2008-07-23 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 半心半意的教會 粵語國語 第23天 讀經：啟示錄三章14至22節 　　聖經常常出現「7」這個數字。神用7日來完成創造(第7日實際是安息日)。我們在啟示錄也經常看到「7」這個數字：7個天使、7間教會、7星、7靈、7印和7號。啟示錄記述了神如何完成了祂對世界的整個計劃；因此，我們可以說，「7」在聖經中是一個完成的數字。我們也經常把「7」視為一個完全的數字。 　　致老底嘉教會的信，是坐在寶座上的基督發出的最後一封信。它所描述的老底嘉教會，正好給眾地方教會提供了7幅完整的圖畫。我們在當中必看見自己教會的影子。 　　從某個角度來看，這封信的內容是最可悲的。在給其他教會的書信中，基督均有幾句讚許的話，唯獨是這間教會完全得不到任何稱讚。儘管那裡的信徒對自我的評價很不錯，但基督卻看不到他們有任何優點。 　　那裡的信徒自認是富足的，但基督卻指出：「你們的富足根本不值一文；在我看來，你們是貧窮的。你們認為自己穿著華美，但在我看來，你們乃是赤身露體。你們自以為明白一切；但在我看來，你們在屬靈上是眼瞎的。你們自以為擁有一切，但實在是極之匱乏。」 　　他是一間口頭承認救主，卻沒有真正擁有救主的教會。他是一間對主半心半意而非全心全意的教會。他是一間不冷不熱的教會，而非一間熱切愛主，被聖靈的火所點燃的火熱教會。 　　今天的教會同樣面對這些危機。除非信徒真正讓基督在他心中作主，讓聖靈在他心裡工作，才可避免重蹈老底嘉教會的覆轍。老底嘉教會的信徒，可能會翻閱聖經，但卻不遵從聖經；可能會向神禱告，但他們的禱告只是泛泛空言。儘管如此，基督仍把一個寶貴的應許給予這間教會：任何人只要打開他的心門，基督就會進入他的心中，重新將他挽回。還有比這應許，更能對應他們的需要嗎？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE HALF-HEARTED CHURCH DAY 23 BIBLE READING: Revelation 3:14-22 God often works in series of seven. Creation was completed in seven days (the seventh was actually a rest day). There are many sevens in the last book of the Bible - seven angels, seven churches, seven stars, seven spirits, seven seals and seven trumpets. The book of Revelation tells of the completion of God's program for the world. Therefore we can say seven is the number of completion in Scripture. It is often called the perfect number. This letter to the church at Laodicea is the seventh sent by Christ from his throne. It completes in a remarkable way the seven pictures of these local churches. More than likely we have seen our own church among these. In a way this letter to this church is the saddest of all. In every other letter Christ has given some word of commendation, but he hasn't one good word to say about this church. He found nothing good in it even though they themselves thought they were a wonderful group of people. They thought they were rich-Christ said 'Your riches count for nothing. In my eyes you are poor. You think you have good clothes. In my eyes you are naked. You think you can see everything. In my eyes you are spiritually blind. You are in desperate need of all the things you think you have.' It was a professing church, but not a possessing church. It was a half-hearted church instead of a whole-hearted church. It was a lukewarm church instead of a burning church, burning with the love of Christ and the fire of the Spirit. These dangers face the church today. It is only the reality of Christ and the work of the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people that will keep a church from becoming what the Laodicean church was. In that church they probably read the Bible, but did not obey it. They prayed, but even their prayers meant nothing to them. But Christ gave to this church one of his greatest promises. If anyone would open the door of his heart, Christ would come in and restore all that he should be and could be. Is there any greater promise than that?