【译文】

作为牧师，我遇到的挫折之一是被人误解。周复一周，不论是在会众面前，或在网络上，我竭尽全力宣讲神放在我心里的话。我清楚神要我说什么，知道教会的会众和线上聚会的人们都愿意在那里听讲道。我明白圣灵以其自有的方式在我们每个人的生命中作工，而我们每个人对每次讲道信息做出不同的回应，这种回应跟我们与主同行的立场以及我们在那个特定时间的需求有关。我时不时就会听到对我的讲道或者说过的话的一些回应，这些回应其实是听者的误解或者错误的解读。事实上，我听说过一些人要为他们生命中的某些罪辩护，因为他们觉得在某个讲道信息中我就这么做了。呃…不可以这样！不论我传讲或者写什么，请一定要以圣经为本进行对比。

当您沉思默想神的话时，神 圣灵在您的生命中作工。今天的圣经章节摘自于【彼得前书】第二章第21-25节：”你们蒙召原是为此。因基督也为你们受过苦，给你们留下榜样，叫你们跟随他的脚踪行。他并没有犯罪，口里也没有诡诈。他被骂不还口。受害不说威吓的话。只将自己交托那按公义审判人的主。他被挂在木头上亲身担当了我们的罪，使我们既然在罪上死，就得以在义上活。因他受的鞭伤，你们便得了医治。你们从前好像迷路的羊。如今却归到你们灵魂的牧人监督了。“

休憩之时，愿您明白，神是您的牧者，他使您躺卧在青草地上，领您在可安歇的水边。神祝福您。

亲切的问候，

杰夫牧师

【Original】

One of the frustrations I live with as a Pastor is that I’ll be misunderstood. It’s very interesting to be in front of a group of people, or online, week after week and do my best to proclaim what God’s put on my heart. I know what I feel God wants me to say. I know that the folk who are at the Church (when we’re meeting together) or online want to be there. I know the Holy Spirit works in his way in each of our lives and that each of us will respond to each message differently, according to where we stand in our walk with the Lord and according to what our needs are at that particular time. It’s just that from time to time I’ll hear of a response to something I’ve preached or said that is really a misunderstanding or a mistake on the part of the hearer. I’ve actually heard of some who will justify some sin in their lives because they feel that in a message I justified it! Uh … no! No matter what I preach or write, please compare it to the Scriptures.

God the Holy Spirit is ready to minister in your life as you meditate on the Scripture section. It’s from 1 Peter 2:21-25, “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps. He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone. He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.”

God’s your shepherd and he’s leading you to green pastures and still waters. God bless you.

Kind regards,

Pastor Jeff