【双语灵修】充满风暴的心灵 Stormy Souls
我们应当防备那些为了自己的益处扭曲神话语的人。
“这些人是无水的井,是狂风催逼的雾气,有墨黑的幽暗为他们存留。” - 彼后 2:17
像在自然界一样,我们生命中遇到的风暴有些也是人为造成的。是的,圣经警告我们,即使是教会里也有贪婪滥权的人,他们只为自己的益处着想。我们曾多少次听到教会领导人说谎、盗用金钱、破坏婚姻、虐待儿童、或争名夺利呢?也有较为隐蔽的,例如很多事工开始时是为了要帮助有需要的人, 但后来竟沦为剥削者。这个现象不是今天才有的,因为我们在彼得后书2章已看到了。
我们生命中遭遇到风暴和烦恼,可能是因为有人尝试携带我们卷入他们充满风暴的心灵中。实际上,我们必须时刻警醒自己,免得伤害那些我们宣称要去帮助的人。我们受到警戒,这种做法就像干旱季节不能带来降雨的云、或是无水的井。假师傅把神的话语和应许扭曲了,目的是要控制和毁灭人。
我们应当防备那些为了自己的益处扭曲神话语的人。我们应当“试验那些灵是出于神的不是”(约翰一书 4:1)。同样,我们必需求神“救我们脱离凶恶”(马太福音 6:13),好叫我们和我们教会的领导人都能够忠心不渝。
祷告
亲爱的耶稣,求你保护我们不致被假师傅制造出来的风暴所害,又赐我们在私下和在人前都忠心不渝的教会领袖。主啊,求你赦免我们的罪、带领我们为你而活。阿们。
彼得后书 2:1-3, 17-19
1从前在百姓中有假先知起来,将来在你们中间也必有假师傅,私自引进陷害人的异端,连买他们的主他们也不承认,自取速速的灭亡。
2将有许多人随从他们邪淫的行为,便叫真道因他们的缘故被毁谤。
3他们因有贪心,要用捏造的言语在你们身上取利。他们的刑罚,自古以来并不迟延,他们的灭亡也必速速来到。
17这些人是无水的井,是狂风催逼的雾气,有墨黑的幽暗为他们存留。
18他们说虚妄矜夸的大话,用肉身的情欲和邪淫的事引诱那些刚才脱离妄行的人。
19他们应许人得以自由,自己却做败坏的奴仆。因为人被谁制伏,就是谁的奴仆。
Stormy Souls
"These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them." - 2 Peter 2:17
In our lives, as in nature, some of the storms that we encounter are human-made. Yes, the Bible warns that even in the church there are greedy abusers who take only for themselves. How often do we hear news of church leaders lying, taking money, destroying marriages, abusing children, or seeking power and influence? Even on a smaller scale, many ministries set out to help people in need but end up exploiting them. This is not a new phenomenon, because we read about it in 2 Peter 2.
Storms and trouble in life can come to us through people who try to draw us into their stormy souls. Indeed, we must all be vigilant that we do not hurt people we claim to help. We are warned that this is like storm clouds that appear in a dry season but bring no rain, or like a spring without water. False teachers take the words and promises of God and twist them in order to control and destroy others.
We ought to be on guard against anyone who twists the Word of God for their own gain. We ought to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Likewise, we must ask God to “deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13) so that we and the leaders of our churches may be faithful.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, protect us from the storms that false teachers can create. Give us leaders who are faithful in private as well as in public. Forgive us our sins, Lord, and guide us to live for you. Amen.
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