2008年12月19日 星期五

2008-12-19 Devotionals Today

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青草地上


基督徒在家中和工作中的表現

粵語 國語

第19天


讀經:   歌羅西書三章18節至四章1節
除了基督徒的事奉之外,新約書信最常論及的主題,就是基督徒的婚姻及家庭關係。基督徒的家庭不單是一個見證福音的地方,更是一個相交、禱告和學習相愛的地方。

家庭之中最基本的人倫關係當然是夫妻關係。倘若夫妻二人沒有按照基督的教導來彼此相待,他們的家又怎能有基督徒的氣息?任何一方若是執著自我,就很難建立基督徒的家庭。丈夫在家中擔當了領導角色,卻不表示他可以任意而行,不顧及家人的需要。

「兒女」不單指到兒童,還包括已成年的子女。基督徒透過敬愛父母,便最能顯示出對主的愛了。父母同樣有他們的責任。他們既不應管教過嚴,也不該忽略管教子女,父母的責任是要訓練和鼓勵子女。訓練包括了管教,甚或在有需要的時候作出處罰。馬丁路得說過:「要一手拿著杖來管教兒女,一手拿著蘋果來?勵他們。」

此外,保羅還教導作僕人和主人的,我們可以把它理解為今天的僱員和僱主關係。保羅強調基督徒必須勤奮工作,因此,我們應該成為一個勤力的僱員。我們不可因為自己是基督徒而偷懶,反之,要更加勤力。而且,我們還可透過做事的方式來表明我們是屬乎基督的。

作僱主的,同樣要緊記自己要向基督交賬。他們不可按照信主之前的方式來做生意。基督已作了他們的主人,因此,他們也要向主人負責。這包括他們對待僱員的態度和營商的方式,都要合乎基督的教導。

這就是基督徒的生活方式,你是否覺得標準過高?只要基督住在我們心裡,加力給我們,我們就必能達到。

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THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK
Day 19


Bible Reading:   Colossians 3:18 - 4:1
The New Testament has more to say about the Christian home than about any other subject except the Christian ministry. The home is to be a place of witness, a place of fellowship, a place of prayer and much more. It ought to be a show piece for the gospel.

The basic relationship in a home is, of course, between husband and wife. If these two do not act in the way Christ wants them to, how can there be any Christian atmosphere? Any marriage where one partner is selfish or self-centred is not fulfilling the pattern of Christian marriage. The position of leadership for the husband does not mean he pleases himself with no concern for his family.

'Children' includes all ages up to adulthood. One of the best ways Christian children can show their love for the Lord is by their attitude toward their parents. Parents have their responsibilities too. They must neither over-discipline nor neglect their children. The duty of a parent is to train and encourage. Training includes discipline or even punishment when needed. Martin Luther said 'Use the rod but keep an apple alongside it for when your child does well'.

Paul also has a word for slaves and masters. We would say employees and employers. Paul insists that a Christian must be conscientious in his work. Christianity ought to make us a better and more efficient typist, clerk, labourer, farmhand or whatever. Being a Christian does not let us avoid hard work, it should make us work harder. Even in the way we work we can show that we belong to Christ.

Employers, too, need to remember that they are accountable to Christ. They cannot run their business any way they want to. They are responsible to Christ as their own master. This includes the way they treat their employees as well as show they manage the whole business.

All these are ways in which our Christian life is to be lived and how it should be seen by the world around. Too high a standard ? Not if Christ is with us to help us reach it.

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