經文: 「然而,靠著愛我們的主,在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了。」— (聖經·羅馬書 8章37節)
在這動盪不安民族意識高漲的世代,有件極為迫切的事,就是需要對上帝的愛有新的發現和活生生的經驗。讓我們將錨穩穩地紮在這真理上:「上帝就是愛。」(約翰壹書 四16) 上帝就是以這樣的權能大愛,來統轄管理這宇宙萬有。
上帝做工在人的心中,讓信徒有這樣的意願完全降服於上帝,甘心服事祂。上帝也等著祂的兒女們打開心門,讓祂將屬天的勇氣與愛充滿他們的心,好讓他們能為祂作見證。
若這樣的目的達到了,上帝的國也就降臨了,而以愛統治世界的夢想也將開始;耶穌為世人受死的目的,也就是為要建立這樣一個國度的。祂用的唯一方式就是用祂捨命犧牲的愛,來感化人的心歸向祂,即使世界上最糟糕的人,上帝也看出他有得救贖的希望,上帝知道人的心擋不住持續、堅定不移的大愛;而對上帝不改變的愛寄以無限信心,正是我們生活行事的力量,也是這種燃燒火熱赤誠的愛,使得門徒能期待那不可能的事發生,並且盡全力以赴。
人心深處的恨意與苦毒,不是用說理可以釐清得了,也不是用責罰可以嚇阻得住,有人認為對這樣負面的情緒是無能為力,但假如你相信主愛的全能,就會相信在上帝沒有難成的事。
上帝的兒女必須接受主的大愛,不僅為個人的需要,也是為他人的好處。若信徒肯毫無保留地將自己獻給上帝,讓聖靈運行在我們心中,慢慢地我們內心的善意就會散放出來;我們對主愛的信心,這股世界上最大的力量,可以預備好我們的心,就在禱告的生活裡與主耶穌親密交通,並在弟兄姐妹中無私地付出。
弟兄姐妹們,讓我們常常檢討自己的生活,並且向上帝祈求恩典,能勝任做上帝的好僕人,將上帝的愛散佈給我們四週圍的人。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
(每日靈修 9月11日)
作者:慕安德烈
編輯:榮華興
『 The Power of Love 』
Scripture: “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” — (Romans 8:37)
In days of unrest and strong racial feeling, we need above all a new discovery, and living experience, of the love of God. Let us anchor our hope in the thought, “God is Love.” God’s power, by which He rules and guides the world, is the power of an undying, persistent love. He works through the hearts, and spirits, and wills of men and women, wholly yielded to Him and His service; and He waits for them to open their hearts to Him in love, and then, full of courage, to become witnesses for Him.
When this has been achieved, Christ’s kingdom is manifested, and His reign of love on earth begun. Christ died in order to establish this kingdom. The only means He used to gain influence was through the manifestation of a great serving, suffering Love. He saw the possibility of redemption in the hearts of even the worst of men. He knew that men’s hearts could never resist the steady, continuous influence of love; and that unbounded faith in God’s love would be our strength and stay. It was in the fire and the fervor of that love that the disciples were able to expect, and to do, the impossible.
The spirit of hatred and bitterness can never be overcome by argument, or by reproaches. Some think things can never be different, but if we really believe in the omnipotence of God’s love, we may not distrust His power. God’s children must learn to accept His love, not only for themselves individually, but for the life of others. Gradually better feelings will prevail, if believers will yield themselves unreservedly, for God to work through them.
Our faith in Love, as the greatest power in the world, should prepare us for a life in communion with God in prayer, and for a life of unselfish service amongst our fellow-men. Let each Christian examine his life, and pray for grace, as a servant of that all-powerful Love, to live for those around him.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 11 September 」