语言恩赐勿滥用

经文：雅各书3：5-6

“这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪！最小的火能点着最大的树林；舌头就是火，在我们百体中，舌头是个罪恶的世界，能污秽全身，也能把生命的轮子点起来，并且是从地狱里点着的。 ”

数月前，我家附近山林着火，眼看火舌朝山上吞噬，居民惊恐万分。当局派出三辆消防车，在救火员奋力灌救下，才把熊熊烈火控制下来。事后有人指出，林火是某人烧垃圾引起，由于提控证据不足，当局无法起诉肇祸者。所幸，消防员及时扑灭大火，否则它殃及山背的州长官邸，这位始作俑者如何担当？

星星之火，可以燎原。野火可以烧掉森林，我们的舌头也如火，为人带来无妄之灾。《雅各书》形容舌头时，指它能说大话，是点燃树木的火，是罪恶的世界，一点都不夸张。原来人的舌头，比你想像中还要败坏。当耶稣来到世间，祂受到攻击莫过于人的口舌，有人说祂是“被鬼附着的”，也有人说祂是“贪食好酒的人”。（太11：18-19）

假如不小心的话，我们也会像这些人，堕入攻讦人的陷阱，甚至攻击上帝使者。为了避开恶者的圈套，我们应当学效大卫的谦卑，他在信仰生活中不断反省自己，曾向上帝祷告：“我要谨慎我的言行，免得我的舌头犯罪。”（诗39：1）但愿大卫的祷告，也是我们的祷告，靠祂所赐下的恩典，在口舌上荣神益人！

祷文：我在天上的父，感谢祢伟大的创造，赐给人类说话的恩赐。许多时候，这个恩赐被滥用了，我说了许多攻击别人的话，求主赦免我的无知。祈求主帮助我，好像祢帮助大卫一样，在言语上不犯罪。奉主耶稣的名求。阿们！

学习舌尖软功夫

经文：箴言15：1

“回答柔和，使怒消退；言语暴戾，触动怒气。”

上帝赐给人类舌头，是百体中的软器官；但与它相依偎的，却是坚硬无比的牙齿。当我们走到生命的后期，硬牙掉光了，软舌却长命百岁，它掉不了！为何硬的不能持久？这里可得启发：日子要活得长久，过得平安喜乐，基督徒须在言语上学习软功夫。

《箴言》提醒我们，柔和的言语消除怒气，暴戾的话只能怒火加油。士师时代，以色列领袖积极抗敌，期间发生支派误解，以法莲人不满基甸忽略他们，竟然纠众大吵一顿。面对火急场面，基甸发挥舌头软功：“我所行的，岂能比你们所行的呢？”听了此话后，以法莲人怒气消退，回归本位；基甸如此柔和回答，避免可能引发的内战。

大卫时代的拿八，跟基甸恰好相反。拿八是大富豪，财粗气大，讲话暴戾万分。当大卫逃亡时，打发仆人见拿八，恳求他款待大卫和随从。讵料，拿八不仅恶言相向，还辱骂大卫一番，继而激怒了大卫。在剑拔弩张之际，拿八贤妻出面调解，才避免浴血事件。不久后，拿八中风瘫痪，约十天后就死了。言语暴戾的下场，作为后人的警戒。

祷文：慈爱的父神，我来到你的面前，向祢承认我言语的过犯。许多时候，我滥用祢所赐的舌头，说不该说的话，因而激怒了别人。求祢向我施恩，在每一天的生活中，赐下一颗温柔的心，用爱心和耐心跟别人交流。如此祷告，奉主耶稣的名，阿们！

真話顯明公義

经文：箴言 12：17- 19

“说出真话的显明公义，作假见证的显出诡诈。说话浮躁的如刀剌人，智慧人的舌头却为医人的良药。口吐真言永远坚立，舌说谎话只存片时。”

人存留世间，常为某些事懊悔不已，尤其是挽不回之事。有位智者说过，人生无法挽回之事有四，一是说出口的话，二是射出的箭，三是过去的事，四是错过的机会。在所列清单中，说出口的话排榜首，证明人追悔莫及的事，常跟自己的言语有关。

言语既然重要，内容真伪是关键。《箴言》提起说真话时，可让公义显明，足见真话和公义相连。可是，说真话绝非易事，尤其是利益当前时，政客开腔临阵变调，公义要靠边站了！曾有政客公然说，话到嘴边留半句是哲学，难怪公义在大马难产。

现实社会中，要听真话的人不多，讲真话者更少！然而，惟有说真话经得起考验，只要说得有事实根据，逆耳忠言仍是良药；谎言无法与之媲美，因为前者永远坚立，而后者只存片时！当主耶稣教导我们，是就说是，不是就说不是，这是说真话的原则，但愿我们可以在生活中落实，荣神益人！

祷文：公义的上帝，祢喜爱真理和诚实，在祢里头没有转动的影儿。恳求祢帮助我，在我一生的道路中，只为真理和事实讲话，拒绝一切的谎言和歪理，好让你的公义，透过我的言语彰显出来！奉主耶稣的名求。阿们！

惡言乃惡人所為

经文：箴言12：6，13，14a

“恶人的言论是埋伏流人的血，正直人的口必拯救人；恶人嘴中的过错是自己的网罗，但义人必脱离患难；人因口所结的果子必饱得美福。”

置身马来西亚，常听到极端言论，中伤某些群体；这等人用词泼辣，恶言相向，好像刀剌透人心，叫人心直淌血。当你面临此情景，会有如何感想？你发现到，恶人的言论比刀锋锐利，天底下没有任何东西，可以比它更厉害，杀人于无形。

