如果那一天你想把上帝在你生命裡的工作縮減成一道公式，就請讀馬可福音第七章。在前半段，我們看到耶穌厭惡人的制度和遺傳。祂特別抨擊人所訂的公義程式，也就是潔與不潔的問題。法利賽人看不慣耶穌的門徒在吃飯前不先洗手。耶穌引用以賽亞書廿九章十三節回答他們，在那節經文裡，上帝指責人表面上的、嘴唇上的敬拜及他們的吩咐。然後耶穌又責備他們把應當奉養父母的錢作為供獻給上帝的物。接著，耶穌進一步攻擊他們宗教上的傳統，祂指出，人所吃、喝的東西都不會污穢人，反倒是從人內心所發出來的才會污穢人。「不潔」根本不是外在的問題，而是內在的事。所以，丟掉那些人為的規條。上帝鑒察人所看不見的地方：人的心。

        又，如果你認為自己已經聰明得找出了耶穌醫治和行神蹟的公式，而可以要祂稱你所願，就再往下讀吧。在本章後半段，耶穌醫治了一個婦人被鬼附的女兒，耶穌並沒有碰觸她或命令她做什麼；魔鬼離開她女兒身上是藉著謎語似的對話、一句聰明的回答，和耶穌微妙的宣告。當你還在想那段對話是什麼意思的時候，耶穌又繼續醫治了一個耳聾舌結的人；這回祂做了七件事：（1）耶穌將那人帶到一旁；（2）用手指摸他的耳朵；（3）吐唾沫；（4）抹他的舌頭；（5）望天；（6）歎息；（7）大聲喊：「開了吧」。

        何來公式？那有規則？沒有！我們根本上都伏在上帝的主權之下。祂不能被歸類，也不會被測透或定型。禱告因此更顯得是一件令人興奮的事！

        上帝啊，但願我們永不犯這個過錯，就是：想用一套公式或規則操縱您在我們生命中的工作。我們知道您有無上的主權。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

         If ever you’re tempted to reduce God’s work in your life to a system of formula, read this chapter. In the first half we read about Jesus’ revulsion for human systems and traditions. Specifically, He attacks formulas for righteousness. The issue was what is, and what isn’t “kosher” (or “clean”). The Pharisees were upset because Jesus’ disciples were eating food without washing their hands beforehand.

         Jesus reacts by quoting Isaiah 29:13 where the Lord speaks out against external lip service and the teachings of men. Then He knocks the tradition of neglecting one’s parent’s financial needs by designating their rightful portion “corban” (a gift devoted to God). And then He offends religious tradition even more by saying that what we eat or drink has nothing to do with defilement. Rather it’s the internals of man that defile him. Uncleanness is not an “outside” issue at all – it’s an “inside” one. So chuck the man-made rules. God looks where no other person can look: on the heart. Then, just in case you think you can get Jesus to do what you want if you’re clever enough to discover His healing and miracle-working formula, read on.

         In the latter half of the chapter, we see Jesus healing a woman’s demon-possessed daughter, not with a touch, or a command, but by a semitic riddle-like interchange, a clever answer and a quiet word. Then while you’re still trying to figure that one out, He goes on to heal a deaf and partially dumb man by doing seven things: He (1) takes the man aside. (2) touches the man’s ears. (3) spits. (4) touches the man’s tongue. (5) looks up to heaven. (6) sighs and (7) shouts, “Be opened!”.

         So where’s the system? The formula? There is none. Ultimately we’re all subject to God’s sovereignty. He won’t be labeled, figured out, or put in a box. Which, among other things, makes prayer quite an adventure!

         We pray today, oh God, that we will never be guilty of trying to manipulate Your divine workings in our life by using a formula or system. We know You are sovereign.