7月25日
標 題:行事為人要相稱
經 節:只要你們行事為人與基督的福音相稱。(腓立比書一章27節上)
自保羅被神呼召,他從未失去自己對神福音奧秘的驚歎。他明白自己的行事為人,一定要配得上那揀選他的王。他知道福音是向曆世歷代隱藏的奧秘,但是在他自己的時代,藉著耶穌基督的生命、受死及復活,顯明了福音的真諦(歌羅西書一:26~27)。保羅也瞭解,除非人們接受福音,否則會死在過犯絕望之中(歌羅西書二:13)。根據神對救恩計劃的結果,那些相信基督的人,不僅是在基督裡活著,他們也成為天父的兒女(羅馬書八:16~17)。保羅瞭解,雖然福音在世人眼中看起來愚拙,但福音乃是神的大能,要把永生帶給所有接受的人。
由於保羅的生命已被徹底地改變,他要自己的生活與賜生命的福音相稱。人若是接受福音的豐盛,卻活著像屬靈的叫化子,真是悲慘!因著基督的寶血,人由死亡中被拯救,卻對救恩懷不敬虔的態度,是一件很羞恥的事。人先接受基督的愛,然後以憎恨回報,是很愚笨的。
救主耶穌基督賜你無比的恩典,而你的行事為人便是對那恩典的獻禮。
Walking Worthy
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of
Christ. (Philippians 1:27)
Paul never lost his wonder at having been called by
God. He understood that the way he lived ought to be worthy of the King who had
chosen him. He knew that the mystery of the gospel had been hidden for
generations and had only been revealed in his day through the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:26–27). Paul also understood that until
people accept the gospel, they are spiritually dead and therefore without hope
(Col. 2:13). As a result of God’s plan of salvation, those who trust in Jesus
are not only made alive in Christ but are also adopted as the Father’s children
(Rom. 8:16–17). Paul recognized that though the Gospel sounds like foolishness
to the world, it is the power of God that brings eternal life to those who
accept it.
Because Paul’s life had been radically transformed
by the gospel, he was intent on living to honor the gospel that gave him life.
It would have been tragic to receive the riches of the gospel and then to live
as a spiritual pauper. It would have been disgraceful to be saved from death by
the blood of Christ and then show no reverence for that sacrifice. It would
have been foolish to accept such love from Christ and then to resent what He
asked in return.
The way you live your life ought to be a tribute to
the matchless grace that your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has bestowed upon
you.