FW: [和平教會 靈修學英文] 你穿著舊衣還是新衣？

 

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From: ???? [mailto:Taipei.hoping@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 9:49 AM
To: web@hoping.org.tw
Subject: [和平教會 靈修學英文] 你穿著舊衣還是新衣？

讀經：   以弗所書四章21至32節 保羅喜歡採用各樣的比喻，來幫助我們明白甚麼是真正的基督徒人生。保羅在四章22節所要表達的意思是：「脫去你的舊人，穿上基督給你的新人。」沒有人可以同時穿上舊人和新人；這意味著我們的生命中，不可能既保存舊人固有的壞習慣，又同時想擁有新人的好品格。保羅特別在經文中列出了好幾方面的表現：

在言語方面：(第25及29節)

我們的說話談吐，可見證基督活在我們的生命之中。說話的內容和說話的方式都同樣重要。這絕不是一件容易的事；但信徒必須努力學習在適當的時間，以適當的態度去做適當的事。信徒固然要常講誠實話，但同時要留意的是，每說一句話都是出於愛心(29節)。

在脾氣方面：(第26節)

「生氣卻不要犯罪」。你可能會說：「我雖然很容易生氣，但也很容易消氣。」你可能是這樣，但被你生氣的對象呢？他是否像你一樣？抑或他會一直耿耿於懷？一個容易發脾氣的基督徒，又怎能為基督作見證呢？當然，在某些情況，你需要用強硬的語氣、以強硬的措辭來表達你的想法，可是，當你這樣做的時候，你就更必須慎言。

在心靈方面：(第32節)

都市生活的壓力可使人變得麻木，但基督卻希望信徒保持一顆敏銳的心。第30節告訴我們，基督希望我們敏感於神的提醒；第32節則教導我們要以恩慈相待和彼此饒恕。這當然不是易事，但請謹記以弗所書三章20至21節的應許；只要我們願意，神必有能力在我們的生命中成就祂的工作。

你身上還是穿著舊人，抑或已換上新人呢？

牢記：

如果連身為弟兄姊妹的信徒我們都不能饒恕，我們還能夠饒恕誰人呢？

Bible Reading:    Ephesians 4: 21 – 32 Paul uses all kinds of word pictures to help us see what our Christian life should be like. Here he says in verse 22, 'Put off your old clothes and put on your new clothes which Christ gives you'. No-one can wear two suites of clothes at the same time and we shouldn't try to wear the habits of our old life mixed up with the new habits of our Christian life.

1. In our tongues, verses 25 & 29.

If Christ is in our lives, it will show in the way we speak. It will be seen not only in the words we speak but in the way we say them. It is not always easy, but a Christian should aim to say the right thing, at the right time, in the right way. A Christian must tell the truth always, but do it in love (v.29).

2. In our temper, verse 26.

'Be angry but do not sin while you are angry.' You may say, 'I've got a quick temper, but it's all over in a minute'. For you it may be so, but what about the other person? Will they forget it just as quickly? And what about your Christian testimony? Speak strongly, act strongly if you have to, but be very careful how you do it!

3. In our tenderness, verse 32.

Life in this world can make us tough. But Christ wants us to be tender-hearted. Verse 30 tells us that Christ wants us to be tender (sensitive) toward God. Verse 32 tells us to be tender and forgiving toward each other. But again that is not always easy is it? Remember the promise of Ephesians 3: 20-21. God is able to bring this about in our lives if we will allow him.

What kind of spiritual clothes are you wearing – the old or the new?

A THOUGHT TO REMEMBER:

If we can't forgive our fellow Christians, who in the world can we forgive?

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由 和平教會 於 2/28/2008 05:48:00 下午 張貼在 和平教會 靈修學英文