Archives for 1 月 2022
Bible Verses–Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Bible Verses–Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.
Bible Verses–Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature? And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say to you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Why, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.
How to Give Effective Help and Support to Brothers and Sister: Grasp 3 Principles
By Yinzi
The Bible says, “But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and watch to prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:7–10). As servants of the Lord, we should do the church’s work well, help and support brothers and sisters, and finally bring them before God so that they can all obey and worship God—this is what the Lord has entrusted to us. So, how exactly should we support and help brothers and sisters to be in harmony with the Lord’s will? There are three principles that all of us need to enter into.
First, treat brothers and sisters fairly when helping them.
It is written in the Bible, “My brothers, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come to your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And you have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say to him, Sit you here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand you there, or sit here under my footstool: Are you not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1–4). As can be seen from the example in these verses, if we look up to and fawn over those who are wealthy and renowned or those who have gifts, a good mind and a way with words while we disdain and even exclude those who are honest and have no money or power, then doing such things is loathed by God. As is known to us, God is righteous and He treats everyone fairly and reasonably based on principles. So, as Christians we must treat others fairly in accordance with God’s requirements.
Often times, however, we help others according to our own preferences. For example, we are willing to fellowship with and assist those who are to our liking and compatible with us and those who follow our wishes in everything and listen to us, but as for those who aren’t to our liking, and those who haven’t obeyed us and even have dealt with and criticized us, even if we see they have problems and difficulties, we are unwilling to give them a hand, and even though we communicate with them, we carry resistance and dissatisfaction. Such behaviors are not in line with the Lord’s teachings.
The Lord Jesus has said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). The Lord instructs us to love each other and treat others fairly. No matter whether brothers and sisters are to our liking or not, of good caliber or bad, poor or rich, have position or not, and no matter how long they have believed in God, we cannot treat them based on our emotions or get close to this one and distance that one. As long as they truly believe in God, we should treat them as equals. Only by frequently practicing like this and helping brothers and sisters with a loving heart can we earn the Lord’s praise.
Second, harbor right intentions in helping brothers and sisters.
It is said in the Bible, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men” (Colossians 3:22–23). These words say clearly that we should put our intentions right in serving God and helping brothers and sisters. It shouldn’t be done in front of others to gain their praise, but should be done to complete God’s commission and satisfy Him.
Yet how do we practice? From the outside, we appear to actively help and support brothers and sisters when they are negative and weak, and busy ourselves with shepherding and supporting the churches through rain and storm. But actually, we often have incorrect intentions and think inside, “Seeing my behaviors, the brothers and sisters will surely look up to me, praise me for achieving good results in work and having truth, and say that I’m loyal to the Lord and a good servant of Him.” Clearly, our helping brothers and sisters is to obtain their high esteem and praise, to have place in their hearts and make them look up to and adore us, and to establish our own image with them, but not to exalt and testify the Lord and bring them before Him. There are even some people who support brothers and sisters for the sake of furthering their fleshly interests and getting material things. I have heard of such a thing. When a preacher went to a church and saw that the brothers and sisters there hadn’t given him preaching fees, then he was unwilling to give them sermons and simply went through the motions in fellowshiping, but when they offered money, he became very active in fellowshiping. This kind of service is purely for the sake of making a deal and obtaining rewards and interests; it is simply not fulfilling duties to satisfy God.
Thinking about this carefully, in order to save mankind, God came to earth from heaven. He bestowed on man endless grace and blessings, and was willing to sacrifice His life to redeem mankind, to be crucified. God never stops paying the price for us humans and He has never asked for anything in return. As believers in God, we should emulate Christ, and we should put our intentions right and sincerely help brothers and sisters. It shouldn’t be done for the sake of gaining others’ admiration or looking for something in return. Instead, we should willingly pay a price and help others to fulfill what God has entrusted to us. Only in this way will we conform to God’s will and attain His blessings.
Third, appropriate censure and dealing is allowed when helping brothers and sisters.
