Speak Up!开传道的门

[Dexu Xia]

Speak Up!

Pray . . . that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.  Colossians 4:3

Brittany exclaimed to her coworker at the restaurant, “There’s that man! There’s that man!” She was referring to Melvin, who first encountered her under different circumstances. While he was tending to the lawn of his church, the Spirit prompted him to start a conversation with a woman who appeared to be a prostitute. Her reply when he invited her to church was: “Do you know what I do? They wouldn’t want me in there.” As Melvin told her about the love of Jesus and assured her of His power to change her life, tears streamed down her face. Now, some weeks later, Brittany was working in a new environment, living proof of the power of Jesus to change lives.

In the context of encouraging believers to be devoted to prayer, the apostle Paul made a twofold request: “Pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should” (Colossians 4:3–4).

Have you prayed for opportunities to speak boldly and clearly for Jesus? What a fitting prayer! Such prayers can lead believers, like Melvin, to speak about Him in unexpected places and to unexpected people. Speaking up for Jesus can seem uncomfortable, but the rewards—changed lives—have a way of compensating for our discomforts.

When did you share the love of Jesus with someone even though it was unexpected and uncomfortable? What role does prayer play in our preparation to boldly speak up for Him?

Jesus, help me to see opportunities and step through the doors You open to speak boldly and clearly about You!

开传道的门

为我们祷告，求上帝给我们开传道的门，能以讲基督的奥秘。—歌罗西书4章3节

兰妮指着马文兴奋地告诉餐厅的同事：“就是那个人！就是他！”兰妮与马文的第一次碰面，却是完全不同的情境。当时，马文正在整理教会的草坪，圣灵催促他去跟看似妓女的兰妮谈话。当马文开口邀请兰妮参加教会的聚会时，兰妮不以为然地说：“你知道我是做什么的吗？教会才不会欢迎我呢！”于是马文告诉兰妮，耶稣爱她，并向她确保耶稣的大能可以改变她的生命，兰妮的眼泪忍不住夺眶而出。几周之后，兰妮换了新的工作，成为耶稣改变生命活生生的见证。

使徒保罗在鼓励信徒热切祷告时，劝勉他们说：“也要为我们祷告，求上帝为我们开传道的门，宣讲基督的奥秘（我就是为了这个缘故被捆锁），使我照着我所应当说的，把这奥秘显明出来。”（歌罗西书4章3-4节，新译本）

你曾否祷告能有机会勇敢并清楚地为耶稣开口？这是多么合宜的祷告啊！如此的祷告能带领我们这些基督徒，像马文一样，随时随地有勇气向陌生人，甚至是被排斥的人讲述耶稣。为耶稣开口可能会让我们感到不自在，但看到人的生命得到改变是我们最大的回报，就觉得一切都值得了！

你何时曾克服不自在的心理，向某些人分享耶稣的爱？
时时祷告如何预备我们勇敢为主开口？

耶稣，帮助我看见祢所打开的传道之门，
并让我能把握机会，勇敢清楚地与人分享祢的爱！