讀經:約翰福音第二章。
默想:耶穌又對賣鴿子的說:「把這些東西拿去!不要將我父的殿當作買賣的地方(市場)」(約2:16)
默想一:如果主耶穌今天到你的教會,你想祂會歡喜入座嗎?還是心急發大牢騷?祂為什麼發義怒?因為祂看見人把敬拜神的地方踐踏成買賣的市場。神的殿是要成為萬國禱告的殿,現在竟然變成賊窩了,到處是吵雜、熱鬧、髒亂,根本就沒辦法安靜、默想、禱告、親近神。主耶穌發義怒,顯出祂是聖潔和公義的主。
默想二:你到教會的目的是什麼?是敬拜神,還是找朋友?是尊榮神,還是求自己的好處?如果你把教會當作社交或交易的場所,你到教會的敬拜只是形式化、禮儀化、表面化。人是到教會,卻不是敬拜神,而是找人;人是參加禮拜,心卻遠離神,如此的敬拜毫無意義,不可能體會敬拜裡的釋放和喜樂。
禱告:感謝神,在地上賜我屬靈的家—教會,讓我在教會裡學習過如在天的生活。求祢的聖靈光照,讓我看重在袮面前的聖潔生活,也為教會的聖潔禱告。主!我不問教會為我做了什麼,而是問我為神的教會做了什麼。奉耶穌基督的名禱告。阿們。
Bible Reading: John 2.
Insight: “To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”” (Joh 2:16)
Insight one: If the Lord Jesus were to come to your church today, would you think He would be joyfully take a seat? Or would He anxiously sighing in His heart? Why does He come up with the wrath? It is because He sees the place of worship is trampled by people and becomes a trading market. The temple of God is a temple of prayer for all nations. Now it has become a nest of thieves. It is raucous, noisy, and messy. There is no way to calm down, meditate, pray, and get closer to God. The Lord Jesus’ wrath is to reveal His holiness and righteousness.
Insight two: What is your purpose of coming to church? Is it for worshipping God or finding a friend? Is it for honoring God or seeking for your own benefit? If you use the church as a place for socializing or trading market, your worship in the church is only a superficial routine and ordinance. When a person does come to church yet not worship God but seek people; does participate in worship but the heart is far from God, such worship is meaningless and it is not possible to appreciate the release and joy in worship.
Prayer: Thank God for giving me the church, a spiritual home on the earth, so that I can learn to live a heavenly life in the church. Pray for Your Holy Spirit to shine on me, make me value the holy life before You and pray for the holiness of the church. Lord! I don’t ask what the church has done for me, but what I have done for the church of God. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.