The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people's dreams and also exposed the true face of this generation: no orientation, no purpose and blind pursuit of material satisfaction. As Christians, we aren’t supposed to get lost in following the world as in "YOU JUMP, I JUMP"; nor are we supposed to stand above judgmentally above this generation and brag about our own self-righteousness. We should do what God wants us to do – to allow ourselves to be shaped by God and bring benefit to others.
Take heart, God knows it all!
Many people are weak in this long battle. It’s understandable because we are all human beings. Even the Apostle Peter, who was chosen by Jesus Christ, denied Jesus three times when Jesus was most in need of a companionship. Of course, Jesus did not blame him because this was within God's expectation (which Jesus had clearly told Peter before the crucifixion). Later Peter really came to know himself. So there is no perfect person as such. Don't expect yourself to be free of weakness because the Apostle Paul testified to us that we are blessed. His testimony was that he became strong when he was weak because of God. Thus, if a person is not weak, he doesn’t need God, but the truth is that there is no one who doesn’t need God.
Relax, God has a promise!
Many people come up with new doubts about relying on the Lord, which is easy to say. However, in a harsh situation there is no strength for them to seek God, not to mention moving beyond the situation. Jesus said blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. This is what Jesus said himself so no matter what kind of environment you are in, bring your pain to His throne and you will be comforted. This is God's promise to His people. Simply hold on to it.
In today's generation, Christians in different countries have to face different environments, but it is important to believe that God is shaping every one of us in order to train us to be His precious instruments. We can tell from historical records the situation faced by the Apostles in 100 A.D.: after the Christ gloriously rose to Heaven His followers went astray, forgetting the Lord's mission, "go to the ends of the earth". They went back to their own daily lives as if nothing had happened (really as exactly the same as now). However, God did not forget men in that He raised them through environments to achieve His good purpose for mankind. How would God use those Apostles who were so weak and limited as they were basically uncultured?
Behold, God has a plan!
Then they remembered the Lord Jesus' instruction, "Don't leave Jerusalem" and "wait for the fulfillment of God's promise," and now we know that it is the Holy Spirit that gives wisdom and brings revelation.
Whatever we do, know that we are doing it for God and do our best to honor Him. Even if you were in a full-time ministry for the Lord, you’d work in vain if it was without the work of the Holy Spirit. God told us, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127:1) "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah4:6) Like the Apostles when they were praying urgently at the Marco House to wait for the one that God had promised, we can see that they received power from the Holy Spirit. Thousands of people repented. Surely miracles aren’t limited to this. Was that the only power they received? No, the most important power they received was to change themselves. Apparently, they were weak before the Holy Spirit was given them. Then they were empowered to work for the Lord.
So since God has given the Holy Spirit we just need to follow Him closely.
We are particularly blessed in the New Testament Age. The moment when we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us. However, here the pouring out of the Holy Spirit means that the Holy Spirit is full in us that we are no longer acting by ourselves but under His guidance. When we are willing to open our hearts, humble ourselves, and ask for Him like a deer thirst for water, it is easy for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul also instructed us not to "get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18) He knew that this was necessary for those who truly followed the Lord.
Therefore, a willing person who follows God can’t only rely on a rational mind to speculate on God's intention or to serve this generation, but rather needs the strength to consider God's will through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in the face of weakness, do not fear to lose your courage and keenness in Christ neither rely on your own limited strength and intelligence to overcome your weakness. Rather, come to God's presence to ask for mercy and ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit to fill you in order to truly become strong.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
- Translated by Charlie Li
面对疫情，你在等候吗？ 疫情打乱了人们梦想的脚步，也将这世代人的真实面目暴露无遗：没有定向，漂泊在这世界当中，一味地追求物质的满足。作为基督徒的我们，不是随着大众“YOU JUMP，I JUMP”而迷失自己；也不是站在制高点对这世代评头论足，吹嘘自以为义。我们应当做的，是神要我们做的，是让我们得塑造、他人得益处的。 放心，他都知道！ 好多人在这场持久战当中就软弱了，可以理解，因为我们都是人，就连基督耶稣所拣选的使徒彼得在耶稣最需要陪伴的时候，三次官宣不认识他，当然，耶稣没有怪罪他，因为这在神的预料之内（之前耶稣已经明白的对他说过），之后，彼得真的认识了自己。所以身为一个人（没有完美之说），不要指望自己没有软弱，因为使徒保罗为我们这蒙福的做了见证，他在软弱的时候因着神的缘故就变得刚强了，由此看来，一个人若没有软弱他便不需要神，但事实是不需要神的人并不存在。 别急，他有应许！ 许多人又有疑问了，靠着主，说出来容易，但是身处在环境之下就没有了寻求的力量，何谈走出环境呢？耶稣说过：哀恸的人有福了！因为他们必得安慰。这是耶稣亲口说的，所以，无论你处在什么样的环境之下，面对什么样的痛苦都可以来到耶稣座前求，必得安慰，这就是神对祂百姓的应许，紧紧抓住就可以了。 当今的世代，不同国家的基督徒所需要面对的环境不同，但是一定要坚信神通过这样的环境来塑造我们每一个人，以预备成为贵重的器皿。我们可以通过历史记载了解一下公元一世纪使徒时期他们面临的环境：基督荣耀升天之后，这些跟随者就随流失去，忘记了主的托付“往普天下去”，过起了以往的小日子，就当什么也没发生过（跟现在真的一模一样）。然而，神并没有忘记人，就借着环境来兴起人、来成就神对人类的美意。但如此软弱有限的人怎样使用呢？（这些门徒基本都是没什么文化的） 看哪，神已预备！ 于是，他们想起了主耶稣的教导，“不要离开耶路撒冷”，“要等候神所应许的”，如今我们知道就是那位赐智慧、带下启示的圣灵。 无论我们做什么，都当知道是在为神做，且要尽心尽力做，为的是荣耀神。其中特别是全职服侍的肢体，若没有圣灵的工作，就是徒劳做工，果效甚微。神告诉我们说“若不是耶和华建造房屋，建造的人就枉然劳力；若不是耶和华看守城池，看守的人就枉然警醒。”(诗127：1）“万军之耶和华说：不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事。”（亚4：6）像当时的使徒一样，当他们在马可楼迫切祷告等候到神所应许的那一位之后，我们可以看见，他们得着了能力，看到了他们开口讲道就有几千人悔改，当然其他的神迹奇事也不会少，他们得到的能力只有这些么？不然，其实他们得到的最重要的能力是改变自己的能力。在圣灵浇灌之前他们软弱，之后他们大有能力为主做工，显而易见。 所以，神既已赐下，人紧紧跟随就好。 身处新约的我们是特别有福的，当我们信主耶稣之时，圣灵就内住在我们当中，但这里圣灵的浇灌指的是圣灵充满在我们的里面，即我们行事不再是靠着我们自己，乃是圣灵在引导。当我们愿意敞开心扉、放下自己、如鹿渴慕溪水般渴慕祂的时候，就容易被圣灵充满。使徒保罗也劝诫我们“不要醉酒，要被圣灵充满”，因为他知道这是真正跟随主的人必要经历的。 所以，一个愿意跟随的人，不能只是靠着理性的头脑去揣测神的心意、去服侍这世代，而是要借着圣灵的工作才会有力量，去体贴神的心意。 因此，面对软弱，不要惧怕以至于丧胆，失去在基督里的志气，也不要靠着自己的一己之力、自己有限的聪明想要胜过这样的软弱，而是要来到神的面前求主怜悯，求主差遣圣灵充满自己的心，才能真正的变得刚强起来。 那等候耶和华的，必从新得力，他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。（赛40：31）
