【双语灵修】极大的奥秘A GREAT MYSTERY
以弗所书 5:21-33
又当存敬畏基督的心，彼此顺服。你们做妻子的，当顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主；因为丈夫是妻子的头，如同基督是教会的头，他又是教会全体的救主。教会怎样顺服基督，妻子也要怎样凡事顺服丈夫。你们做丈夫的，要爱你们的妻子，正如基督爱教会，为教会舍己，要用水藉着道把教会洗净，成为圣洁，可以献给自己，做个荣耀的教会，毫无玷污、皱纹等类的病，乃是圣洁没有瑕疵的。丈夫也当照样爱妻子，如同爱自己的身子，爱妻子便是爱自己了。从来没有人恨恶自己的身子，总是保养顾惜，正像基督待教会一样，因我们是他身上的肢体。为这个缘故，人要离开父母，与妻子联合，二人成为一体。这是极大的奥秘，但我是指着基督和教会说的。然而你们各人都当爱妻子，如同爱自己一样；妻子也当敬重她的丈夫。
8月20日
极大的奥秘
“这是极大的奥秘，但我是指着基督和教会说的。” - 以弗所书 5:32
在工作日的傍晚，我和妻子Vicki通常会坐在客厅里我们最喜欢的位子上，她织着毛衣，我读著书。偶尔，我会从书页上方瞥她一眼，心中常会涌起一阵感激与惊叹—感激这四十载有余的婚姻生活，也惊叹于我们两个人的生命竟能如此紧密地交织在一起。
保罗在《以弗所书》第5章论述家庭关系时，谈到了婚姻。他从不同角度指出了丈夫与妻子的呼召，并强调夫妻双方都应当“存敬畏基督的心”彼此顺服。根据保罗的教导，夫妻在肉体与属灵上的联合，指向了一个更为深邃的奥秘：即基督与祂的新妇—教会—之间的联合。
进入婚姻并非理解基督与教会关系之奥秘的必要条件。保罗虽然未结婚，但藉着与耶稣的亲密连接，以及圣灵在他心中的奇妙运行，他亲身见证了基督那牺牲的爱、宝贵的恩典、属灵的滋养，以及最核心的—那无条件的接纳与赦免。
耶稣对祂的新妇—教会的爱，涵盖了地上各国、各族、各方的人民。主的爱以哪些方式激励我们，在祂遍布全球的身体（教会）中，彼此关怀并同工呢？
祷告
耶稣啊，你对我们，以及对你的新妇—教会的爱，是何等奇妙！求你帮助我们在婚姻中，也在教会里，彼此映照出你的爱。阿们。
Ephesians 5:21-33
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20
A GREAT MYSTERY
This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church. —Ephesians 5:32
On weekday evenings, my wife, Vicki, and I can usually be found in our favorite seats in our living room, with Vicki knitting while I read. Occasionally I’ll glance at her from over my book, and often I am filled with a rush of gratitude and wonder—grateful for over 42 years of marriage and awed by how intimately our two lives are intertwined.
In his discussion of household relationships in Ephesians 5, Paul addresses marriage. Noting the calls of husbands and wives from different angles, he points out that both spouses are to submit to each other “out of reverence for Christ.” According to Paul, the physical and spiritual union of husband and wife points to an even more profound mystery: the union between Christ and his bride, the church.
Being married isn't necessary for being able to understand some of the mystery in Christ’s relationship with the church. Paul wasn’t married, and yet through his relationship with Jesus and his experience of the Holy Spirit’s work in his heart, he could attest to Jesus’ sacrificial love, his cherishing favor, his spiritual nourishment, and, above all, his unconditional acceptance and forgiveness.
Jesus’ love for his bride, the church, embraces people of every language and nation under heaven.
In what ways can the Lord’s love inspire us to care for and work with each other in his body, the church worldwide?
Jesus, how amazing is your love for us—and for your bride, your church! Help us to mirror your love to each other in marriage and in the church. Amen.