双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：9月6日 新旧之间

9月6日

新旧之间

若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。

哥林多后书5:17

我曾听一位木匠说，造一座新房子比修一座旧房子更容易，通常花费也更少。在属灵方面更是如此。我们的旧人没有什么值得挽救的，我们心里满了诡诈，满口是咒骂苦毒，平安的路，我们未曾知道。圣经说：“没有行善的，连一个也没有”（诗篇14：3；比较罗马书3：12）。

带着欺骗、堕落和邪恶本性的旧人必须给新人让位，这正是神要做的事。神说：“我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面”（以西结书36：26）。

这是多么大的挑战啊！改变性情比改变衣着要难得多。事实上，我完全不可能凭借自己的力量来改变我的性情。因此，新生必须借助外力为我完成，神已应许要成就我自己所不能做的，祂也会这样为你成就！

今日祷告：

天父，感谢祢使我成为新造的人！祈求祢帮助我始终这样活，奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

September 6

THE OLD AND THE NEW

Therefore,if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation;the old has passed away,behold,the new has come.2 Corinthians 5:17,RSV

I once heard a carpenter say that it is always better and usually more economical to construct a new house than to patch up an old one.This is even more true in the spiritual realm.There is nothing in our old nature worth salvaging.Our thoughts are full of deceit.Our mouths are filled with cursing and bitterness.The way of peace we have not known.The Bible says,“There is none that doeth good,no,not one”(Psalm 14:3;compare Romans 3:12).

The old nature with its deceitfulness,its depravity,and its wickedness must give way to a new nature.And this is exactly what God stands ready to do.God says,“A new heart also will I give you,and a new spirit will I put within you”(Ezekiel 36:26).

What a challenge!It is much more difficult to change our dispositions than it is our apparel.As a matter of fact,it is utterly impossible for me to change my disposition in my own strength.Thus,the new birth is something that must be done for me by another;and God has promised to do that which I cannot do for myself.And He will do it for you,too!

Pray for the Day:

Father,thank You for making me new.I pray that You will help me to live consistently with that,in Jesus’Name,Amen.