追求目的的探索Pursuing the Quest for Purpose
[每日靈修] 1/22/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
為了探索目的，我們必須區分近程目的和遠程目的。近程目的指的是近在咫尺的目的。遠程目的指的是有一段距離的、遙遠的、終極的目的。足球運動員的近程目標是第一檔進攻（firstdown）。稍遠的目標是觸地得分；更遠的目標是贏得比賽；但終極的目標是贏得總冠軍。
我們記得約瑟和他兄弟之間辛酸的會面，當時他的兄弟們害怕他們大有權勢的弟兄會指責他們對他犯下的背叛行為。但約瑟看到了神正在讓祂近程和遠程的意旨同時出現，發揮作用。這是十分驚人的。他說，「從前你們的意思是要害我，但上帝的意思原是好的。」
在這裏，近程和遠程的目標似乎是相互排斥的。上帝的意旨與人的意圖完全相反。約瑟的兄弟們有一個目標；上帝則有一個不同的目標。這裏令人驚訝的事實是遠程的目的是由近程的目的完成的。這並沒有減少兄弟們的罪責。他們的意圖和行動是邪惡的。然而，上帝的美意似乎是讓這事發生，好叫祂的目的可以實現。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
想想近程的目的如何促進上帝在你生命中的遠程目的。
進一步研讀：
創五十18～20 他的哥哥們又來俯伏在他面前，說：「我們是你的僕人。」 約瑟對他們說：「不要害怕，我豈能代替神呢？ 從前你們的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的，要保全許多人的性命，成就今日的光景。
Pursuing the Quest for Purpose
In
the quest for purpose, we must distinguish between proximate and remote
purposes. The proximate refers to that which is close at hand. The remote
refers to the distant, far-off, ultimate purpose. The football player’s
proximate goal is to make a first down. The more remote goal is a touchdown.
The even more remote goal is to win the game. The ultimate goal is to win a
championship.
We
remember the poignant meeting between Joseph and his brothers, when the
brothers feared recriminations from their powerful brother for the treachery
they had committed against him. But Joseph saw a remarkable concurrence at work
between proximate and remote intentions. He said, “ You meant it for evil; God
meant it for good.”
Here
the proximate and the remote seemed to be mutually exclusive. The divine
intention was the exact opposite of the human intention. Joseph’s brothers had
one goal; God had a different one. The amazing truth here is that the remote
purpose was served by the proximate one. This does not diminish the culpability
of the brothers. Their intent and their actions were evil. Yet it seemed good
to God to let it happen that His purpose might be fulfilled.
Coram
Deo
Think
about how proximate purpose may be contributing to God’s remote purpose in your
life.
Passages
for Further Study
Genesis
50:18-20