【双语灵修】皇室成员，不是“皇室失败者”ROYALTY, NOT “ROYAL SCREW-UPS”
彼得前书2：4-10
主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被神所拣选、所宝贵的。 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，藉着耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。 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。” 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”， 又说：“做了绊脚的石头、跌人的磐石。” 他们既不顺从，就在道理上绊跌[a]；他们这样绊跌也是预定的。 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。 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。
五月一日
皇室成员，不是“皇室失败者”
“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 … 。”—— 彼得前书2:9
我们往往是自己最严厉的批判者。我发觉我对自己的看法总是消极的。“Kent，你究竟有什么想法？”“你不断这样做 … ”“现在他们会认为你是一个混蛋。”诸如此类。
事实上，我们往往有足够理由去痛骂自己的，我们总是弄得一团糟，而且天天都是这样。
我们需要回到《圣经》来提醒自己，神是怎样看我们的。《彼得前书》这段美丽的经文，能帮助我们看到我们是多么蒙福和蒙爱的。我们已蒙神拣选成为祂家里的人，意思是说我们是“皇室成员”。我们是神和宇宙之主国度里的公主和王子。我们更有祭司的身份，这表示我们已经成为圣洁、无瑕疵，以及委身给那位全然圣洁无瑕的神了。我们并且蒙召去赞美这位“召我们出黑暗入奇妙光明”的奇妙的神。
哗！我们并不是彻底的失败者啊！宇宙中没有任何生物比我们有更美好的前景的了。当然啦，目前我们仍然未能看到最终的成果。然而彼得在这里描述的，是神看到的事实，这也是我们需要看到的事实。
每当你受到试探生出消极的想法时，试试这样对自己说：“不错，我弄得一团糟了。但我是蒙神拣选，成为祂圣洁的皇室家庭的一份子，我并且蒙召去忠心事奉宇宙的君王。”这就是神对你的看法。
祷告
主啊，感谢你，因你在你的儿子—我们的救主耶稣基督里改造了我们。感谢你呼召我们来活在你荣耀的光中。求你帮助我们像你看我们那样看自己。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
1 Peter 2:4-10
FRIDAY, MAY 1
ROYALTY, NOT “ROYAL SCREW-UPS”
You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. . . .
—1 Peter 2:9
We are often our own worst critics. I find that many of my inner thoughts tend to be negative about myself. “Kent, what were you thinking?” “You keep doing that. . . .” “Now they are going to think you’re a jerk.” And so on.
The truth is, we often have good reasons for chewing ourselves out. We mess up. Daily.
That’s why we need to go to the Bible and remind ourselves what God thinks of us. This beautiful text in 1 Peter helps us see how blessed and loved we are. We are chosen by God to become part of his family. This means we are royalty. We are princesses and princes in the kingdom of God, the Lord of the cosmos. We are also a priesthood, meaning we are made holy, pure, and dedicated to the One who is totally holy and pure. And we are called to praise this amazing God who has called us “out of darkness and into his wonderful light.”
Wow! We are not total screwups! No other creatures in the universe have more going for them than we do. Oh, sure, we don’t see the final product yet. But what Peter describes is the reality that God sees, and this is the reality we need to see.
When you are tempted to be negative, try talking to yourself this way: “Yes, I messed up. But I am chosen by God to be part of his family—holy, royal, and called to serve the King of the cosmos faithfully.” This is how God sees you.
Lord, thank you for remaking us in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for calling us to live in your glorious light. Help us to think of ourselves as you do. In Jesus, Amen.