Successor || 继承者

This article is a part of a series called “Spiritual Waimai Voices” where we welcome our friends to share some spiritual food with us in their own voice. This Spiritual Waimai was written and recorded by our friend Luke.

本文是《属灵外卖之声》系列文章之一，该系列里我们欢迎朋友们用自己的声音来分享灵粮。这篇属灵外卖的写作来自我们的朋友Luke.

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “ ‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “ ‘May another take his place of leadership.’ Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us , beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.”
Acts 1:12-26 NIV

 

有一座山，名叫橄榄山，离耶路撒冷不远，约有安息日可走的路程。当下，门徒从那里回耶路撒冷去。进了城，就上了所住的一间楼房。在那里有彼得、约翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多马、巴多罗买、马太、亚勒腓的儿子雅各、奋锐党的西门和雅各的儿子（或作兄弟）犹大。这些人同着几个妇人和Ye Su的母亲马利亚，并Ye Su的弟兄，都同心合意地恒切祷告。那时，有许多人聚会，约有一百二十名，彼得就在弟兄中间站起来，说：“弟兄们，圣灵借大卫的口，在Sheng Jing上预言领人捉拿Ye Su的犹大，这话是必须应验的。他本来列在我们数中，并且在使徒的职任上得了一份。这人用他作恶的工价买了一块田，以后身子仆倒，肚腹崩裂，肠子都流出来。住在耶路撒冷的众人都知道这事，所以按着他们那里的话，给那块田起名叫亚革大马，就是血田的意思。因为诗篇上写着说：‘愿他的住处变为荒场，无人在内居住。又说：愿别人得他的职分。’所以主Ye Su在我们中间始终出入的时候，就是从约翰施洗起，直到主离开我们被接上升的日子为止，必须从那常与我们作伴的人中，立一位与我们同作Ye Su复活的见证。”于是选举两个人，就是那叫作巴撒巴，又称呼犹士都的约瑟和马提亚。众人就祷告说:“主啊，你知道万人的心。求你从这两个人中，指明你所拣选的是谁，叫他得这使徒的位分。这位分犹大已经丢弃，往自己的地方去了。”于是众人为他们摇签，摇出马提亚来。他就和十一个使徒同列。
使徒行者 1:12-26

This passage reads like the minutes of a boring meeting:
这段话读起来就像是一篇无聊的会议记录：

“Everybody here?”
“No, Judas is missing because he killed himself.”
“Oh, who are we going have replace him?”
“There are two guys who are never mentioned in the Scripture before this point and who will never be mentioned again, let’s pick one of them.”
“How should we do it?”
“Let’s flip a coin.”
“Matthias wins.”

“大家来了吗？”
“不，犹大不在，因为他自杀了。”
“哦，我们要用谁来接替他呢？”
“有两个人，在Sheng Jing里之前从来没有提到过，之后也不会再提起，从他们中选一个吧。”
“我们该怎么选呢？”
“我们抛硬币吧。”
“马提亚赢了。”

Perhaps my version is somewhat irreverent, but if you look at the text, this is exactly what happened. In this short text, I see a principle that spoke to me. This principle is the idea of succession.

也许我的复述有些不敬，但如果你看一下经文，这就是所发生的事情。在这篇简短的文章中，我领会到一个原则。这个原则就是继承的概念.

Succession is defined by the dictionary as “the right, act, or process, by which one person succeeds to the office, rank, or estate of another.” In the Bible, succession is very important. Some of Israel’s most influential leaders were those who prepared someone to take their place so that the gains they had made would remain even after the leader himself was gone. So I’d like to look at two other examples of succession and see what we can learn that will help us in our everyday lives.

继承在词典中的定义是“一个人继承另一个人的职位、地位或财产的权利、行为或过程”。在Sheng Jing中，继承是非常重要的。以色列人中最有影响力的一些领袖是那些准备好让别人来取代他们的人，这样即使在领袖本人离开后，他们所取得的成果也会继续存在。所以我想看看另外两个关于继承的例子，看看我们能从中学到什么，对我们的日常生活有所帮助。

The first example comes early in the Scripture. It is the example of Moses and Joshua.

