【5.12】逃避私欲Flee From Sinful Desires


“你当竭力在神面前得蒙喜悦,作无愧的工人,按着正意分解真理的道。” – 提后2:15

一位来自附近教会的女士,逢星期三在我们校园事工中做三个小时的义工。她像慈祥的祖母那样提点学生,与他们一起祷告,又带给他们很多食物。她还擅长于讲故事!

她告诉学生们,多年前她继承到了一头狼狗。狼狗还小时满足于过着一头狗的生活;但当她迁到仍有狼溜达(和吼叫)的北方时,狼狗变得焦躁不安,它也想出去溜达。有一天它突然跑掉了,它跟随了野性的呼唤,之后便无影无踪了。

作为跟随耶稣的人,从某些角度来看,类似这样的事情也可能会发生在我们的生命中。我们旧有的罪性仍然抓住我们不放——当世界以吸引人的诱惑呼唤我们时,我们里面旧有的罪性便会蠢蠢欲动。自私和邪恶的倾向是会起死回生的。

社交媒体和各种不同的大众传媒也在影响我们;在我们周围的人对我们有很大的影响力;我们也可能“被我们自己的私欲牵引、诱惑”(雅各书 1:14)。

最好的做法,就是在个人、家庭和信徒小组的层面实行彼此问责、一起讨论类似以下问题:“我的生命和我的信仰,是否符合圣洁生活和神国的准则?抑或是倾向于我旧有的罪性和这个世界的价值观呢?”

祷告

圣洁的神,求你提醒我们,要天天察验我们的内心、我们的意念、和我们的生命。又求你帮助我们坚持忠于你的话语和你的国度。阿们。

提摩太后书 2:15-26

15你当竭力在神面前得蒙喜悦,做无愧的工人,按着正意分解真理的道。
16但要远避世俗的虚谈,因为这等人必进到更不敬虔的地步。
17他们的话如同毒疮,越烂越大。其中有许米乃和腓理徒,
18他们偏离了真道,说复活的事已过,就败坏好些人的信心。
19然而,神坚固的根基立住了,上面有这印记说:“主认识谁是他的人”,又说:“凡称呼主名的人总要离开不义。”
20在大户人家,不但有金器银器,也有木器瓦器,有作为贵重的,有作为卑贱的。
21人若自洁,脱离卑贱的事,就必做贵重的器皿,成为圣洁,合乎主用,预备行各样的善事。
22你要逃避少年的私欲,同那清心祷告主的人追求公义、信德、仁爱、和平。
23唯有那愚拙无学问的辩论,总要弃绝,因为知道这等事是起争竞的。
24然而主的仆人不可争竞,只要温温和和地待众人,善于教导,存心忍耐,
25用温柔劝诫那抵挡的人,或者神给他们悔改的心,可以明白真道,
26叫他们这已经被魔鬼任意掳去的可以醒悟,脱离他的网罗。

Flee From Sinful Desires

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who… correctly handles the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15

A woman from a local church volunteers three hours each Wednesday with our campus ministry. She gives grandmotherly advice, prays with students, and provides a lot of them with food. She is also a good storyteller!

She tells students that, years ago, she inherited a wolfdog. As a pup, he was content to live a dog’s life, but when she moved north, where wolves still roam (and howl), the dog became restless and wanted to roam also. Then one day he ran off to follow the call of the wild and was seen no more.

In some ways a similar thing can happen in our life as followers of Jesus. Our old sinful nature still clings to us—and as the world calls out to us with alluring temptations, that old nature can stir within. Selfish and sinful tendencies can try to come back to life.

Social media and every other form of media make their impact. The people around us influence us greatly. We can also be “dragged away by [our] own evil desire and enticed” (James 1:14).

We do well to take time as individuals, as families, and as groups of believers to practice accountability, discussing some questions like these: “Is my life and what I believe in line with godly living and the kingdom of God? Or is it bending toward my old sinful nature and the values of the world?

Prayer

Holy God, remind us each day to examine our hearts, our minds, and our lives. Help us to stay faithful to your Word and your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳

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