【双语灵修】电灯开关 Light Switch

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“光明所结的果子就是一切良善、公义、诚实。” - 弗 5:9

在日常生活中,我们很多人都享有相当多的自由,有时,我们好像喜欢做什么便可以做什么。我们甚至会认为我们不需要对任何人或事负责任。然而,这样做可能会多方面伤害到他人,甚至伤害到自己。

面对困境时,我们可能会认为,有些人或制度亏欠了我们,有时我们甚至开始觉得神也在亏欠我们。我们觉得自己一向善良、或仁慈、或勤奋、或具有其他诸如此类的美德,我们是配得任何我们想要获得的福利。我们认为自己可以决定需要遵守什么规条、以及什么规条不能应用在我们身上。

然而,保罗在以弗所书5章提醒我们,神和我们相比,双方付出的根本不可相比。相比耶稣为我们付出的牺牲,我们渺小的贡献实在微不足道。保罗勉励我们,要抓住耶稣为我们牺牲的真理,以此为基准来调整我们的态度和行动。

保罗提醒我们,我们蒙召是要过着发出基督之光的生活。我们所过生活的光景,表明我们对神藉着祂儿子赐给我们一切的认识的深度。在我们心里的基督之光,就是良善、公义、和诚实的源头。

或许我们应该问:我们亏欠祂有多少?

祷告

神啊,感谢你藉耶稣赐给我们的一切。求你帮助我们,过讨你喜悦,尊你为大的生活。惟愿我们所作的一切事,都能荣耀你。阿们。

以弗所书 5:1-10

1所以你们该效法神,好像蒙慈爱的儿女一样。
2也要凭爱心行事,正如基督爱我们,为我们舍了自己,当做馨香的供物和祭物献于神。
3至于淫乱并一切污秽,或是贪婪,在你们中间连提都不可,方合圣徒的体统。
4淫词、妄语和戏笑的话都不相宜,总要说感谢的话。
5因为你们确实地知道,无论是淫乱的,是污秽的,是有贪心的,在基督和神的国里都是无份的;有贪心的,就与拜偶像的一样。
6不要被人虚浮的话欺哄,因这些事,神的愤怒必临到那悖逆之子。
7所以你们不要与他们同伙。
8从前你们是暗昧的,但如今在主里面是光明的,行事为人就当像光明的子女——
9光明所结的果子就是一切良善、公义、诚实——
10总要察验何为主所喜悦的事。

Light Switch

"This light within you produces only what is good and right and true." - Ephesians 5:9 (NLT)

Many of us enjoy lots of freedoms in our everyday living. But sometimes we act as if we can do as we please. And we might even think we don't have to be accountable to anyone or anything. But that can bring all kinds of hurts to others as well as ourselves.

If we have faced hard times, we might also think that some people or some institutions owe us. Sometimes we can begin thinking that God owes us too. We figure that we have been good, or kind, or hardworking, or whatever, and that we deserve whatever we want. We think we can decide which rules apply and which ones don't.

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5, however, that the sides are not even close to being even. Our very small contribution is nothing compared to Jesus' sacrifice for us. We are encouraged to take hold of the truth of that sacrifice and to adjust our attitude and actions.

Paul is reminding us that we are called to live in such a way that our lives will shine with the light of Christ. How we live is an expression of how much we understand all that God has offered us through his Son. The light of Christ in us is what produces what is good and right and true.

Maybe the question is, How much do we owe him?

Prayer

God, thank you for all you have given us through Jesus. Help us to live in a way that pleases and honors you. May we glorify your name in all we do. Amen.

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