When we help brothers and sisters with a correct motive, fellowship with them out of love and patiently guide them, some of them can understand God’s will and come out of their negative state. But we all have met with these kinds of situations: Though we have helped and supported some brothers and sisters several times, there is no shift in their state and they still remain the same; some clearly know God’s words and understand how to practice in conformity with God’s will, but they still act willfully on their own initiative, go against God’s teachings and rely on satanic disposition in what they do. When faced with such situations, what can we do to be responsible for their lives? I read the following in the Bible, “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5–6). We can understand from these verses that when we see the problems or shortcomings of brothers and sisters, we should dare to point them out face to face to help them, not hiding these things in our hearts. Even if what we say is unpleasant to listen to and makes them temporarily uncomfortable, it is true love and help for them. I have heard these words from a preacher, “Suppose there is a brother or sister who does not pursue the truth, and is not going the right way. What should you do? You must help this person. This help includes pruning them and dealing with them. It includes censure and criticism. This is the way to help. All of this is love. Is it necessary to coax them along or use a consulting tone? Not necessarily. If there is a need for pruning and dealing with them, do it. Expose what should be exposed. … This is the duty that you should fulfill” (“How One Must Experience God’s Work in Order to Achieve Salvation and Be Perfected” in Sermons and Fellowship on Entry Into Life (VI)). It can be seen from this that helping with love needn’t be speaking tactfully and gently; criticizing and dealing with brothers and sisters according to their problems and shortcomings to make them know their corruptions and shortcomings and understand the truth is also love for them.
We may encounter these situations: Some brothers and sisters are so arrogant and insubordinate to anyone that others feel restrained by them; some trifle over minor matters and can’t be tolerant and patient with others; some judge others behind their backs; some are affected by the influences of evil trends and devote themselves to making money and pursuing the world, thus failing to attend meetings regularly; and so on. When faced with such things, we can gently fellowship with and support these brothers and sisters, and if necessary, we can strictly deal with and prune them to help them know the serious consequences of carrying on this way and understand the Lord’s will so that they can repent and change before it is too late.
The above three principles are indispensable for helping and supporting brothers and sisters. Only by grasping and practicing these principles can we be after God’s heart, and can our helping and supporting brothers and sisters count as a good deed and win the Lord’s approval.
Bible Verse–John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Bible Verses–Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.
In a Crisis, Whom Can We Lean On?
By Xinzhi
Believing in God, although I often read God’s word, attended meetings and fellowshiped with brothers and sisters, I had little knowledge of God’s almightiness and sovereignty. When my wife encountered a disaster and was on the verge of death, I saw God’s wondrous protection. Not until then did I have some true understanding and knowledge of God’s almightiness and sovereignty.
A Dangerous Scene
On December 20 of 2014, my son could take care of his daughter on his day off, so my wife and I were idle and then we decided to go to our old home to slash branches. After breakfast, my wife and I went back to our old home by motorcycle. After coming back home, I said to my wife, “The days in winter are short. We must hurry or we can’t do much.” As I said, I put a ladder against a tree and climbed up the tree more than five meters high. As I slashed, some branches fell in the way and my wife pulled them aside. At that time, I was absorbed in slashing the branches without looking down. When I slashed a branch as thick as a bowl in diameter, I suddenly heard Leader Shen not far away shout, “Mou Jing, watch out! A branch is falling down.” Listening to the voice, I looked down, only to find my wife had fell down without movement. I was frightened at the sight. Thinking I couldn’t get down at once, I called to him nervously, “Leader, help!” Hearing my urgent yell, he hurried off toward my wife and supported her. He said to me, “Hurry! Get down! Your wife’s nose, mouth and ears are bleeding! She is dying.” Hearing his words, I was more panicked.
