2008年12月21日 星期日

2008-12-21 Devotionals Today

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青草地上


主內知己

粵語 國語

第21天


讀經:   歌羅西書四章7至11節
保羅有許多攻擊他的敵人,但他也有很多愛護他的朋友。他們與他一起同行上路,照顧他的需要,甚至與他一同被囚。他們是他宣教隊伍的成員。你曾否數算過保羅在他的書信中,曾經提及多少位朋友呢?

保羅在這段經文中提及了誰人?推基古究竟是誰?他是亞洲人(徒二十4),負責送信到歌羅西。保羅似乎給他很高的評價,稱他為「親愛的弟兄」和「忠心的執事」。

推基古對保羅可謂至死忠心。保羅分別在提多書三章12節和提摩太後書四章12節提到他。我們不要忘記,保羅當時已是囚犯,更是被判了死刑的死囚,要做一個死囚的朋友,實在是相當危險。可是,推基古因著對基督的愛,以及對保羅的真摯友誼,所以一直在他身邊支持著他。我們是否這樣忠心對待自己的朋友呢?

阿尼西母將會與推基古同行。我們會稱阿尼西母是「出走的僕人」,但保羅卻從來不會這樣稱呼他。他同樣稱他是「親愛忠心的兄弟」。我們豈不經常將某些人標籤化,例如說:「那個人從前是個酒鬼;那個女人從前是吸毒的」之類?我們總喜歡記著別人的不光彩往事,但保羅卻總是記著其他信徒的好處。

接著,他提到三位猶太人的朋友:亞里達古、馬可和猶士都。亞里達古是來自馬其頓的猶太人(徒二十4)。當保羅置身於各種艱難的困境,例如在以弗所的暴動,以及被押送往羅馬的途中,亞里達古都一直在保羅身邊。

馬可這位年青人曾經令保羅失望,但後來他已經變好;保羅在這裡便親切地讚賞他。猶士都只在這裡被提及,所以我們對他認識不多。事實上,在神的嘉許冊上有許多這類人名:我們雖不認識,卻是神所愛和深得朋友讚賞的。

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HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE?
Day 21


Bible Reading:   Colossians 4:7-11
Paul had many enemies but he also had some very wonderful friends. They travelled with him. They cared for him and even went to prison with him. They were part of his evangelistic team. Have you ever tried to count up the total number of friends Paul mentions in his epistles?

Who does Paul name here in this passage? Who was Tychicus? He was from Asia (Acts 20:4) and he carried this epistle to the church at Colosse. He seems to have meant a lot to Paul. He calls Tychicus a 'beloved brother' and a 'faithful servant'.

Tychicus remained faithful to Paul to the very end. Paul speaks of this in Titus 3:12 and in 2 Timothy 4:12. Remember it was dangerous in those days to be a friend of a prisoner, especially one condemned to death. But love for Christ and the genuineness of Christian friendship kept Tychicus at Paul's side right through. How faithful are you to your friends?

Onesimus was going to travel with Tychicus. We call him the 'runaway slave' but Paul never called him that. He said 'our faithful and beloved brother'. Do we too often identify someone like this 'You know-the fellow who was the drunkard, the alcoholic or the woman who used to be on drugs'? Why don't we forget the past? Paul always said the very best he could of any fellow-Christian.

Then he mentions three Jewish friends, Aristarchus, Mark and Justus. Aristarchus was a Jew from Macedonia (Acts 20:4) who was faithful under difficult circumstances, as in the riots in Ephesus and when Paul sailed as a prisoner to Rome. Aristarchus shared with Paul in all the experiences on the way to Rome and even in prison.

Mark was the young man who finally made good. Here Paul warmly commends him. Justus is unknown to us except for this reference. God's honour roll has many such names, unknown to us but known and loved by God and by a few of the Lord's people.

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