【双语灵修】服从的能力

利未记 23:15-22；使徒行传 2:1-4

“你们要从安息日的次日，献禾捆为摇祭的那日算起，要满了七个安息日， 到第七个安息日的次日，共计五十天，又要将新素祭献给耶和华。 要从你们的住处取出细面伊法十分之二，加酵，烤成两个摇祭的饼，当做初熟之物献给耶和华。 又要将一岁、没有残疾的羊羔七只，公牛犊一只，公绵羊两只，和饼一同奉上。这些与同献的素祭和奠祭要作为燔祭献给耶和华，就是做馨香的火祭献给耶和华。 你们要献一只公山羊为赎罪祭，两只一岁的公绵羊羔为平安祭。 祭司要把这些和初熟麦子做的饼一同做摇祭，在耶和华面前摇一摇，这是献于耶和华为圣物，归给祭司的。 当这日，你们要宣告圣会，什么劳碌的工都不可做。这在你们一切的住处作为世世代代永远的定例。

“在你们的地收割庄稼，不可割尽田角，也不可拾取所遗落的，要留给穷人和寄居的。我是耶和华你们的神。”

五旬节到了，门徒都聚集在一处。 忽然，从天上有响声下来，好像一阵大风吹过，充满了他们所坐的屋子； 又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。 他们就都被圣灵充满，按着圣灵所赐的口才说起别国的话来。

星期五

十一月二十一日

服从的能力

“五旬节到了…又有舌头如火焰显现出来，分开落在他们各人头上。” - 徒 2:1-3

我们多数人对规条或律例都有负面的看法。时速限制阻慢我们，又会有谁想付额外的税款？有时我们甚至觉得神的律例也在限制我们，然而，这一切限制当然都是重要的。

五旬节－在初熟节的七个星期之后（参考11月20日的灵修），是庆祝小麦收成的时候，这时也成为感谢神赐律例的场合。是的，当以色列民生活在圣洁的神面前时，祂的律例教导他们，怎样去过一个讨救赎主喜悦的生活。

当然，以色列民的挣扎，不单是感到遵守律例有困难，而是感到简直不可能做得到，对我们来说也是一样。例如回顾过去几天，你有没有禁止说不友善的话？你能否抑制所有苦涩的念头？你能否避开好像贪婪和不耐烦，那些不易察觉的罪？没有一个人能完全遵守神的律例的。

在五旬节，藉着庆祝收成和遵守律例，神差派圣灵来更新我们。圣灵加力给我们，去迎接神所预备的更大的丰收，把人从各国带进神的国里！而圣灵改变我们，叫我们怀着更新的心去行，真心地顺服神。如果你已接受耶稣为你的救主，祂的圣灵正在陶造你去宣教和顺服祂呢！

祷告

父啊，我们感激祢在耶稣里为我们所做的一切，求祢帮助我们，欣然去过顺服祢的生活。阿们。

Leviticus 23:15-22; Acts 2:1-4

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21

POWER TO OBEY

When the day of Pentecost came . . . they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. —Acts 2:1-3

Many of us view rules or laws negatively. Speed limits can seem to bog us down, and who wants to pay extra taxes? Even God’s law can feel restrictive at times. But, of course, all of these things are important.

The Feast of Weeks—taking place seven weeks after the Feast of Firstfruits (see Nov. 20)—celebrated the wheat harvest, and it became an occasion to thank God for the gift of his law. Yes, that’s right—as the Israelites lived in the presence of a holy God, his law taught them how to live in a way that was pleasing to the One who had redeemed them.

Of course, Israel’s struggle was that obedience was not just difficult—it was impossible. And the same is true for us. Look back over the past day or so, for example. Have you kept from saying unkind words? Have you resisted every bitter thought? Have you avoided the subtle sins of greed and impatience? Not one of us can obey God’s law perfectly.

On the Feast of Weeks, God sent his Spirit to renew us in terms of celebrating the harvest as well as the law. The Spirit empowers us for the greater harvest that God has prepared, bringing people from every nation into his kingdom! And the Spirit transforms us to act with true obedience from renewed hearts. If you have received Jesus as your Savior, his Holy Spirit is shaping you for mission and obedience!

Father, help us to live with glad obedience to you, in gratitude for all that you have done for us in Jesus. Amen.