双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月16日 十架代赎

10月16日

十架代赎

因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛，在祂里面居住。既然藉着祂在十字架上所流的血，成就了和平，便藉着祂叫万有，无论是地上的，天上的，都与自己和好了。

歌罗西书1:19-20

我的朋友兼同事克里夫·巴罗斯给我讲了一个关于忍受惩罚的故事。他回忆起有一次因为孩子们不听话，他替他们接受惩罚的情景。“他们做了我禁止他们做的事，我告诉他们，如果他们再做同样的事，我就要管教他们。当我下班回来发现他们不听我的话时，我的心都碎了。我就是无法管教他们。”

任何慈爱的父亲都能理解克里夫的困境，我们大多数人也都有过同样的经历。他继续讲下去：“那时博比和贝蒂.鲁斯都很小，我把他们叫到我房间里来，我脱下自己的腰带和衬衫，光着背跪在床前。我让他们俩分别用皮带各抽我十下。你应该知道他们肯定哭了。我是说，他们不想这么做。但我告诉他们：必须有惩罚。于是他们哭着、流着泪照我说的做了。”

回忆这件事的时候克里夫笑了。他说，“我得承认，我不是什么英雄，因为很痛。我没有再让他们这样做​​，但我也不用打他们了，因为他们已经明白了我的用意。过后，我们互相亲吻，一起祷告。”

我们知道，基督以一种令我们心灵和思想无比震撼的方式，替我们一切的罪——过去、现在和将来的罪受了惩罚。

这就是祂死在十字架上的原因。

今日祷告：

父啊，感谢祢！感谢祢！深深感谢祢！因为基督的十字架救赎了我；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 16

THE CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS

For in him[Christ]all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,and through him to reconcile to himself all things,whether on earth or in heaven,making peace by the blood of his cross.Colossians 1:19-20,RSV

My friend and associate Cliff Barrows told me this story about bearing punishment.He recalled the time when he took the punishment for his children when they had disobeyed.“They had done something I had forbidden them to do.I told them if they did the same thing again I would have to discipline them.When I returned from work and found that they hadn’t minded me,the heart went out of me.I just couldn’t discipline them.”

Any loving father can understand Cliff’s dilemma.Most of us have been in the same position.He continued with the story:“Bobby and Bettie Ruth were very small.I called them into my room,took off my belt and my shirt,and with a bare back,knelt down at the bed.I made them both strap me with the belt ten times each.You should have heard the crying!From them,I mean!They didn’t want to do it.But I told them the penalty had to be paid and so through their sobs and tears they did what I told them.”

Cliff smiled when he remembered the incident.“I must admit I wasn’t much of a hero.It hurt.I haven’t offered to do that again,but I never had to spank them again,either,because they got the point.We kissed each other when it was over and prayed together.”

In an infinite way that staggers our hearts and minds,we know that Christ paid the penalty for our sins,past,present,and future.

That is why He died on the cross.

Pray for the Day:

Father,thank You;thank You;thank You!–for the Cross of Christ that brings me salvation;in Jesus’Name,Amen.