Sometimes we get afraid of something. There can be a fear of losing a family member, fear of death or prosecution, losing a job, afraid of retirement...
我懼怕的日子﹑我倚靠的乃是你：( 詩篇 56:3 )
You are not the only one who’s afraid. In fact, every single person on Earth is afraid of something at one moment in life or at another.
At first, lets understand that we are not afraid of what has happened in the past, not afraid of what is happening right this very moment. We are afraid of what may happen in the future - in a second, hour, month or year from now.
And who is in charge of your future how you see it now? Think of it - is it your boss who may fire you? Is it the doctor who’s trying to save your family member from death? Is it your enemy that is trying to kill you? Is it you in control of your own future and the step you’re taking can cause deadly consequences?
In reality, no one can control their future, and neither can you. Here is what Jesus tells about a rich man who was trying to secure his future by saving an abundant amount of grains in his barns.
但上帝卻對他說：『糊塗人哪﹐就在今天夜裡﹐你的財物就要要你的命了！你所豫備的﹑要歸誰呢？』( 路加福音 12:20 )
However, you do control who you’re walking with into the future. You can walk there with God, or without God.
Whatever led you throughout your life until now, resulting in the fear - leave it alone. And walk with God, away from the darkness of your past.
If you were lucky enough to have a father, remember how safe and protected you felt with him when you were a little kid. When he held your hand and walked with you, you felt safe and joyful.
Now you have your heavenly father who created you, deeply loves you, who can walk with you from now on.
如今呢﹑永恆主阿﹐你﹑仍是我們的父；我們是搏泥﹐你﹑乃是窯匠；我們都是你手所塑造的作品。( 以賽亞書 64:8 )
And he is far more powerful and mighty than anyone else on Earth.
上帝將北極搭於空間﹐將大地懸於太空； 將水包於他的密雲中﹐雲在水下也不破裂。 他閂閉著他寶座的正面﹐將雲鋪於其上； 在水面上畫個圓的天涯﹐就是光暗的交界。 天的柱子因他的叱責而震動﹐而驚奇。 他用他的能力攪動大海【或譯：平靜大海】；藉著他的靈巧﹑他把拉哈龍擊傷。 藉著他的噓氣﹑天空就晴朗；他的手又刺殺了飛奔的蛇。 看哪﹐這不過是上帝行化之邊際；我們所聽於他的﹑是何等細微的低語阿！至於他大能之雷轟聲﹑誰能領會透呢？」( 約伯記 26:7-14 )
Let your father lead your life. Let him take care of your future. If you remember that joyful feeling when you were a kid surrounded by parents, bring it back. Become a kid again who let parents take care of his worries.
你不要懼怕﹐因為是我與你同在；不要彷徨張望﹐因為我是做你的上帝；我必堅固你﹐我一定幫助你；一定用我義氣的右手扶持你。( 以賽亞書 41:10 )
If we get to know God more, it'll help us understand his power. Here is how apostle John describes him.
上帝乃是光﹐在他裡面都沒有黑暗：這就是我們從他所聽見﹑如今又傳告你們的信息。( 約翰壹書 1:5 )
光在黑暗中照耀著﹐黑暗卻沒有勝過了【或譯：『去領會』；或『趕上了』】光。( 約翰福音 1:5 )
We also hear the same from Jesus, who is the true image of the invisible God.
於是耶穌又對眾人講論說：「我是世界的光﹐跟從我的一定不在黑暗裡走﹐卻要得著生命之光。」〉( 約翰福音 8:12 )
When you leave the darkness and walk with God, ask yourself - can you shine the same way as your father does?
The light of our father and his sone Jesus is not a usual light. The lights we know of are powered by electricity, from a wax candle or a fire wood... But the light of our father God is powered by love.
不愛人的﹑不認識上帝；因為上帝就是愛。( 約翰壹書 4:8 )
To take the victory over the enemies of this world, Jesus used the weapon that can’t be defeated. That weapon is love.
便吐唾沬在他臉上﹐用拳頭打他；有人給他一個耳刮子﹐【或譯：用刑杖打他】( 馬太福音 26:67 )
耶穌說：「父阿﹐赦免他們﹐因為他們所作的﹑他們不曉得。」【有古卷無34上半節】他們分了耶穌的衣裳﹐拈了鬮。( 路加福音 23:34 )
我將這些事告訴你們﹐是要使你們有平安於我裡面。在世界﹑你們有苦難；但你們要放膽﹐我已經勝了世界。」( 約翰福音 16:33 )
Therefore, take courage and love. Love God, your family, your neighbors and your enemies. Do not forget about yourself - love yourself as you are, with all your failures, fears and imperfections.
「我把一條新的誡命給予你們﹐叫你們彼此相愛；我怎樣愛了你們﹐你們也要怎樣彼此相愛。( 約翰福音 13:34 )
And when there is love, there is no fear, for love drives out fear.
在愛裡沒有懼怕；完全的愛能把懼怕趕出。因為懼怕隨著刑罰；懼怕的人是未曾得完全於愛裡的。( 約翰壹書 4:18 )
We are all humans, with our weaknesses and fears. We are easily lost in our life without the light of love.
The light leaves no darkness. As we love our enemies, the light reaches them and casts away the all darkness from them.
仇恨你的若餓了﹐你就給他飯喫；若渴了﹐你就給他水喝；( 箴言 25:21 )
Even our enemies can love. But they could be left in darkness by someone bullying them in their childhood, or by parents or friends who left them, or by some internal insecurity that left them no place in this world and pushed to the darkness.
Use your love towards your enemies, put your sword back.
當下耶穌對他說：「把你的刀收回原處；因為凡拿刀的必由刀而喪命。( 馬太福音 26:52 )
Use your new undefeatable weapon - love. Go ahead and shine in this world where fearful darkness has no place to hide. For you are not alone, never alone.
Have faith, leave doubts behind. For if God is with you, who can be against you?
凡為攻擊你而製造的器械﹑必用得不順利；凡在審判時起來跟你爭辯的舌頭﹑你都必證它為不對；這是永恆主僕人的產業﹐是他們從我所得的勝訴：永恆主發神諭說了。」( 以賽亞書 54:17 )