《今日靈修默想》:「我們應當靠著耶穌,常常以頌讚為祭獻給神,這就是那承認主名之人嘴唇的果子。」(來13:15)

默想一:基督徒在禱告上最要操練的是什麼?就是感謝神。今天有不少的基督徒只會向神求!求!求!卻極少向神獻上感恩。我們的神,不僅要我們謝恩,祂要我們『常常以頌讚為祭獻給神』。不論順境或逆境,我們要操練『凡事謝恩,因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向我們所定的旨意』(帖前5:17)。當我們親嘗主恩的滋味,我們越數算主的恩惠,我們感恩的心越加多,喜樂的心越滿溢。

默想二:基督徒為什麼要經常獻上讚美祭給主?因祂為了我們的罪流出寶血並洗淨我們的罪。為了不忘主恩,我們當時時刻刻地獻上讚美祭。頌讚是基督徒信心的宣告。讚美祭不是每一個人都會甘心獻上,只有那些已經承認主名的人才能結這嘴唇的果子,他們的心因被神的恩典所觸動,才會在口裡結出頌讚的果子來。

禱告:阿爸父神,感謝袮藉著耶穌基督的降世,我們才能蒙恩得救。為了報答袮的奇異恩典,求求袮幫助我,讓我在任何時間、任何地方、任何情况,我都要以真誠的心獻上讚美祭給袮,即使在逼迫、患難、疾病、痛苦時,我仍然要讚美袮。主啊!『我拿什麼報答耶和華向我所賜的一切厚恩?我要舉起救恩的杯,稱揚耶和華的名』(詩116:12-13)。奉主耶穌得勝的名禱告,阿們!

《Today’s spiritual meditation》:  “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Heb 13:15)

Meditation one: What is Christians’ most needed practice in prayer? It is to thank God. Many Christians today only ask of God! Asking of! Asking of! But very rarely offer thankfulness to God. Our God not only wants us to give thanks, He wants us to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise”. Regardless whether in prosperity or adversity, we must practice to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus” (1Th 5:17). When we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, we will count the Lord’s blessings more, and the joyful heart will run over more.

Meditation two: Why do Christians continually offer sacrifice of praise to the Lord? This is because He shed His blood for us and washes away our sins. In order not to forget the Lord’s grace, we offer sacrifice of praise all the time. Praise is a declaration of Christians’ faith. Not everyone can offer sacrifice of praise willingly. Only those who have professed the name of the Lord can bear this fruit of lips, and only when their hearts are touched by the grace of God, their lips can then bear the fruit of praise.

Prayer: God Abba Father, thank You that we can only be saved by grace through Jesus Christ coming into the world. In order to render to You for Your amazing grace, please help me, so that at any time, anywhere, and under any situation, I am willing to offer sacrifice of praise to You with a sincere heart. Even in times of persecution, adversity, illness, and suffering, I still want to praise You. Oh Lord! “What shall I return to the Lord for all His goodness to me?I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord” (Psa 116:12-13). I pray in the victorious name of the Lord Jesus, Amen!

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