第一个例子在Sheng Jing里出现得比较早，是摩西和约书亚的例子。

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain in the Abarim Range and see the land I have given the Israelites. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.) Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd. So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.”
Numbers 27:12-23 NIV

 

Ye He Hua对摩西说：“你上这亚巴琳山，观看我所赐给以色列人的地。看了以后，你也必归到你列祖（原文作本民）那里，象你哥哥亚伦一样。因为你们在寻的旷野，当会众争闹的时候，违背了我的命，没有在涌水之地，会众眼前尊我为圣。（这水，就是寻的旷野加低斯米利巴水。）”摩西对Ye He Hua说：“愿Ye He Hua万人之灵的Shen，立一个人治理会众，可以在他们面前出入，也可以引导他们，免得Ye He Hua的会众如同没有牧人的羊群一般。”Ye He Hua对摩西说：“嫩的儿子约书亚，是心中有圣灵的，你将他领来按手在他头上，使他站在祭司以利亚撒和全会众面前，嘱咐他，又将你的尊荣给他几分，使以色列全会众都听从他。他要站在祭司以利亚撒面前，以利亚撒要凭乌陵的判断，在Ye He Hua面前为他求问。他和以色列全会众，都要遵以利亚撒的命出入。”于是摩西照Ye He Hua所吩咐的，将约书亚领来，使他站在祭司以利亚撒和全会众面前。按手在他头上，嘱咐他，是照Ye He Hua藉摩西所说的话。
民数记 27:12-23

This passage is so rich in its depiction of God. Leadership is something that is sacred, and we cannot take it lightly. Disobedience in the part of a leader, even in something seemingly small—like losing your temper— can disqualify you from receiving God’s blessing. Despite the fact that Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land with the people, he still cared very much about them and brought his concern before God.

这段经文对Shen的描述是如此的丰富。领导力是神圣的，我们不能掉以轻心。一位领袖的不顺服，即使是在一个看似很小的地方，比如发脾气，都会使你失去接受Shen祝福的资格。尽管摩西没被允许和百姓一起进入应许之地，但他仍然非常关心他们，并将对他们的担忧带到Shen面前。

It’s interesting that Moses is the one who brings this up. So many leaders think that if God wants to give them a successor, it is God’s job to provide one; however, Moses does not. In fact, if we look in other stories, we find that if leaders are not proactive in looking for a successor, God does not provide one—and the results are often disastrous. Moses on the other hand actively seeks out his own replacement by asking specifically from the Lord. He is motivated by his love for the people and his desire that they will not be like sheep without a shepherd—aimless and wandering.

有趣的是摩西自己提出了这个问题。很多领袖认为，如果Shen想给他们一个继承人，Shen就要负责提供一个，然而摩西没有这样想。事实上，如果我们看看其他故事，就会发现，如果领袖们不积极主动地寻找继任者，Shen就不会为他提供——这样的结果往往是灾难性的。而摩西则跟神特别祈求、积极寻找自己的接替者。他的动机是他对百姓的爱，以及希望他们不要像没有牧者的羊一样——漫无目的地流浪。

In response to Moses’ request, the Lord points out Joshua—a man who has stood by Moses through thick and thin, someone who has a proven track record of faithfulness and a heart for the Lord. If we are insecure in our leadership, it is easy to feel threatened by younger, stronger people who are eager to go on the offensive. Rather than trying to castrate these young bulls, our job as leaders is to channel them and help them to use their strength in productive ways. Throughout Moses’ ministry, he consistently invites younger people into service with him so when it came time to pass on his leadership, there were people available to choose from.

为了回应摩西的要求，主指明了约书亚——一个祸福与共始终支持摩西的人，一个被证明有向着主的心和对主忠心的人。如果我们对自己的领导地位没有安全感，很容易会感到来自渴望积极采取行动、更强有力的年轻人的威胁。作为领袖，我们的工作并不是要阻止这些年轻人，而是引导他们，并帮助他们通过有效地方式使用发挥力量。在摩西的事奉中，他总是邀请年轻人和他一起服事，所以到了交接领导岗位的时候，他有一些人可以选择。

I love how the Lord describes Joshua, “A man in whom is the spirit of leadership.” Have you ever noticed that there are some people that are naturally gifted leaders? I remember when my son Simon was just a little guy (I think he was about one-and-a-half). He was out on the playground with a bunch of kids bigger than him, but he was the one at the head of the line, leading the whole troop in a running and shouting game—and they all followed him.

我喜欢主对约书亚的描述：“是心中有圣灵的人。”你有没有注意到有些人天生领袖特质？我还记得我儿子西蒙还只是一个小不点儿的时候（我想他大概是一岁半的样子）。他和一群比他还大的孩子在一起玩，但他是队伍的领头，带领着一群孩子吵吵闹闹地跑来跑去玩儿，其他孩子们都跟着他。

Statistics, certifications and degrees are good and sometimes necessary indicators of leadership qualification, but we can’t forget to look for the spirit of leadership that anoints certain individuals. Are people willing to follow this person into the fray? Are they willing to commit themselves totally because they see a leader who is also totally committed?

