經文: 「情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫、污穢、邪蕩、拜偶像、邪術、仇恨、爭競、忌恨、惱怒、結黨、紛爭、異端、嫉妒、醉酒、荒宴等類。」 — (聖經·加拉太書 5章19-21a節)
在這三節經文中，保羅提到十七件可怕的事，這都屬「情慾的事」，其中有九件是違背愛心的，他在以弗所書四章31節又說：「一切苦毒、惱恨、忿怒、嚷鬧、毀謗，並一切的惡毒，都當從你們中間除掉。」這兒我們看到為何基督徒當中，愛為何這麼少，這麼難對別人有愛心，這一切都因為「情慾的發作」所帶出的結果。
即使很熱心的信徒，也會落在肉體當中，保羅說：「我肉體之中，沒有良善。」(羅馬書 七18)，因為「肉體的本質就是與上帝為敵」。想要藉自己的努力達成愛的生活是不太可能的，經上說：「你們當順著聖靈而行，就不放縱肉體的情慾了。」(加拉太書 五16)，聖靈能幫助我們將肉體放在聖靈掌管之下，聖靈的果子就是上帝的愛充滿在我們心中所結出來的果子。保羅又補充說：「因為賜生命聖靈的律，在基督耶穌裡釋放了我，使我脫離罪和死的律了。」(羅馬書 八2)，上帝的恩典使我們能靠著聖靈行事，而不是靠著肉體血氣行事。
讓我們謹記三個教訓：一、我們無法憑自己的力量愛上帝、愛人。二、基督徒當中沒有愛反而充滿苦毒，是因為憑血氣行事，不依靠聖靈行事。三、確知住在愛裡，能全心全意愛上帝、愛人的方法，就是完全地降服於聖靈，每天都求聖靈來引導我們的生活行動；因為惟有藉著聖靈，上帝的愛才能澆灌充滿在我們心中。
上帝的兒女們啊！謹記這一項真理，就是聖靈可以完全地掌管我們，不斷地動工在我們心中，使我們過一個愛上帝、愛人的生活，為這樣的領悟不斷地禱告，直到它深深地印在我們心中，並掌管我們全人的生活。
—《 神 的 心 意 》
(每日靈修 10月3日)
作者：慕安德烈
編輯：榮華興
『 The works of the flesh 』
Scripture: “The works of the flesh are manifest; witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousies, wrath, envyings, murders, and such like.” — (Galatians 5:19-21a)
Paul in these three verses mentions seventeen of the terrible “works of the flesh.” Nine of these are sins against love. And he says, elsewhere (Eph. iv. 31), “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” He here answers the question, why there is so little love amongst Christians, and why it is so hard to arouse such love. All these sins are “works of the flesh.”
Even the earnest Christian is still in the flesh. Paul says: “In me, in my flesh, there is nothing good” ; “Because the mind of the flesh is enmity against God.” It is quite impossible for a Christian by his own efforts to lead a life of love. Scripture says: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.” The Spirit will enable us to keep the flesh always in subjection. The “fruit of the Spirit” will be Christ’s love poured into our hearts as a fountain of love. Paul adds to what was quoted above: “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin.” The grace of God will enable the Christian to walk, not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Learn these three great lessons: 1. The Christian cannot in his own strength love God and his fellow-man. 2. The great reason of so much bitterness, and want of love, is that the Christian walks after the flesh. 3. The only sure way to abide in this life of love, to love God, and Christ, with the whole heart, to love the brethren fervently, and to have a tender compassionate love for all who do not yet know Christ-is an absolute surrender to the Holy Spirit, to be led and guided by Him each day of our lives. It is through the Holy Spirit that this love is shed abroad in our hearts.
Child of God, learn the lesson that the Holy Spirit will take entire possession of you, and will work continually within you a life of love to Christ and to all men. Pray over this thought, until it gains control of your whole being!
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 3 October 」
