《Lent》Day 13
以退為進之道
13 耶穌聽到了，就從那裏上船，私下退到荒野的地方去。眾人聽到後，從各城來，步行跟隨他。14 耶穌出來，見有一大群人，就憐憫他們，治好了他們的病人。15 傍晚的時候，門徒進前來，說：「這地方偏僻，而且時候已經晚了，請叫眾人散去，他們好進村子，自己買些食物。」16 耶穌對他們說：「不用他們去，你們給他們吃吧！」17 門徒說：「我們這裏只有五個餅、兩條魚。」18 耶穌說：「拿過來給我。」19 於是祂吩咐眾人坐在草地上，就拿著這五個餅和兩條魚，望著天祝福，擘開餅，遞給門徒，門徒又遞給眾人。20 他們都吃，並且吃飽了。門徒把剩下的碎屑收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。21 吃的人中，男的約有五千，還不算婦女和孩子。22 耶穌隨即催門徒上船，先渡到對岸，等祂叫眾人散去。23 疏散了眾人以後，祂獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，只有祂一人在那裏。(馬太福音十四13-23．和修)
13 When Jesus heard what had happened, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” He said. 19 And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. 23 After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone. (Matthew 14:13-23. NIV)
分享：在這個節奏快、凡事講求「贏在起跑線」的世界裡，當我們不惜一切代價只為向前衝時，我們很容易就筋疲力盡。同時，世界在灌輸我們一個想法：我們越忙，就代表自己越重要，自以為對別人也越重要。我們沒空和朋友、家人相處，沒空欣賞日落美景 (甚至不知道太陽已下山)，忙著履行責任、義務，找不到時間好好喘口氣。這種生活模式已經等同了成功人生的典範。
事實上，一個事奉有果效、活得豐盛的基督徒，並不是只顧向前衝，而是必須常常退到上帝面前來親近祂。 只有藉著祂的力量更新我們，我們才能找到充足的力量、正確的方向來服事祂。這正是「以退為進」之道，耶穌本身也靠「以退為進」之道來事奉父神。在加利利海地區忙碌一天後，祂退了下來。《馬太福音十四23》告訴我們：「疏散了眾人以後，祂獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，只有祂一人在那裏。」耶穌正是為我們設立榜樣：祂在退修獨處中享受與天父同在、相交，從中得著力量、方向！
請記得：在向前邁進之前，請先退到上帝面前，讓我們的人生不住為主「燃點」而不「燃盡」(burn out)！
反思：你多久沒有花時間安靜在主跟前禱告？
行動：計劃在這星期抽一段時間安靜在主面前，享受與天父同在、相交。
Posted in CGSP Lent2024