【双语灵修】雕刻的偶像GRAVEN IMAGES
出埃及记 20:4-6
8月5日
雕刻的偶像
“神是个灵，所以拜他的必须用心灵和诚实拜他。” - 约翰福音 4:24
多年前，在访问印度加尔各答时， 我曾穿过一条挤满了小作坊的狭窄小巷。这些店铺里满是忙碌的巧手工匠，他们正叮当作响地锻打金属、雕刻木材、浇筑石膏模具，用来制造偶像。在这些塑像被装饰得五彩斑斓之后，城中数以百万计的印度教徒便会对这些塑像膜拜。
在第一条诫命中，神呼召祂的子民唯独敬拜祂。在接下来的诫命中，神禁止制造和敬拜偶像，或为敬拜而制造任何关于祂自己的形像。神厌恶偶像，并警告说：那些持续敬拜偶像的人必受惩罚。看到偶像当令我们对那些敬拜者充满忧伤与怜悯，催促我们向他们分享关于那独一的真神、以及我们众人的救主的信息。
现在，如果我们不去敬拜工匠所造的偶像，是否就意味着我们可以直接跳过第二条诫命呢？不—这条诫命也显明了我们应当如何敬拜这位独一的真神。
那么，我们应当如何正确地敬拜神呢？耶稣解释说，我们“必须用心灵和诚实（在圣灵和真理中）拜他”。这意味着我们蒙召敬拜神，是要承认祂是天地万物的创造主，并跟随祂的儿子耶稣。我们敬拜神，藉着聚会来聆听并顺服祂的话语。我们敬拜神，是要爱并服侍那些按着祂的形象所造的人—也就是每一个人。
祷告
天父，愿所有拜偶像的人都在属灵的渴求中归向你。求你教导我们众人，使我们都能“用心灵和诚实”敬拜你。阿们。
Exodus 20:4-6
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
GRAVEN IMAGES
“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” —John 4:24
Years ago, while visiting in Kolkata, India, I passed through a narrow alley tightly packed with small workshops. These shops were a beehive of skilled artisans noisily hammering metals, carving wood, and pouring plaster casts to make idols. And after they were colorfully decorated, the figures were worshiped by millions of Hindus in the city.
In the first commandment, God calls his people to worship him alone. In the next commandment, God forbids the making and worshiping of idols or of any representations of himself for worship. God abhors idols, and he warns that people who keep worshiping them will be punished. Seeing idols should fill us with sorrow and compassion for the people who worship them, and this should prompt us to share with them about the one true God and Savior of us all.
Now, if we don’t worship idols crafted by artisans, does that mean we can lightly skip over the second commandment? No—this commandment also deals with how we worship the one true God.
And how do we rightly worship God? Jesus explained that we “must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This means we are called to worship God by acknowledging him as the Creator of heaven and earth and by following his Son, Jesus. We worship God by gathering to hear and obey his Word. We worship God by loving and serving people who are made in his image—that is, everyone.
Father, may all who worship idols turn to you in their spiritual longing. Teach us all to worship you “in the Spirit and in truth.” Amen.