【双语灵修】行动比言语更有力Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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“…若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？” - 雅 2:14

我们很多人都听过“行动比言语更有力”这句古语，但这说法并不一定每次都是对的。有时在忿怒或遇到挫折时不小心说的话，也可以构成无法挽救的伤害。就像小小的火花可以点着整个树林，说话可以有极大的杀伤力（雅各书 3:1-12）。不过，在很多情况下行动的确比言语更为有力，这就是雅各说信心没有行为便是死的意思。

雅各说不能带来好行为的信心是不中用的。一棵不能结果的果树只是在果园中白占地土，所以它会被砍下来，而一棵新的树便会被种在它原来的位置。因为真的信心是会结果子的，所以我们会按我们的行为受审判，就如启示录20:12-13所说：“他们都照各人所行的受审判。”

在以弗所书2:8-10，保罗清楚地说我们是凭信心得救而不是因着行为，但雅各指出，所有凭信心得救的会渐渐开始有好的行为。因此耶稣在马太福音7:15-20说，我们可以凭着人们所结的果子认出他们是怎样的人——显出他们是永恒的神国子民，抑或是这个将要消逝世界的子民。

祷告

主啊，求你今天帮助我去检查我的生命，看看有没有结出能证明我是你儿女的果子。又帮助我除掉旧我的罪恶本性，并且单单为你的荣耀而活。奉耶稣名求，阿们。

雅各书 2:14-26

14我的弟兄们，若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？这信心能救他吗？
15若是弟兄或是姐妹赤身露体，又缺了日用的饮食，
16你们中间有人对他们说“平平安安地去吧，愿你们穿得暖、吃得饱”，却不给他们身体所需用的，这有什么益处呢？
17这样，信心若没有行为就是死的。
18必有人说：“你有信心，我有行为。”你将你没有行为的信心指给我看，我便藉着我的行为，将我的信心指给你看。
19你信神只有一位，你信的不错！鬼魔也信，却是战惊。
20虚浮的人哪，你愿意知道没有行为的信心是死的吗？
21我们的祖宗亚伯拉罕把他儿子以撒献在坛上，岂不是因行为称义吗？
22可见信心是与他的行为并行，而且信心因着行为才得成全。
23这就应验经上所说“亚伯拉罕信神，这就算为他的义”，他又得称为神的朋友。
24这样看来，人称义是因着行为，不是单因着信。
25妓女喇合接待使者，又放他们从别的路上出去，不也是一样因行为称义吗？
26身体没有灵魂是死的，信心没有行为也是死的。

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

"What good is it… if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" - James 2:14

Many of us have heard the old saying "Actions speak louder than words." But this statement is not always true. Sometimes a few careless words spoken in anger or frustration can cause irreparable damage. Like a spark that can set a whole forest on fire, words can be incredibly destructive (James 3:1-12). However, in many cases actions do speak louder than words. This is James's point when he says that faith without deeds is dead.

Faith that does not lead to doing good deeds is useless, says James. A fruit tree that does not produce fruit only takes up space in an orchard. It is cut down and burned, and a new tree is planted in its place (Matthew 7:15-20). Because true faith produces fruit, we are often told that we will be judged according to our deeds. In Revelation 20:12-13 we read that "each person was judged according to what they had done."

Paul makes clear in Ephesians 2:8-10 that we are saved by grace and not by works. Yet James points out that all who are saved by grace will begin to produce good works. That is why in Matthew 7:15-20 Jesus says people can be known by their fruit—revealing whether they are citizens of the eternal kingdom of God or citizens of this world, which is passing away.

Prayer

Help me today, Lord, to examine my life to see if I am producing fruit that shows I am a child of yours. Help me to put off my old sinful nature and to live for your glory alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.

诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