《今日靈修默想》:「聖靈所結的果子,就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制。⋯我們若是靠聖靈得生,就當靠聖靈行事。」(加5:22-25)

默想一:怎樣的人會結出聖靈的果子?就是順從聖靈而行的人,他們的生命自然會「結出」聖靈的果子—靈果。這靈果不是九個「仁愛、喜樂、和平…」,而是一個靈果卻包含了九種豐富的品味。這靈果不是靠「行出」來,也不是靠模仿或刻意造作,乃是聖靈在順從聖靈的人心中運行作工所表現的種種德行。聖靈的果子,不是人能『作』出來的,乃是聖靈「結」出來的。

默想二:現代教會需要防範的危機之一是什麼?就是濫用聖靈的恩賜,甚至操縱聖靈的引導;把聖靈的能力拘限在說方言、醫病趕鬼或行異能的事上;只凸顯靈恩的結果卻忽略過程。其實,真正的靈恩不是外面的現象或表現,而是有沒有結出聖靈的果子。

禱告:感謝神,因袮的大愛拯救了我。既然是聖靈重生了我,我也願在凡事上靠聖靈行事。為了體貼父神的心意,我絕不作消滅聖靈感動的事,也立志不叫聖靈為我擔憂。求袮聖靈時刻充滿我、指正我、更新我、塑造我,使我的生命結出聖靈的果子。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們!

《Today’s spiritual meditation》:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . . . Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Gal 5:22-25)

Meditation one: What kind of people can bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit? The life of those people who obey the Holy Spirit will naturally “bear” the fruit of the Holy Spirit – the spirit of holiness. This fruit of the spirit does not mean nine fruits of “love, joy, peace…”, but a single spiritual fruit contains nine rich tastes. This fruit of the spirit does not rely on “work-out”, or by imitation or deliberate fabrication. It is the good deeds of those who obey the Holy Spirit and have the Holy Spirit working in their hearts. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is not something people can “produce”, but can only be borne through the the Holy Spirit.

Meditation two: What is one of the crises that today’s Churches need to guard against? It is to abuse the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and even to manipulate the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It confines the power of the Holy Spirit to the speaking in tongues, the healing, the casting out demons, and the working of miracles. It only emphasizes the outcome of the spiritual gifts but discounts the process. In fact, the real gift of the Holy Spirit is not a phenomenon or expression of the outside, but a matter of whether bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit or not.

Prayer: Thank God for Your great love that saved me. Since I live by the Holy Spirit, I am willing to keep in step with the Holy Spirit in everything. In order to be in accordance with God’s will, in everything I do, I will neither quench the Holy Spirit, nor grieve the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill in me every moment, correct me, renew me, mold me, and make my life bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

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