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted people's dreams and also exposed the true face of this generation: no orientation, no purpose and blind pursuit of material satisfaction. As Christians, we aren’t supposed to get lost in following the world as in "YOU JUMP, I JUMP"; nor are we supposed to stand above judgmentally above this generation and brag about our own self-righteousness. We should do what God wants us to do – to allow ourselves to be shaped by God and bring benefit to others.
Take heart, God knows it all!
Many people are weak in this long battle. It’s understandable because we are all human beings. Even the Apostle Peter, who was chosen by Jesus Christ, denied Jesus three times when Jesus was most in need of a companionship. Of course, Jesus did not blame him because this was within God's expectation (which Jesus had clearly told Peter before the crucifixion). Later Peter really came to know himself. So there is no perfect person as such. Don't expect yourself to be free of weakness because the Apostle Paul testified to us that we are blessed. His testimony was that he became strong when he was weak because of God. Thus, if a person is not weak, he doesn’t need God, but the truth is that there is no one who doesn’t need God.
Relax, God has a promise!
Many people come up with new doubts about relying on the Lord, which is easy to say. However, in a harsh situation there is no strength for them to seek God, not to mention moving beyond the situation. Jesus said blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. This is what Jesus said himself so no matter what kind of environment you are in, bring your pain to His throne and you will be comforted. This is God's promise to His people. Simply hold on to it.
In today's generation, Christians in different countries have to face different environments, but it is important to believe that God is shaping every one of us in order to train us to be His precious instruments. We can tell from historical records the situation faced by the Apostles in 100 A.D.: after the Christ gloriously rose to Heaven His followers went astray, forgetting the Lord's mission, "go to the ends of the earth". They went back to their own daily lives as if nothing had happened (really as exactly the same as now). However, God did not forget men in that He raised them through environments to achieve His good purpose for mankind. How would God use those Apostles who were so weak and limited as they were basically uncultured?
Behold, God has a plan!
Then they remembered the Lord Jesus' instruction, "Don't leave Jerusalem" and "wait for the fulfillment of God's promise," and now we know that it is the Holy Spirit that gives wisdom and brings revelation.
Whatever we do, know that we are doing it for God and do our best to honor Him. Even if you were in a full-time ministry for the Lord, you’d work in vain if it was without the work of the Holy Spirit. God told us, "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127:1) "So he said to me, 'This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD Almighty." (Zechariah4:6) Like the Apostles when they were praying urgently at the Marco House to wait for the one that God had promised, we can see that they received power from the Holy Spirit. Thousands of people repented. Surely miracles aren’t limited to this. Was that the only power they received? No, the most important power they received was to change themselves. Apparently, they were weak before the Holy Spirit was given them. Then they were empowered to work for the Lord.
So since God has given the Holy Spirit we just need to follow Him closely.
We are particularly blessed in the New Testament Age. The moment when we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us. However, here the pouring out of the Holy Spirit means that the Holy Spirit is full in us that we are no longer acting by ourselves but under His guidance. When we are willing to open our hearts, humble ourselves, and ask for Him like a deer thirst for water, it is easy for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul also instructed us not to "get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." (Ephesians 5:18) He knew that this was necessary for those who truly followed the Lord.
Therefore, a willing person who follows God can’t only rely on a rational mind to speculate on God's intention or to serve this generation, but rather needs the strength to consider God's will through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, in the face of weakness, do not fear to lose your courage and keenness in Christ neither rely on your own limited strength and intelligence to overcome your weakness. Rather, come to God's presence to ask for mercy and ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit to fill you in order to truly become strong.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
- Translated by Charlie Li
Are You Waiting for God in Face of the Pandemic?
