經文: 「盼望不至於羞恥,因為所賜給我們的聖靈將上帝的愛澆灌在我們心裡。」— [聖經·羅馬書 5章5節]
萬有都本於上帝也出於上帝,但在萬物未造之先,上帝本身就是愛的源頭和眾光之父,一切美善都匯集於祂一身。祂是亙古到永遠又永不改變的神,在祂裡面毫無黑暗陰影,祂的旨意永遠純全、善良,可喜悅。
上帝是自有、永有的完美存在,人類無法做任何事,來增其輝或減其明。祂是萬有的第一因,宛如生命之母毫無欠缺,祂對宇宙世界的計劃,永遠是美善的源頭,祂樂於施恩,將祝福傾倒給屬祂的子民。
萬物、人類的本質原是美善。若非這位無所不在的美善真神的生命進入你的心中,你就無法在心中擁有這純全善良的聖靈;反之,上帝的靈若進入你心中,你就自然而然能行各樣的善事,因為這完全順乎你的本性,也不違反在你心中自由運行聖靈的旨意。
因為上帝是那測不透的大愛化身,而愛的真諦,就是不求回報、不自誇、不張狂,滿有恩慈寬容,只有祝福沒有咒咀。因此越是遇到仇敵的烈怒、朋友的出賣,愛的力量就越壯大興盛,勝過仇恨敵意,就如黑暗終究敵不過光明。上帝就是愛,祂純全善良的旨意永不改變,人的心中若沒有主愛的內住引導,勢必走向敗壞的道路,過著不快樂的自我中心生活。
「我的上帝哪!求祢將那所應許的聖靈賞賜在我心中,教導我過一個聖潔、榮耀,充滿真愛的生活。奉主耶穌基督聖名,阿們。」
—《 神 的 心 意 》
[每日靈修 8月14日]
作者:慕安德烈
編輯:榮華興
『 The Nature of Love 』
Scripture: “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” — [Romans 5:5]
“The Spirit of Love has this original God, as considered in Himself, in His Holy Being, before anything is brought forth by Him, or out of Him, is only an eternal Will to all Goodness. This is the one eternal, immutable God that, from Eternity to Eternity, changeth not, that can be neither more nor less, but an eternal Will to all the Goodness that is in Himself and come from Him. The creation of ever so many worlds adds nothing to, nor takes anything from, this immutable God: He always was, and always will be the same immutable Will to all Goodness. So that as certainly as He is the Creator, so certainly is He the Blesser of every created thing, and can give nothing but Blessing, Goodness and Happiness from Himself, because He has in Himself nothing else to give.
“Now this is the ground and original of the Spirit of love in the creature. It is and must be a will to all goodness; and you have not the Spirit of Love till you have this will to all goodness at all times and on all occasions. You may indeed do many works of love, and delight in them, because they are not contradictory to your state and temper. But the Spirit of Love is not in you till it is the Spirit of your life, till you live freely, willingly and universally according to it. It knows no difference of time, place or person; but whether it gives or forgives, bears or forbears, it is equally doing its own delightful work. For the Spirit of Love, wherever it is, is its own blessing and happiness, because it is the truth and the reality of God in the soul. For as love has no by-ends, wills nothing but its own increase, so everything is as oil to its flame. The Spirit of Love does not want to be rewarded or honoured; its only desire is to propagate itself, and become the blessing and happiness of everything that wants it. The wrath of an enemy, the treachery of a friend, only helps the Spirit of Love to be more triumphant, to live its own life and find all its own blessing in a higher degree. The infinitely perfect and happy God is mere love, an unchangeable Will to all Goodness, and therefore every creature must be corrupt and unhappy, so far as it is led by any other will than the one will to all goodness.”
May God teach us that as glorious and holy as is His love to us, is the love with which He promises by His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts.
— God’s Best Secrets by Andrew Murray
「 14 August 」