讀經:路加福音第五章

默想:耶穌對他們(自以為義的法利賽人和文士)說:「無病的人用不著醫生,有病的人才用得著;我來本不是召義人悔改,乃是召罪人悔改。」(路5:31-32)

默想一:「好人」會上天堂嗎?他們作許多好事當有好報不是嗎?天堂是屬神的國度,國度自有神的對「好人」的標準。在神聖潔的光中,世人都犯了罪,都虧缺了神的榮耀。不論你是誰?或作了多少,你我都是罪人,而罪的工價就是死。為此,我們需要因罪悔改歸向神。

 默想二:你認識自己嗎?真正認識自己的人,是承認需要神的救恩的人。病人必須承認自己是病人,他才會去找醫生:罪人必須承認自己是罪人,他才會尋求主的拯救。你需要對照鏡子,才知道自己的長相。聖經是神給人的鏡子,多看才能看到自己是需要神的人。

禱告:天父上帝,感謝祢豐盛的救恩,是我不配得的。求祢那真理的靈內住我心,時刻地鑒察我,知道我的心思;試煉我,知道我的意念。免得我陷入自高自大、自以為義的光景裡。我知道我今日成了何等人,都是祢的恩才成的。讓我以謙卑及感恩的心與祢同行。奉主耶穌的名禱告。阿們!

Bible Reading: Luke 5.

Insight:  “Jesus answered them (Self-righteous Pharisees and scribes), “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luk 5:31-32)

Insight one: Will “good people” go to heaven? Shouldn’t they deserve good rewards since they have done many good deeds? Heaven is the kingdom of God. The kingdom has its own standard of “good people.” Under the sacred and holy light, all men have sinned, and all have fallen short of the glory of God. No matter who you are or how much you have done, you and I are sinners, and the wages of sin is death. For this we need to repent for our sins and turn back to God.

Insight two: Do you know yourself? Those who truly know themselves are those who acknowledge the need for God’s salvation. A patient must admit to have been sick before going to see a doctor: a sinner must admit to have sinned before seeking the Lord’s salvation. You need to look in the mirror to know how you look. The Bible is a mirror that God gives to people. You have to look in it often; you can then see that you need God.

Prayer: God Heavenly Father, thank You for Your abundant salvation, which I do not deserve. Please have Your Spirit of truth dwelled in my heart, and Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Keep me from falling into a trap of arrogance and self-righteousness. But by the grace of God I am what I am. Let me walk with You with humbleness and gratitude. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!

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