双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：5月29日 神的国度

5月29日

神的国度

“我又告诉你们，骆驼穿过针的眼，比财主进神的国还容易呢！」”马太福音19:24

神的国度不是建立在获利的动机之上的。这个世界最流行的动词是“获得”。基督徒的动词是”给予”。现代社会基本上以自我利益为中心，每个人都会问：这对我有什么好处？在物欲横流的当世，这些想法很自然，也很正常。

但是神的国度，并非以自我利益为基础，而是以无私为基础。我们的“主耶稣基督，本来富足，却为你们成了贫穷，叫你们因他的贫穷，可以成为富足。”（林后8:9）他的门徒跟着他，据说，“没有一人说他的东西有一样是自己的，都是大家公用。”（徒4:32）彼得在主里有丰盛，在当世却很贫苦，他对瘸腿的说，「金银我都没有，只把我所有的给你：我奉拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名，叫你起来行走！」”（徒3:6）使徒们知道世俗的财富没有永久的价值，他们珍视圣灵带来的无尽的满足。他们是活在永恒的境界之中。

今天，我们常常对属灵的事物不屑一顾，对世界上的事物充满欲望。难怪这个世界动荡不安。人们崇拜的是玛门，而不是上帝。宴乐优先于清心，索取大于对神的敬畏。

但是在天国里，“你们中间谁为大，谁就要作你们的用人。”(太23:11）服事神和他人高于自身利益。耶稣说，“人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的。”（约15:13）基督是这样说的，也是这样做的。

今日祷告：

天父，求你带领我们为他人舍己。我们愿为祢和你的国献上活祭。让我们有一颗纯全的心，愿祢因此而得荣耀；奉耶稣的名，阿门

May 29

GOD’S KINGDOM

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.Matthew 19:24

God’s kingdom is not built on the profit motive.The world’s favorite verb is“get.”The verb of the Christian is“give.”Self-interest is basic in modern society.Everyone asks,“What’s in it for me?”In a world founded on materialism,this is natural and normal.

But in God’s kingdom self-interest is not basic-selflessness is.The Founder,Jesus Christ,was rich,and yet He became poor that we“through his poverty might be rich”(2 Corinthians 8:9).His disciples followed Him,and it was said of them,“Neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own”(Acts 4:32).Peter,rich in heavenly goods but poor in worldly goods,said to the lame man on the Temple steps,“Silver and gold have I none;but such as I have give I thee”(Acts 3:6).The apostles realized that there is no permanent value in worldly goods and cherished the abiding values of the Spirit.They lived with eternity in view.

Today we too often hold spiritual things in contempt and lust after the things of this world.Little wonder that the world is in a state of turmoil!Mammon is worshiped,and God is disdained.Pleasure takes precedence over purity,and gain is considered greater than God.

But in God’s kingdom he that is greatest among you is the servant of all(see Matthew 23:11).Service to God and mankind are put above self-interest.Jesus said,“Greater love hath no man than this,that a man lay down his life for his friends”(John 15:13).Christ proved His words by doing exactly that for us.

Pray for the Day:

Father,we pray that You will lead us to lay down our lives for others.We lay down our life for You and for Your Kingdom.We pray that You will be glorified in it,and keep our hearts pure in the midst of that;in Jesus’Name,Amen.