亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，主内平安。
约一个月前，教会各样的聚会都陆续转到了线上。主日在网上敬拜，也已经三周。虽然在网上相见很容易，但毕竟无法给予人见面才能有的亲切感。想念之际，我也愿意与弟兄姐妹交通我心里两个负担。一是我们在这段经历当中，如何来学习继续服事；二是让疫情成为一个机会，省察我们的自己。
相信的时刻
在每一个教会同工和小家同工的心中，应该都有过这样的顾虑：聚会都在线上，彼此的交流会打折扣，关怀会不到位，传福音也必定有一些拦阻。如果我们能够为教会所面对的难处，有这样的担心，恰恰说明我们开始摸到了主的心。祂何等盼望祂的身体，能显出那“充满万有者所充满”的见证，有丰富的活力和影响力。然而从现状和环境来看，我们不得不经历一个“低谷”。与此同时，我们也花了很多时间和精力研究预防措施，关心疫情发展。然而，对于疫情的进程，我们所能做的却极为有限；但疫情所带来的焦虑和恐慌，却可能成为我们极大的捆绑。我们当问，主在其中会有怎样的心意呢？
彼得在他的晚年，就写信给分散在小亚细亚几处的弟兄姐妹。当时许多神的儿女，都受到了各样的逼迫，处于极大的患难之中。彼得的信，给他们带来了安慰和鼓励。彼得前书1章22节说，“你们既因顺从真理，洁净了自己的心，以致爱弟兄没有虚假，就当从心里彼此切实相爱。”我们稀奇的是，彼得教导人如何面对环境的话并不多。他似乎不太觉得环境能够真正影响到基督徒生命和生活的实质。我们顺从的是真理，是主的自己。我们的心被分别，被洁净了。因此我们生活中应当着重的是什么呢？就是那没有虚假的爱。这是超越环境和距离的。无论是线上还是线下，不管是曾经一起吃喝，还是现在通个电话，弟兄姐妹之间切实相爱，就是教会凝聚力和见证最重要的元素。环境不能拦阻我们相爱，而是更能够检验我们的爱。我们既然相信神坐在高天宝座上，我们也就学习按照主的话，爱一个一个的人。我们每个人都有神所赐的聪明才智，按照神所托付的，将爱投资在神所托付给你的人生命中。神在你心中放了谁呢？
悔改的时刻
这个世界曾经太忙了。不知不觉，忙碌的本身，成为了我们的生活常态。之前，人以忙碌为借口，而现在人以忙碌为追求。小到刚记事的孩子，大到退休多年的老人，都成为忙碌生活的一部分。闲下来的时候，人得到的不是享受，而是焦虑。我们的生命，就在忙碌中一天天过去；人一年一年变老。我们的日子，给我们留下了什么？
神给先知约珥这句话：「……蝗虫……那些年所吃的，我要补还你们」(珥二25)。记得钟马田牧师曾经说过，这是圣经中一句最能安慰人、最希奇的话。这话是神在大异象中对约珥说的。只要人还有时间，过失可以弥补，走过弯路可以重新修正；然而，当人像拿俄米那样感叹“我年纪老迈”的时候，你能面对的，就是人生的结局和快要来到的审判。神却说，要把日子补还。这样的恩典，要给你我带来什么亮光呢？
有人说，2003年的非典改变了许多人的生活方式，让人学会了勤洗手。盼望2020年的新冠，不只是让我们被动地培养好的卫生习惯，而是更叫我们有规律地，常常主动省察自己在神面前生活的光景。在许多商业活动，旅行活动，娱乐活动都暂缓或停止的时候，我们是继续寻找曾经忙碌的感觉，还是因着经历这样的环境，回到主的面前，享受与祂的安静呢？如果你读过慕安德烈弟兄关于祷告的书，或看过戚伯门弟兄的见证，还是劳伦斯弟兄的《与神同行》，你一定会羡慕，他们能经历与主之间如此深刻和甜美的交通。如果真是这样，现在是一个悔改的时刻。不只是为着自己的罪，更是为着如何在主面前活。
愿主耶稣的恩惠常与你们同在。
弟兄喻马可
Dear Brothers and Sisters, peace to you in Christ,
Our church activities were all transferred online about a month ago, with our Sunday online worship entering its third week. Even though it is easy for us to see each other in this manner, online gatherings cannot bring forth the closeness accompanied by face to face interactions. In the midst of my longing for you all, I am willing to also share with you two burdens in my heart. One is the question of “How do we learn to continue our servitude during this time?”. And the other is allowing this pandemic to become an opportunity to examine ourselves.
