1月26日

標　　題： 流淚禱告

經　　節： 基督在肉體的時候，既大聲哀哭，流淚禱告，懇求那能救祂免死的主，就因祂的虔誠蒙了應允。（希伯來書五章7節）

耶穌的一生是我們禱告生活的榜樣。上帝想要塑造我們有祂兒子的形像。如果我們的行事為人像基督，我們的禱告生活也一定會與基督的禱告生活一致。當處於兩難的困境時，許多基督徒往往不願付出像基督曾付出的代價。耶穌的禱告是大聲哀哭，並且帶著「虔誠的敬畏」。祂的禱告是蒙天父垂聽的。

那麼，為甚麼天父拒絕了祂的懇求呢？不是因為耶穌生活中犯了任何罪，也不是因為天父不愛祂的兒子。縱然天父以深不可測的愛來愛祂的兒子，祂對祂的兒子說不。因為天父知道不能因吝惜自己的兒子，而不去拯救這個世界。同樣地，我們的神也不能因吝惜你和你的家人，而不去完成救贖你周遭人們的工作。

你是否願意為了神的緣故，打消你對神的懇求？你是否與神關係親密，即使在悲泣中仍然能說：「然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就??的意思」？天父總要你瞭解祂對失喪世界的大愛。最近祂是否對你的懇求說不？接受祂的答覆。你是否因著所受的苦難學了順從（希伯來書五：8）？倘若你如此行，神可能會選擇你成為他人得救的幫助，恰如祂曾做在祂愛子的身上一樣。

Praying with Tears

Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. (Heb 5:7)

The life of Jesus provides the model for our prayer lives. God is seeking to mold us into the image of His Son (Col. 1:27–28). If we are to act like Christ, our prayer lives must be conformed to His. Many Christians are unwilling to pay the price that Jesus paid when it comes to interceding with God. Jesus’ prayers came with vehement cries and tears and, “because of His godly fear,” He was heard by the Father.

Why then, did the Father refuse His request? It was not due to any sin in Jesus’ life, nor was it because the Father did not love His Son. The Father said no, despite the unfathomable love He had for His Son, because He knew He could not spare His Son and save a world. Likewise, the Lord cannot always spare you and your family and complete His redemptive work in those around you.

Are you willing for God to deny your pleadings? Will you intercede with the Father so deeply and intimately that even in the midst of your tears you are able to say, “Nevertheless, not my will but thine be done?” The Father will always relate to you out of the context of His love for a lost world. Has God said no to one of your requests recently? Accept His answer. Have you been learning obedience through what you have been suffering_(Heb. 5:8)? If you have, God may choose to make you a source of salvation to others even as He did with His Son.