【双语灵修】跟从我FOLLOW ME

马太福音 9:9-13

耶稣从那里往前走，看见一个人，名叫马太，坐在税关上，就对他说：“你跟从我来！”他就起来跟从了耶稣。耶稣在屋里坐席的时候，有好些税吏和罪人来，与耶稣和他的门徒一同坐席。法利赛人看见，就对耶稣的门徒说：“你们的先生为什么和税吏并罪人一同吃饭呢？”耶稣听见就说：“康健的人用不着医生，有病的人才用得着。经上说：‘我喜爱怜恤，不喜爱祭祀’，这句话的意思你们且去揣摩；我来本不是召义人，乃是召罪人。”

9月11日

跟从我

“〔耶稣〕就对他说：‘你跟从我来。’〔马太〕就起来，跟从了耶稣。” - 太 9:9

在加拿大我长大的地方，当地教会的青年团契每年都会举办戏剧比赛。我们撰写和演出自己的剧本，胜出的那一队会获得一个奖杯。我要清楚声明，这些剧本都不是莎士比亚水平的作品，它们的情节大多是滑稽、迂回曲折和超现实的，并且都是由演技有限的年轻人演出的。然而，这些比赛却带来很多欢乐。

在18岁那年，我身处一个高中校园的运动场里，全神贯注地参与另一个戏剧比赛。会场一片吵闹和混乱，有很多情绪高涨的青年在其中。在两场演出的小休时间中，有一个青年男子站起来，他邀请大家报名参加一个夏季事奉工作，他说任何人都可以参加。在那个嘈杂的运动场里，大概没有人在听他—除了我之外。那一刻，在环绕我的一片混乱中，圣灵好像抓住了我的心，对我说：“你需要报名参加这个事工。”像马太那样，我听到耶稣在说：“你跟从我来。”那个夏天的经历深深改变了我，不久我便踏上成为一个牧师的路程了。

今天耶稣有没有对你说话？尽管周围有很多杂声，你能否听到祂的声音，正在与你的心灵发出共鸣，邀请你去跟从祂呢？

祷告

主耶稣，感谢你呼召年轻人和成年人来跟从你，并以各种方式来事奉你。今天求你开我们的耳朵和安静我们的心，好叫我们听见你的声音。阿们。

Matthew 9:9-13

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

FOLLOW ME

“Follow me,” [Jesus] told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. —Matthew 9:9

Where I grew up in Canada, the church youth groups in the area would host an annual play competition. We wrote and performed our own plays, and the winning group received a trophy. To be clear, these were not Shakespearean masterpieces. The plays were often silly, with winding and unrealistic plots performed by teenagers who had little in the way of acting skills. But it was tremendously fun.

When I was 18 years old, I found myself immersed in another play contest in a high school gym. The place was loud and chaotic, filled with hyper teens. Between two of the performances, a young guy stood up and invited people to sign up for a summer ministry program. Anyone could join, he said. In that noisy gymnasium, no one seemed to be listening to him. Except me. In that moment, in the midst of the chaos around me, it was as if the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of my heart and said, “You need to sign up for this ministry.” Like Matthew, I heard the words of Jesus speaking: “Follow me.” My experience that summer was transformative, and I was soon on the path toward becoming a minister.

Is Jesus speaking to you today? Despite the noise around you, can you hear his voice resonating with your spirit and inviting you to follow?

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling young people and adults to follow and serve you in all kinds of ways. Open our ears and still our hearts to hear your voice today. Amen.