“你们要追求与众人和睦,并要追求圣洁 …。” – 来 12:14
多年来普世佳音的俄语事工,一直都在制作一个名叫难题的访谈节目。在这个现场直播的广播节目中,我们为听众解答有关圣经和基督教的疑问。
不过,有时我们听到的是人们发出的怨言,而不是他们提出的疑问。最近有一位听众打电话来,她告诉我们她和家人离开了教会,原因是教会会众之间有很多激烈的分歧和冲突。这位女士表示,这些纷争削弱了她的信心。
在今天的经文中,希伯来书的作者督促读者:“你们要追求与众人和睦,并要追求圣洁。”这不是一个自由选择的短期的活动,而是必须遵行的命令的和需要我们一生委身去做的事。已经与神和好的人,要在人际关系上主动承担寻求和睦的责任。要知道,当我们寻求与众人和睦时,我们就在不知不觉间反映出神的形像了。透过我们的爱心和友谊,别人看到神的荣耀的形像,而我们自己也在基督里得以成长。
我们个人生活的圣洁也是这样。不圣洁的生活使我们陷入与神隔离的罪,我们反而成为一个负面的见证人,对那些正在寻求主和渴望信心增长的人,我们可能会做了他们的绊脚石。
你认识赐和平的主吗?你的生命能否反映出这个事实呢?
祷告
父啊,求你带领我们,以你喜悦的方式把你的和平与圣洁的形像反映出来,又求你帮助我们成为忠心的见证人。阿们。
希伯来书 12:14-17
14你们要追求与众人和睦,并要追求圣洁,非圣洁没有人能见主。
15又要谨慎,恐怕有人失了神的恩;恐怕有毒根生出来扰乱你们,因此叫众人沾染污秽;
16恐怕有淫乱的,有贪恋世俗如以扫的——他因一点食物把自己长子的名分卖了。
17后来想要承受父所祝的福,竟被弃绝,虽然号哭切求,却得不着门路使他父亲的心意回转,这是你们知道的。
Peace And Holiness
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy. . . .” – Hebrews 12:14
For many years ReFrame’s Russian-language ministry has been producing a talk show called The Difficult Questions. In this live radio broadcast we answer listeners’ questions about the Bible and Christianity.
But sometimes we hear from people who have a complaint rather than an inquiry. One caller recently shared that her family left the church because the congregation had many bitter divisions and fights. The woman said that these conflicts weakened her faith.
In our Bible reading for today the author of Hebrews urges readers to “make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.” This is not an optional short-term activity but a necessity that requires our lifelong commitment. People who are at peace with God are responsible to pursue peace in their relationships with others. You see, when we seek peace with others, we somehow mirror the likeness of God. In our love and friendships people see a reflection of God’s glory, and we personally grow in Christ.
The same is true about our personal holiness. A lack of holiness leads to sin that separates us from God. It also makes us a poor witness, and we can become a stumbling block to others who are searching for the Lord and seeking to grow in faith.
Do you know the Lord of peace? Does your life reflect that?
Prayer
Father, guide us to reflect your peace and holiness in a way that is pleasing to you. Help us to be faithful witnesses to others. Amen.