2008-10-12 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 基督徒的相交 粵語 國語 第12天 讀經：   約翰壹書一章1至4節 約翰的書信有何獨特之處？保羅的書信經常強調教會的位份，和如何活出這位份。彼得、雅各和猶大的書信，主要談及教會內部的情況。然而，約翰卻說：「教會是一個大家庭。當我與家人談及家中的一切時，你願意前來聆聽嗎？」 其實，個中的分別，是源自約翰本人。基督在世的時候，與祂最親近的門徒可能就是約翰。約翰自言是「耶穌所愛的那位門徒」；從許多方面而言，他對基督的認識也是最深的。 約翰對基督的認識與欣賞，深深影響了他的一生；因此，他所寫的書信都是圍繞著基督本人。我們可以將這封書信與約翰福音的序言串連起來：「基督在創世以先就已經永存，我曾親眼見過祂，親耳聽過祂和親手摸過祂。」這是他的經驗之談。我們的信心是以神的話而非經驗作為基礎；然而，我們卻要有真實的經驗才能見證基督對我們的意義。我們能夠向人見證說：「我知道這是真的，因為我不是道聽途說，而是親自認識基督。」 故此，約翰給我們的第一個觀念，就是我們經常稱為的「確據」。約翰在書信裡面一再提及這是我們聽過和知道的，這就是我們可以憑藉的「確據」。此外，他還談及基督徒的相交。當我們與別人講述基督的時候，我們就是與人相交。這種相交生活大大地豐富了我們的生活，我們不單可以跟他基督徒建立關係，更增進我們的信心。在這個人際疏離的世界，連基督徒也感到孤單，所以，我們更需要珍惜與其他信徒相交的機會。藉著彼此相交，信徒可互相提醒及鼓勵，不要只被世俗的事所纏累，反要多思想屬靈的事。 願神祝福我們，透過這封簡短的書信來增進我們的信心，並鼓勵我們珍惜與信徒的相交生活。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Day 12 Bible Reading:   1 John 1:1-4 CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP What makes John's writing different from any other in the New Testament? Paul very often emphasized the position of the church and the application of that truth. Peter, James and Jude all write generally of conditions within the church. But John says 'This is a family matter. Would you come here while I talk with the family about all of this?' The difference is in John himself. He was possibly the one closest to Christ during Christ's time on earth. He was the 'disciple whom Jesus loved'. In many ways he was the one who knew Christ the best. Out of this came a knowledge and appreciation of the person of Christ which remained with John all his life. When he came to write his books, it was the person of Christ that he wrote about. We could put the first words of this letter and the first words of John's gospel like this 'Christ was alive when the world began, yet I myself have seen him with my own eyes and I have listened to him speak. I have touched him with my own hands.' That is the voice of experience. Our faith is founded on the Word of God, not just on experience, yet it is out of our experience that we can give our testimony of what Christ really means to us. We can say 'I know it is all true because I have met Christ for myself'. So one of the first thoughts that John gives us is that of certainty, or as we often call it, assurance. We will see how many times John says 'We know'- that is assurance. He also speaks of fellowship- Christian fellowship. When we share Christ with someone else we are having fellowship. It can be one of the most enriching experiences in our lives. It builds relationships with other Christians and it strengthens our own faith. We all need to develop this relationship more. It is what is needed in our lonely world today. Even Christians can be lonely. We need each other. Fellowship helps us to keep thinking of spiritual things rather than the things of the world which crowd in on us. May God bless this little epistle to the strengthening of our faith and our fellowship.