1 Corinthians 1:18-25
July - 2
AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING FOOLISH
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21
When my family and I first went to the Philippines and began studying the local language, a veteran missionary told us, “When speaking a new language, you might feel that people are laughing at you. Well, they probably are! Just be thankful you’ve brought some humor into their life.” Missionaries make lots of funny mistakes trying to communicate in a new language. They have to learn to laugh at themselves for sounding a bit foolish.
Our reading for today isn’t about language bloopers but the seeming foolishness of the message itself. For thousands of years the world tried to find God through various philosophies and religions, but “the world through its wisdom did not [come to] know him.” No one can know God unless he reveals himself. And God does that through the good news of Jesus.
“We preach Christ crucified,” said the apostle Paul to the Corinthians. And with scorn and laughter the experts of that day said, “God on a cross? How powerless!”
People scorn and laugh at this message today too. But we mustn’t think our neighbors can come to know God simply by what they see in us. We must share the message of Jesus and the cross, because for those whom God is calling it speaks of the power and wisdom of God. Will you take the risk of sounding foolish today?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, many people today don’t want to hear that you are the only way to God. Give us extra courage to speak your name to our neighbors. In your name we pray. Amen
哥林多前书 1:18-25
July - 2
冒险令自己看似愚拙
「神就乐意用人所当作愚拙的道理，拯救那些信的人。」林前1:21
当我和家人第一次到达菲律宾，开始学习当地的语言，一位经验丰富的宣教士告诉我们：「当你说一种新的语言时，可能会感到别人在取笑你。有可能事实就是如此！但为此而感恩吧。想想，你可以为能给他们的生活增添一点诙谐呢。」宣教士用一种新的语言和人沟通时，往往会闹出许多笑话，对于这种看似愚拙的表现，他们必须学会自嘲。
我们今天所读的经文内容，并非有关在语言上出现的洋相，而是有关那看似愚拙的说话内容。千百年来，世人尝试透过各种哲学和宗教去寻找神，可是「世人凭自己的智慧，既不认识神」。除非神启示祂自己，否则没有人能认识祂，而神是借着耶稣所带来的福音，向世人启示祂自己。
使徒保罗对哥林多教会的信徒说：「我们却是传钉十字架的基督」。然而昔日的宗教专家却鄙视和嘲笑地说：「神被钉在十字架？何等无能啊！」
今天，人们依然鄙视和嘲笑这个十字架的信息。但我们切不可以为，我们的邻舍可以单单从我们的生命中认识神，我们必须和他们分享耶稣和十字架的信息，因为对神所呼召的人来说，十字架是神的能力和智慧。你今天会冒险，令自己在人面前看似愚拙吗？
祷告
主耶稣，今天有许多人不想听见，只有借着祢才能到神那里去。求祢赐我们额外的勇气，好能向我们的邻居传扬祢的名。奉祢的名祷告，阿们.