统计数据、证书和学位是衡量领导资质的不错指标，有时也是必要指标。但我们不能忘记去寻找那些特定的被膏抹了领袖精神的人。人们愿意跟随这个人加入战斗吗？他们是否愿意完全奉献自己，因为他们看到这位领袖也全然投入？

The next thing the Lord tells Moses is to lay hands on him before Eleazar the high priest (Aaron’s successor) and the assembly and to commission him publicly. There is so much power in formally transferring leadership. Moses’ leadership had been contested several times, and by publicly blessing Joshua, Moses passed his own authority to this young leader, making the transition much smoother.

接下来，主告诉摩西要在大祭司以利亚撒（亚伦的继承人）和会众面前按手在约书亚身上，公开委任他。正式的权力交接是强有力的。摩西的领导地位曾被争夺过好几次，但是通过公开祝福约书亚，摩西将他自己的权力转交给了这位年轻的领袖，使交接变得更加顺利。

In Deuteronomy 34:5-9, we see what happens after Moses dies.

在申命记34:5-9中，我们看到摩西死后发生了什么。

“And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.”
Deuteronomy 34:5-9 NIV

 

于是，Ye He Hua的仆人摩西死在摩押地，正如Ye He Hua所说的。Ye He Hua将他埋葬在摩押地，伯毗珥对面的谷中，只是到今日没有人知道他的坟墓。摩西死的时候年一百二十岁。眼目没有昏花，精Shen没有衰败。以色列人在摩押平原为摩西哀哭了三十日，为摩西居丧哀哭的日子就满了。嫩的儿子约书亚，因为摩西曾按手在他头上，就被智慧的灵充满，以色列人便听从他，照着Ye He Hua吩咐摩西的行了。
申命记34:5-9

Alexander the Great was one of the most successful conquerors in history. He created a massive empire that stretched across two continents, but when he died, he had no one to succeed him. His empire ended up being carved up among his generals and quickly disintegrating. When we neglect the process of formally transferring authority, the things we have spent our lives building are in great danger of collapse. Joshua had the spirit of leadership already, but because of Moses’ blessing he also gained the spirit of wisdom and the acceptance of the people.

亚历山大大帝是历史上最成功的征服者之一。他创建了一个横跨两大洲的庞大帝国，但当他去世后，却没有继承者。他的帝国最终被他的将军们分割，并迅速解体。当我们忽视正式移交权力的过程时，我们耗费一生建立的东西就处于巨大的崩溃危险之中。约书亚拥有领导才能，但由于摩西的祝福，他也获得了智慧的灵和百姓的认可。

My first year in China, I was allowed to visit one of Hudson Taylor’s first mission houses in Shanghai. I didn’t go in, but I got to see it from outside. It did not look like much, but my friend told me that it was still in use as a hospital. Over one hundred years after its founding, the echoes of Christ still ring through its halls as the building is used to help and to heal those in distress. What about us? Are we leaving any legacy for the next hundred years to see the goodness of God in China?

我来中国的第一年，被允许参观哈德逊·泰勒在上海的首批传教所之一。我没有进去，从外面看了下。它看似并不起眼，但我朋友告诉我，它作为医院仍在被使用。建立了一百多年后，Ji Du的回声仍在它的大厅里回响，因为这个建筑被用来帮助和救治那些陷入痛苦的人。我们呢？我们是否会留下任何遗产，让人们在未来的几百年里，依然能看见Shen在中国的恩慈？

Now, it would be nice if all transitions of power went this smoothly, but sometimes even under the best circumstances, things don’t always go as we’d like. The next example of biblical succession I’d like to look at comes from the 2 Kings 2:1-16. Let’s take a look.

说到这里，如果所有的权力移交都顺利进行就太好了，但有时即使在最好的情况下，事情也不总是像我们希望的那样进行。下一个我想看的Sheng Jing中关于继承的例子，来自列王纪下2:1-16。让我们一起来看看。

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. “Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.”
2 Kings 2:1-16 NIV

 

