2008年6月18日 星期三

2008-06-18 Devotionals Today

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活石

粵語國語

第18天

讀經:彼得前書二章4至10節

  彼得一定是很喜歡基督為他起的名字。你還記得嗎?在約翰福音一章42節,基督叫彼得作「磯法」,「磯法」就是石頭的意思。彼得在這封書信中,不單用了這個字詞來形容基督,還用它來形容我們這些基督徒。

  當彼得用「石頭」來形容基督,不禁令我們聯想到祂的信實不變。當他用這個字詞來形容信徒時,則彷彿是要表示,昔日基督做在他身上的作為,可以同樣做在每個信徒的生命之中。基督可以改變我們的生命,使我們得以學像祂。舊約的作者經常把神喻作磐石,它不僅成為人的保障和倚靠,更可以湧出活水,使人的生命得著飽足。

  彼得在第4節及6至8節稱基督為「活石」。這塊石頭(基督)可能被某些人所棄,又或成了某些人的絆腳石;然而,在神的眼中,卻是非常寶貴的石頭,神會在各方面尊榮基督。

  我們作為神的兒女,神同樣會尊榮我們。我們不是一塊塊分散或一堆堆亂放的石頭,反之,神將我們建造起來,使我們成為建立教會的其中一塊石頭。這與新約聖經的教導互相呼應:沒有任何一位信徒可以獨善其身,信徒需要互相建立、彼此相交。

  而且,神更揀選我們作祭司。這實在是太奇妙了!我們原本只是個悖逆的罪人,但神如今竟然揀選我們作祭司,賜我們這個直接事奉祂的特權。祭司的職責,是代表別人進到神的面前獻祭。如今,我們每個作信徒的,都獲得這個責任和特權,可以藉著禱告或親自邀請,把別人引到神的面前。

  祭司負責將祭物獻給神。今天,我們不再用牲畜或五穀作為祭物,反而是將自己獻上,並以感恩、頌讚、服事和敬拜為祭獻給神。請讀羅馬書十二章1至2節。

  請記著,神希望藉著我們,讓別人看見祂能夠拯救罪人和保守聖徒。我們要時刻反省,別人在我們的身上能否看見神的工作呢?

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LIVING STONES

DAY 18

BIBLE READING: 1 Peter 2: 4-10

Peter must have loved the name which Christ gave him. Do you remember it? In John 1:42 Christ called him Cephas, which means a stone. Now in his epistle Peter uses this word several times, first in regard to Christ and then in regard to us as Christians.

When used for Christ this word reminds us of his unchanging faithfulness. When used about us, it seems Peter is saying that what Christ has done for him (Peter) he can do for us. Christ can make us like himself. The Old Testament writers often spoke about God as the Rock in which they could hide and from which the water came.

Christ is called a living stone in verse 4 and 6-8. That stone (Christ) might be rejected by some men, or be a stumbling block to others, but in God's sight it is very precious. God has honoured Christ in every possible way.

God has honoured us, his children, too. He has made us part of the living church. We are not just bricks lying alone or in a heap. As believers we are built into the whole framework of the church. There is no place in the New Testament for Christians who always want to be alone and not in fellowship with others.

God has also made us priests. Isn't that wonderful? We were rebellious sinners, but God has now given us the privilege of serving him as priests. A priest is one who has access to God on behalf of others. Every Christian has the duty and privilege of bringing others to God in prayer, as well as personally inviting them to come to God.

A priest is one who brings offerings to God. Our offerings today are not animals, or birds or grain. But God looks to us to bring our own selves and offerings of thanksgiving, praise, service and worship. See Romans 12:1-2.

Remember God wants to use us to show others that he can save the sinner and keep the saint. Can others see this in our lives today?

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