《箴言》称呼恶人，有许多特征与表现，其中是口出恶言。恶人外表，可以凶神恶煞，也可能文质彬彬，但结果一样，所到之处必出言酿祸。然而，恶人无法蛮横一世，不要以为闯了祸无伤大雅；须知言多必失，终有自投网罗、被批判的一天。

恶人出言遗祸无穷，众人避而远之；义人说话有睿智，众人喜爱不已。《箴言》形容义人口出智慧，犹如农夫收割的谷物一样，让人饱享生命的滋养，身心灵获得益处。所以，我们当学效农夫，在言语上多撒好种，结出美善果子，让人得到安抚、鼓励和助益，

祷文：慈爱的天父，求祢赐给我智慧的言语，在这个纷争不断的世代，说出鼓励和安慰的话，造就我身边的人，建立他们的生命。垂听我的祷告，奉主耶稣基督的名求！

個人簡介

颜明发牧师简介

颜明发牧师是西马教区圣公会牧师，曾在永平圣士提反堂任牧师8年，现任马六甲基督堂牧师。未加入全职事奉之前，他曾在我国教育界服务2年，后加入国内华文报社《南洋商报》服务18年。相关的社会工作经验，对他日后的事奉大有帮助。颜牧师於1996年与周雪莉结婚，育有3名子女；於2005年考获马来西亚神学院道学士文凭（Bachelor of Divinity），并於2014年考获教牧神学硕士学位（Master of Ministry）。

Rev. Lionel Gan Beng Huat

Rev. Lionel Gan is an ordained Priest of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. He served in St Stephen’s Church of Yong Peng and now in Christ Church Melaka. Before his ordination as clergy in the Diocese, he rendered his service as school teacher for 2 years and later joined Nanyang Siang Pau, one of the popular local Chinese Dailies for 18 years. His experiences in working environment help tremendously in his ministry. Rev. Gan is  married to Shally Chew and blessed with 3 children. He obtained his BD (Bachelor of Divinity) in 2005 and his MMin (Master of Ministry) in 2014 at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia.  

Gospel to the Unreached in LCA 5

As I usher in 2015, I am thankful to God for what He has done. Last December was an eventful month. Though the weather was rainy and stormy, I experienced bountiful grace in my area of service to Him!    

My list of acquaintances has increased since my visit to Tampin last March. They are strangers whom I met in public places. They were willing to give me their contact number after short chat with them. Once in a while, I follow them up by calling their house phone or hand phone.

Pang Kim, aged 65, is a small holder in Tampin. He is humble and delighted to receive my personal call to him. He is a Taoist but open to Christianity. All of his children stay in Tampin and take good care of him. He is blessed with a helpful wife and few obedient children. Pray that one day he will receive the greatest blessing – the Salvation!

My mission trips to Gemas has been blessed by the Lord tremendously. During my last visit, I was invited to an official opening of a cafe. It is Nanyang Kopitiam and being the largest cafe in Gemas. This coffee outlet is owned by Mr Yeow Keng Tiam, a successful businessman and community leader there. I was given the honour of presenting few oldies to the guests that night with my accordion. Mr Lu Ting Yu and his coworkers who joined in the official opening were given free supper by Mr Yeow.

As for the ministry in St Chad’s, I was conducting pre-Christmas communion service on December 21. Though the turnout was 10 people due to stormy weather, the service was filled with joy and warmth. Refreshments were served for Christmas celebration and farewell for Mr Chua Swee Aik’s family. Chua family moved to Johor Bahru immediately after the service and gathering that morning.    

Having good time of coffee with Mr Lu Ting Yu and Gemas friends

Gospel to the Unreached in LCA 4

Thanks be to God! After serving in southern region of Negeri Sembilan for few months, I experienced His gracious hand in reaching out to the local community.

I was blessed by Christ Church Melaka by her offering items given by parishioners during Harvest Thanksgiving service. All these gifts of love came at the right time. I distributed all to four needy families in the district of Tampin. All of them were overjoyed to meet us and touched by the love of God!     

Through the ministry of serving the needy, I could sense God is pulling down the wall of rejection in people’s heart. Of all families I visited, I discovered one Chinese family which needs my further care and concern. This family of 6 members stays in Hutan Percha about 18km from Tampin town. Mr Heng Chong Ming is the sole breadwinner. He takes cares of a sick mother and family members who depend on his unstable income.  

Besides Tampin, I made frequent visits to Gemas. The residents there are friendlier and received us with open arms. They began to address me “Pastor Gan”, a gesture of acceptance into their community. During my visits there, main focus is on Mr Loo Ting Yu, the renowned Chinese education defender, encouraging him to grow deeper in Christian faith. He told me he read a few Chinese bibles and one of which was presented by Mr Huang Lung Yue (黄润岳), one of the Chinese Education Movement activists.

                       

As regard to the ministry in St Chad’s of Kampong Geddes, one family of the church is going to move out the end of December. Church members and I will miss Chua’s family very much. Since I was pastoring there about 10 years ago, this family was helpful in my ministry there. As Mr Chua was getting old and sick, his children who work in Singapore invited him and wife to stay in a new house they purchased in Bandar Jaya Putra.

Their new home was prayed and blessed by me on November 24. House blessing, Bible study and prayer meeting were conducted to inaugurate their new mileage in family life. May God keep them safely in His gracious hand! They may continue to walk with Him and remain strong in Christian faith.