【双语灵修】尊重权威RESPECTING AUTHORITY
罗马书 13:1-7
在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的，凡掌权的都是神所命的。 所以，抗拒掌权的就是抗拒神的命，抗拒的必自取刑罚。 做官的原不是叫行善的惧怕，乃是叫作恶的惧怕。你愿意不惧怕掌权的吗？你只要行善，就可得他的称赞； 因为他是神的用人，是于你有益的。你若作恶，却当惧怕；因为他不是空空地佩剑，他是神的用人，是申冤的，刑罚那作恶的。 所以你们必须顺服，不但是因为刑罚，也是因为良心。 你们纳粮也为这个缘故，因他们是神的差役，常常特管这事。 凡人所当得的，就给他：当得粮的，给他纳粮；当得税的，给他上税；当惧怕的，惧怕他；当恭敬的，恭敬他。
8月14日
尊重权威
“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的。” - 罗马书 13:1
纵观历史，世界上的大多数文化都将家庭视为人类社会的“基石”。其中许多文化在运作中，都秉持这样的基本理念：家庭强健，则社会强健。
对家庭单位重要性的这种普遍认识不足为奇，因为这正是神为人类社会生活的繁荣所设立的秩序。在家庭中，儿女学习孝敬、尊重并顺服神赐给他们的父母。通过在家庭中所学到的功课，儿女在神按主权智慧所安置他们的社会中，成长为有贡献的公民。正如神呼召儿女，要孝敬并顺服父母，众人也同样受感召，要尊重并顺服神所设立的地上权柄。
因此，第五诫的范畴延伸到了家庭之外，涵盖了教师、长老、牧师，以及政府当局的权威。在《罗马书》第13章中，使徒保罗详细阐述了顺服那些在上掌权者的深远意义。当然，没有任何地上的权柄是绝对的。但通常而言，神呼召我们顺服政府当局，并为他们在制定关乎公共福祉的决策时祈求智慧。如有必要，权柄和政府是可以更迭的；但如果他们寻求大众的益处，他们便是神所使用的工具，用以带来平安与福祉。
祷告
全能的神，当我们信靠你的慈爱与智慧时，求你帮助我们尊重并顺服那些在位掌权的人。奉耶稣的名，阿们。
Romans 13:1-7
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14
RESPECTING AUTHORITY
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. —Romans 13:1
Throughout history, most cultures around the world have understood the family as the “building block” of human society. And many of these cultures operate with the foundational idea that where the family is strong, the society is strong.
This general understanding of the importance of the family unit should come as no surprise, since this is how God has ordered human social life for flourishing. In the family, children learn to honor, respect, and obey their parents, whom God has given them. From lessons learned in the home, children mature into productive citizens in the societies where God, in his sovereign wisdom, has placed them. And just as God has called children to honor and obey their parents, all people are called to honor and obey the earthly authorities God has established.
So the scope of the fifth commandment extends beyond the family to include the authority of teachers, elders, pastors, and governing authorities. In Romans 13 the apostle Paul lays out in detail the consequential meaning of submitting to those in authority over us. No earthly authority is absolute, of course. But in general God calls us to submit to governing authorities and to pray for wisdom as they make decisions for the common good. Authorities and governments can be changed, if necessary, but if they seek our good and that of our neighbors, they generally serve as God’s instruments for peace and well-being.
Almighty God, as we trust in your love and wisdom, help us to honor and obey those in authority over us. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.