5月11日

標　　題：定睛在神的身上

經　　節：摩西、亞倫就招聚會眾到磐石前。摩西說：「你們這些背叛的人聽我說：我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎？」（民數記二十章10節）

我們很容易看出，為什麼摩西和以色列人在一起，會愈來愈洩氣。他們是那麼硬心，信心又軟弱，使摩西失去耐性，對他們發脾氣。每當摩西由神的身上挪開自己的注意力，都付上極大的代價。當他想要憑著一己之力，來幫助以色列百姓，他花了四十年在曠野牧羊（出埃及記二：11∼15）。這次他魯莽行動的代價，是不得進入應許之地（民數記二十：12）。當他因為百姓的不敬虔而氣餒時，他也犯了同樣的罪，他公然違背神的命令。怎麼會發生這種事？因為摩西讓自己的注意力，由神的作為轉移到其他人的行為。

同樣的事情也可能發生在你的身上。神在你的周圍安置一些需要你輔導的人。除非你主要的注意力是在神的身上，否則永遠不能恰到好處地幫助他們。如果你的著重點在人的身上，他們的軟弱、悖逆、小信和頑固，很快地會使你氣餒。你可能也會像摩西一樣，犯了與自己所指責的人相同的罪。倘若你的雙眼定睛在神聖的主身上，你會愈來愈像祂──仁慈、寬容、堅忍和公義。當你朋友的行為令你失望時，直接來到主的面前。要分辨神希望你去幫助朋友的事，而不是專注於他的罪。如此才能得到你所需要的力量、智慧和耐心，以神要求的方式來幫助你的朋友。

Fix Your Eyes on God

And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?" (Numbers 20:10)

It is easy to see why Moses became frustrated with the Hebrew people. They were so hard-hearted and weak in their faith that Moses lost his patience and became angry with them. Yet every time Moses shifted his focus away from God, it cost him. When he sought to help his people by taking matters into his own hands, he spent the next forty years herding sheep in the wilderness (Exod. 2:11–15). This time his impetuous behavior cost him the opportunity to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20:12). In his frustration at the peoples’ irreverence, Moses committed the very same sin, blatantly disobeying God’s instructions. How did this happen? Moses allowed his attention to shift to the behavior of others rather than focusing on the activity of God.

This could happen to you as well. God has put people around you who need your ministry to them. You will never be able to properly help them, however, unless your primary focus is on God. If you concentrate on people, their weaknesses, their disobedience, their lack of faith, and their stubbornness will quickly frustrate you. You may, like Moses, commit the very sins you are condemning. If, however, your eyes are fixed on holy God, you will become more like Him—gracious, forgiving, long-suffering, and righteous. When a friend’s behavior disappoints you, go immediately to the Lord. Seek to discern what God is wanting to do in your friend’s life rather than concentrating on your friend’s sin. Then you will have the strength, wisdom, and patience you need to help your friend in the way God desires.