羨慕別人的十字架，祂量給我們的是最適合我們、最令我們滿意的。
Only God is wise enough to choose the cross we can bear. So never complain about your cross, and no need to envy other people’s cross, for your cross is especially designed and chosen for you, God made it just for you to carry. Remember, God knows best！
跟從耶穌，就當捨己，天天背起自己的十字架來跟從祂！
May God help us to have the courage to choose Him and deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him every day.
▌潘鳳珠傳道 Melody Pan
留言
張貼留言