【双语灵修】出黑暗入光明OUT OF AND INTO

「唯有你们是被拣选的族类……要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。」-彼前 2:9

作为一名牧师和教师，我接触过许多人，他们都想知道：「神对我人生的旨意是什么？」我们许多人都深深渴望知道自己的归属和人生意义是什么。

彼得用两个动词来描述神对我们的呼召。首先，神呼召我们「出黑暗」。现实是，当我们陷入自己罪的黑暗中时，就无法看到神对我们的旨意。神呼召我们走出那些削弱祂借着耶稣基督赐给我们的丰盛生命的行为和观点。

其次，神呼召我们「进奇妙光明」。耶稣呼召我们以新的身份进入一种新的生活方式，这种新身份的特点是对邻舍和仇敌都怀有真诚、奢侈的爱。我们被呼召要「品行端正」，让人们看到我们的好行为，「便在鉴察的日子归荣耀给神」。神在基督里呼召我们进入的光明，不仅仅是为了帮助我们更清楚地看见神，也是为了帮助我们周围的人通过我们认识到神的良善。

我们庆祝圣诞节不仅仅是为了记念耶稣的降生。它也是一个激进的呼召，呼召我们在全年的生活中，去做一个在这个黑暗世界中分享和彰显耶稣基督奇妙光明的人。

祷告

神啊，以祢的大怜悯引领我们走出罪恶和黑暗，进入耶稣基督的光明和生命中，使我们和万物都赞美祢，归荣耀给祢！阿们。

彼得前书 2:4-12
4 主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被神所拣选、所宝贵的。 5你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，做圣洁的祭司，借着耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。 6 因为经上说：「看哪，我把所拣选、所宝贵的房角石安放在锡安，信靠他的人必不至于羞愧。」 7所以，他在你们信的人就为宝贵；在那不信的人有话说：「匠人所弃的石头，已做了房角的头块石头」，8 又说：「做了绊脚的石头、跌人的盘石。」他们既不顺从，就在道理上绊跌；他们这样绊跌也是预定的。9 唯有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。 10你们从前算不得子民，现在却做了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。11 亲爱的弟兄啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。 12 你们在外邦人中应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察的日子归荣耀给神。

OUT OF AND INTO

“You are a chosen people . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” - 1 Peter 2:9

As a pastor and teacher, I have met with many people who have wondered, “What is God’s will for my life?” Many of us deeply desire to know where we belong and what our purpose in life is.

Peter describes God’s calling on us in terms of two movements. First, God calls us “out of darkness.” The reality is that we can’t see God’s purposes for us when we are caught up in the darkness of our own sin. God calls us out of the behaviors and perspectives that diminish the abundant life he offers to us through Jesus Christ.

Second, God calls us “into his wonderful light.” Jesus is calling us into a new way of life and a new identity that is characterized by a genuine, lavish love for our neighbors and enemies alike. We are called to “live such good lives” that people may see our actions “and glorify God on the day he visits us.” The light that God calls us into in Christ is not simply to help us see God more clearly but also to help people around us to recognize God’s goodness through us.

Our Christmas celebration is not simply about remembering Jesus’ birth. It is a radical calling to live throughout the year as people who share and shine the wonderful light of Jesus Christ in this dark world.

Prayer

God, in your great mercy, lead us out of sin and darkness and into the light and life of Jesus Christ so that we and the whole world might praise you for who you are! Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