Homework! For me, it has never been easy.
In the second half of this year, I continued my studies at Morling College, undertaking the Master of Theological Studies. I enrolled in a winter intensive course in July, Christian Apologetics, and also a semi-intensive course in Semester 2, The Book of the Twelve.
The subjects only started in mid-July, but I never expected that I would already have two assignments due by the end of July—one for each subject. I had no choice but to immediately ask both lecturers for a one-week extension, so that I could submit them in the first week of August. Since I did not take any subjects in the first semester this year, it had been a full nine months since I last completed and submitted an assignment at the end of October last year. I found it really challenging to complete these two assignments.
Christian Apologetics is not an easy subject, but everyone I know who had taken it highly recommended it, so I decided to enrol. After attending the classes, I was really thankful to my fellow students for recommending it, because the course content has helped me in sharing the gospel with others. Christian apologetics is about learning how to explain the Christian faith to others and helping people come to know Jesus. However, the assignment for this subject was really difficult. Although I managed to complete and submit it by the extended deadline, I still don't know what mark I received!
The assignment for The Book of the Twelve was relatively easier because the lecturer had already provided the journals and articles we needed to read. As long as I could understand the arguments presented by the different authors, analyse them carefully, and write the essay well, I would be fine.
Thank God! Because of His presence, and through the wisdom and strength He gave me, I was able to complete and submit both assignments before the deadlines!
In fact, in our daily lives, God gives us different kinds of “homework” every day, or allows certain challenges to come our way, so that we can learn from them. These “assignments” may involve obeying His commands—for example, loving others as ourselves and forgiving others. They may also involve fleeing from youthful passions, facing illness, or even dealing with the loss of someone we love…
But no matter how difficult these assignments may be, God is still with us. He never leaves us. As Hebrews reminds its readers:
“For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”
Hebrews 13:5b (ESV)
Whatever kind of “homework” we encounter, we should always trust in His presence. God will never leave us nor forsake us. We can therefore have confidence and faithfully learn from every “assignment” He gives us.
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功課！對我來說，從來都是不容易的。
這個下半年，我繼續在慕靈神學院修讀神學硏究碩士課程。我報讀了一科在7月上課的冬季密集課程，就是基督教護教學，也報讀了另一科在第二個學期的半密集課程，就是小先知書。
七月中才開始上課的科目，真想不到七月底已經要交兩份功課 - 每科一份，我唯有立刻向兩位老師申請延期一週至八月第一個禮拜才交。由於我今年第一個學期沒有修讀任何科目，從去年十月底交了功課之後，足足有九個月沒有做及交過功課，要完成這兩份功課，我真的非常吃力。
基督教護教學是一科很不容易的科目，但讀過這科的同學都極之推介，所以，我就報讀了。上過課堂後，真的多謝同學們的推介，因為這課程內容能夠幫助我去向人傳福音。基督教護教學 - 就是學習怎樣向人解釋福音，使人認識耶穌。但這科的功課，真的很難，雖然在延期後的限期前完成，但到今天還不知道成績如何。
小先知書的功課相對容易，因為老師已經提供了所需讀的期刊和文章，只要能夠理解不同作者的論點及好好分析，把論文寫好就是了。
感謝神！因為祂的同在，我靠着祂賜的智慧和能力，兩份功課都在限期前完成及提交！
其實，在我們日常生活中，在每一天，神都給我們一些功課，或容讓一些功課臨到我們身上，叫我們好好的學習。這些功課可以是遵守祂的誡命，例如要愛人如己、要原諒別人。又或是逃避少年人的私慾，又或是面對疾病，甚至親人的離去…
但不論這些功課有多難，神依然與我們同在。祂從不離開我們。就像希伯來書對收信人的提醒：
因為主曾說：「我總不撇下你，也不丟棄你。」
希伯來書 13:5下
無論我們遇到什麼樣的功課，都總要相信祂的同在。神總不撇下我們，也不丟棄我們。我們可以放心，好好的在每一份功課中學習。
