伯納的父親成年後,因為家中已有幾位兄弟投身牧職,故選擇了進入政府行政部門,成為一名稅務總署的律師(Solicitor of Excise),並逐漸嶄露頭角,以公正和博學在專業和社會上廣受人們尊敬。不過即便從事了世俗職業,家族跨越數代的信仰傳承,仍潛移默化地浸潤在他的生命裡,並折射在他對家中每個孩子的培養過程中。
伯納的母親是瑪喬麗・梅特蘭(Marjory P. Maitland)。她同樣出身牧師之家,性情溫柔敏感、富有憐憫心,亦是一位頗有才華的作家與詩人。除了悉心打理家務,她還以日常的禱告、讀經以及對子女的諄諄教導,維繫著家中日常的屬靈生活,讓孩子們從小就生活在敬虔的氛圍之中。 家族的信仰傳承、父母親身上的特質與言教,在伯納的成長過程中相互交織,既為他埋下了深刻的信仰種子,更對他日後的性情塑造與人生價值觀的建立,產生了深遠影響。
現在讓我們回到伯納的詩歌創作。他創作詩歌的歷史最早可以回溯到神學院畢業後在利斯(Leith)教會擔任助理牧師的那段時期。那時他為青少年主日學撰寫了許多讚美詩,並發表在《曠野之歌》(Songs for the Wilderness)刊物上。然而,他創作的豐收與成熟階段,乃是在十九世紀的四十至五十年代,特別是他加入到自由教會之後。在那些歲月裡,他圍繞著基督的救贖、恩典的普世性、得救的確據、與神相交的甘甜、及基督再來的盼望等主題,寫下數百首聖詩;其中就包括我今日要重點介紹的《沒有血,沒有祭壇》(No Blood, No Altar Now)。該詩的名字是按當時的慣例,取自詩歌的第一句歌詞;但伯纳在1861年發表该诗歌時曾將其改名為:”The Finished Sacrifice”,即《已成全的獻祭》。全詩共分五節,歌詞與曲譜如下:
Not all guilt is bad. God uses appropriate doses of guilt to awaken us to sin. God’s guilt brings enough regret to change us. Satan’s guilt, on the other hand, brings enough regret to enslave us. Don’t let Satan lock his shackles on you. Colossians 3:3 (NIV) says, “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
You see, when God looks at you, he sees Jesus first. In the Chinese language the word for “righteousness” is a combination of two characters: the figure of a lamb and a person. The lamb is on top, covering the person. Whenever God looks down on you, this is what he sees. The perfect Lamb of God covering you.
It boils down to this choice: Do you trust your Advocate, Jesus, or your Accuser, Satan? Give no heed to Satan’s voice. You have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous.
Satan’s condemnation brings no repentance or resolve, just regret. Satan has come to steal, kill, and destroy. To steal your peace, to kill your dreams, to destroy your future. Satan has deputized people to peddle his poison. Friends dredge up your past, preachers proclaim all guilt and no grace, and parents—oh your parents! They own a travel agency that specializes in guilt trips. “Why can’t you grow up?” they say. “When are you going to make me proud?” they say.
But your accusers will not have the last word. Jesus has acted on your behalf. Jesus has risen to your defense. Hebrews 10:22 (NCV) says, “Let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, because we have been made free from a guilty conscience.” Not just for our past mistakes, but also for our future ones.
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The voices in our world and the voices in our head.Who is this morality patrolman who issues a citation at every stumble? Does he ever shut up? No. Because Satan never shuts up.
Revelation 12:10 (NLT) says, “For the accuser has been thrown down to earth, the one who accused our brothers and sisters before our God day and night.” Satan is relentless, tireless. The accuser makes a career out of accusing, but he will not have the last word. Jesus has acted on our behalf.
He stooped. Low enough to be spat upon, nailed, and speared. Low, low enough to be buried. And then he stood. He stood up. Romans 8:34 promises that he is in the presence of God at this very moment standing up for us. So we have a clean conscience. We have a clean record. Free from condemnation, a new life in Christ! Grace.
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