讀經:帖撒羅尼加後書第三章

默想:「弟兄們,你們行善不可喪志。」(帖後3:13) 

默想一:好人作好事為什麼會受一般人的歡迎和讚賞?因為他們必得好報。但是基督徒行善不是為了得好報。基督徒的行善來自內在生命的自然流露,所作的任何事都得向主負責。不是討人的喜歡,而是討主的喜歡;不是要得人的心,而是得神的心。基督徒的行善不是為了得救,而是得救後自然行出善來。

默想二:基督徒為什麼行善不可喪志?因為我們是為了回應神的愛。假如吃一點虧就沮喪,就要放棄,那表明我們是愛自己多過愛主。曾否想過,主耶穌為了愛我們,祂吃虧,受過苦,難道祂受的會比我們少嗎?我們行善不可喪志,因為我們是神手中的器皿,所求的是神的旨意成全,而不是我們要得到多少的好處。

禱告:慈愛的天父,謝謝祢在基督裡的救恩。當我在服事祢的道路上遇到困難、打擊、反對時,求祢幫助我抬起頭來仰望祢,因祢是我的力量,是我患難中隨時的幫助,是我性命的保障。當我軟弱無力時,求袮的聖靈扶持我,好使我重新得力,活出袮的美善。奉祢寶貴的名禱告,阿們!

Bible Reading:2 Thessalonians 3

Insight:“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.” (2Th 3:13) 

Insight one: Why are good people do good things welcomed and appreciated by people in general? It is because they will be rewarded. But Christians do not do good things for the sake of receiving good rewards. Christians’ good deeds come from the natural outflow of inner life, and everything they do is responsible to the Lord. Not to please people, but to please the Lord; not to win people’s hearts, but to win God’s hearts. Christians do good things not for salvation, but naturally have good deeds after being saved. 

Insight two: Why should Christians not tire of doing what is good? It is because we are responding to God’s love. Should we suffer a little loss then be depressed and give up, that would indicate we love ourselves more than we love the Lord. Have you ever thought that in order to love us, the Lord Jesus was misjudged, suffered, and the suffering He went through was less than what we experienced? We must never tire of doing what is good, because we are vessels in God’s hands. What we ask for is to fulfill God’s will, not how much benefit we can receive. 

Prayer: Loving heavenly Father, thank You for Your salvation in Christ. When I encounter difficulties, attacks, or oppositions in the way of serving You, please help me to raise my head and look upon You, because You are my strength, my very present help in trouble, and the stronghold of my life. When I am weak and feeble, may Your Holy Spirit hold me up so that I can regain my strength and live out Your beauty. I pray in Your precious name, Amen!

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