2008-06-17 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 渴慕神的道 粵語國語 第17天 讀經：彼得前書二章1至3節 　　彼得在第一章的最後幾節告訴我們，我們是如何重生，並如何藉著重生進入神的家。 　　來到第二章，他便繼續告訴我們如何在神的家中成長。我們是藉著神的道重生，同樣地，我們也是藉著神的道成長。 　　我們重生的時候，就仿如是神家裡的一個初生嬰孩。第2節所用的字詞「嬰孩」，跟路加福音二章16節形容馬槽中的「嬰孩」，屬同一個字。 　　嬰孩要吃奶才能夠成長。正如有人說過：「神賜予我們的新生命，必需吸取適當的食物，才能長大成人，享受救恩完全的喜樂。」我們研讀神的話語──聖經，就像進食一樣，讓我們吸取足夠的營養，使靈命得以成長。 　　正如嬰孩患病會影響食慾，同樣地，我們若有某些「心病」，也會妨礙我們對神話語的渴慕。彼得在二章1節列出了其中一些「心病」，它們包括：對別人心存惡毒的仇恨；詭詐和欺騙；以虛假待人，或甚至是外表虔誠而內心污穢的偽善。此外，嫉妒可以腐蝕人的內心，不單使他與人疏遠，更使他遠離神。毀謗是對別人說出惡意侮辱和失實中傷的話。 　　這一切「心病」和惡行，都屬於老我的舊本性。當我們重生之後，若然再讓它們佔據我們的心，便會大大影響我們對神話語的渴慕。彼得勸告我們說：「要把這一切除去，並要有一顆渴求神話語的心。」 　　你若發現自己不再熱切渴求神的話語，請回想神的話語過去如何幫助和引導你。神的話語永不改變；無論你現在處於甚麼光景，它都能夠滿足你的需要和幫助你的成長。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HUNGRY FOR THE WORD OF GOD DAY 17 BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 2: 1-3 In the last few verses of chapter 1, Peter told us how we had been born again and by that new birth had entered the family of God. Now in chapter 2, we are told how to grow as children of that family. We grow in the same way we were born again. That is by the Word by God. We need to see that when we are born again, we are babies in the family of God. The word used here for newborn babes is the same word used in Luke 2:16 when speaking of the baby in the manger. A baby has to eat to grow. As someone said, 'our new, God-given life needs suitable food if it is to grow into the full enjoyment of our salvation'. Reading and studying God's Word, the Bible, is like food which will help us grow spiritually. There are things which will hinder our desire for God's Word. Peter mentions them in the first verse. Malice can spoil our hunger for the Word of God. This is ill-feeling against someone else. Guile, which is deceit, is another. Hypocrisy is a false front or put-on attitude toward others or even toward God. Envy is jealousy and can be one of the most harmful feelings in a person's heart. It can turn a person away from other people and away from God as well. Slander is saying unkind and untrue things against other people. These wrong things all belong to the old life which we lived before we were born again. If they show up in our new life they will hinder our appetite for the Word of God. Peter says, ' Put them all away and be hungry for the Word of God'. Remember how much the Word of God has meant to you in the past. It is still the same. It is waiting to meet your need today and to help you grow.