讀經:羅馬書第二章。
默想:「凡恆心行善,尋求榮耀、尊貴和不能朽壞之福的,就以永生報應他們。」(羅2:7)
默想一:凡多作善行、積功德的人,會有永生報應嗎?不會。基督徒能承受永生,不是因為為神做了什麼,而是基督在十字架上的義行。我們只要相信基督的救恩就被稱為義,不是因靠行為。而一個有永生生命的人,自然會流露出基督的美善及品格。但關鍵是,我們是否確認自己的信心,是真正得救的信心。
默想二:如何看出你是重生得救的基督徒?是因受過洗或在教會熱心服事嗎?乃是看你是否活出與信心相稱的行為。基督徒的恆心行善不是日行一善,也不是為了要賺得救恩,而是對神救恩的感恩及回應。
禱告:天父上帝,我讚美袮!因為你是公義而聖潔的神,我本應受到袮憤怒的刑罰,但袮卻以恩慈,寬容、忍耐對待我,藉著耶穌替我受死,叫我能因信得救。求袮使我能像袮,以袮的恩典待人,以袮捨己的愛愛人。奉耶穌基督的名禱告,阿們!
Bible Reading: Romans 2.
Meditation: “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” (Rom 2:7)
Meditation one: Will there be eternal life for all who do more good deeds and merit? No, it may not! Christians can receive eternal life not because of what they have done for God, but because of the righteousness of Christ accomplished on the cross. We can be called righteousness by believing in Christ’s salvation, not by behaving. And a person with eternal life will naturally reveal the goodness and character of Christ. But the point is whether we can assure our faith is truly the faith of being saved.
Meditation two: How do you show that you are a reborn and been saved Christian? Is it because you have been baptized or zealously served in the church? It actually depends on if your manner of life be worthy of the faith you have. The persistence of Christian’s good deeds is not trying to do good thing each day, nor is trying to earn a salvation, but to be grateful and responsive to God’s salvation.
Prayer: God heavenly Father, I praise You! For You are the righteous and holy God. I should have been punished by Your wrath, but You treated me with kindness, steadfastness, and patience, and died for me through Jesus so that I could be saved by faith. May You make me like You, treat people with Your grace and love people with Your sacrificing love. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!