讀經:约翰福音第十七章

默想:「聖父啊,求祢因祢所賜給我的名保守他們,叫他們合而為一,像我們一樣。」(約17:11b)

默想一:主耶穌被釘在十字架前為教會的禱告是什麼?祈求天父上帝「叫他們合而為一」。基督徒的合而為一不是指組織上的統一,或形式上的劃一,或動作上的一致,也不是指情感、理智、意見的合一。而是指生命上的靈裡合一,正如聖父、聖子、聖靈之間的合一。

默想二:默想二:教會要怎樣才能顯出真實的合一?大家在神面前放下自己的主見及偏見,不分彼此地連於元首基督,以基督的心為心,竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。撒旦的目的是要教會分裂,使基督的名蒙羞。但教會裡的弟兄姐妹同有一個責任,就是要守住聖靈所做成的合一,這樣福音才能廣傳無阻,主的名大得榮耀。

禱告:天父上帝,感謝祢藉著耶穌在十字架上所成就的和睦。求聖靈潔淨我們的教會,清除一切的紛爭、控訴、排擠、結黨。我願在教會裡盡上合一的本分。奉耶穌寶貴的名禱告,阿們!

Bible Reading: John 17.

Insight:  “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” (Joh 17:11b)

Insight one: What was Jesus’ prayer for the church before he was nailed on the cross? He prayed God heavenly Father to make them “be one”. The unity of Christians does not mean the unity of the organization, or the unity of formats, or the unity of actions, nor does it refer to the unity of emotion, rational, and opinion. It refers to the unity of the soul of life, just like the unity of the Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit.   

Insight two: How can a Church show her true unity? We should, regardless of each other, put down our own opinion and bias before God to connect to the Head, Christ, and make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Satan’s purpose is to make the division of God’s church and shame the name of Christ so that it can celebrate with firecrackers. Yet the brothers and sisters in the church have the same responsibility, which is to live out a unified image to guard the unity made by the Holy Spirit, so that the gospel can be spread widely and the name of the Lord is glorified.

Prayer: God heavenly Father, thank You for the reconciliation that Jesus accomplished on the cross. May the Holy Spirit cleanse our church; dissipate every dissension, accusation, segregation, and faction. I am willing to fulfill my duty for the church’s unity and pray for the church. I pray in the precious name of Jesus, Amen!   

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