双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月12日 彼此相爱

7月12日

彼此相爱

“我这样吩咐你们，是要叫你们彼此相爱。”

约翰福音15:17

我们出死入生最有力的凭据是什么？是爱。我们的主祷告说：“使他们都合而为一。正如你父在我里面，我在你里面，使他们也在我们里面，叫世人可以信你差了我来。（约17:21）

耶稣所说的显然是可见的合一，就是世人可以看见的合一。祂的祷告是为了让世人相信并且明白这一点。他为信徒之间的合一而祷告。这是一种在多样化中的合一，一种与多样性兼容的合一。这是基督为教会奠定的模式。

使徒行传全书中始终有一个关键词语：“同心合意”。使徒们不会因对教义的不同观点而争论。当确实有问题出现时，他们会在圣灵的引导下，尽一切努力以理性和仁爱的精神解决问题。

上帝希望人们在基督里合一，祂却是丰富的。我们常常希望每个人都和我们一样，像我们一样地思考、说话和信仰。以弗所书2:19-20,腓立比书2:1-4,以及很多其它经文都表明，爱是在基督里合一的真正关键。

我们应该本着主基督的思想，就是真正的谦卑、怜悯和无私的精神来处理我们的问题、我们的事工甚至是我们的分歧。

雅各说，即使是鬼魔也信神，却是战惊。他反对与爱心和善行相脱节的、空洞的正统教义的说教。也许在神学理论上是正确的，但却没有爱。

约翰的书信中充满了我们应当彼此相爱的教导：“我们因为爱弟兄，就晓得是已经出死入生了。”（约一3:14）不是因为我们笃信基督以及表面上相信圣经，爱才是最大的考验！

今日祷告：

天父，我们爱祢。求祢帮助我们彼此相爱。帮助我们彼此忍耐，理解在基督身体里彼此间的差异；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 12

MAKE LOVE YOUR MOTIVE!

These things I command you,that ye love one another.John 15:17

What is the great overwhelming evidence that we have passed from death unto life?It is love!Our Lord prayed,“That they all may be one;as thou,Father,art in me,and I in thee,that they also may be one in us:that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”(John 17:21).

Jesus Christ clearly was speaking of visible unity,such as can be seen by the world.His motive for praying was that the world might believe and the world might know.He prayed for unity among believers.There is a kind of unity in diversity,a unity compatible with variety,and it is this pattern which Christ lays down for the Church.

All through the book of Acts there occurs a key phrase:“with one accord.”The apostles were not given to quarreling over secondary points of doctrine.When difficulties did arise,every attempt was made to settle them in a reasonable and charitable spirit under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

God,who wills man’s unity in Christ,is God of variety.So often we want everyone to be the same,to think and speak and believe as we do.Ephesians 2:19-20,Philippians 2:1-4,and many other passages could be called to witness that love is the real key to Christian unity.

In the spirit of true humility,compassion,consideration,and unselfishness-which reflect the mind of the Lord Jesus-we are to approach our problems,our work,and even our differences.

James says that even the demons believe-and shudder.He is protesting against the barrenness of the orthodoxy which is divorced from love and good works.It is possible to be right theologically and yet to be lacking in a spirit of love.

John fills his epistles with the love that we are to have one for another:“We know that we have passed from death unto life,because we love the brethren”(1 John 3:14)-not because we are sound in the Christian faith and believe the Bible from cover.The one great test is love!

Pray for the Day:

Father,we love You.Help us to love one another.Help us to be patient with one another and to appreciate the differences within the Body of Christ;in Jesus’Name,Amen.