“Every One Must Pray as if He/She Alone Could Pray 人人必須像只有他/她可以禱告般去祈求“(Luke 路加福音 18:1, 6-8)
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. … And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? … I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
耶穌對他們講一個比喻,論到人必須常常祈禱,不可灰心。… 主說:“你們聽聽這不義的法官所說的話吧。難道神不會為晝夜呼籲他的選民伸冤嗎?… 我告訴你們,他要快快地給他們伸冤。然而人子來的時候,在世上找得到這種信心嗎?”
Right praying may easily make a person of God like a preacher feel some kind of inward contradiction: feeling own responsibility so keenly that he/she might be hesitant to share God’s word before people; and yet the pressure upon his/her spirit may be so great that he/her cannot escape from it. One of the tragedies of our times is to recommend prayer with the least enthusiasm. Praying itself must be the work of the individual. In true prayer, every person must be an original, for true prayer cannot be imitated nor can it be learned from someone else. Everyone must pray as if he/she alone could pray!
正確的祈禱可以令一個屬神的人如傳道者,感到某種內裡的矛盾:感受到自己的責任如此強烈,以致或許在人面前分享神的道是躊躇的;然而,自己心靈的壓力會是如此巨大,令他/她不能一走了之。我們當今時代的一悲劇就是帶著最少的熱心去建議禱告,祈禱本身必須是個别的人作的工。在真正的禱告裡,每個人所說的必須發自內心,因為真正的禱告不能模仿,也不能從別人學習得來;每個人都必須好像只有他/她可以禱告般去祈求!
Prayer: God of Heaven, you are a righteous, kind and gracious Judge of perfect, good character knowing us and loving to care for us who petition you and to bless us for us good also. Thank you that we can come to you, who has a personal interest in our case, with the right of constant access together with Jesus Christ/the Holy Spirit as our advocate, a friend who will plead our case before you trusting that you will resolve all things righteously. Amen.
禱告: 天上的神啊,你是個公義、仁慈和滿有恩典的審判官,有著完全、美好的品性,認識我們並樂意看顧向你祈求的我們,祝福我們,也賜我們好處。感謝你我們能夠來投靠那個別關心我們情況的你,有著隨時近見的權利,並耶穌基督/聖靈作我們的中保,一個會在你面前為我們辯護的朋友,信靠你必公正地解決一切的問題。阿們。