The Moment of Believing
All of the church and bible study family’s coworkers share the same concern: With online gatherings, the communication amongst brothers and sisters will be negatively affected, caring for each other will be disrupted, and gospel outreach will be obstructed. If we share concerns towards the difficulties the church is facing, this actually means that we have started to follow the Lord’s heart. He truly hopes for his body to manifest the testimony of “the fullness of Him who fills all in all”; with abundant exuberance and influence. However, examining our surroundings and circumstances, we must go through a deep valley first. At the same time, we have spent much energy to devise preventive measures and monitored the development of the pandemic. However we are very limited in what we can do towards the progression of the pandemic This could bring great bondage to us, created by anxiety and fear. We should ask, what is the will of the Lord in the midst of this?
Peter, in his later days, wrote an epistle to the brothers and sisters dispersed in Asia Minor. At the time much children of God have encountered many kinds of persecution and were living in tribulation. The epistle of Peter have brought great comfort and encouragement to them. 1 Peter 22 says: “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” How we wonder, Peter did not teach much in terms of how to face circumstances. It seems like he did not think that circumstance can truly influence the life of a Christian and his/her essence. What we obey is the truth, the Lord Himself. Our hearts have been set apart and purified. Therefore what should we emphasize on? It is the “sincere love”. This love surpasses circumstances and distance. No matter if it’s online or offline, no matter if it’s having a meal with each other in the past, or if you call each other to care for each other. Truly loving one another is the important element of the unity and testimony of the church. Our circumstances cannot obstruct our love for one another, instead, it helps us to examine our love for one another. If we truly believe that God sits on the throne high above the heavens, then we ought to abide by the Lord’s words and love each person, one by one. With the knowledge and skills God has gifted you, according to the burden He has given, invest your love into the people that God has planted in your heart. So, who did God plant in your heart?
The Moment of Repentance
This world used to be overly busy. Unknowingly a busy life has become the norm of our lives. In the past, being busy was an excuse for people, but now it has become the pursuit of people. From childhood that has just begun remembering things to the retirement age, this has all become a part of our busy lives. Once we have time to spare, what comes along is not enjoyment, but anxiety. We live our lives with each busy day passing by; as we age year by year. What are the remnants of our lives?
God gave prophet Joel these words: (Joel 2:25) “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten….” I remember Pastor David Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said that this is one of the most wondrous and comforting words in the Bible. These words were spoken to Joel through a great vision. If men have time, mistakes can be made up and paths can be straightened. However as Naomi bemoaned her old age, what you are faced with is life’s ending and judgment. However God says that he will restore the days. What kind of inspiration does this bring to each one of us?
Some people said that the SARS of 2003 changed many people’s lifestyles, prompting more frequent hand washing. We hope COVID-19 of 2020 not only brings us better hygiene habits, but also brings forth a habitual practice of frequently reflecting on our spiritual circumstances. As many businesses have stopped, travel and entertainment have slowed down, are we looking for the feeling of being busy or does this allow us to return to the Lord and enjoy a moment of peace with Him? If you have read books of prayer written by brother Andrew Murray, or the testimony of brother Robert Chapman, or the book “The Practice of the Presence of God”, you will admire the deep and sweet fellowship they had with the Lord. If these are true experiences, then now is a time of repentance. Not only for your sin, but also for how you have lived in front of the Lord.
May the Grace from our Lord Jesus be with you.
Brother Mark Yu