双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：8 月 9 日 顺服之秘

8 月 9 日

顺服之秘

岂不晓得你们献上自己作奴仆，顺从谁，就作谁的奴仆吗？或作罪的奴仆，以至于死；或作顺命的奴仆，以至成义。 

罗马书 6:16

对于电影《烈火战车》中讲述的那位宣教士和长跑运动员李爱锐（Eric Liddell）的故事，有人说：他“……在胜利时特别温柔谦卑，失败时特别宽宏大量。”这是对温柔很好的定义。温柔意味着顺服。

“顺服”这个词有两种含义。第一种是消极的，第二种是积极的。它的意思是“放弃、舍弃”也有“给予”的意思。正如耶稣所说的：“失丧生命的，必得着生命”（马太福音 10:39）。这正是李爱锐所见证的。

现代人说：“别斗了，我们斗不过它。”顺服神旨意的人从不与生命抗争，因他们已经学会了秘诀，就是：降服神，然后让神为我们争战。

圣经说：“你们从前怎样将肢体献给不洁不法作奴仆，……现今也要怎样将肢体献给义作奴仆，以至于成圣。”（罗马书 6:19）

与其让怨恨填满你的心胸、让罪恶苦待你的身体、让意志消磨你的灵魂，不如谦卑地把一切交托神。这样，你内心的争战就会减少，你在罪中的焦虑也会消失。

然后，你的生命便开始富有意义，顺服地结出果子来。你的生命会有归属感，你不再厌倦失望，而是充满盼望和期待。因为你温柔地顺从了，就开始“承受地土”一切美好的事物，这是神为那些全心信靠祂的人所预备的。

今日祷告：

天父，我将我的生命献给祢，祈求祢赐给我生命中的义；祷告奉主耶稣的名，阿们。

August 9

THE SECRET IS SURRENDER

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16

Of Eric Liddell, the missionary and great runner whose story is told in the film Chariots of Fire, someone has said, he was “…ridiculously humble in victory, utterly generous in defeat.” That’s a good definition of what it means to be meek. Meekness involves yielding.

The world “yield’ has two meanings. The first is negative, and the second is positive. It means “to relinquish, to abandon”; and also “to give.” This is in line with Jesus’ words: “He that loseth [or abandoneth] his life…shall find it” (Matthew 10:39). What a description of Eric Liddell!

We have heard the modern expression, “Don’t fight it-it’s bigger than both of us.” Those who submit to the will of God do not fight back at life. They learn the secret of surrender, of yielding to God. He then fights for us!

The Bible says, “For as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity…even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness” (Romans 6:19).

Instead of filling your mind with resentments, abusing your body by sinful diversion, and damaging your soul by willfulness, humbly give all over to God. Your conflicts will diminish, and your sinful tensions will often vanish.

Then your life will begin to count for something. It will begin to yield, to produce, to bear fruit. You will have the feeling of belonging to life. Boredom will melt away, and you will become vibrant with hope and expectation. Because you are meekly yielded. You will begin to “inherit the earth” of good things which God holds in store for those who trust Him with their all.

Pray for the Day:

Father, I yield my life to You, and I pray that You will give me the yield of righteousness in my life; in Jesus’ Name, Amen.