2008-07-14 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 重價買來的 粵語國語 第14天 讀經：哥林多前書六章12至20節 　　哥林多前書論及的範圍很廣，而且更觸及不少深入的問題，尤其是關乎個人聖潔的問題。今天的經文涉及肉體的親密關係；而下一章則論及婚姻，以及離婚等複雜問題。 　　哥林多城的道德風氣敗壞，淫亂的罪極為普遍。該城有一座供奉維納斯的神廟，而行淫便是敬奉儀式的一部分。當地的居民根本不認為這是罪。只有神的話語和基督的標準，才會直斥這是罪。哥林多教會的信徒似乎深受這風氣所影響，不把淫亂的行為視為嚴重的罪。教會該如何處理呢？ 　　保羅首先強烈呼籲信徒要過聖潔的生活。他強調聖靈住在每個信徒心裡，同時，每個信徒的生命都是基督用寶血買贖回來的。 　　聖靈與我們同在，不單保守我們成為聖潔，更加力給我們，使我們過主所喜悅的生活。聖靈又稱為「聖潔的靈」，因此，祂若與人同在，祂就可以將聖潔帶給人。我們若然聽從祂，祂就會天天帶領我們，在我們的心中和良心說話。祂會幫助我們察驗自己的行為是否討主的喜悅，抑或是否做錯。 　　保羅提醒哥林多的信徒，他們的生命再不是屬於自己的。他們的行事為人，不能單為滿足自己的慾望或取悅自己而作。他們是屬於基督的，因為祂曾用寶血將他們買贖回來。我們同樣是屬乎基督的，祂是我們的主，因此，我們應該凡事討祂的喜悅。 禱告： 主啊，求你使我身體的每一部分都是為你而活，願我的生命能夠榮耀你。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BOUGHT WITH A PRICE DAY 14 BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 This first epistle to the Corinthians deals with all kinds of subjects and touches very deeply on many of them, particularly personal holiness. Today's reading deals with the intimate use of the human body. The next chapter deals with marriage and the difficult subject of separation and divorce. The sin of immorality was very common in Corinth. It was part of the temple worship of the goddess Venus. People did not think of it as sin. It is only the Word of God and the standards of Christ that plainly call immorality sin. It seems that the church in Corinth had adopted the standards of the city rather than the standards of Christ. How could this be dealt with? Paul makes a tremendous appeal for personal holiness. He emphasises the presence of the Holy Spirit in. each life and the fact that each Christian has been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to keep us pure and to enable us to live as Christ would have us live. He .is the Holy Spirit or, as he is called in another place, the Spirit of Holiness. Wherever he is, he wants to bring about holiness. If we will listen to him, he will guide us each day and speak to our hearts and to our consciences. He will help us know whether we are doing what Christ wants or whether we are doing wrong. Paul reminds the Corinthians that they really do not belong to themselves. They cannot just please themselves and satisfy their own desires. They belong to Christ. He purchased them with his own blood. The same Js true for us. He is our Master and we should only do those things which please him. A PRAYER: Lord help me, to use every part of my body for Christ and for his glory today.