双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月13日 活出信仰

7月13日

活出信仰

你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的；只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。

约翰福音15:19

基督徒当然必须活在这个世界。他要带着得到这世界的目的而活在世上，但不与这世界同流合污。我们无法摆脱世界、肉体和魔鬼，即便在修道院也是如此。

除非我们在世上活出福音能力的见证，否则，我们就不能影响这个世界。作为公民，我们必须投票、参政。我们要参与公众活动，而且我们肯定要忠实于自己的教会。

然而，我们不可向世界、肉体和魔鬼妥协，不可在罪上有份。有些事情基督徒必须说不——在政治、商店、办公室，甚至在邻里，他必须表明自己不属这个世界，也必因此遭受逼迫和误会。

我们应该拒绝不合圣徒体统的事。多少自称基督徒的人，违背了他们信仰的原则，因为他们更在乎受世界的欢迎，而置耶稣基督的责备于不顾。我发现，一个随随便便的基督徒对别人几乎没有影响力。而只有在诚实、正直和道德上不妥协的基督徒，才能为基督作美好的见证。属世的基督徒随波逐流，姑息虚谎、堕落的事，因为他们要讨世界的喜悦。只有顺服圣灵引领，每天向己死，向主活，与神相交，才能敬虔度日，在这个弯曲悖谬的世界产生积极的影响。

今日祷告：
天父，赐给我们智慧和辨别的灵，让我们面临重压而不退缩，面对瞬息万变的时刻而不妥协。帮助我们扎根于耶稣，并藉着圣灵充满、引导我们；祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。
July 13
WE ARE IN THE WORD
If ye were of the world,the world would love his own;but because ye are not of the world,but I have chosen you out of the world,therefore the world hated you.John 15:19
The Christian,of course,must live his life in this world.He must infiltrate this world with a purpose-to help win the world.But he does not need to participate in the evils of the world.It is impossible for us to escape from the world,the flesh,and the devil,even in a monastery.
We cannot possibly influence the world unless we live in it and give evidence of the power of the Gospel in our lives.As citizens we must vote and participate in political affairs.We are to participate in civic activities,and most certainly we are to be loyal and faithful to the church.
However,we are not to compromise with the world,the flesh,and the devil.We are not to participate in the sins of the world.There are certain things to which a Christian must say no-in politics,in the shop,in the office,even in the neighborhood he must often show that he is a citizen of another world,and many times suffer persecution and misunderstanding because of it.
We should refuse to support anything which does not meet with the approval of our Christian conscience.There are thousands of professing Christians who are betraying their Christian principles because they are more concerned for the world’s smile than the condemnation of Jesus Christ.
I have found that the casual Christian has little or no influence upon others.I am finding that it is only the Christian who refuses to compromise in matters of honesty,integrity,and morality who is bearing an effective witness for Christ.The worldly Christian is prepared to do as the world does and will condone practices which are dishonest and unethical because he is afraid of the world’s displeasure.Only by a life of obedience to the voice of the Spirit,by a daily dying to self,by a full dedication to Christ and constant fellowship with Him,are we enabled to live a godly life and have a positive influence in this present ungodly world.
Pray for the Day:
Father,give us wisdom and discernment,so that we would not compromise in the moments of stress—that we would not compromise in the moments when things are moving quickly around us.Help us to be grounded in Jesus and filled with Your Holy Spirit to lead us;in Jesus’Name,Amen.