2008-11-12 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 大能的福音 粵語國語 第12天 讀經：   羅馬書一章8至17節 保羅經常強調福音的大能，他的一生也正好證明了這種大能。在他悔改信主的那一刻，他親身經歷到基督改變人心的大能。因此，他絕對相信基督福音的大能同樣可以改變其他人。 保羅渴望跟每一個人分享他的信主經歷、他的信仰和基督的真理。在這幾節經文裡面，我們便看見他如何渴望與羅馬信徒作此分享。 也許有人會說：「保羅可以去到老遠的地方傳福音，為何他從未到過羅馬這個大城市？」言下之意，似乎是質疑保羅不敢前往羅馬，惟恐自己不能在這個罪惡之都引領人歸主。 但事實上，保羅一再表明：「我屢次定意往你們那裡去」。保羅最終確實到過羅馬，不過卻是以囚犯的身分。但保羅卻相信此乃神的心意(參腓一12-14)。 保羅知道，羅馬人認為當時的羅馬乃是世上最強大的國家。但保羅卻認識比它更強大的力量──那就是福音的大能。無論是基督的復活(4節)，或是神的創造(20節)，均顯明了神的大能。但保羅最想宣揚的，乃是神在救恩行動中所顯明的大能。 羅馬以為自己擁有解決問題的一切答案，以及征服人的一切能力。但其實，它無法觸及人內心的最大需要；只有基督和基督的福音才能真正拯救人。 保羅在第17節提及的「神的義」，在羅馬書出現超過60次；它讓我們看見神的聖潔、神如何要人有聖潔，以及神如何在基督裡讓人得著聖潔。在書信的較後篇章，我們將看見信徒如何在生活中活出神的聖潔。 禱告： 主啊，求你讓我在每天的生活中，更深地體認你的能力。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAUL'S POWERFUL GOSPEL Day 12 Bible Reading:   Romans 1:8-17 Paul always emphasised the tremendous power of the gospel of Christ. He had proved it in his own life. He had experienced for himself at his conversion the tremendous change which Christ could make. He was absolutely convinced that Christ could do the same for anyone. Paul longed to share his experiences, his faith and Christ's truths with anyone, anywhere, who would listen. In these verses he writes of his longing to share these things with the Christians in Rome. There may have been those who said, 'Paul can preach out in the faraway places but he has never come to the big city of Rome'. They may have thought he was afraid to go there in case he failed to win converts in such a wicked place. But Paul said it again and again. 'I am ready to go and face Rome at any time!' Paul eventually did go to Rome, but he went as a prisoner. He accepted that as God's will for him. (See Philippians 1:12-14.) Paul knew of course that Rome thought of itself as the greatest power on earth. But Paul knew of a greater power- the power of the gospel. He mentioned the power of God in resurrection (v. 4) and later God's power in creation (v. 20). But most of all Paul wanted to make known the power of God in salvation. Did Rome think it had all the answers and all the power? It could not reach the greatest need in the hearts of men and women. Only Christ and his gospel could do that. Paul also uses a phrase in verse 17 that will occur over and over again in this letter-'the righteousness of God'. It is mentioned over 60 times in Romans. It speaks to us of the holiness of God, of how God demands holiness and how he provides holiness in Christ. Later in the book we will see the results of God's holiness in our lives. A PRAYER FOR TODAY: 'Lord, let me know more of your power in my life today.'