2月3日

標　　題： 剛強而非膽怯

經　　節： 因為神賜給我們，不是膽怯的心，乃是剛強、仁愛、謹守的心。（提摩太后書一章7節）

我們基督徒惟一的畏懼應是敬畏神（哥林多後書五：10∼11；希伯來書十：31）。人類的恐懼不是由神而來，問題是許多基督徒懼怕人多過懼怕神。他們白費力氣討好他人，於是他們的恐懼阻礙他們討神的歡喜。提摩太是個天性害羞的年輕人，身體可能不是很強壯（提摩太前書五：23）。他知道保羅常遇見苦難及遭受迫害，也知道自己可能會遭受類似的迫害。保羅提醒這位年輕的同工，懼怕人不是由神而來。懼怕會使我們停止手上的工作，開始懷疑神所清楚交代的事。在迫害到來之前，我們對自己的順服還滿懷信心。然而在逆境中，我們不再確定自己是否正確地聽到神的聲音。我們大部分的恐懼是畏懼未知，我們不知道等在前頭的是甚麼。於是我們擔心憂慮。我們的想像力擴大問題的嚴重性，直到這些問題似乎變得難以越過、不能克服。我們需要以健全的心態與正確的眼光來看待事物，這就是為甚麼神賜下祂的聖靈，使我們能夠以神的眼光來看事物。懼怕不能成為悖逆神的藉口。當你擁有偉大聖靈同住在你心裡時，你沒有理由活在恐懼中。恐懼雖然會奴役你，但基督已釋放你，讓你得自由。祈求神把你由現在的恐懼中釋放出來，並且張開你心靈的眼睛看到事實的真相。當神光照你處境的真相時，祂會使你能夠繼續地順服。

Power, Not Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The only fear that God encourages in a Christian’s life is the fear of God (2 Cor. 5:10–11; Heb. 10:31). Fear of people does not come from God. The problem is that many Christians fear people more than they fear God. Their fear hinders them from pleasing God because they waste their efforts appeasing other people. Timothy was a young man, timid by nature, and probably not strong physically (1 Tim. 5:23). He knew of Paul’s frequent trials and persecutions. He knew that he, too, might suffer those same persecutions. Paul reminded his young colleague that fear of others does not come from God.

Fear causes us to stop and question what God has clearly told us to do. Perhaps we were confident in our obedience until persecution came; now we doubt whether we heard God correctly. Most fear is fear of the unknown. We do not know what lies ahead of us, so we become apprehensive. Our imaginations can magnify problems until they seem insurmountable. We need a sound mind to see things in proper perspective. That is why God gave us His Holy Spirit, to enable us to see things as God sees them.

Fear is no excuse to disobey God. There is no reason to live in fear when you have the mighty presence of the Holy Spirit within you. Fear will enslave you, but Christ has come to set you free. Ask God to free you from any fear you are experiencing and to open your eyes. As He reveals the reality of your situation, He will enable you to continue in obedience.