"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.’" These are the Scriptures from Hebrews. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these seem to be clearer in meaning and I have a more in-depth understanding of them. Psalm 119 says: " It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."
From April to May, the churches were reopened and social activities and schools resumed. All kinds of joy, best wishes, satisfaction, happiness, etc. came together, and it seemed as if everything had returned to normal. However, the past had occurred and life could not be reversed. I don't know how many believers have been awakened by the pandemic, learned new lessons, have come to know how to please God in their life, or have become a thankful, reverent or awe-inspiring person.
Currently, in the church, what we have to do is to rely more closely on God, be rooted in Him, as well as do our best in serving. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
The pandemic was a furnace that purified the dross. God has refined us, causing us to abandon the secularized false beliefs such as those of the Laodiceans or the Pharisees. We should accept salvation with a true heart and with faith, have confidence in it and be a true disciple. After having been refined, our faith has become pure, our actions have become holy, and we are capable of witnessing His glory.
Christians should live with a thankful heart. During the pandemic, we became accustomed to praying to God about again worshipping him freely, and now it has come to pass.
When life is back to normal, we will not only have a heart full of thanks to God and to society but will also be more reverent towards God. "People call on God when they are wronged, and their mother when they are in pain." The pandemic was a great lesson and taught people that no one in this world could completely leave God. God exists and rules everything whether we admit this truth or not.
What is repentance? Repentance is a kind of turning from the previous path to the new one. Before we did not want God, alienating Him, and put people at the first place. But now we worship God, put Him first, and fear Him reverently. “God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Brothers and sisters, are we righteous towards others and reverent towards God?
When life is back to normal, we still need to regain our awe and respect for nature, and fear of God and life. The wise king also said: " Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." A person who is in awe of nothing is immature. What a great universe God has created! How small we are! How can we not be in awe? How can we treat life so casually?
We should have an attitude of thankfulness, reverence and fear, as is written in the book of Hebrews. With these, suffering has meaning, and trouble can be overcome.
It’s unfortunate to have to encounter the pandemic, but we have fortunately been awakened. Let’s serve God with thankfulness, reverence and awe, pleasing him in all things, and living a life focused on Him. Love will never fail, just as He never will also. Amen.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
疫情中学会的三大功课：感恩、虔诚、敬畏
“我们既得了不能震动的国，就当感恩，用虔诚敬畏的心侍奉神，因为我们的神乃是烈火。”这是圣经《希伯来书》中的经文。疫情中，这节经文仿佛被光照一般，让我对它们有了深入的了解。圣经《诗篇》说：“我受苦是与我有益，为是要使我学习你的律法。”
从4-5月份以来，伴随着社会复工、学校复学，教会也将重新开放。面对着生活开始渐次步入正轨。此时，种种的欣喜、如意、满足、快乐等都聚集性而来，似乎一切都回到了生活原点，要重新开始了。但过去的就过去了，人生不可能颠倒重来。我不知有多少信徒会在疫情中被震醒，学会了功课，知道接下来的生活该怎样讨神喜悦，做一个感恩、虔诚、敬畏的人。
此时，在神的家里，我们所要直面的是更紧的依靠神，以神为本，同时也要尽人本分，更加努力的侍奉。“我们都亏缺了神的荣耀”。
疫情是熔炉，炼净了渣滓。疫情中神炼净我们，摒弃世俗化的假信仰，反思存在于我们中间的不冷不热的老底嘉式信仰和法利赛式的虚伪信仰，用真心真情面对真救，拥有真信心，做真门徒。这样，我们的信仰纯粹了，行事为人圣洁了，也就更有能力为主作荣美的见证。
信徒当以更加感恩的心去生活。现在自由自在的敬拜神，曾是疫情中的日子里我们所苦苦向神仰望和祈求的。
当生活重新步入正轨，我们不仅要有一颗对神乃至对社会感恩的心，还要更加虔诚对神。“穷则呼天，痛则喊娘”，疫情是一个大功课，告诉人们，在这个世界上，没有一个人是能完全离开神的。不管承认也好不承认也好，神总是存在的，神掌管万有。