Ye He Hua要用旋风接以利亚升天的时候，以利亚与以利沙从吉甲前往。以利亚对以利沙说：“Ye He Hua差我往伯特利去，你可以在这里等候。”以利沙说：“我指着永生的Ye He Hua，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。”于是二人下到伯特利。住伯特利的先知门徒出来见以利沙，对他说：“Ye He Hua今日要接你的师傅离开你，你知道不知道？”他说：“我知道，你们不要作声。”以利亚对以利沙说:“Ye He Hua差遣我往耶利哥去，你可以在这里等候。”以利沙说：“我指着永生的Ye He Hua，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。”于是二人到了耶利哥。住耶利哥的先知门徒就近以利沙，对他说：“Ye He Hua今日要接你的师傅离开你，你知道不知道？”他说：“我知道，你们不要作声。”以利亚对以利沙说：“Ye He Hua差遣我往约旦河去，你可以在这里等候。”以利沙说：“我指着永生的Ye He Hua，又敢在你面前起誓，我必不离开你。”于是二人一同前往。有先知门徒去了五十人，远远地站在他们对面，二人在约旦河边站住。以利亚将自己的外衣卷起来，用以打水，水就左右分开，二人走干地而过。过去之后，以利亚对以利沙说：“我未曾被接去离开你，你要我为你作什么，只管求我。”以利沙说：“愿感动你的灵加倍地感动我。”以利亚说：“你所求的难得。虽然如此，我被接去离开你的时候，你若看见我，就必得着。不然，必得不着了。”他们正走着说话，忽有火车火马将二人隔开，以利亚就乘旋风升天去了。以利沙看见，就呼叫说：“我父啊！我父啊！以色列的战车马兵啊！”以后不再见他了。于是以利沙把自己的衣服撕为两片。他拾起以利亚身上掉下来的外衣，回去站在约旦河边。他用以利亚身上掉下来的外衣打水，说：“Ye He Hua，以利亚的Shen在哪里呢？”打水之后，水也左右分开，以利沙就过来了。住耶利哥的先知门徒从对面看见他，就说：“感动以利亚的灵感动以利沙了。”他们就来迎接他，在他面前俯伏于地，对他说：“仆人们这里有五十个壮士，求你容他们去寻找你师傅，或者Ye He Hua的灵将他提起来，投在某山某谷。”以利沙说：“你们不必打发人去。”
列王纪下2:1-16

This story is one of the funnier ones in scripture. It’s like an elaborate dance. The old prophet knows that his time is near, but he wants to make sure that his successor is serious. Twice, he says, “You stay here; I’ve got an errand to run.” Elisha is not about to stay behind and miss his blessing. He says, “No way! I’m sticking to you like glue.” The local prophets come out and talk to the younger man: Do you know your master is leaving? “Yes, but be quiet. I don’t want him to know that I know.”

这个故事是Sheng Jing书中比较有趣的故事之一。这就像一场精心设计的舞蹈。老先知知道他离世的时候快到了，但他想确保他的继任者是认真的。他说了两次，“你呆在这里，我要办件事儿。”以利沙不打算留在原地错过他的祝福。他说，“不可能！我要像胶水一样黏着你。”当地的先知们出来和这位年轻人说：你知道你的主人要离开了吗？“是的，但是别声张。我不想让他知道我知道。”

Elisha’s persistence pays off, and he is with his master when he is escorted to heaven in a chariot of fire. Elijah’s jacket passes to Elisha and with it, a double portion of his spirit, but how does Elisha know? He doesn’t feel any different.

以利沙的坚持得到了回报，当他的主人在火车火马中被护送到天上的时候，他和主人在一起。以利亚的上衣留给了以利沙，一起留给他的还有以利亚双倍的圣灵感动，但以利沙怎么知道呢？他没感觉有什么不同。

He says, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”, does what he saw his master do, and God responds.

他说：“Ye He Hua，以利亚的Shen，现在在哪里？”然后做了他看他主人做的事， Shen回应了他。

Interestingly, there are fifty witnesses who watched this whole thing (including the miracle) from a distance, and you’d think that they would accept Elisha as the new leader, but when Elisha tells them not to do something, they doubt his word and pester him until he finally lets them do what they want. When they come back later, he responds “Told you so.” Later, he is challenged by a group of young people and mocked for being bald. In response, he has to show his authority in a severe way by calling on two bears to demonstrate the Lord’s discipline.

有趣的是，有50个目击者从远处观看了这整件事（包括神迹），你可能会认为他们会接受以利沙作为新的领袖，但当以利沙告诉他们不要做什么事的时候，他们怀疑他的话，缠着他直到他最终听任他们做他们想做的事。当他们回来时，他回答说“我早就告诉你们了。”后来，他被一群少年人挑战并嘲笑他的秃头。作为回应，他必须以一种严厉的方式来展示他的权威，他召来两只熊来展示耶和华的管教。

As new leaders, sometimes even when we are in the right place at the right time and have the mantle in our hands, the people who we are supposed to lead will doubt our ability. When that happens (and it will), we do not need to worry. As God was with Moses and Joshua, as God was with Elijah and Elisha, he will be with us too. Trust in his calling and keep doing what he has given you to do. Don’t get frustrated; he will vindicate in his time. As you obey, you move into the authority he has given and prove his faithfulness.

