我在叫萬物生活的神面前，並在向本丟彼拉多作過那美好見證的基督耶穌面前囑咐你：要守這命令，毫不玷污，無可指責，直到我們的主耶穌基督顯現。（提前6:13-14）
這段經文是使徒保羅在神和耶穌基督面前的囑咐，他認識這位創造並掌管宇宙萬物的神，也尊崇道成肉身、與神同等的耶穌基督。保羅不是憑著自己囑咐，乃是按照神的話語吩咐。神的命令透過使徒和先知傳達出來，他們是神在地上的代言人，有從神而來的權柄。今日教會必讀使徒書信，地位同等於福音書耶穌的命令。如今教會的長老、牧師、教師、帶領者也蒙神揀選呼召，有先知使徒講道、教導的職分，而非先知與使徒的身分。因此，教會帶領者必須嚴格遵守聖經的教導，不能憑私意添增或刪減。
國王的命令幫助國家平穩安定，統帥的命令幫助軍隊打勝仗，而神的命令能使神百姓生命成熟、成為聖潔，無可指責。天國君王下達命令是透過聖經，藉著使徒與先知的教導，使一切信而順從的必然得救。因此，天國的子民要常常讀經，聽從神的命令，以遵守主耶穌的命令為天職。
服從命令與守命令之不同點，在於其時間性，服從命令是單次性，而守命令卻是長期的持守，一直守到主耶穌再來的日子。從提前6:14看到守命令的時間─直到主耶穌顯現；也看到守命令的質量─毫無玷污、無可指責─這是一個成熟的生命。守命令生命才會越成熟，生命越成熟的人，也會更加守命令。靈命不成熟的人，不肯守命令，不肯守命令的人，靈命也無法成熟，距離無玷污的標準也越來越遠。因此，不要因為達不到神的標準，覺得神的命令太難了，就不尋求，反而要在神面前不斷追求，靠著聖靈，牢牢守著，並且在基督裡，以信心愛心常常守著。（提後1:13-14）
因此，不要因世界變化而影響我們的信心，不要因新冠疫情而懶散不守，反而要常常守著、牢牢守著，因為我們真正的盼望，是主耶穌基督的顯現，祂必再來。世界很快就要過去，面對政黨交替、局勢好壞、疫情變化，我們唯有以不變應萬變，信靠基督，持守命令，活出信心愛心，滿有盼望，因為主必快來。
In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Timothy 6:13-14)
The Apostle Paul commanded believers before God and Jesus Christ in this passage. He knew the God who created and reigned over the universe and also adored Jesus Christ who was the Word became flesh and equal to God. Paul did not command this based on himself, but according to the Word of God. God’s commands are proclaimed through the apostles and prophets, who were God’s spokespersons on earth and had authority from God. Today the church must read the apostolic epistles, whose status is equal to the command of Jesus in the Gospel. Nowadays, the elders, pastors, teachers, and leaders of the church are also selected and called by God to have the role of prophet and apostle in preaching and teaching, rather than having the role of prophet and apostle. Therefore, church leaders must strictly abide by the teachings of the Bible and cannot add or delete them according to their own ideas.
The king’s command helps the country to be stable and peaceful, the general’s command helps the army win the battles, and God’s command can make the lives of God’s people mature and holy, beyond reproach. The king of heaven gave commands through the Bible, through the teaching of the apostles and prophets; all who believe and obey will be saved. Therefore, the people of the kingdom of heaven should always read the scriptures, follow God's commands, and obey the Lord Jesus' commands as their first priority.
The difference between obeying commands and keeping commands lies in its timing. Obeying commands is a one-time thing, while keeping commands is a long-term continuous action until the day when the Lord Jesus returns. From 1 Timothy 6:14, the time of keeping the command lasts until the Lord Jesus appears; while the result of keeping the command will be a life without defilement or blame—this is a mature life. The more you keep commands, the more mature you are; and the more mature you are, the more you will keep commands. Those who are spiritually immature refuse to keep commands, and those who refuse to keep commands cannot be mature spiritually, getting farther and farther away from the standard of being blameless. Therefore, don’t stop seeking God’s commands because of the unreachable standard and the difficulty of God’s commands. Instead, you should keep pursuing God, relying on the Holy Spirit, holding on firmly, living in Christ by faith and love. (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
Therefore, do not lose faith due to changes in the world and do not become lazy and laid back due to the pandemic. Instead, we must always keep commands and hold on firmly, because our true hope is the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. This world is going to pass soon. In the face of changes in political parties, whether the situation is good or bad, and the epidemic changes, we can only respond to all changes in the same manner: trust in Christ, keep His commands, live out faith and love, be full of hope, because the Lord will be coming again soon.
～ Rev. Benguang Du 都本光牧師～
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