双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：5月24日 付出代价

5月24日

付出代价

“于是耶稣对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为，凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。”

马太福音16:24-25

基督徒的生活是以基督徒的信仰为前提。但不幸的是，信仰和行为有时可能并不一致。这种头脑里的相信与真正的信仰常常混淆。实际上，从一个人的所作所为就可以看出他是否真的相信。当我看见一个人自称是基督徒，相信所有教义，自认为是福音派基督徒，但他却并没有活出基督徒的生命，他的生命没有经历破碎，他也没有温柔、仁爱的特征，我想起耶稣说过的话：“凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来”（马太福音7:16）重生之后，我们要以我们的行为来见证我们的信仰。正如雅各所说：“信心若没有行为就是死的。”（雅2:17）

历史上最有影响力的基督徒都谨守自己的信仰。英文词“门徒”和“自律”这两个词显然有紧密的关联。要做一个真正的有果效的基督徒，我们必须自律，效法基督。阻碍教会进步的，与其说是我们的言语和信条，不如说是我们每天的行为举止。我们需要一个基督徒榜样的复兴，这只有在自称为基督徒的我们做到自律时才能实现。我们如何开始呢？我们已经属于主，就要严格要求自己，寻求丰富、完全的生命。

伟大的布道王子司布真说：“我愿意在这里做见证，若不是因着主的烈火和祂的捶打，我无法成为今天的我。有时我问自己，若我的一生没有经历神的杖罚和管教，我是否将会一事无成。当环境最幽暗的时候，主让我看见的最多。”

我非常认同这句话！

今日祷告：

天父，让我们更深地委身于祢，让我们行走这信仰之路，为祢的名活出舍己的生命；奉耶稣的名，阿门。

May 24

DARE TO BE DISCIPLINED!

Then said Jesus unto his disciples,if any man will come after me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross,and follow me.For whosoever will save his life will lose it;and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.Matthew 16:24-25

Christian living presupposes Christian conviction.But unfortunately,it is possible to have beliefs which do not find expression in conduct.This belief of the head is often confused with real faith.The simple truth is-one really believes only that which one acts upon.When I see a person who claims to be a Christian and believes all the creeds and calls himself an evangelical Christian,but he does not live the Christian life-his life is not characterized by brokenness,tenderness,and love-I remember the words of Jesus when He said,“By their fruits ye shall know them.”After being born again we are to demonstrate our faith by our works.As James said,“Faith without works is dead.”

The effective Christians of history have been men and women of great personal discipline.The connection between the words“disciple”and“discipline”is obvious.To be a true,effective disciple of Christ we must seek to discipline our lives and endeavor to walk even as He walked.The thing that has hindered the progress of the church is not so much our talk and our creeds;but it has been our walk,our conduct,our daily living.We need a revival of Christian example,and that can only come when professed followers of Christ begin to practice Christian discipline.

Where do we begin?Having found the life which is in Christ,strict disciplinary trails lead to a full-bodied,rich,and complete life.

The great“Prince of Preachers,”Charles Haddon Spurgeon,once said,“I bear my willing witness that I owe more to the fire,and the hammer,and the file,than to anything else in my Lord’s workshop.I sometimes question whether I have ever learned anything except through the rod.When my schoolroom is darkened,I see most.”I echo that sentiment!

Pray for the Day:

Father,deepen our commitment to You,and let us walk the walk of faith and live the life of sacrifice for Your Name’s sake;in Jesus’Name,Amen.