2008-06-16 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧，歡迎訂閱，推介及奉獻支持。 《網絡天糧》查詢，請電郵：ccf@ccfellow.org 訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持 永存的道 粵語國語 第16天 讀經：彼得前書一章22至25節 　　彼得一直鼓勵他的讀者要過分別為聖的生活，行事為人要與世人的標準不同。彼得為何要求他們這樣做呢？因為他們已經蒙了重生(23節)。他們如何能過分別為聖的生活呢？答案同樣是在於他們已經重生。一般的世人是無法達致聖潔的要求的，但由於信徒已經重生，所以他們便得著了新的能力。 　　「重生」的意思，是指到我們藉著聖靈的工作，在基督裡獲得新的生命。彼得指出，整個重生的過程，是始自神的話語，即聖經。當人聽見神的話語而願意聽從祂的教導，在他決志相信的那一刻，他就蒙了重生。 　　彼得把神的話形容為「常存的道」。換言之，它是永遠不會失去能力的；無論在任何時候，神的道都可以向我們說話。 　　人所制定的律法、一切偉大的建築、一切財富，甚至是人本身，都只能夠短暫存留；可是，神的話語卻歷久彌新，永不改變，直至基督再來，把我們接回天家。 　　在你信主的那一刻，聖經就開始成為你的忠心良伴。它會給你諄諄善誘、會給你隨時的幫助；而且它的教導永不改變，無論是十年、二十年之後，它都始終如一地指引你的前路。因為它是神的話語，是活潑常存的道。 　　重生的人必然有一個明顯的表現，就是願意彼此相愛(22節)。彼得強調這是一種「切實」的愛，因為它並非矯情偽飾，而是真摯的愛。 　　我們如何能夠與其他信徒彼此相愛呢？答案是回到最初的起點。我們若已經重生，基督就住在我們心中，只要我們願意順服祂，祂的愛就能驅動我們去愛其他人。 牢記： 我們愈多愛主，就愈能愛人。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE LIVING WORD OF GOD DAY 16 BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 1:22-25 Peter has been challenging his readers to live differently from the rest of the world. Why should they do this? Because they have been born again (v. 23). This is also the answer to the question 'How can they live differently?'. The standards expected of them are impossible for ordinary men and women, but they have been born again. That gives new power in their lives. To be born again means that we have received new life in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Peter says this whole process starts with the Word of God, the Bible. When a person hears the Word of God and accepts what it says, he is born again the moment he believes. Peter also calls it the 'abiding' Word of God and says it never loses its power. It will always have power to speak to us. Man himself, his laws, his buildings and his money are only here for a short time. But the Word of God has continued on through all the years and will continue until Christ comes or takes us home. When you first came to Christ, the Bible became a new book to you. It instructed you and helped you. Today it is still guiding you. It never changes. Ten, twenty years from now it will still be the same. It will help you now as it always has. It is the Word of God which lives and abides for ever. One result that should be seen in the lives of those who have been born again is love for each other (see v.22). Peter calls it 'sincere love' - love that is not put on but love that has real meaning. How can we love our fellow Christians as we should? The answer takes us right back to the beginning. We have been born again. Christ lives in our hearts. He will love others through us as we allow him. REMEMBER: As our love for Christ grows, our love for each other will grow too.