2008-07-20 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 讓假道理滋生的教會 粵語國語 第20天 讀經：啟示錄二章18至29節 　　在七封致教會的書信中，這是最長的一封；而推雅推喇，則是當中最細小的一個城。神絕不會因為那個地方細小，而減少對它的關心。 　　基督首先稱讚這間教會有不少長處，它樂於行善便是其中最值表揚的。此外，祂還提到他們的愛心、信心、勤勞和忍耐。因著他們的努力，教會已日趨成長。 　　基督一方面稱讚他們，但另一方面，祂卻責備他們容讓罪惡在教會裡面滋生。我們同樣需要留意這個警告。表面看來，推雅推拉教會是一間發展蓬勃的 會，訪客一定對它留下美好的印象。那麼，基督為到甚麼責備他呢？因為他們似乎失去了聖潔。他們當中有一個叫「耶洗別」的婦人，引誘他們做出各樣的罪行。「耶洗別」可能並非她的真名，基督只是暗喻此人活像舊約那個惡名昭著的耶洗別一樣，將各種歪謬的道理和惡行帶進教會，結果便為教會帶來各式各樣的問題，導致教會失去他的屬靈能力和為基督作見證的力量。 　　基督如何教導那些不想隨從惡道的人？祂教他們要分別為聖。我們很容易隨波逐流，但我們卻不能既跟從基督又追隨世俗。我們不能既順從基督又滿足這世界的期望。我們不可能兩者兼得。 　　倘若你重視你的信仰，就必須抗拒假道理和錯誤的行徑，即使這表示你要屹立獨行，也在所不辭。你若想基督將各種好處給予你和你的教會，就必須按正道而行，和凡事憑愛心而作。 禱告： 主啊，求你助我分辨甚麼是屬於你，甚麼是屬於這世界。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE CHURCH THAT HAD FALSE DOCTRINE DAY 20 BIBLE READING: Revelation 2:18-29 This is the longest of the letters to the seven churches and it was written to the church in the smallest of the seven cities. Size doesn't always count with God. Christ commended this church for a number of things, for its work first of all. He also mentions this church's love, faith and patience or perseverance. It was' a growing church because it was doing more now than when it started. If that was all Christ had to say it would have been wonderful. Remember Christ is looking at the churches as he sees them from the throne, not as we look at them with our natural eyes. Christ commended this church, but he also condemned it for some of the things that had been allowed to come in. Here is the warning for us. On the surface the church at Thyatira was a strong flourishing church that would look good to a visitor. What did Christ condemn? Holiness seems to have been missing. There was a woman named Jezebel, possibly that was not her real name, but like Jezebel in the Old Testament she "had brought wrong doctrines and practices into the church. These must have included all kinds of sin and wrongdoing as well as wrong teaching. When error comes into a church it causes endless trouble. Finally the church loses all its spiritual power and witness for Christ. What did Christ say to those who stood out against those things? He 'called them to be absolutely separated: It is so easy to do what everybody else is doing. But you can't have Christ and the world too. You can't do what Christ wants and what the world wants at the same time. You can't have both. If your Christian faith and experience is going to mean anything to you, you will have to stand out against false doctrine and false practices, even if you have to stand alone. Remember to do it in love, but you will have to stand for the right If you want Christ's best for yourself and for your church. A PRAYER: Lord, help me to see what belongs to the world and what belongs to you.