Getting down from the tree, I held my wife in my arms. I saw her nose, mouth and ears were bleeding, and I put my hand under her nose but felt no breath from her. Immediately I trembled with fear, and was much more in self-blame. I couldn’t help crying: “Oh, Mou Jing, I hurt you when I slashed the branches. I’m so sorry. What should I do if you die?” In this crisis, I suddenly remembered I was a believer in God. Why didn’t I rely on God? Then, I prayed to God silently in my heart: “Oh, God! All things are held in Your hands, and whether my wife lives or dies is also in Your hands. May You keep my heart so that I can be quiet before You. Amen!” After praying, my heart quieted a little. Over a minute later, my wife’s mouth lifted and she took a long deep sniff. With her eyes closed tightly, she said in a feeble voice: “Cold … I’m cold.” The moment I saw she resumed breathing, my cold heart got warm immediately. I felt so happy and kept thanking God. Someone beside us said, “Now she has breath. Hurry, call the ambulance.” Someone said, “She is hurt so seriously. What’s more, there’s such a big lump of blood on her head (as large as a small size rice-bowl), and her nose, mouth, and ears all have bled. I’m afraid she’s fading.” Then another one said, “Look, Her breath comes back. Save her. Don’t give up.” All the people that came to our yard were busy for my wife: Some called the ambulance, and some proposed ideas. Seeing this scene, I was moved to tears. I knew that God had heard my prayer, and it was He that used the people around us to help us. Therefore, I offered up a grateful prayer to God in my heart again.
In Danger
After a while, an ambulance came. A man doctor, after asking what happened in detail, came to my wife. He turned on his torch, pulled her eyes open to have a look, and then said to me, “Your wife is badly injured, and her pupils are dilated. There’s little chance to save her. What’s your decision?” At that moment, I couldn’t accept his words. I kept thinking: What can I do? What should I do? At this time, I thought that man’s life is entirely in God’s hands. My wife suffered this disaster; anyone couldn’t decide the result, including the doctor. Then I said decisively, “Please endeavor to rescue her.” Two women nurses got out of the ambulance, and the doctor asked them to give my wife a fluid infusion. They took out a stretcher and gingerly lifted her into the ambulance, and then we rushed her to the hospital. Along the way, with her eyes closed tight, my wife kept moaning. Seeing her suffering, I was worried: She is so badly injured. Will she die halfway? The more I thought, the more scared I was. Thus, I continuously prayed to God to give me faith and strength.
After arriving at the hospital, the chief doctor sent my wife to do CT, and about half an hour later, the diagnosis came out. After looking at that, the doctor immediately arranged my wife to the intensive-care unit. Another doctor told me, “Your wife has a severe brain injury. Her intracranial hemorrhage couldn’t be stopped unless she has a brain operation, but this operation involves great risks and it’ll cost hundreds of thousand yuan at least. You’d better start preparing yourself.” Hearing his words, I was more nervous and disheartened, thinking: If my wife has the operation, where do I find this much money? If not, I won’t be able to bear it. How can I watch my wife leave me forever? At that moment, I was extremely miserable and helpless. So I prayed to God once again: “Oh, God! I can only rely on You. May You open up a path for me. Amen!”
The Dawn in Hopelessness
At 3 p.m., I went to I.C.U. to see my wife. Seeing she closed her eyes tight and groaned all the time, I was very heartbroken and couldn’t help shedding tears. I felt extremely helpless then, so I silently prayed to God again: “Oh, God! When I see my wife in great pain, I’m also in anguish. All I can do is rely on You. God, only You have power and authority. I’m willing to entrust You with her.” After praying, I was somewhat calmed. I was willing to obey God’s orchestrations and arrangements, but I was still afraid that my wife would die. Then I remembered God’s words say, “Almighty God is an all-powerful physician!” I was clear that God was guiding me. I believed my wife’s life was in His hands. I dried my eyes, approached my wife and asked her softly, “Do you feel better?” Still with her eyes shut, she said feebly, “My head hurts a lot. What happened to my head?” “It was beaten by a branch. Rely on God.” Keeping her eyes closed, she shed tears and nodded slightly. Considering that she could hear my words, my heart was a little released.
The chief doctor asked me to his office and said, “Your wife has a severe brain injury. In such cases, most of the patients will become vegetables; at best they will suffer brain concussion or become lunatic, or at worst they will die. As to your wife, she has to stay in the ICU for observation for three days and three nights and then we’ll see how things go.” Considering his words, then I thought that it would cost thousands of yuan to stay in the ICU for a day and a night, but how could I afford this? I didn’t know what to do. Then I remembered that all things are in God’s hands. Right! Wasn’t my wife’s life also in God’s hands? At the thought of this, I was much calmer.
