讀經:馬太福音第三章

默想:「你們要結出果子來,與悔改的心相稱。」(太3:8)

默想一:當你踏入新年走新路時,你帶著新人新心嗎?你受過洗了,但行事為人與基督的福音相稱嗎?你是基督徒,但所結的果子與悔改的心相稱嗎?真悔改不是指外表上、口頭上、禮儀上的行為,所指的是不僅為過去所做的感到憂傷、自責、羞愧,而且下定決心與過去一刀兩斷,轉離罪惡,歸向真神,並活在祂的旨意裡。

默想二:你願在新年過新人的新生活嗎?謙卑來到神面前禱告:「求神賜給我一個新心,將新靈放在我裡面,又從我的肉體除掉石心(死的,沒有反應),賜給我肉心(活著的,有回應)。」(結36:26)感謝主,我們信靠基督在祂裡面成為新造的人,舊事已過都變成新的了。

禱告:父神,感謝祢所賜的新生命。求祢引導我在新的一年裡,完全活出新的生命及生活,結滿聖靈的果子。我立志為袮而活,而且活得要比去年更豐盛、更長進、更愛祢。奉耶穌寶貴的聖名祈求。阿們!

Bible Reading: Matthew 3.

Insight:  “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Mat 3:8)

Insight one: When you enter into the new year and take a new path, do you have a renewed self and a renewed heart? You have been baptized, but have you produced fruit in keeping with the gospel of Christ? You are a Christian, but have you produced fruit in keeping with repentance? True repentance does not refer to outward, verbal, or formal appearance. It means not only with a broken, contrite, and  ashamed heart for what one has done in the past, but determinedly to break up with the past, turn away from sin, return to the true God, and live in His will.

Insight two: Are you willing to live a new life as a new person in the new year? Humbly come to God and pray, “May God give me a new heart and put a new spirit in me; Remove from me my heart of stone (dead, lifeless) and give me a heart of flesh (lively, responsive).”(Eze 36:26). Thank the Lord that we trust in Christ and become a new creation in Christ. The old has gone, the new is here.

Prayer: God our Father, thank You for giving me the the new life. Guide me to truly live out a new spirit and a new life in the new year, which is filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I am determined to live for you, and to live a more abundant, mature life and love you more than last year. I pray in the precious name of Jesus. Amen!

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