經文: 「上帝的命令就是叫我們信祂兒子耶穌基督的名，且照祂所賜給我們的命令彼此相愛。」— (聖經·約翰壹書 3章23節)
星期天晚上的閉會禮拜在葛來福舉行，在下午的會議上，我們決定將約翰福音十五章葡萄樹與枝子的比喻，分做五個重要信息來傳講，某個牧師剛好抽到談「兄弟姐妹」之愛，但他喃喃抱怨說：「我不會講這個題目，也從來沒有傳講過這方面信息。」他解釋說：「我以前在荷蘭唸書，『愛』這個主題都是讓『開放派』來講，他們不相信上帝嚴峻的公義，也不相信救恩是藉耶穌而來，他們覺得談『上帝是愛』就夠了。」而『正統派』的會友，也不准提議把這類「開放派」份子趕出教會，因為我們要講究愛嘛！結果，正統派教徒只好專講「信心」這部份的主題，「愛心」這部份就留給「開放派」來講。
教會不僅要傳講「上帝救恩」之愛，而且更進一步地要教導信徒，在弟兄姐妹身上將心中的愛表達出來。主耶穌基督給我們一條新命令-彼此相愛。藉此要讓別人看出我們真是基督徒了。
傳講這類「愛」的訊息極為重要，上帝有時候允許基督徒之間有誤會苦毒，好讓他們明白「罪」的可怕權勢，而從心中極力地規避它。傳道人及信徒多麼需要明白「彼此相愛」的重要性！若我們願意真正行出「彼此相愛」的樣式，那麼我們的生活將有何等大的不同，且能流露出愛與聖潔的芬芳來！
願這本書能幫助我們了解愛的雙重詮釋，上帝在耶穌基督裡對我們的愛，以及透過聖靈，由我們心中發出對弟兄姊妹的愛。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
(每日靈修 9月6日)
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興
『 Love and Faith 』
Scripture: “This is His commandment, that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as He gave us commandment.” — (1 JOHN 3:23)
At a Conference at Graaff Reinet, the closing service was held on Sunday night. At the afternoon meeting we decided to take, as subject, the five great lessons to be learned from the parable of the Vine and Branches in John xv. The subject of brotherly love fell to the lot of a certain minister. But he demurred saying: “I cannot speak on that subject, and I have never yet preached on it.” In explanation he said: “You know that I studied in Holland, and when there the subject of love was left to the liberal section. They did not believe in God’s stern justice, nor in the redemption through Christ. God was love; that was enough. The orthodox party were not allowed to suggest that their opponents should be put out of the church. No, all should be borne in love! And so it came to pass that the orthodox party were strong in preaching faith, but left the preaching of love to the liberal section.”
The Church must learn not only to preach the love of God in redemption; it must go further, and teach Christians to show that the love of Christ is in their hearts, by love shown to the brethren. Our Lord called this a new commandment: a badge by which the world should recognize His disciples!
There is great need for this preaching of love. God sometimes allows bitterness to arise between Christians that they may view the terrible power of sin in their hearts, and shrink back at the sight. How greatly a minister and his people should feel the importance of Christ’s command: “Love one another.” A life of great holiness will result, if we really but love each other as Christ loves us.
May the reading of this book help us to understand the two manifestations of love: the wonderful love of God in Christ to us, and the wonderful love in us, through the Holy Spirit, to Him and to our brethren.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 6 September 」