作为新的领导人，有时即使我们在正确的时间，正确的位置，并且被正式委任，我们要领导的人依然会怀疑我们的能力。当这种情况发生时(必然会发生的)，我们不需要担心。Shen与摩西、约书亚同在，Shen与以利亚、以利沙同在，他也要与我们同在。相信他的呼召，坚持做他让你做的事。不要感到沮丧；他会在他的时间维护你。当你顺从的时候，你就进入他所赐的权柄中，并会证明他是信实的。

How do we bring all of the pieces together? Maybe choosing a replacement is more important than it first appears. Maybe it is more than just filling a role. Judas dropped the baton and his position was given to someone else. We don’t know what Matthias did after he took Judas’ place. We don’t know where he went or how he died, but we do know that he carries the honor of being one of the Twelve. He didn’t get that honor for being the smartest or the most interesting. He got it because he showed up. He was faithful, and God noticed.

我们如何把这些信息组合在一起？也许选择一个继承人比起初看起来更重要。也许这不仅仅是填补一个角色。犹大扔掉了接力棒，所以他的位置给了别人。我们不知道马提亚接替犹大的位置后做了什么。我们不知道他去了哪里，也不知道他是怎么死的，但我们知道他肩负着十二使徒的荣誉。他并没有因为自己是最聪明或最有趣的人而获得这个荣誉。他得到它是因为他站出来了。他是忠心的，Shen注意到了。

It doesn’t matter if you are a natural leader like Joshua, a baldy like Elisha, or a nobody like Matthias. When God puts you in a position of leadership, be faithful. Lead the people God has entrusted you with, and invest in those who will one day replace you. When you do, you become a part of a much larger story that has been going on since the beginning of time.

不管你是像约书亚那样的天生领袖，像伊利沙那样的秃头，还是像马提亚那样的无名小卒。当Shen使你处于领导的位置时，要忠心。引导Shen所委托给你的百姓，栽培那些有一天会接替你的人。这样做的时候，你就会成为创世之初就开始的伟大计划中的一部分。

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:32-40 NIV

 

我又何必再说呢？若要一一细说，基甸、巴拉、参孙、耶弗他、大卫、撒母耳和众先知的事，时候就不够了。他们因着信，制伏了敌国，行了公义，得了应许，堵了狮子的口，灭了烈火的猛势，脱了刀剑的锋刃，软弱变为刚强，争战显出勇敢，打退外邦的全军。有妇人得自己的死人复活，又有人忍受严刑，不肯苟且得释放，（释放原文作赎）为要得着更美的复活。又有人忍受戏弄、鞭打、捆锁、监禁各等的磨炼，被石头打死，被锯锯死，受试探，被刀杀，披着绵羊、山羊的皮各处奔跑，受穷乏、患难、苦害，在旷野、山岭、山洞、地穴飘流无定，本是世界不配有的人。这些人都是因信得了美好的证据，却仍未得着所应许的。因为Shen给我们预备了更美的事，叫他们若不与我们同得，就不能完全。
希伯来书11:32-40

Lord, we come to you unworthy of the positions we have been given. We come, not because of our ability but because of your call. We pray that you would give us the strength we need to lead those whom you’ve entrusted us with—whether that is many or few. I pray that each of us uses the position we have been given to the fullest of our potential—not for our own glory but for yours. Help us to be faithful to your call and lead with the authority you provide. Strengthen our hearts so we are secure enough to invest in the success of others rather than being worried our own. Give us eyes to see the next generation of Kingdom leaders and a heart to become mentors, grooming them for leadership. Go before us, Holy One; we look to you.

主啊，我们来到你的面前，不配得到你赐予我们的位份。我们来了，不是因为我们的能力，而是因为你的呼召。我们祈祷你能赐给我们所需的力量来领导那些你委托给我们的人，无论数量多或者少。我祈祷我们每个人都能在所处的位置上，充分发挥我们的潜力——不是为了我们自己的荣耀，而是为了你的荣耀。请帮助我们对你的呼召忠心，并以你所提供的权柄来领导。请使我们内心强大，这样我们就有足够的安全感来栽培继任者，而不必担忧自己的地位。让我们能发现Shen国的下一代领袖，给我们一颗做导师的心，培养他们的领导力。请指引我们，圣洁的Shen；我们仰望你！