提要
談到基督徒的信仰，我想我們很多人都對自己的「表現」頗感焦慮，特別是在剛聽完主日崇拜的信息後。聽了一大堆「應該」、「要」等充滿教訓口氣的字眼，也難怪禮拜天的午餐常常是「烤牧師」了。人都有自衛的本能！
但一般而言，我們大部分的人，不管有沒有聽過主日講道，也相當會自我批判。上個禮拜（或上個月、去年）所犯的罪總是難以忘懷；或者常因為沒有作見證、讀經、上教會而感覺罪咎。我們的良心很容易被控告。作個好基督徒真不容易：那真是件苦差事！
感謝上帝賜給我們今天的鑰節！從這兩節經文我們看到，我們的信心是上帝主動工作的結果。注意保羅在這裡所用的強而有力的動詞：祂「堅固」我們；祂「膏」我們；祂用印「印」了我們；祂「賜」聖靈在我們心裡。祂「保證」我們的未來。我們是祂全權之恩典的產物。
所以，一切都出於上帝的主動。那麼，我們的責任是什麼呢？很簡單：只要回應。祂賜給我們堅固的根基，我們就選擇將生命建造在萬古的磐石上。祂用聖靈膏我們，我們就選擇使住在我們裡面的聖靈喜悅，而不使祂憂傷。祂使我們成為屬祂的兒女，我們就選擇順服祂的旨意，忠於祂的兒子。祂保障我們的未來，我們就定睛在祂身上面對未來。換句話說，我們以愛來回應祂。在上帝心裡，我們如此做使祂的主動有永恆的價值。
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Overview
I think a lot of us suffer from "performance anxiety" when it comes to Christian faith. It is especially acute just after hearing a Sunday morning sermon. After listening to the typical sermon with its "shoulds", "coulds", and implied "what's-the-matter-with-you's", there is little wonder you have "roast preacher" for Sunday lunch. It's a matter of self-defense!
But generally speaking, most of us tend, Sunday sermons or no, to be pretty self-critical. Remembrance of the sin of the past week (or months, or years) just won't go away. Or we feel the guilt of our uninvolvement in witnessing, Bible reading, or church attendance. And we're a sitting duck for the pointed finger. It's not easy being a good Christian: it's hard work!
Thank God for today's key verse! Here we see our faith as the result of God's initiative. Notice the strong verbs: He makes us stand firm. He anoints us. He sets His seal of ownership on us. He puts His Spirit in our hearts. He guarantees the future. We are the product of His sovereign grace.
So God takes the initiative. What, then, is our responsiblity? Simply to respond. As He gives us a firm stance, we choose to build our lives on the Rock. As He anoints us with His Spirit, we choose to please rather than grieve His indwelling presence. As He declares us His own, we choose to be obedient to His will and loyal to His Son. As He guarantees the future, we enter the future with our eyes set on Him. In other words, we respond with love. In God's mind, this makes His initiative eternally worthwhile.
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Prayer
Lord Jesus, please fill us again today with Your Holy Spirit. We praise You, for it is only by Your Spirit's working in our lives that we can build our lives on You, please You, obey You, keep our eyes on You, and respond with love. Amen. |
