我還活的時候、要歌頌我的神(詩146篇)

你們要讚美耶和華。我的心哪、你要讚美耶和華。我一生要讚美耶和華．我還活的時候、要歌頌我的神。(詩 146：1-2)

這幾年，有時會發現比我年輕的弟兄姊妹蒙主召回，心中除了會有一定的感傷之外，也總是想到自己。看著雙腳小腿上各有一處的紫斑，是皮下出血造成的，似乎在提醒我：別忘記是神讓我活下來的，因為原本是血癌的患者。

從退休的日子起，才真正立志為主而活。神已經讓我無憂無慮過了五十年，我可以隨心所欲做聖工、服事神，也可以成立家庭、天天享受天倫之樂。雖然現在必須離家，在總會作專職事奉，必要的時候也要為主受一些苦，但是，比起死亡，已經好太多。

想到即使沒有因血癌離世，也可能全身虛弱，要常跑醫院。又因當年發病日為四歲左右，若是自然痊癒，也必然長不大，沒有強健的體魄。但是神讓我不但痊癒，還賜我體力。記得大學時跑三千公尺，怡然自得，還是系上的籃球選手；當兵時，部隊經常體能戰技測驗中籤，身為排長的我帶隊，在跑五千公尺時，以廿一分鐘滿百的條件下完成全程，還可以在終點之前整隊，唱歌答數跑過終點線。

退休後，除了總會的專職工作，也要全省到處跑，做各樣專題的分享；或是受聯總差派，到國外教會協助數周的事工協助工作。

回想神的恩典，神不但讓我活著，並且活得精采、活得豐盛！祂也讓我成立家室，甚至得以看見兒女的兒女。祂使我活著，就是神蹟。

所以，「我一生要讚美耶和華．我還活的時候、要歌頌我的神」，阿們！

By Isaiah Kao

As Long as I Live, I Will Sing Praises to My God (Psalm 146)

“Praise the LORD! My soul, praise the LORD!

I will praise the LORD while I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

(Psalm 146:1–2, NASB 2020)

In recent years, I have sometimes seen brothers and sisters who are younger than I am being called home by the Lord. Besides the natural sense of sadness, it always think myself. When I look at the purplish bruises on both of my calves, caused by bleeding under the skin, they seem to remind me: do not forget that it is God who has kept me alive,for I was once a leukemia patient.

Only after retiring did I truly set my heart on living for the Lord. God has already allowed me to live without worry for fifty years. I have been able to freely do holy work and serve God, and I have also been able to establish a family and enjoy the joy of family life every day. Although I now must leave home to serve full-time at the General Assembly, and at times must suffer a little for the Lord, compared with death, this is much better.

When I think about it, even if I had not died from leukemia, I might still have been weak all over and constantly going to hospitals. Since I became ill at around four years old, even if I had recovered naturally, I would not have grown well or had a strong body. Yet God not only healed me, but also gave me physical strength. I remember that in college, when running 3,000 meters, I did so with ease, and I was also a basketball player in my department; during my military service, our unit often took part in physical fitness and combat skill tests. As a platoon leader, I led my team in a 5,000-meter run, completing the full distance within the 21-minute, full-score standard. We were even able to regroup before the finish line, singing and counting aloud as we ran through it.

After retirement, in addition to full-time work at the General Assembly, I have traveled throughout the island to give various topical presentations. At times, I have also been sent by the International Assembly to churches overseas to assist with ministry work for several weeks.

As I look back on God’s grace, I see that He has not only allowed me to live, but to live beautifully and plentifully! He enabled me to establish a household, and even to see my children’s children. That He has kept me alive is itself a miracle.

Therefore, “I will praise the LORD while I live;

I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

Amen!