2008-10-15 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 與神相交的證明 粵語 國語 第15天 讀經：   約翰壹書二章3至11節 照你的想法，一個人應該有甚麼表現，才能證明他已經真正重生？是透過他不再做某些事，還是透過他每天都做某些事？ 這段經文有三個動詞，正好用來證明人是否真正的基督徒。它們分別是「遵守」、「去行」和「去愛」。讓我們先留意第4至5節的「遵行」。我們不能空說自己有信心，反之，只有透過切實遵行神的話語，才能證明自己確實對神有信心。 神對我們有甚麼期望？就是要我們遵行祂的話語，聽命而行。這不僅是指到遵守神給予以色列人的十誡，更是指到遵行神的一切話語和旨意，特別是「彼此相愛」這條新的誡命。神期望我們有一顆樂意遵從的心，而不是像小孩子那樣，經常挑戰父母說：「為何我一定要服從？別人也不是這樣做，為何偏偏要我去做？」 第二個動詞是第6節的「去行」。要驗證一個人是否真正的基督徒十分容易，只要看看他是否跟隨主耶穌的腳步而行便可。當我們說要跟從某人時，我們當然要亦步亦趨，跟他踏上同一條道路，走往同一個方向。我們與密友同行的時候，即使偶然默然不語，我們也會享受二人的結伴同行。基督緊跟著父神的腳步，經常與祂相交同行。祂與父神的心意相通。反觀我們自己，又是否經常緊跟基督的腳步呢？ 最後那個動詞是第7至11節所談到的「愛」。耶穌曾經對門徒說：「你們若彼此相愛，別人就認出你們是我的門徒了」；因此，一個愛護其他信徒的人，就顯然是進入了新的生命。約翰在這裡教導我們要愛神(5節)、彼此相愛(15節)和不要愛世界(15節)。 這裡將愛與恨互相對比。這兩種感情是最難隱藏的。當某人墮進愛河，他身邊的人都很快會察覺。同樣地，當人憎恨別人，亦是顯而易見的。別人看見我們是對人有愛，還是充滿憎恨呢？ 禱告： 主啊，求你教我今天怎樣與你同行。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FELLOWSHIP TESTED Day 15 Bible Reading:   1 John 2:3-11 FELLOWSHIP TESTED How would you say a person really shows that he is a truly born-again Christian? By the things that he does not do, or by the things seen in his life from day to day? There are three words in these verses which are a good test of a Christian. They are the words 'keeping', 'walking', 'loving'. Notice the first word, 'keeping', in verses 4 and 5. The proof of our faith is not in our language but in our life. What Is God looking for? Our obedience, that is keeping his commandments. That does not necessarily mean the Ten Commandments that were given to Israel. It means the whole will and Word of God, especially the new commandment of love for each other. God looks for our willing obedience, not the obedience of a child who says 'Do I have to do that? She doesn't have to. Why do I have to?' The second word is walking-in verse 6. The test of a person who professes to be a Christian is this-is he walking the same way that Christ walked? What does it mean to walk with someone? When we walk with someone, we keep in step with them. We have their companionship. We have the same destination. We may not always be talking, we may just be enjoying the fellowship of the other person even in silence. Christ was in step with the Father. He had the companionship of the Father constantly. He had the same plan as the Father. How does all this apply to our lives, our profession today? Then the last word is loving, in verses 7-11. Jesus said himself that the test of a new life is in the area of love. Remember these words 'By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another'. John speaks about love for God (v. 5), love for another (v. 15) and of having no love for the world (v. 15). Love and hatred are contrasted here also. They are the two most difficult attitudes to hide. When a person is in love, everyone knows it. When a person has wrong feelings against another, that is just as obvious also. What can others see in us today? A PRAYER: Lord teach me how to walk with Christ today.