Turning the Corner
At 9:30 a.m. the next day, I arrived at the hospital. The chief doctor was going to let my wife undergo another CT scan of the head again. After the diagnosis came out, the doctor told me, “The CT scan confirms that your wife’s intracranial hemorrhage has been reduced and controlled. From the development of her condition, maybe she doesn’t need the brain operation.” When I listened to this amazing news, I was in ineffable joy. I silently offered up a grateful prayer to God in my heart: “Oh, God! It is because of Your marvelous deeds that my wife has improved so quickly. I don’t know how to express my gratitude to You. God, I really thank You. You have kept my wife, and let me see Your great power and see hope.” At this very moment, I couldn’t express my happiness, because I had never thought that for such a severe brain injury, after a day-and-night rescue in the ICU, miraculously my wife should have been better. This was indeed God’s deeds.
On the third day, the doctor said, “Your wife is in a stable condition. Through diagnosis and examination, we are sure that nothing is wrong with her nerves, and whatever we asked, she could answer. Today your wife will be transferred to a general ward to be hospitalized for treatment.” Coming to the general ward, I saw my wife had been there. A nurse said to me, “Your wife suffered such a serious brain injury, but she should have such a rapid improvement. This is the first case I have ever seen. It’s really a marvel.” When hearing her words, I was speechless with joy. After the nurse left, I asked my wife how she felt. She said, “My head is still feeling deadly pain. I can’t open my eyes. Once I open them, I will feel very dizzy as if I am floating in the air.” The next day, at 8:30 a.m., the brain doctors all came to examine my wife. They felt her head and carefully checked the injury. The chief doctor said, “Her brain injury is serious. I thought she would stay in the I.C.U. for several days. But I never thought she could get out of danger in only two days and two nights.” Another doctor also said, “Exactly. In most of such severe cases, the patients can be diagnosed after staying in the I.C.U. at least for a week. But she has obviously been better for only two days and two nights. It’s truly a miracle.” Listening to their words, I clearly knew all this was God’s wondrous deeds, God’s great power, and God’s authority.
Thanking God’s Grace
After staying at the general ward for several days, my wife felt much better and she could talk to others. A nurse said to her unbelievably, “You are the first one who has severe brain injury but recovers so quickly. Generally, this kind of injury will take patients two or three months to restore to such a state when they are hospitalized for treatment.” Hearing her say so, my wife secretly thanked and praised God for His mercy and kindness. The seventh day, my wife thought it was inconvenient in all aspects that she stayed in the large hospital and that the fee was high, so she wanted to be discharged and recuperate at home. I agreed with her. Then at 4 p.m., we checked out and went home. When they saw my wife was discharged from the hospital, my neighbors all were surprised and said to me, “Someone said your wife died in the hospital, some said she became a vegetable, and still some said she would become a lunatic. But we never imagined she could recover so quickly, and she even could walk. What a miracle!” I knew that all this was because of God’s care and protection, and no one had the final say.
One day, I saw God’s words say, “I am your rock, your buttress.” “I am your strong tower, I am your shelter, and I am your backup. Moreover, I am your Almighty One; I am your all!” I had seen these words of God before, but I hadn’t had true knowledge. Only through this experience did I have some realization and understanding of these words. I had clearly and truly seen God’s deeds and authority are present everywhere and at all times, and I had seen His almightiness and sovereignty. God was truly my only Backer, my strong tower, and my shelter. As I mulled over God’s words, I recalled this dangerous experience: When my wife was in danger and hovered between life and death, I was anxious and in great pain, and it was God that showed His authority and power again and again and gave me faith and strength so that I could stand up from weakness; when I felt lost and hopeless, God used His words to enlighten and illustrate me and showed me where to go; when I was in tears, it was God that comforted and encouraged me and wiped my tears. Thinking of these all, I deeply felt guilty and indebted to Him, because in the past when I experienced God’s work, I often considered my own benefit merely, without caring for His will; only in danger did I steadily grasp God. I couldn’t help praying to God, “Oh, God! In this experience, I have seen Your almightiness, faithfulness, and Your wondrous deeds. God, You are the loveliest. My wife and I are willing to closely follow You and perform our duty well to care for Your heart and repay Your love. All the glory and praise be to God! Amen!”
Bible Verses–1 Peter 5:6-8
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you. 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
Bible Verse–Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop: but a good word makes it glad.
Bible Verse–Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and he shall sustain you: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
近期评论