讀經:约翰福音第十三章。
默想:「我賜給你們一條新命令,乃是叫你們彼此相愛;我怎樣愛你們,你們也要怎樣相愛。」(約13:34)
默想一:主耶穌賜給基督徒的「一條新命令」是什麼?要我們彼此相愛!這為什麼是「新」的命令?因為主耶穌不是要我們按照我們的愛去愛人,乃是要遵照祂對我們的愛去愛人。祂的捨己、犧牲、饒恕、無私是我們愛人的標準。主耶穌的「新」是要我們愛仇敵,甚至為他們祝福,這已經超越了舊約愛鄰舍的命令。
默想二:主耶穌命令基督徒要彼此相愛的目的是什麼?不僅操練我們順服主,也藉此向世人見證,我們是基督的門徒。在你的婚姻、家庭、團契、教會裡彼此相愛容易嗎?不容易!但「我靠著那加給我力量的,凡事都能做」(腓4:13)。
禱告:天父上帝,感謝祢的大愛。求祢教導我如何在袮的愛裡成長,並在教會裡盡彼此相愛的責任—超越宗派、膚色、國籍、語言的界線。我願意去愛,因為袮先愛我。奉主耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們!
Bible Reading: John 13.
Insight: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Joh 13:34)
Insight one: What is the “new command” given to Christians by Jesus the Lord? He asks us to love one another! Why is it a “new” command? For Jesus does not ask us to love others according to our love, but to love others in accordance with the love He loves us. His selflessness, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, and His magnanimity are the benchmark of how we should love others. When Jesus called it “new” means He wants us to love our enemies, and even to bless them, which has gone beyond the Old Testaments’ teaching of loving your neighbors.
Insight two: What is the purpose of the Lord Jesus commanding Christians to love one another? It not only makes us to learn to obey the Lord, but is also a testimony to the world that we are disciples of Christ. Is it easy to love one another in your marriage, family, fellowship, and Church? It is not easy! But “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” (Php 4:13).
Prayer: God our heavenly Father, thank You for your great love. Teach me how to grow up in Your love, and to fulfill our responsibilities of loving one another in the church – beyond the boundaries of denominations, races, nationalities, the languages. I want to love, because You first love me. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!