Not Forgotten 绝不忘记

[Dexu Xia]

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.  Hebrews 6:10

When we think of historic, trailblazing missionaries, the name of George Liele (1750–1820) doesn’t leap to mind. Perhaps it should. Born into slavery, Liele came to Christ in Georgia and gained his freedom prior to the American Revolutionary War. He took the message of Jesus to Jamaica, ministering to the slaves in the plantations there, and served as the founding pastor of two African American churches in Savannah, Georgia—one of which is considered the “mother church of Black Baptists.”

Liele’s remarkable life of kingdom service may have been forgotten by some, but his spiritual service will never be forgotten by God. Neither will the work you do for God. The letter to the Hebrews encourages us with these words, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (6:10). God’s faithfulness can never be underestimated, for He truly knows and remembers everything done in His name. And so Hebrews encourages us, “Imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” (v. 12).

If we serve behind the scenes in our church or community, it might be easy to feel our labor is unappreciated. Take heart. Whether or not our work is recognized or rewarded by the people around us, God is faithful. He’ll never forget us.

What service do you do for God? How does knowing He doesn’t forget your service encourage you?

Loving God, my service to You is far from perfect, but I also know that as I serve You, that service is remembered and valued by You. Thank You for equipping me to serve.

上帝并非不公义，竟忘记你们所做的工和你们为祂名所显的爱心，就是先前伺候圣徒，如今还是伺候。—希伯来书6章10节

当我们提到历史上开拓福音荒地的宣教士时，可能不会想到非裔美国牧师乔治 · 利斯尔（George Liele，1750-1820年）。其实，他的事迹应该让更多人知晓。利斯尔生来就是个奴隶，于美国独立战争爆发前，在乔治亚州信主并获得自由。后来，他将福音带到牙买加，牧养在当地农园里工作的黑奴。他也是乔治亚州萨凡纳两间非裔美国人教会的创堂牧师，其中一间教会被视为“黑人浸信会友的母会”。

关于利斯尔牧师对福音事工的付出，有些人可能会忘记，但上帝从未忘记。同样地，上帝也绝不会忘记你为祂所做的。希伯来书的作者激励我们：“上帝并非不公义，竟忘记你们所做的工和你们为祂名所显的爱心，就是先前伺候圣徒，如今还是伺候”（6章10节）。我们的上帝确实是信实的，祂必知道并记念为祂名所做的一切。因此，希伯来书的作者鼓励我们要“效法那些凭信心和忍耐承受应许的人”（12节）。

我们若是在教会或社区里默默地服事，可能很容易觉得没人赞赏我们的付出。但是别灰心沮丧，不论周遭的人是否知晓我们的事工或给予回报，上帝是信实的，祂绝不会忘记我们！

你为上帝做了些什么？尽管你像被人忽视，
但知道上帝不会忘记你的辛劳时，
这如何激励你呢？

慈爱的上帝，谢谢祢装备我去服事，
虽然我为祢所做的微不足道，
但我明白祢会记念与看重。