双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：2月17日 成熟的爱

2月17日

成熟的爱

“我体会基督耶稣的心肠，切切地想念你们众人；这是上帝可以给我作见证的。”

腓立比书 1:8

现代流行的文化试图诱导你 让你以为爱存在于你的情绪之中：“你感觉如何？” 但是，如果“爱存在于你的情绪之中”这话不是真的呢？有些人也许以这种方式建立关系，从而导致严重的错误判断。没有智慧、没有根基的情感之爱，会使人陷入过于相互依赖，或相互虐待，或财务困扰，甚至是狂躁恐慌的过山车式的生活。

有趣的是，使徒保罗在腓立比书一章却从另外三个不同层面阐述了爱。第一，保罗说腓立比的弟兄姊妹常在他”心”里，有特别的位置，无论是在捆锁之中，还是辩明证实福音的时候。第二，保罗说他想念腓立比的弟兄姊妹，如同体会基督耶稣的”肠”。今天很少有人用这个词，但的确是保罗的肺腑之言。第三，保罗所祷告的，就是要腓立比的弟兄姊妹的爱心在知识和各样见识上多而又多，分辨是非 ，作诚实无过的人。换言之，保罗要他们用“脑”去爱。“心”“肠””脑”， 三个元素，构成完美的结合，彼此独特又相互联合，相互鼓励、相互成长、相互引导。

保罗的愿望是要腓立比教会的弟兄姊妹建立一种智慧、热情、动人的爱。

今日祷告：

主耶稣，愿祢使我对他人的爱更加成熟。奉主耶稣基督的圣名，阿们！

February 17 – Hot Seats of Love

God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

P H I L I P P I A N S 1 : 8

Pop culture tries to trick you into thinking that love is often seated in your emotions: “How does that make you feel?” But what if it weren’t true that love is seated in your emotions? Some people probably engage in their relationships this way and make some incredible mistakes of

judgment. Emotional love without wisdom or a rooted foundation can get people into codependent situations or abusive influences or financial trouble or manic-panic roller-coaster rides of life.

It is really interesting that the apostle Paul refers to three seats of love in Philippians 1. First, Paul said that the Philippians held a special place in his heart. Second, he said that he loved the Philippians in the bowels of Christ Jesus, which is an awkward phrase nowadays, but it referred to the very core of his being. Third, Paul prays that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that they would be able to discern what was best and be pure and blameless. In other words, he wants them to love with their brain. Each seat comes together to form a beautiful union—each distinct and yet each together—each encouraging and maturing and directing the other.

Paul’s desire was for the Philippians to develop a smart, passionate, and, um, moving love.

Pray for the Day:

Lord Jesus, mature my ability to love others today. Amen.