It All Keeps Coming Back to Love and Forgiveness
For those of you who have read my book The One Another Project, or have listened to the sermons taken from the book over the last several months at SFCAC, you will most likely remember that of the 29 One Another admonitions found in the New Testament, Love and Forgiveness lead the way. Loving one another in the same manner that Christ has loved us. Forgiving one another as completely as we have been forgiven by Christ.
I am continually amazed at how often these two admonitions pop up, not only in the scriptures but also in devotional writings and various prayers of the saints of old.
Many years ago, I was introduced to Celtic worship through writings of the Northumbria Christian Community in Northumberland, UK. When I stepped down from being the Senior Pastor at Sierra Bible Church in Truckee, the vast majority of my hundreds of books went into storage boxes. Among those books were my Northumbria books on prayer and worship. I had almost forgotten about them until this morning, when Pastor Jonathan presented a Celtic devotional reading during the midweek SFCAC Staff Meeting. And there they were again, love and forgiveness, the heart and soul of today’s meditation.
When I look at the blood all I see is love, love, love.
When I stop at the Cross I see the love of God.
What I can’t see is competition. I can’t see hierarchy.
I can’t see pride or prejudice or the abuse of authority.
I can’t see lust for power. I can’t see manipulation.
I can’t see rage or anger or selfish ambition.
I can’t see unforgiveness. I can’t see hate or envy.
I can’t see stupid fighting or bitterness, or jealousy.
I can’t see empire building. I can’t see self-importance.
I can’t see back-stabbing or vanity or arrogance.
I see surrender, sacrifice, salvation, humility,
righteousness, faithfulness, grace, forgiveness, and love!
When I stop at the Cross, I see the love of God. Written by Godfrey Birtill
I just consulted the list of books that fill sixteen boxes in my attic. My books on Celtic worship and prayer are in box number six. I’m heading to my attic! I need a fresh dose of the spiritual refreshment that is found in them. Thanks Pastor Jonathan for this morning’s devotional, I needed its reminder.
一切終究回到愛與饒恕
如果你曾讀過我的著作《The One Another Project》，或是在過去幾個月於三宣家聆聽過根據此書的内容所傳講的講道，你大概會記得：新約中二十九個「彼此」的勸勉當中， 「愛」與「饒恕」是最核心的。我們要彼此相愛，正如基督愛我們一樣；也要彼此饒恕，如同基督完全饒恕了我們。
我常常感到驚訝，因為這兩項勸勉不僅頻繁地出現在聖經中，也不斷出現在靈修著作與歷代聖徒的禱文裡。
多年前，我透過英國諾森伯蘭郡「諾森比亞基督徒社區」（Northumbria Christian Community）的著作，初次接觸到凱爾特（Celtic）敬拜。當卸下Truckee 的 Sierra Bible Church 主任牧師職務後，我將數以百計的藏書裝箱存放。其中也包括那些有關禱告與崇拜的諾森比亞著作。我幾乎已將之遺忘，直到今早，當Jonathan牧師在三宣家的周間同工會上，分享了一篇凱爾特靈修讀物時，這一切又重現眼前——愛與饒恕，正是今日默想的核心與靈魂。
當我凝視那寶血時，我所看見的只有愛、愛、愛。
當我停留在十字架前，我看見的是神的愛。
我看不見競爭；我看不見階級高低。
我看不見驕傲、偏見，或權柄的濫用。
我看不見對權力的貪戀；我看不見操控。
我看不見暴怒、憤恨或自私的野心。
我看不見不饒恕；我看不見仇恨或嫉妒。
我看不見愚昧的爭鬥、苦毒或猜忌。
我看不見建立個人王國；我看不見自高自大。
我看不見背後中傷、虛榮或傲慢。
我所看見的是降服、犧牲、救恩、謙卑、
公義、信實、恩典、饒恕，以及愛！
當我停留在十字架前，我所看見的是神的愛。
—— Godfrey Birtill
我剛剛查看了一下那份放在閣樓、裝滿十六箱書籍的清單。原來那些關於凱爾特敬拜與禱告的書，就在第六號箱子裡。現在我要上閣樓去了！我需要再次從那些書中汲取屬靈更新的力量。感謝 Jonathan 牧師今天早上的靈修分享，我真的很需要這樣的提醒。