2008-10-19 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 孰是孰非？ 收聽(粵語) 收聽(國語) 第19天 讀經：   約翰壹書三章24節至四章6節 我們經常聽到人問：「我怎麼曉得這個宗教是真的，其他是假的？」約翰在這段經文為我們列出的三大要素，可以幫助我們了解別人所傳的，究竟是否神話語的真理。 約翰在三章24節首先提到聖靈住在我們裡面。因此，我們首先要向那位傳講真理的人問一個問題：「你怎樣看聖靈？」有些人可能不承認聖靈是神的其中一個位格；而很多基督徒不是很少談及聖靈，就是過分高舉聖靈。然而，聖靈本該是榮耀基督而不是祂自己。 約翰提出的第二個驗證準則，是那人是否相信耶穌基督是曾經降世為人的神的兒子。這不僅是相信歷史中曾經有一個名叫「耶穌」的人，而是相信這個耶穌乃是神的兒子降世為人。不少人承認耶穌基督是一個歷史偉人，但這是不夠的，祂乃是神自己。因此，我們要問明對方：「你怎樣看耶穌基督？」如此，你便可以知道他究竟相信耶穌是甚麼。 第三項驗證是在第5至6節──聖經。約翰沒有直接提到聖經，不過，他說要認識神的話語，聖經就是神所默示的話語；因此，我們應該問明那人：「你怎樣看聖經？除了聖經之外，你認為是否還需要另一本書才能認識神？」 當然，對信徒而言，除了持守這三項真理之外，還要將所相信的真理實踐出來。我們是否相耶穌基督是神的兒子？相信的話，就應凡事尊主為大。我們是否相信聖靈住在我們裡面？相信的話，就當容讓聖靈在我們心中工作。我們是否相信聖經就是神的話語？那麼，我們是否愛慕和勤讀神的話語，並且決心遵從它？ 禱告： 主啊，求你教導我懂得按照你的話語來判別是非真偽。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHO IS RIGHT? Day 19 Bible Reading:   1 John 3:24 to 4:6 WHO IS RIGHT? People often ask the question 'How do we know one religion is right and not the others?' In these verses John gives us three answers which will always help us to see if a group or a person is teaching the truth as it is in the Word of God. In verse 24 of chapter three, John speaks about the indwelling Spirit. So first ask the one who is teaching some particular truth, 'What place do you give to the Holy Spirit?' Many groups will not recognise the Holy Spirit as a person. Many Christians either do not speak very much about the Holy Spirit or they over-emphasise teaching about him. When he has his rightful place he will glorify Jesus Christ, not himself. The second test John gives is this-does this group or person believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came in human flesh? It is not just that a person named Jesus lived a long time ago-but was he the Son of God in human form? Many will speak about Jesus Christ being a wonderful man but he was more than that. He was God himself. Ask the person teaching you 'What do you think of Jesus Christ?' Then you will know what his group believes about Christ. Thirdly in verses 5 and 6, John speaks of the Bible, the inspired Word of God. He does not mention the Bible, but he speaks about knowing what God has said and that is found in the Bible. Again ask the group or person this question 'What do you think about the Bible? Do you say I need another book as well as the Bible to tell me about God?' Of course we need to do more than just believe in these three truths. We need to practise what we believe. Do we believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son? Then he should be Lord of our lives in everything. Do we believe in the indwelling Holy Spirit? Then we should allow him to work in our lives. Do we believe in the written Word of God? How much do we read it and how much do we obey what we read? A PRAYER: Lord help me to recognise right teaching and wrong teaching according to your Word.