【双语灵修】神的管教GOD’S DISCIPLINE

马太福音 18:15-20

“倘若你的弟兄得罪你，你就去，趁着只有他和你在一处的时候，指出他的错来。他若听你，你便得了你的弟兄。 他若不听，你就另外带一两个人同去，要凭两三个人的口作见证，句句都可定准。 若是不听他们，就告诉教会。若是不听教会，就看他像外邦人和税吏一样。 我实在告诉你们：凡你们在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你们在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。 我又告诉你们：若是你们中间有两个人在地上同心合意地求什么事，我在天上的父必为他们成全。 因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，那里就有我在他们中间。”

10月21日

神的管教

你不可轻看主的管教，被他责备的时候也不可灰心；因为主所爱的，他必管教，……(希伯来书12:5-6)

耶稣教导说，有一条引向灭亡的大路，也有一条引向生命的窄路（马太福音 7:13-14）。而因神不愿我们走向灭亡、反要我们得享丰盛生命，祂必管教那些走错路的儿女。

神如何管教所爱之人？有时神会让祂的子民心生敬畏，比如这种敬畏会提醒我们：“若不悔改，就会与神隔绝”。有时神会藉其他信徒呼唤我们回归正路；有时会藉着教会呼唤我们重拾忠心；有时则用人生困境来施行管教。

管教在当时总不觉得愉快，反而令人痛苦。然而，神管教是为了让人结出公义的果实（希伯来书12:11）。

谈到基督徒的管教，我们应当祈求神赐予我们领受祂管教的恩典—并求祂在我们蒙召去劝诫人的时候，赐予智慧、谦卑与怜悯。

祷告

慈爱的神啊，感谢你因爱而管教我们，而非任凭我们迷失在通往毁灭的道路上。面对管教时，求你赐下恩典与怜悯，使我们能日益加深对你的爱。阿们。

Matthew 18:15-20

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21

GOD’S DISCIPLINE

“Do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves. . . .” —Hebrews 12:5-6

Jesus teaches that there is a broad road that leads to destruction and a narrow road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). And because God wants us to experience full life rather than destruction, he disciplines his children who are taking the wrong road.

How does God discipline the ones he loves? Sometimes God causes a godly fear to fall on his people. For example, this could be a fear that reminds us, “If I do not mend my ways, I will separate myself from God.” Sometimes God uses our fellow believers to call us back to the right road. Sometimes God uses the church to call us back to faithful living. Sometimes God uses challenging situations in life to discipline his people.

Discipline never seems pleasant at the time, and it can be painful. However, God designs discipline to produce a harvest of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11).

When it comes to Christian discipline, we do well to pray that God will give us the grace to receive his discipline—and that he will give us wisdom, humility, and compassion when we are called to speak a word of correction to others.

Loving God, we thank you that you discipline the ones you love rather than simply letting us stray down pathways that lead to destruction. Grant us grace and mercy in the face of discipline so that we may grow to love you more and more. Amen.