讀經:雅各書第二章。
默想:「這樣看來,人稱義是因著行為,不是單因著信。」(雅2:24)
默想一:為什麼信心沒有行為是死的?因為單有身體沒有靈魂,不是一個整全的人:身體要用靈魂來使它整全;照樣,單有信心沒有行為,不是一個整全信心;信心要用行為來使它整全。起初神造人時,就命定人的身體加上靈魂,才是一個有靈的活人(創2:7)如果我們沒有行為的信心,我們就是白活在這世上,就像行屍走肉。
默想二:你的信心是活的?還是死的?你有信心,但在奉獻、宣教、敬拜、關懷上有實際的行動嗎?你有愛心,但你的愛帶給人平安和喜樂嗎?你有盼望,但在各樣的患難中堅守永恆的盼望嗎?活的信心不用你自己說,別人會看得出也感受得出來。真正能證明你得救的是你信主之後所活出來的生命。信心因著行為才得以完全。真實的信心會活出真實的生命。
禱告:天父上帝,感謝祢的憐憫及豐盛的恩典。求祢的聖靈內住我心,時刻地充滿我並引導我,讓我的聽道與行道不僅是一致的,我的信心與行為也是並行。求袮教導我,每天活出與信心相稱的生活。奉耶穌基督的名禱告。阿們!
Bible Reading: James 2.
Meditation: : “You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.” (Jas 2:24)
Meditation one: Why faith is not accompanied by action is dead? It is because having a body without a soul is not a complete person: the body must have the soul to make it complete; in the same way, faith alone without deeds is not a complete faith; faith must accompany with deeds to make it complete. In the beginning that God created man, He commended that the body along with the soul to become a living being (Gens 2:7). If we only have faith without deeds, we live in vain in this world, like walking dead.
Meditation two: Is your faith alive? Or is it dead? You have faith, but do you have any practical actions regarding dedication, mission, worship, and caring? You have love, but does your love bring people peace and joy? You have hope, but do you hold firmly the eternal hope in all kinds of adversity? A living faith does not need to be spoken out by yourself; people can see and feel it. What really proves that you are saved is the life you have lived after believing in the Lord. Faith is perfected by deeds. True faith will live out a true life.
Prayer: God heavenly Father, thank You for your mercy and wonderful grace. May the Holy Spirit lives in my heart, fills me and guides me, therefore the words I hear is consistent with the the things I do, so my faith is also consistent with my deeds. May You teach me to live a life that is commensurate with my faith every day. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!