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哥林多后书：1：15-18: 15我既然这样深信，就早有意到你们那里去，叫你们再得益处。16也要从你们那里经过，往马其顿去，再从马其顿回到你们那里，叫你们给我送行往犹太去。17我有此意，岂是反复不定吗？我所起的意，岂是从情欲起的，叫我忽是忽非吗？18我指着信实的神说，我们向你们所传的道，并没有是而又非的。
保罗在反驳一些哥林多信徒对他的批评。在他们看来保罗不值得信任，因为他改变了计划。保罗最初在制定这些探访计划时，确实是出于善意的，是真心实意的，他真的打算先度过爱琴海，去探望哥林多的信徒，然后去马其顿，然后在回来时再次探访他们。有时候我们不得不改变事工计划，因为我们无法预见将来我们会碰到的所有状况。在2020年，我们早在1月份就已经完美的计划好圣周和复活节的庆祝活动，准备好了优美的音乐以及证道信息，但谁知道两个月后新冠肺炎的大规模爆发，会影响到我们的计划呢？作为上帝的选民，我们所制定的计划，有时候也要灵活变通。
但是在另一方面，我们在制定计划时也应该是真诚的严肃的，证明我们是值得信赖的。我记得在我的服事生涯中，我有三到四次错过了与某个人已经计划好的会面，或者在最后期限之前没有完成计划好的事情。我没有任何借口，我当时就是完全忘记了。但如果你每周都忘记与别人定好的会面，人们就不再信任你了，甚至开始怀疑你对他们说过的其他信息（包括圣经信息）是否值得相信。当一个人反复不定、忽是忽非，这对于他所传讲的福音信息会带来不好的影响。
最后，我们可以制定计划，安排会面，规划服事，等等。我们相信上帝会帮助我们执行这些计划。但如果上帝对我们有不同的计划，那我们也该灵活变通。上帝的子民也都能理解。
祷告：主神啊，我们永远感恩，因为你的计划永远都是完美的，特别是藉着你的儿子耶稣拯救我们的计划。我们也把我们的各样计划交在你手里，求你指引，我们也相信你会帮助我们实现这些计划。我们也相信，即使计划有所改变，也是出于你恩慈良善的旨意。阿们。
2 Corinthians 1: 15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. (EHV)
Paul is countering a criticism from some of the Corinthians, it would appear, that Paul was not trustworthy because he had a change in plans. Paul made those plans in good faith, fully intending to visit them on the way to Macedonia and on the way back. Sometimes ministry plans have to change, because we cannot possibly see all the circumstances that we face in the future. We fully intended to celebrate Holy Week next week, with all the beautiful messages and music. Who knew even two months ago the effect that Covid19 would have on our plans? As God’s people, we have to be flexible in our planning.
On the other hand, we should make our plans in good faith and prove ourselves to be trustworthy. I think that I missed an appointment or deadline three or four times in my ministry that I can remember. There was no excuse except that I forgot it altogether. But when you start missing appointments every week, people will stop trusting in you, and that begins to reflect on the message that you bring. For some people, “Yes” means “Maybe,” and “Maybe” means “No.” That doesn’t reflect well on the message of the Gospel which we proclaim.
In the end, we can make plans, schedule appointments, plan services, and the like, with the confidence that God will help us carry out our plans. And if God has different plans for us, then we have to be flexible, and God’s people should be understanding.
Prayer: Lord God, we are forever grateful that your plans have always worked out perfectly, especially your plan to save us through Jesus, your Son. We commit our plans to your direction, confident that you will help us work them out, and that you will change them according to your gracious good will. Amen.