什么叫悔改？悔改就是一种转向，从以前那种不要神、疏远神、以人为本的道路中，转到尊崇神、以神为本的虔诚道路中来，用虔诚的心敬畏神。神是轻慢不得的，人种的是什么，收的也是什么。圣经告诉我们，神是个灵，拜祂的要用心灵和诚实。灵胞们，你对人公义吗？你对神虔诚吗？
当生活重新步入正轨，我们需要重拾敬畏之心，敬畏自然，敬畏神，敬畏生命。智慧的王也说：“这些事都已经听见了，总意就是敬畏神，谨守他的诫命，这是人所当尽的本分·，因为人所作的事，连一切隐藏的事，无论是善是恶，神都必审问。”一个天不怕地不怕的人，只能说明他不成熟。仰望神所创造的穹苍大宇宙，反观我们内心的小宇宙，我们怎能不敬畏？怎可随便对待生命？
我们信徒应当共有的态度就是如《希伯来书》中的经文所言，要以感恩、虔诚和敬畏的心侍奉神。带着它们上路，那疫情中吃过的苦，受过的罪，都有了意义，摆在面前的坎坎坷坷，都能从容应对。
疫情是不幸的，所幸的是我们被震醒了，从此，我们能够以感恩、虔诚、敬畏的心侍奉神，凡事讨他喜悦，过以神为本的生活。因为，爱主必不落空，侍奉神必不落空。阿们。
"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.’" These are the Scriptures from Hebrews. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these seem to be clearer in meaning and I have a more in-depth understanding of them. Psalm 119 says: " It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."
From April to May, the churches were reopened and social activities and schools resumed. All kinds of joy, best wishes, satisfaction, happiness, etc. came together, and it seemed as if everything had returned to normal. However, the past had occurred and life could not be reversed. I don't know how many believers have been awakened by the pandemic, learned new lessons, have come to know how to please God in their life, or have become a thankful, reverent or awe-inspiring person.
Currently, in the church, what we have to do is to rely more closely on God, be rooted in Him, as well as do our best in serving. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
The pandemic was a furnace that purified the dross. God has refined us, causing us to abandon the secularized false beliefs such as those of the Laodiceans or the Pharisees. We should accept salvation with a true heart and with faith, have confidence in it and be a true disciple. After having been refined, our faith has become pure, our actions have become holy, and we are capable of witnessing His glory.
Christians should live with a thankful heart. During the pandemic, we became accustomed to praying to God about again worshipping him freely, and now it has come to pass.
When life is back to normal, we will not only have a heart full of thanks to God and to society but will also be more reverent towards God. "People call on God when they are wronged, and their mother when they are in pain." The pandemic was a great lesson and taught people that no one in this world could completely leave God. God exists and rules everything whether we admit this truth or not.
What is repentance? Repentance is a kind of turning from the previous path to the new one. Before we did not want God, alienating Him, and put people at the first place. But now we worship God, put Him first, and fear Him reverently. “God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” Brothers and sisters, are we righteous towards others and reverent towards God?
When life is back to normal, we still need to regain our awe and respect for nature, and fear of God and life. The wise king also said: " Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter; Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." A person who is in awe of nothing is immature. What a great universe God has created! How small we are! How can we not be in awe? How can we treat life so casually?
We should have an attitude of thankfulness, reverence and fear, as is written in the book of Hebrews. With these, suffering has meaning, and trouble can be overcome.
It’s unfortunate to have to encounter the pandemic, but we have fortunately been awakened. Let’s serve God with thankfulness, reverence and awe, pleasing him in all things, and living a life focused on Him. Love will never fail, just as He never will also. Amen.
- Translated by Elaina Wu
Three Lessons Learned during COVID-19 Pandemic: Thankfulness, Reverence, Fear
