《飲飲食食,重新得力》Day24

《蝗蟲與野蜜:離世與潔淨的見證》

1 那時,有施洗的約翰出來,在猶太的曠野傳道,說:2「天國近了,你們應當悔改!」3 這人就是先知以賽亞所說的。他說:「在曠野有人聲喊著說:預備主的道,修直祂的路!」4 這約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服,腰束皮帶,吃的是蝗蟲、野蜜。5 那時,耶路撒冷和猶太全地,並約旦河一帶地方的人,都出去到約翰那裏,6 承認他們的罪,在約旦河裏受他的洗。7 約翰看見許多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗,就對他們說:「毒蛇的種類!誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒呢?8 你們要結出果子來,與悔改的心相稱。9 不要自己心裏說:『有亞伯拉罕為我們的祖宗。』我告訴你們,神能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。10 現在斧子已經放在樹根上,凡不結好果子的樹就砍下來,丟在火裏。11 我是用水給你們施洗,叫你們悔改。但那在我以後來的,能力比我更大,我就是給祂提鞋也不配。祂要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。12 祂手裏拿著簸箕,要揚淨祂的場,把麥子收在倉裏,把糠用不滅的火燒盡了。」(馬太福音三1-12)

1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1-12)

分享:你知道有一種低脂高蛋白質的食物,蛋白質含量高達60-70%,遠高一般肉類?它更飽含人體所需的全部9種必需胺基酸,另外還有鐵、鋅、維生素、膳食纖維⋯⋯又有另一食物有豐富葡萄糖和果糖,可迅速轉化為能量,含天然酵素與抗氧化物,幫助消化和抗發炎⋯⋯猜到了嗎?這就是聖經中提到施洗約翰所吃的蝗蟲與野蜜。

野蜜還可以,但蝗蟲總讓人有些退卻。然而,這卻是少數在猶太律法中視為可吃的昆蟲 (參利未記十一22)。這亦反映約翰的飲食習慣是符合神的潔淨律例。

然而,吃蝗蟲和野蜜所代表的屬靈意義,遠超於營養和律法要求。聖經中記施洗約翰住在曠野、身穿駱駝毛、吃蝗蟲和野蜜 (參馬太福音三4) ,這是一種遠離繁華、拒絕世俗的生活方式;蝗蟲與野蜜皆是天然產物,非人培養或製作,象徵著對神直接供應的信靠與倚賴。這樣的選擇,不正呼應著約翰的洗召人離罪悔改嗎? (參馬太福音三11、使徒行傳十九4) 不單口講主道,還身體力行,這正是施洗約翰的「預備主的道,修直祂的路」!(馬太福音三3)

那我們今天是否也需要吃蝗蟲與野蜜,才能效法施洗約翰的見證?當然不是。但我們可以選擇同樣的生命態度:1. 不讓社會潮流、消費主義、物慾等牽著走;2. 活出節制的生活,發掘並珍惜神的供應;3. 敢於成為「不同的人」,不怕與主流價值觀對立,勇敢堅持聖潔自守。

「吃蝗蟲與野蜜」所代表的不單是飲食選擇,而是選擇從神而來的供應和滿足。大家還記得早兩星期講道中提及羅得在所多瑪的經歷嗎?我們若過於貪多慕得,追求世俗名利,那便難以實現在曠野所代表的離世與潔淨的生活!

反思:對我來說,有哪些東西其實不是「必要」,卻讓我一直無法專注於神的供應與使命?

禱告:親愛的天父,感謝祢賜下「預備主的道,修直祂的路」的約翰,他在曠野「吃蝗蟲與野蜜」的見證,提醒了我要為祢選擇離世而潔淨的生活態度。就讓我以約翰為榜樣,仰賴祢的賜予,敢於作不同的人來為祢作見證,成為人通向祢救恩的道路。奉主名求,阿們。

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