【双语灵修】丑陋的宠物UGLY PETS

彼得前书 4:7-11 8月27日

万物的结局近了，所以你们要谨慎自守，警醒祷告。 最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。 你们要互相款待，不发怨言。 各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服侍，做神百般恩赐的好管家。 若有讲道的，要按着神的圣言讲；若有服侍人的，要按着神所赐的力量服侍，叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀——原来荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远！阿们。

丑陋的宠物

“最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。” -彼前 4:8

有人说怨恨就像“丑陋的宠物”。若放任不管，这些“宠物”就会在我们喂养和宠爱时，却骑在我们的肩膊上。实际上，怨恨会压垮我们，最终将我们吞噬。

那么，该如何摆脱怨恨？使徒彼得给出了根治“怨恨怪宠”的良方。

在写给小亚细亚那些受逼迫的基督徒的信中，彼得不断回归原点，他的核心参考点就是耶稣基督。既然耶稣已赦免我们，我们也当赦免冒犯或伤害过我们的人。所以，不要豢养怨恨，而要用爱心滋养他人。

具体该如何行呢？彼得反思了耶稣关于无限赦免的教导（马太福音5:43-45；18:21-22），写道：“最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。”

彼得进而提出实践爱的具体步骤：慷慨款待，运用神所赐的恩赐彼此服侍。正如彼得从耶稣身上学到的，当我们饶恕他人时，正是在见证自己蒙赦免、被神所爱的事实。

祷告

主耶稣，祢既已赦免我们，求祢帮助我们能饶恕他人并爱人如己。阿们。

1 Peter 4:7-11

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27

UGLY PETS

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.—1 Peter 4:8

I’ve heard it said that grudges are like “ugly pets.” And if we let them, those ugly pets will sit on our shoulders while we feed and pamper them. Actually, grudges will weigh us down, and eventually they can consume us.

So how do we get rid of a grudge? The apostle Peter offers just the right formula for killing pet grudges.

Throughout his letter to Christians who are facing hardship and persecution in Asia Minor, Peter often refers back to ground zero, his main point of reference: Jesus Christ. As Jesus has forgiven us, we too must forgive people who have offended or hurt us. So instead of nursing grudges against others, we must nurture those people with love.

How do we do that? Reflecting on Jesus’ words to put no limits on forgiveness (Matthew 5:43-45; 18:21-22), Peter writes, “Above all love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Peter then lays out intentional steps for putting love into play: offering generous hospitality and using the gifts that God has given us to bless and serve others. As Peter learned from Jesus himself, when we forgive others, we demonstrate that we have been forgiven and are loved by God.

As you have forgiven us, Lord Jesus, help us to forgive and love others. Amen.