《今日靈修默想》:「弟兄們,我不是以為自己已經得著了。我只有一件事:就是忘記背後,努力面前的,向著標竿直跑,要得神在基督耶穌裏從上面召我來得的獎賞。」(腓3:13-14)
默想一:你為人生定下的目標是根據你個人的標準來衡量?還是依據耶穌基督的標準?神不要我們的靈命以「差不多」(馬馬虎虎)為滿足,乃是要我們達到基督要我們達到的標準,就是學像基督(羅8:29),而這是要藉著我們一生不斷地學習、操練及長進。信主並非追求靈命成長的結束,乃是追求靈命成長的開始。
默想二:基督徒的人生標竿是什麼?不是根據人的愛好或選擇,而是根據神的命定。神的命定是以耶穌基督為我們人生賽程的終點與標竿。當耶穌基督是我們的標杆時,不僅目標準確,屆時我們將得神在基督耶穌裏召我們來得的獎賞。主耶穌誇讚你「你這忠心又良善的僕人,你做得好」。基督徒不是要靠行為得救,卻要靠行為得獎賞。
禱告:天父上帝,感謝祢為我定下人生美好的計劃。天國窄路難行,求祢加添我的信心,我願依靠祢的大能,忘記背後,努力面前,不偏左右地向著祢定的標竿直跑。奉耶穌基督得勝的名禱告,阿們!
《Today’s spiritual meditation》: “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Php 3:13-14)
Meditation one: Do you set a goal for your life by your own standards, or by the standards of Jesus Christ? God does not want our spiritual life to be met “roughly” (circa) but to achieve the standards that Christ wants us to achieve, that is, to be conformed to the image of Christ (Rom 8:29). It is through a lifetime continuous learning, practicing, and growing. To accept the Lord is not the end of pursuing spiritual growth, but the beginning of the growth of spiritual life.
Meditation two: What is the goal of a Christian’s life? It is not according to one’s personal preference or choices, but to what God has destined. What God has destined is to have Jesus Christ as the destination and benchmark for the course of our lives. When Jesus Christ becomes our goal, not only will the goal be accurate, but then we will be rewarded the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. Lord Jesus will praise you that “you are a faithful and good servant, you have done well.” Christians’ works are not for their salvation, but for their heavenly prize.
Prayer: God heavenly Father, thank You for setting a beautiful plan for my life. It is challenging to walk along the narrow heavenly pathway. Please strengthen my faith. I am willing to rely on Your power, to forget what is behind, to strain toward what is ahead, and to press on precisely toward the goal You have destined for me. I pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ, Amen!