2008-10-13 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 相交的條件 粵語國語 第13天 讀經：   約翰壹書一章5至10節 約翰說：「神就是光」；用「光」來形容神，豈不是最貼切不過？約翰在另一處經文曾經提到：「神就是愛」和「生命就在神的裡頭」。我們可以說，「光」是指到神的完美；「愛」是形容祂的屬性；而「生命」是指到祂的能力。 約翰直言，在神裡面毫無黑暗。當我們與神相交的時候，若發現我和祂之間出現任何陰影，那麼，我們就知道我們的內心一定是出現了某些問題。神不會出問題，因此，問題一定是出自我們一方。在這章的結尾，我們將看見神原來已經為我們提供了一個方法，讓我們把陰影掃除。 留意第6節提到：「我們若說是與神相交」。事實上，我們不單是要透過說話來表明我們與神相交，更要藉著我們的生活和行為來證明。例如，我們要與其他信徒相交、在教會參與事奉，或透過其他許多途徑來服侍人，藉此來表明與神相交；否則，我們就正如約翰所言的是「說謊話」了。「行」這個動詞是表示要持續不斷地行。一個人若持續不斷地在黑暗中行，每天不停地犯罪，他又怎可能是真正的基督徒呢？一個真正悔改信主的人，必然會將舊日的生活方式、脾性、習慣和做人理想完全改變過來。 約翰分別在第7和9節談論到赦免。它正是信徒的蒙福之途。首先，人必須在父神面前親自認罪，才能得著神的赦免，他的罪便得著潔淨。故此，我們應當時常省察，一旦發現自己得罪了神，就當尋求神的赦罪和潔淨。 有些時候，我們發覺自己很難相信事情就是這樣簡單，但基督已為我們成就了一切，再沒有工作要留待我們去做。不過，我們仍然有本身的責任，就是要凡事討主的喜悅，以及確保我和祂之間沒有任何障礙。基督已為我們提供了赦罪之途，我們只要向神認罪，就可以得著赦罪。倘若你過往一直害怕神不赦免你的罪，那麼，這節經文是否能幫助你呢？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP Day 13 Bible Reading:   1 John 1:5-10 CONDITIONS OF FELLOWSHIP God is light. Isn't that a wonderful description of God? John also says in another place that God is love, and that God is life. Light speaks of his perfection. Love speaks of his character, and life speaks of his power. John says that in God there is no darkness at all. When we get out of fellowship with God, a cloud comes between us. We know in our own hearts that something is wrong. The fault is always on our side- never on God's. We will see at the end of this chapter how God has provided a way for that cloud to be removed. Notice verse 6 'If we say we have fellowship with him'. How do we say that? By our words of course but also by our lives and our actions. We identify ourselves with the people of God and by doing so, say that we are in fellowship with the Father. We can say it by the service we give in the church or elsewhere and in many other ways. But if there is an absence of Christian living to go with that outward profession of fellowship then John says plainly that we are not telling the truth. The word 'walk' in this verse means to walk continuously. The person who keeps on walking in darkness hasn't really changed even though he says he is a Christian. Sin is still the daily habit of his life. One real proof that a person has been converted is in the change that comes in his or her life style and habits and desires. John speaks twice concerning the way of forgiveness- in verses 7 and 9. Here is the way into continued blessing. First comes confession. This is a personal matter with a personal, understanding Father. Then comes forgiveness, which God alone can give. Finally there is cleansing. How often do we need this cleansing? As often as we sin and as often as we are conscious of our need. It is hard for us sometimes to accept the simplicity of all this. There is nothing left for us to do. Christ has done it all. Yet at the same time there comes a tremendous responsibility on our part to live as Christ would have us live, and to make sure that nothing stays between us and him. The way of forgiveness is always there. It starts with the confession of our sin. Do you need it today?