双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：8 月 25 日 超越众人

8 月 25 日

超越众人

所求于管家的，是要他有忠心。

哥林多前书 4:2

我们基督徒应该像颗闪闪发光的钻石，在罪恶黑暗的环境下脱颖而出。我们应该比任何人更有道德。我们应当保持沉着、有涵养、有礼貌、和蔼可亲，面对可做或不可做的事要坚定。我们应该面带笑容、精神焕发；但不应降低水准与世界同流合污。

今天基督教世界最需要的是献身于教会的复兴，过分别为圣和自律的生活。在我们国家的军事院校里，那些为了将来能够成为部队军官的人们，他们接受训练，过着独立、献身和自律的生活。同样，为了作耶稣基督的精兵，我们基督徒也必须如此。

圣经说：“所以弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的，你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。”（罗马书 12：1-2）

基督不但要跟随祂的人与众不同，但仅仅与众不同是不够的，我们还要成为地上最圣洁、最善良、最无私、最友好、最有礼，最勤奋、最体贴、最真诚和最有爱心的人。伟大的宣教士、医生和政治家阿尔伯特·史怀哲博士告诉基督徒：“神呼召我们来服事这个不完美的世界，是要我们成为神合用的器皿。”我们蒙召就是要来服事的。

在你的生活中，你是否随时随地服事神呢？

今日祷告：

天父，正如保罗所说，有求于管家的就是要忠心。祢把耶稣的福音托付予我们，要我们把福音传遍天下。我们手上的工尚未完成，求祢帮助我们，在所做的事上忠心，愿祢的旨意得成，奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

August 25

DIFFERENT IS NOT ENOUGH

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2

We Christians should stand out like a sparkling diamond against a rough and dark background. We should be more wholesome than anyone else. We should be poised, cultured, courteous, gracious, but firm in the things we do or do not do. We should laugh and be radiant; but we should refuse to allow the world to pull us down to its level.

The greatest need today in Christendom is a revival within the church of dedicated, separated, disciplined living. The people in our country’s military academies are living separated, dedicated, and disciplined lives in order to be officers in the armed forces. They are being trained for future leadership and service. Certainly we Christians can do no less in order to serve in the army of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

Christ meant that His followers are to be different. But merely being different is not enough. We are to be the cleanest, the most holy, the kindest, the most unselfish, the friendliest, the most courteous, the most industrious, the most thoughtful, the truest, and the most loving people on earth. Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the great missionary doctor and statesman, told Christians why we’re here: “To be glad instruments of God’s love in this imperfect world is the service to which man is called.” We’re called to serve.

In your life is there a time and place for serving God?

Pray for the Day:

Father, just as Paul said he was a steward to has to be faithful, You have entrusted us with that same Gospel of Jesus, to take it into the world. We haven’t finished the task yet. Help us to be faithful, and I pray that Your will be done, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.