讀經： 歌羅西書三章9至15節 9不要彼此說謊；因你們已經脫去舊人和舊人的行為， 10穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。 11在此並不分希利尼人、猶太人，受割禮的、未受割禮的，化外人，西古提人，為奴的、自主的，惟有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之內。 12所以，你們既是神的選民，聖潔蒙愛的人，就要存（原文作穿；下同）憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。 13倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。 14在這一切之外，要存著愛心，愛心就是聯絡全德的。 15又要叫基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們也為此蒙召，歸為一體；且要存感謝的心。 |
| 保羅在這裡繼續論到信徒在接受基督之後的應有改變。它將包括即時的改變和持續的改變。 保羅形容基督徒得著新的生命，就仿如「穿上新衣」一般。他在第14節更加指出，「愛心就是聯絡全德的」；換言之，愛心是涵蓋一切的，我們無論做甚麼，都要憑著愛心而作。 保羅在第12節指出，基督徒最首要是有一顆憐憫或同情之心。保羅的時代，是一個缺乏同情心的時代。當時的世界，是一個殘暴的世界，並不重視生命的神聖。社會不會對老弱傷殘提供任何保障。只有耶穌基督的福音提出「慈憐」的觀念，並倡導以慈惠的行動來關懷有需要的人。 我們今天同樣活在一個充滿暴力的世界，到處都有苦難和飢荒。基督徒需要更多流露基督的愛心，去關顧周遭的人。 「恩慈」的原文，跟基督說「我的軛是輕省的」的「輕省」屬同一個詞。它與嚴苛和冷酷無情剛好相反。一個內心充滿恩慈的人，不會因為別人抨擊自己而給以還擊。 接著的「謙虛」，是新約書信經常教導信徒要具備的美德；然而，在保羅時代的異教文化中，人們卻普遍輕視它的價值，並不視之為美德，因為他們認為謙虛就是軟弱的表現。但我們不要忘記，聖經曾用「溫柔」和「謙和」來形容摩西和耶穌，但兩人都並不是弱者。因此，謙虛並非軟弱，而是要顯示出溫柔的力量。 這裡的每一個字詞都值得我們細心研究。要具備這一切的竅門，是在於基督的愛。正如保羅在第14節指出，我們在這一切以外，最重要是穿上愛。唯有用愛心，才能實踐這一切。求主用祂的愛來光照你的內心，使你得以穿上基督徒的新衣。 |
Bible Reading: Colossians 3:9-15 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. |
| Paul is still writing about the change that should have taken place in the lives of the Colossian Christians when they came to Christ. That change is both instantaneous (happens straightaway) and continuing. Here Paul describes the things of a Christian's new life as clothes to be put on. He concludes with a wonderful overall covering in verse 14-LOVE. That must cover everything else and be a part of all that a Christian does. In verse 12 Paul says that what a Christian needs first of all is a heart of pity or compassion. In Paul's day very little pity was felt for anyone, or anything. It was a cruel world where life was not held sacred. There was no provision for the sick or the lame or the old. It was only the gospel of Jesus Christ that introduced the word pity and the actions of compassion to the world. Even today it is a cruel violent world in which we live, filled with suffering and hunger. Christians need more than ever to show this side of Christ's heart of love. The second word, kindness, is the same word that Christ used when he said 'My yoke is easy'. It is the opposite of being harsh and unfeeling. It is a spirit that will not fight back no matter who or what may be against it. Then comes humility, a common word in the epistles, but again a word that the heathen people of Paul's day knew nothing about and which people today often ignore. Remember both Moses and Jesus were called meek or humble, but neither of them lacked strength. Humility is not weakness but gentle strength at the right time. Each of the other words is worth studying. Never forget that the secret to all of these things lies in the love of Christ. As Paul says in verse 14, beyond all these things, over all these things, put on love. That makes everything else we have spoken about possible. Ask Christ today to let his love shine through you and you will find the new clothes of a Christian can fit you just as well as anyone else. |
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