【双语灵修】自欺DENIAL

罗马书 1:16-23

我不以福音为耻，这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太人，后是希腊人。 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来，这义是本于信以至于信，如经上所记：“义人必因信得生。”原来，神的愤怒从天上显明在一切不虔不义的人身上，就是那些行不义阻挡真理的人。 神的事情人所能知道的，原显明在人心里，因为神已经给他们显明。 自从造天地以来，神的永能和神性是明明可知的，虽是眼不能见，但藉着所造之物就可以晓得，叫人无可推诿。 因为他们虽然知道神，却不当做神荣耀他，也不感谢他，他们的思念变为虚妄，无知的心就昏暗了。 自称为聪明，反成了愚拙， 将不能朽坏之神的荣耀变为偶像，仿佛必朽坏的人和飞禽、走兽、昆虫的样式。

10月2日

自欺

我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了。 我们若认自己的罪， 神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。(约翰一书1:8-9)

心理学家指出，我们每个人在生命中的某个阶段，都会陷入自欺的状态。自欺是一种应对机制，能帮助我们缓冲现实的残酷，为适应新境况争取时间。但自欺也有弊端，比如否认身体症状就绝非明智之举。

当今世界普遍存在一种更为严重的自欺形式。许多人拒绝承认有位全能全知的神——祂圣洁公义，世人都要向祂交账。无数人终其一生否认神的存在，否认神鉴察万事，否认尘世生命终结后将要面对神。《罗马书》1:18-21 告诉我们，神藉着创造之物向人类清晰显明自己。神的权能和神性明明可知，世人却故意忽视、隐瞒这些证据，偏行己路。

然而，神在圣经中向我们更清晰地彰显了自己。圣经详尽无遗地启示了神，并教导我们修复与祂破裂的关系。它指明死亡——肉体的死亡与永恒属灵的死亡——是罪的结局，但也宣告了脱离罪的方式：就是藉着耶稣！

祷告

神啊，感谢你藉所造之物的荣美向我们显明自己。更感恩藉着你的儿子——我们的主和救主，我们得以永远享受你的荣美！阿们。

Romans 1:16-23

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2

DENIAL

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. —1 John 1:8-9

According to psychologists, we all live in denial at some point in our lives. Denial is a coping mechanism that can help us come to terms with difficult situations. It allows us time to adjust to new realities. But denial can also be deadly. Denying medical symptoms, for example, is not wise.

An even more serious form of denial is quite common in our world today. Many people deny that there is an almighty, all-knowing God who is holy and just and to whom we are all accountable. Countless people live their lives denying that God exists, that God sees and knows all things, and that they will meet God face to face after their earthly life is finished. Romans 1:18-21 tells us that God reveals himself clearly to us through creation. God’s power and divinity are on display for all to see, but people ignore and suppress these things and go their own way.

Nonetheless, God makes himself known to us even more clearly in the Bible. The Bible reveals God in great detail and teaches us about our broken relationship with him. It teaches that death—physical and eternal spiritual death—is the result of sin, but also that there is a remedy for sin: Jesus!

Lord God, thank you for making yourself known to us through the beauty of all that you have created. Thank you also that we may enjoy your beauty for all eternity through your Son, our Lord and Savior! Amen.