【双语灵修】更新的意念A RENEWED MIND

罗马书12：1–2

所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当做活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉乃是理所当然的。 不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。

五月五日

更新的意念

“不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化。”——罗马书12:12

留意这段经文描述的明显对比。我们可以效法这个世界的“模式”—就是世人的行为、标准和传统。但我们也可以跟从神的旨意，方法就是使我们的心意在基督里得到更新和改变，好让我们能看到怎样按神的旨意过生活。

我们的世界被由黑暗之君魔鬼带领着的邪恶势力影响了。这个世界的模式、行为、标准和传统，都在促进自私自利、夸胜、滥用权力和轻蔑人的行为。我们天天都可以在传播媒体中见到这种现象，要抗拒它是相当困难的，特别是这个现像看来似乎是正常的，就更困难了。

神要拯救我们离开这些毁灭我们的意念和模式，每一个人靠着圣灵的能力，都需要寻求神的更新。

使徒保罗说：“要心意更新而变化。”这句话精要地说明基督徒一生的呼召，它指出我们怎样才能更像我们的救主。我们需要撇下我们昔日邪恶的意念，以更新和圣洁的意念取代。我们可以舍弃世界的情欲，并且抓紧神的慈爱。我们可以放下炫耀自我的习惯，改而追求基督自我牺牲的爱。

我们需要抵抗和拒绝这个邪恶世界的传统和模式；我们的意念需要去辨明什么是神真正的旨意，并且以它为过生活的标准。

祷告

亲爱的主，我们需要被你改造。求你更新我们的意念、成为更像基督的意念，好让我们能够按你的旨意过生活。阿们。

Romans 12:1-2

TUESDAY, MAY 5

A RENEWED MIND

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. —Romans 12:2

Notice the big contrast in this text. We can follow the “pattern”— or the behaviors, standards, and customs—of the world. Or we can follow the will of God. And the way to do that is to be transformed by the renewing of our mind in Christ so that we can see how to live by God’s will.

Our world is influenced by evil powers, led by the devil, the prince of darkness. The patterns, behaviors, standards, and customs of this world promote selfishness, boasting, abuse of power, and disdain for others. We see it every day in the media. And it can be difficult to resist, especially when it seems normal.

God wants to rescue us from destructive thoughts and patterns. Each person—empowered by the Holy Spirit—needs to seek God to be transformed.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” writes the apostle Paul. This is a good shorthand description of the Christian’s lifelong calling. It describes how to become more like the Savior. We need to shed our old, evil thoughts and put on new, holy ones. We can leave behind the desires of the world and grasp the love of God. We can put away self-promoting customs and embrace the self-sacrificing love of Christ.

We need to resist and reject the customs and patterns of the sinful world. Our minds need to discern what the true will of God is and to live by it.

Dear Lord, we need to be transformed. Renew our minds to be like the mind of Christ so that we may live by your will. Amen.