双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：9月14日 邪恶世界

9月14日

邪恶世界

基督照我们父神的旨意为我们的罪舍己，要救我们脱离这罪恶的世代。

加拉太书1:4

在路加福音18章中，耶稣讲到一个自以为义的法利赛人，他说：“神阿，我感谢你，我不像别人，勒索，不义，奸淫，也不像这个税吏”（第11节）。这法利赛人自欺欺人，以为自己很了不起，其实不然。但那位被法利赛人鄙视的税吏，却认识自己的本相（或本来面目），说：“神啊，开恩可怜我这个罪人”（第13节）。耶稣说：“我告诉你们，这人回家去，比那人倒算为义了；因为凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高”（路加福音18:14）。

我们怎样才能树立正确的价值观？如何纠正我们歪曲的判断呢？有人说，教育才是答案。让人知道，犯罪没有好下场，不正当的性行为会造成心理伤害，酗酒对身体和大脑有损。社会和个人的改造计划不断推出，它们是解决罪恶的方法吗？

还有人说，科学就是答案。据说，科学可以制造干净核弹或无害香烟，它也可以解决毒品问题。他们说，科学可以挖掘人的大脑，改变人的欲望。

但是，经受了时间考验的圣经却告诉我们另一回事。它说，我们被罪恶堕落的本性控制，它与我们争战，试图毁灭我们。保罗说：“我觉得有个律，就是我愿意为善的时候，便有恶与我同在。”（罗马书7:21）。恶巧妙地伪装成善，恶的存在是为了欺骗和左右我们。我们与自己、与神都不能和睦，这就是基督十字架的意义所在：使我们与神和好，并赐给我们新生命。

今日祷告：

天父，我祈求祢，赐给我智慧，使我能辨明是非。我祈求祢，救我脱离这个邪恶的世界，不受它影响，让我永远顺服祢；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

September 14

THIS PRESENT EVIL WORLD

[Jesus]who gave himself for our sins,that he might deliver us from this present evil world,according to the will of God and our Father.Galatians 1:4

In Luke 18,Jesus told of the self-righteous Pharisee who said,“God,I thank you that I am not like all other men-robbers,evildoers,adulterers-or even like this tax collector”(verse 11).The Pharisee kidded himself into thinking he was something,when he was not.But the tax collector,whom the Pharisee looked upon with scorn,saw himself as he was,and said,“God,have mercy on me,a sinner”(verse 13).Jesus said,“I tell you that this man,rather than the other,went home justified before God.For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,and he who humbles himself will be exalted”(Luke 18:14).

How can we get our values right?How can our warped judgment be straightened out?Some tell us that education is the answer to these questions.Prove to people that crime doesn’t pay,that illicit sex is psychologically harmful,that excessive drinking is injurious to the body and brain.Programs of social and personal reform are launched continually.Are they the answer to evil?

Others say that science is the answer.Science,supposedly,can make a clean bomb or a harmless cigarette.It can cope with the problems of drugs.Science,they say,can tap the brain of man and alter his desires.

But the Bible,which has withstood the test of time,tells us a different story.It says that we are possessed of a sinful,fallen nature which wars against us,that seeks to destroy us.Paul said,“I find this law at work[in me]:When I want to do good,evil is right there with me”(Romans 7:21).Evil is present to cleverly disguise itself as good.Evil is present to control and deceive us.We are not at peace with ourselves or with God.That is what the Cross of Christ is all about:to reconcile us to God and to give us a new nature.

Pray for the Day:

Father,I pray that You will give me wisdom to discern what is right from what is wrong.I pray that You will deliver me from the effects of this present evil world,to obey You always;in Jesus’Name,Amen.