“夜间主在异象中对保罗说，不要怕，只管讲，不要闭口。” - 徒 18:9

一天早上，我的一位牧师朋友在他的会众面前站起来，大胆地发言。在过去的几周和几个月里，世界上发生了很多事情。他对自己必须说的话感到有些焦虑，但他知道这是真理，而且他知道必须说。

那天早上他所分享的是耶稣的好消息。这听起来可能很简单，也很令人期待，但有时分享这个信息并不容易。他提醒大家，他们需要像基督爱我们那样彼此相爱。他说，要做有上帝真理的人。不要恨别人。不要伤害他人。

为你知道是正确的事情大胆发言可能会让你害怕。哪怕它是正确的，它也可能不受欢迎。事实上，耶稣的福音往往不受欢迎。它可能显得愚蠢和反文化。耶稣本人也因此被钉死在十字架上，祂的许多跟随者也因此受到逼害，被下监，或被杀害。尽管大胆地说话会让人害怕，但真理是不能被隐藏的。

保罗在传扬神的话语，人们对他很不满。但神鼓励他只管讲，不要怕。

这种鼓励对今天的我们也是如此。当我们有机会说出福音的真理时，我们必须大胆地这样做。即使我们因此受到攻击，神也会与我们同在。

祷告

与我们同在的神，帮助我们只要有机会就大胆地说出你的真理和你的福音。奉耶稣的名，阿门。

使徒行传 18:1-17

1这事以后，保罗离了雅典，来到哥林多。
2遇见一个犹太人，名叫亚居拉，他生在本都，因为克劳迪命犹太人都离开罗马，新近带着妻百基拉从意大利来。保罗就投奔了他们。
3他们本是制造帐篷为业，保罗因与他们同业，就和他们同住做工。
4每逢安息日，保罗在会堂里辩论，劝化犹太人和希腊人。
5西拉和提摩太从马其顿来的时候，保罗为道迫切，向犹太人证明耶稣是基督。
6他们既抗拒、毁谤，保罗就抖着衣裳说：“你们的罪归到你们自己头上，与我无干。从今以后，我要往外邦人那里去。”
7于是离开那里，到了一个人的家中，这人名叫提多．犹士都，是敬拜神的，他的家靠近会堂。
8管会堂的基利司布和全家都信了主，还有许多哥林多人听了就相信、受洗。
9夜间，主在异象中对保罗说：“不要怕，只管讲，不要闭口。
10有我与你同在，必没有人下手害你。因为在这城里我有许多的百姓。”
11保罗在那里住了一年零六个月，将神的道教训他们。
12到迦流做亚该亚方伯的时候，犹太人同心起来攻击保罗，拉他到公堂，
13说：“这个人劝人不按着律法敬拜神。”
14保罗刚要开口，迦流就对犹太人说：“你们这些犹太人！如果是为冤枉或奸恶的事，我理当耐性听你们。
15但所争论的，若是关乎言语、名目和你们的律法，你们自己去办吧！这样的事我不愿意审问。”
16就把他们撵出公堂。
17众人便揪住管会堂的所提尼，在堂前打他。这些事迦流都不管。

Keep On

"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.'" - Acts 18:9

A pastor friend of mine got up in front of his congregation one morning and spoke boldly. A lot had been going on in the world during the previous weeks and months. He was a bit anxious about what he felt he had to say—but he knew it was the truth, and he knew it had to be said.

What he shared that morning was the good-news message of Jesus. That may sound simple and expected, but sometimes it is not easy to share that message. He reminded everyone that they needed to love one another as Christ loves us. Be people of truth—God’s truth—he said. Don’t hate others. Don’t hurt others.

Speaking out boldly for what you know is right can be frightening. Even if it is right, it might not be popular. In fact, the gospel message of Jesus often isn’t popular. It can seem foolish and countercultural. Jesus himself was crucified for it, and many of his followers were persecuted, put in jail, or killed for it as well. Even though speaking boldly can be frightening, the truth can’t be hidden.

Paul was preaching the Word of God, and people were upset with him. But God encouraged him to continue speaking and not to be afraid.

That same encouragement is for us today too. When we have the opportunity to speak the truth of the gospel, we must do so boldly. Even if we are attacked for it, God will be with us.

Prayer

Present God, help us to speak your truth and your gospel boldly whenever we have the opportunity. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.