“不要醉酒，酒能使人放荡；乃要被（圣）灵充满……” – 弗 5:18
在巴西，每年都有一个很受欢迎的节日，叫狂欢节。狂欢节由公共资金赞助和政府推动，吸引了来自世界各地的数百万游客。大城市的主要街道上到处都是带着各种装饰的游行汽车和花车。桑巴舞学校随着巴图卡达舞的节奏游行，在渴望快乐的人群面前欢呼雀跃。狂欢节是带着面具的节日。可悲的是，这是一个醉酒的聚会。狂欢只不过是在沮丧灰烬中徒劳地寻找快乐。
狂欢节所带来的虚假快乐留下了苦涩的味道。在这个节日场景下，体面被撕毁，不道德被庆祝，有尊严的家庭生活与那些明智的价值观被抛在一边。
群众被壮观的景象催眠了，又跳又舞，被世俗的欢乐观念所鼓舞。但在这场活动结束后，人们的内心仍是空虚的。事实上，狂欢节是一场无法表达真正快乐的聚会。
然而，我们应该感谢神赐给我们真正的福份。我们被圣灵充满，圣灵使我们的身体成为神圣洁的居所（林前 6:18-20）。只有在主里，我们才能找到我们心灵所渴望的和平与安宁。
祷告
赐福的神，求你改变我们的心。让我们从解决问题的努力中解脱出来，让我们从空虚的庆祝活动中解脱出来。让我们在基督里找到真正的生命，我们奉祂的名祷告。阿们。
以弗所书 5:15-20
15你们要谨慎行事，不要像愚昧人，当像智慧人。
16要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶。
17不要做糊涂人，要明白主的旨意如何。
18不要醉酒，酒能使人放荡；乃要被圣灵充满。
19当用诗章、颂词、灵歌彼此对说，口唱心和地赞美主。
20凡事要奉我们主耶稣基督的名常常感谢父神。
False Happiness
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. . . .” – Ephesians 5:18
In Brazil there is a popular festival each year called Carnival. Sponsored with public funds and promoted by political authorities, Carnival attracts millions of tourists from around the world. Parading cars and floats with all kinds of decorations fill the main streets of large cities. Samba schools parade to the rhythm of the batucada before the euphoria of a crowd thirsty for pleasure. Carnival is the festival of masks. Sadly, it is a drunken party. Carnival is a vain effort to find joy where there are only ashes of frustration.
The false joy that Carnival promotes leaves a bitter taste. In the setting of this festival, decency is sacrificed, immorality is celebrated, and the wise values of dignified family life are tossed aside.
Lulled by amazing spectacles, the crowds jump and dance, animated by worldly ideas of joy. But people’s hearts at the end of this event are empty. Carnival, in fact, is a party where true joy does not find expression.
Instead, however, we can give thanks that God offers us true happiness. We are invited to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who makes our bodies a holy dwelling place for God (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). Only in the Lord can we find the peace and tranquility that our souls long for.
Prayer
Blessed God, transform our hearts. Free us from trying to solve our problems and to escape our struggles with the excesses of empty celebrations. Turn us to find true life in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
