Standing with Courage / 勇敢站立

[Dexu Xia]

Standing with Courage

Be strong and courageous. . . . Do not be afraid or terrified. Deuteronomy 31:6, 8

While most German church leaders gave in to Hitler, theologian and pastor Martin Niemöller was among the brave souls who resisted Nazi evil. I read a story describing how in the 1970s a group of older Germans stood outside a large hotel while what appeared to be a younger man bustled about with the group’s luggage. Someone asked who the group was. “German pastors,” came the answer. “And the younger man?” “That’s Martin Niemöller—he’s eighty. But he has stayed young because he is unafraid.”

Niemöller wasn’t able to resist fear because he possessed some superhuman antifear gene, but because of God’s grace. In fact, he had once held anti-Semitic views. But he had repented and God restored him and helped him speak and live out the truth.

Moses encouraged the Israelites to resist fear and follow God in truth. When they’d become fearful after learning Moses would soon be taken from them, the leader had an unflinching word for them: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified . . . for the Lord your God goes with you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). There was no reason to tremble before an uncertain future because of one reason: God was with them.

Whatever darkness looms for you, whatever terrors bombard you—God is with you. By God’s mercy, may you face your fears with the knowledge that God “will never leave you nor forsake you” (vv. 6, 8).

勇敢站立

当刚强壮胆，……不要惧怕，也不要惊惶。-申命记31章6、8节

在纳粹恐怖统治时期，德国多数教会领袖都妥协让步，但神学家马丁．尼莫拉牧师（Martin Niemöller）却英勇抵抗邪恶的纳粹。有一则故事讲到在1970年代，有一群年老的德国人站在一间大饭店外面，当中一个看来年纪较轻的人则忙着处理大家的行李。有人问这群人是谁，旁人答道：“是德国的牧师团。”又问说：“那个忙进忙出的人是谁？”答道：“是马丁．尼莫拉，其实他已经八十岁了，他很有活力，因为他一直无所畏惧。”尼莫拉牧师无所畏惧，并不是因他拥有超乎常人“不会害怕”的基因，而是因着上帝的恩典。其实他也曾经持有反犹太人的观点，但在他悔改后上帝再次使用他，帮助他传讲并活出真理。

摩西鼓励以色列民不要惧怕，按着真理跟随上帝。在百姓得知摩西即将离开他们之后，开始心生畏惧。摩西便坚定地对他们说：“你们当刚强壮胆，不要害怕，也不要畏惧……因为耶和华你的上帝和你同去”（申命记31章6节）。即使面对不可知的未来，他们也无需惊忧，因为上帝会与他们同在。

无论是黑暗步步逼近，或是恐惧向你袭来，上帝必与你同在。愿你能靠着上帝的怜悯面对恐惧，因为上帝“必不撇下你，也不丢弃你”（6、8节）。

你正面临什么恐惧？
上帝的同在如何让你的心充满勇气？

坦然无惧并非不会害怕，而是不会屈从恐惧