【双语灵修】基督是教会之首Christ is the Head of the Church
“全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。” - 弗 4:16
我们的身体受头脑控制（而不是相反）。头脑是身体的协调中心。
被称为基督身体的教会也是如此。我们从我们的头基督那里汲取力量。祂说：“你们要常在我里面，离了我，你们就不能作什么”（约翰福音 15:5）。
基督是祂的身体能够存活的保障。耶稣向我们保证：“我要建造我的教会，阴间的门不能胜过它”（马太福音 16:18）。耶稣使每个肢体成长，将整个身体维系在一起，并滋养所有肢体，使它们彼此建立。
无论我们多么重要，做得多么好，取得了多大的成就，我们都蒙召成为身体里的仆人。在我们里面结出果子的是基督。我们不为自己寻求荣耀，唯有祂才是我们的荣耀。
每天依靠基督至关重要。如果不每天住在基督里，我们将永远无法胜任我们所做的。如果教会忘记了这一原则，它就会变成一个没有生命的躯体，一个没有灵魂的宗教。
思考你是怎样依赖神的。神在教会里如何使用你？你怎样才能更忠心地侍奉神呢？
祷告
亲爱的耶稣，感谢你呼召我们与你建立活泼的关系。请帮助我们记住，我们唯有完全依靠你才能结出果实。奉你的名祷告，阿们。
以弗所书 4:14-16
14使我们不再做小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异教之风摇动飘来飘去，就随从各样的异端，
15唯用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。
16全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。
Christ is the Head of the Church
"From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." - Ephesians 4:16
Our body is controlled by our head (not the other way around). Our head is the coordinating center of our body.
It’s the same way with the church, which is called the body of Christ. We draw our strength from Christ, our head. “Remain in me,” he says; “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Christ guarantees the survival of his body. Jesus assures us, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus is the one who makes each member grow, holds the whole body together, and nourishes all the parts to build each other up.
No matter how useful we are, how well we do, or how much we accomplish, we are called to be servants in the body. It is Christ who bears the fruit in us. We don’t seek glory for ourselves; to him alone is the glory.
Daily dependence on Christ is vitally important. We will never be competent enough to cope without living daily in communion with him. When the church forgets this principle, it becomes a lifeless body, a religion without a soul.
Consider some of the many ways in which you depend on God. What are some ways that God is using you in the church? How can you serve him more faithfully?
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for calling us into a living relationship with you. Help us to remember that we fully rely on you in order to bear fruit. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