双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：9月30日 生命更新

9月30日

生命更新

又要将你们的心志改换一新；并且穿上新人；这新人是照着神的形像造的，有真理的仁义，和圣洁。

以弗所书4：23-24

我们基督徒在灵性上不可与世俗同流合污。我们不应顺从世界对宗教信仰的定义，而应审视我们是否达到神对门徒的要求。

在以赛亚时代，没有一个国家比以色列更虔诚：圣殿里挤满了人，祭坛被祭牲的鲜血染红了。他们严守每一个宗教节日，圣殿里祈祷声此起彼伏。但以色列人的敬拜缺乏深度和真正的敬虔。尽管参加圣殿礼拜的人数不断创下新高，但这国家的道德水准却不断下降。以赛亚照神所吩咐的告诉他们：“你们不要再献虚浮的供物；香品是我所憎恶的；月朔，和安息日，并宣召的大会，也是我所憎恶的；作罪孽，又守严肃会，我也不能容忍”（以赛亚书1：13）。

然后，以赛亚告诉他们如何重获神的恩宠。以赛亚向这些在宗教律法下被扶养长大，但平日却过着不义生活的会众发出警告——他们将受神的审判。

他告诉他们怎样才能洗净他们的罪孽，说：“你们要洗濯，自洁；从我眼前除掉你们的恶行；要止住作恶……耶和华说：你们来，我们彼此辩论；你们的罪虽像朱红，必变成雪白；虽红如丹颜，必白如羊毛。”（以赛亚书1：16，18）。

成千上万的人没有将自己献给耶稣基督，因为他们已经顺从了这个世界。他们害怕自己被称为狂热分子、道貌岸然者、清教徒或宗教人士。真正的基督徒是不效法这个世界的，他不遵从世俗的宗教理念。相反的，他要成为一个真正的门徒，一个跟随主的人。

今日祷告：

天父，求祢更新我们的心思意念，让我们成为真正的门徒，也能带出其他真信徒来；祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。

September 30

RENEWED NOT JUST RELIGIOUS

…Be renewed in the spirit of your minds,and put on the new nature,created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.Ephesians 4:23-24,RSV

We Christians are not to be conformed to the world spiritually.We are not to be conformed to the world’s definition of what it means to be religious,but are to make sure that we have met God’s requirements for discipleship.

No nation was ever more religious than Israel in Isaiah’s day.The Temple was filled.The altar ran red with the blood of sacrifice.The religious festivals were strictly observed,and the voice of prayer was heard in the house of God.But there was a lack of depth and true devotion in Israel’s worship.The nation was deteriorating morally,even though record crowds were attending the Temple.Speaking as God commanded,Isaiah said,“Bring no more vain oblations;incense is an abomination unto me;the new moons and Sabbaths,the calling of assemblies,I cannot[endure];it is iniquity,even the solemn meeting”(Isaiah 1:13).

Then Isaiah told them how to regain the favor of God.These people who were members of the church-these people who had been reared according to the formalities of their religious laws,but during the week were not living a righteous life-Isaiah warned of the judgment of God.

Then he told them how they could be cleansed from their sin.He said,“Wash you,make you clean,put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes;cease to do evil…Come now,and let us reason together,saith the Lord:though your sins be as scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they be red like crimson,they shall be as wool”(Isaiah 1:16,18).

There are thousands of people who do not give themselves to Jesus Christ,because they have conformed to the world.They are afraid of being called fanatic,pious,puritanical,or religious.A true Christian is a nonconformist.He does not conform himself to the worldly concepts of religion.Instead,he is to become a true disciple,a“follower”of the Lord.

Pray for the Day:

Father,renew our minds,make us true disciples,and let us reproduce other true disciples;in Jesus’Name,Amen.