【双语灵修】渐渐懂得怎样悔改GETTING BETTER AT REPENTANCE?

诗篇 139:23-24

神啊，求你鉴察我，知道我的心思，试炼我，知道我的意念，看在我里面有什么恶行没有，引导我走永生的路。

11月12日

渐渐懂得怎样悔改

“神啊，求你鉴察我，知道我的心思，试炼我，知道我的意念。” - 诗 139:23

我们成长后，悔改看来似乎不再适用于我们了。悔改对属灵生命幼嫩的人是一件美事，但作为基督徒模范的人也需要常常悔改，实在难以想像。他们也需要这样做吗？

我的信心越成长，但若认为自己不再需要悔改，听起来就越发愚昧了。我虽然没有丑闻需要隐瞒，但我也有很多需要悔改的事情。事实上，比起年青时，现今我有更多需要悔改的因由。

最近，神轻轻提醒我，去察看我的好行为背后的动机。举例说，如果我一向都是个忠心的丈夫，或是尽责的牧师，我是为了谁这样做呢？我没有破坏我的婚姻或事奉的工作，最受惠的大概是我自己。我的动机不一定是要过圣洁的生活，我有好行为，或许是我明智的选择而已！

那么，这件事带给我什么？它最终是令我感恩。恩典奇妙之处，就是它一旦开始了便不会停下来。就像一个不用担忧自己有没有好表现的继承者，我可以毫无顾忌地来到神面前。这都是基于神藉耶稣基督赐给我那奇妙、不可思议的大爱。这是永远不会改变的—不在乎我尽了多少努力来改变我的动机。今天我明白了这点，明天我便能够更放心地悔改了。

你又怎样呢？你在哪些事情上更懂得悔改？

祷告

神啊，求你引导我去察验自己的动机，带领我去真心悔改，叫我不是单单满足要求，而是全然信靠你丰盛的恩典。阿们。

Psalm 139:23-24

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

GETTING BETTER AT REPENTANCE?

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. —Psalm 139:23

Repentance can seem like something we should outgrow. It’s great for spiritual beginners, but it’s hard to imagine Christian role models having to repent very much. Do they?

The more I grow in faith, the sillier it sounds to think I could outgrow repentance. I’m not hiding scandals in my life, but I’ve still got plenty to repent of. In fact, I think I’ve probably got more raw material for repentance than I had when I was younger.

Lately God has been nudging me to look into my motives behind doing good things. For example, if I’ve been a faithful husband or a responsible pastor, whom have I really done that for? I’ve probably been the one who has benefited most from not wrecking my marriage or my career in ministry. Rather than being motivated by holiness, my actions might just be smart!

So where does that lead me? Ultimately, into gratitude. One of the amazing things about grace is that it doesn’t stop when an introductory period has passed. My freedom to waltz into God’s presence like an heir doesn’t depend on my ability to do good; it depends on the amazing, mind-boggling love that God has shown me through Jesus Christ. And that will never change—no matter how much I try to work on my motives. Realizing this today leads me to repent even more freely tomorrow.

What about you? In which areas are you getting better at repentance?

God, guide me in examining my motives. Lead me to repent sincerely, not just out of obligation, and to rely fully on your abundant grace. Amen.