【双语灵修】不遵守律法=不爱神 Law-breakers Are Not God Lovers
“凡遵守主道的,爱神的心在他里面实在是完全的。” - 约一 2:5
爱和律法在这段经文中结合得很好。我们要遵行的神的话就是神的律法。当我们遵循它时,神的爱就在我们身上得以完全——因为我们是按照神爱的律法生活。
这一点简单明确,且信息整全我应该做什么?我应该做律法所教导的一切。我怎样彰显神的爱?藉着遵守神话语中的律法。当我遵守神的律法时会发生什么?神的爱就在我身上得到了完全的体现。
以这种视角来看,基督徒的生活其实并不神秘。我们不必疑惑和忧虑神的旨意究竟是什么。我们可以在神的话语中找到方向,尤其是在祂的律法中。我们可能需要察验哪些话更适用于我们正在做的事情,但我们总是能从中找到指引。我们的问题是与诚实有关,还是与性的忠诚有关,或是与我们对时间的使用有关?神的律法对这些和其他情况都提供了指导。
你是否认识一位看起来真正被基督的灵充满的人呢?我敢确认,那人绝不是一个违背律法的人。我敢宣告,那人早就明白,遵守神的律法是一个简单而直接的靠近神的方式。
你又怎样呢?神的爱在你身上得以完全了吗?
祷告
神啊,请帮助我顺服你。帮助我不去质疑你要我做什么事,因为我已经知道了。向我显明你律法中的奇妙,指引我凭着对你和对他人的爱行事。阿们。
约翰一书 2:3-11
3我们若遵守他的诫命,就晓得是认识他。
4人若说“我认识他”,却不遵守他的诫命,便是说谎话的,真理也不在他心里了。
5凡遵守主道的,爱神的心在他里面实在是完全的;从此,我们知道我们是在主里面。
6人若说他住在主里面,就该自己照主所行的去行。
7亲爱的弟兄啊,我写给你们的不是一条新命令,乃是你们从起初所受的旧命令,这旧命令就是你们所听见的道。
8再者,我写给你们的是一条新命令,在主是真的,在你们也是真的,因为黑暗渐渐过去,真光已经照耀。
9人若说自己在光明中,却恨他的弟兄,他到如今还是在黑暗里。
10爱弟兄的,就是住在光明中,在他并没有绊跌的缘由;
11唯独恨弟兄的,是在黑暗里,且在黑暗里行,也不知道往那里去,因为黑暗叫他眼睛瞎了。
Law-breakers Are Not God Lovers
"If anyone obeys [God’s] word, God’s love is truly made complete in them." - 1 John 2:5
Love and law are nicely united in this text. The word of God that we are called to obey is the law of God. When we obey it, God’s love is made complete in us—because we are living by God’s law of love.
This is pleasantly simple, and circular. What shall I do? Whatever the law says I should do. How shall I show my love for God? By obeying the law found in God’s Word. What happens when I obey God’s law? The love of God is made complete in me.
Seen in this way, the Christian life is really not mysterious. We don’t have to wonder and fret about what God’s will might be. We can find directions in the Word of God, especially in his law. We may have to examine which words apply to what we are doing, but the directions are always there for us. Does our question have to do with honesty, or sexual fidelity, or our use of time? The law of God has directives for these and other circumstances.
Do you know someone who truly seems to be full of the Spirit of Christ? I’ll bet that person isn’t a lawbreaker. I’ll bet that person has long understood that obeying God’s law is a simple and direct way of getting close to God.
What about you? Has God’s love been made complete in you?
Prayer
O God, help me to obey you. Help me not to question what you might want from me when I already know it. Show me wonderful things in your law that direct me to act with love for you and others. Amen.