The Missions Committee organised and held the first prayer meeting specifically for our missionaries last Wednesday evening. We hope that such prayer meetings will continue in the coming months, and we warmly welcome all brothers and sisters to join us. In the prayer meeting, our co-workers did their utmost in preparing detailed materials. As I read through the prayer requests, I came to a realisation: although the needs in the mission field are varied, with some needs trivial while others very challenging, and the impact of each missionary's work and approach are unique in their own way, there is one consistent message that is being conveyed - “The Lord is my God.” The reason for this conviction is because no matter whether the need is big or small, or whether it concerns the family or the ministry, everything can be brought before God in prayer with thanksgiving. I truly believe this beautiful and intimate relationship we have with God has already become a powerful testimony in the eyes of the world. Those with open hearts will be drawn to know our God, and this will open doors for the proclamation of the Gospel.
The story of Jacob in the Book of Genesis is familiar to many. Jacob had been in exile for a long time; and when he returned, he was no longer the youth who once fled. He endured much hardship, but also received many blessings. Through these rich life experiences, he came to truly know God — Jehovah was no longer just the God of his parents, but was his God (Genesis 33:20). For Jesus Christ to truly become my God, it also takes time and experience. When we first believe, we may see God merely as a source of blessing or a means to solve problems. But God desires much more than that. He uses all kinds of circumstances in our lives to help us know Him more deeply — that He is loving, righteous and merciful but also one who detests sin. Sometimes, in order to truly know God and to renounce the idols in our hearts, we may need to learn from hardships and trials. When we confess “The Lord is my God,” we are surrendering the lordship of our lives to Him and we are willing to obey Him and His joy is our hearts’ desire. He is not only the God of our weekend worship services or fellowship gatherings; He is not only the God of missionaries but He is my God. Living with this mindset is evidence of our growing spiritual maturity, and it serves as a beautiful testimony to the world around us.
宣教委員會在剛剛過去的週三晚上組織安排了第一次專為宣教士的禱告會，我們希望這樣的禱告會在將來的月份裡可以繼續，也歡迎弟兄姊妹們一起參加。同工們盡其所能，準備了詳盡的資料，在我閱讀這些禱告事項的時候，我發現一件事，儘管宣教工場裡的需要各有不同，每個宣教士的工作果效和方法也是各有千秋，然而，就在這些瑣碎的，甚至是窘迫的需要裡，因着對神的信靠，先不說如何傳福音，宣教士們一直在傳遞的一個信息，就是“祂是我的神”。因為無論大事小事，家事公事，都可以帶到神的面前感恩和祈求。我相信，這一份我們和神之間的美好而親密的關係，已經在世人面前成為真實的見證，有心人會被吸引來尋求認識我們的神，為福音的宣揚打開大門。
創世記裡雅各的故事，大家都很熟悉。他出走半生， 歸來已非少年，吃了很多苦，也得到很多祝福，這豐富的人生經歷，讓他終於認識了神，耶和華不再僅僅是他父母的神，也成為了他自己的神（創33:20）。耶穌基督真正成為我的神，也需要時間和經歷。剛信主的時候，可能我們僅僅把神當作求取祝福，解決難題的管道。然而，神所要的不僅於此，祂會借著我們生命中的各種事情，讓我們更加認識他，他是慈愛的，也是公義的；是憐憫的，也是恨惡罪惡的。有時候，真正認識神，棄絕我們心中的偶像，是需要在艱難和挑戰中學習和經歷的。當我們願意說“祂是我的神”的時候，意味著我們把生命主權交給祂，願意順服祂，以得到祂的悅納為我們的喜悅。祂不僅是週末教會崇拜和團契聚會時候的神，不僅是宣教士的神，祂也是“我”的神，這樣的生活態度表明我們的屬靈生命正在成長，也是我們在世人面前最美好的見證。
