讀經： 腓立比書四章1至9節 1我所親愛、所想念的弟兄們，你們就是我的喜樂，我的冠冕。我親愛的弟兄，你們應當靠主站立得穩。 2我勸友阿爹和循都基，要在主裡同心。 3我也求你這真實同負一軛的，幫助這兩個女人，因為他們在福音上曾與我一同勞苦；還有革利免，並其餘和我一同做工的，他們的名字都在生命冊上。 4你們要靠主常常喜樂。我再說，你們要喜樂。 5當叫眾人知道你們謙讓的心。主已經近了。 6應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。 7神所賜、出人意外的平安必在基督耶穌裡保守你們的心懷意念。 8弟兄們，我還有未盡的話：凡是真實的、可敬的、公義的、清潔的、可愛的、有美名的，若有甚麼德行，若有甚麼稱讚，這些事你們都要思念。 9你們在我身上所學習的，所領受的，所聽見的，所看見的，這些事你們都要去行，賜平安的神就必與你們同在。 |
| 腓立比教會似乎擁有一群很好的信徒。保羅深愛他們，他們也愛保羅。 但教會裡面有兩位姊妹卻因為某事而意見不合。那是甚麼事？我們不知道；只知道她們此刻的不和，已破壞她們過往為基督所做的工作。 這種事情豈不是經常發生？過去對教會很有貢獻的人，突然因為某些小事而產生妒忌或互相生氣。許多時候，我們不察覺教會內的紛爭會造成甚麼傷害，或帶來的負面影響會持續多久。經文中的兩位姊妹，也萬料不到我們對她們的僅有認識，就是只知道她們曾經出現不和！她們怎料到自己竟留下了這樣的壞紀錄！ 保羅怎樣勸她們？他是否叫其中一位姊妹，去到另一位的面前，對她說「對不起，請原諒我」？他是否只責備其中一個？ 不，保羅勸她們去到基督面前。他說：「我希望友阿蝶和循都基在主裡同心」。他希望她們兩人做同一件事--就是順服基督。 假如教會公開讀出這封信，你想這兩位姊妹會有何感受和顏面呢？她們會怎樣做呢？她們會否默然地低頭向主禱告，求主赦免她們呢？然後，兩人安靜地站起來，走到對方面前，張開雙手，以愛來互相擁抱呢？她們的行動，將會對教會帶來甚麼影響呢？ 你是否與另一位信徒有任何不和？你能否默然地求神赦免和幫助你呢？然後，你是否願意去到那位信徒面前，直接與他和好呢？這正是神期望你做的事。當你願意這樣做的時候，其他人可能會大受感動，只是你不知道吧了！立即行動吧！ 禱告： 主啊，求你幫助我與我的弟兄/姊妹和好。 |
Bible Reading: Philippians 4: 1 - 9 1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. |
| The church at Philippi seems to have been a wonderful group of people. Paul loved them dearly and they loved him too. But there were two women in the church who couldn't agree over something. What was it? We don't know. But whatever they had done for Christ in the church before was being spoiled by their present actions and attitude toward each other. That often happens doesn't it? People who have done so much in the past, suddenly become jealous or angry over some small things. Often we don't realize what harm a quarrel in a church can do or how long the effect lasts. These two women never realized that the only thing we know about them now is that they had quarreled. What a record to leave behind! What does Paul say to them? Does he ask one of them to go to the other and say, 'I was wrong, forgive me please'? Does he blame one and not the other? No, Paul asks both of them to give in to Christ. He says, 'I ask Euodia and I ask Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord'. He asks each one to do the same thing - to give in to Christ. Can you imagine the feelings and faces of these two women when this letter is read out to the church? What did they do? Did they quietly bow their heads and ask God to forgive them? Then did they quietly stand up and walk over to each other and throw their arms around one another in love? What would that have meant to the church? Do you have something against a fellow Christian? Could you quietly ask God's forgiveness and help just now. Then will you go to that one and get it straightened out? That is what God wants. You will never know who else may be touched by what you do. DO IT NOW! PRAYER: Lord, help me to make things right with my sister (or brother). |
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