感謝讚美上帝護理的大能与豐盛的供應。 本網誌內的所有資源純屬學習交流之用。

2017-03-07

作者Silverio Gonzalez  譯者駱鴻銘
https://cccdiscover.com/8-ways-to-practice-christianity-monday-through-saturday/

我們都希望基督信仰是很實用的能和我們每天的生活息息相關。這是個很好的願望我們的信仰理當塑造我們的生活方式。這裏,我想說明的是,身為基督徒,我們所能作的最實際的事情是非常平凡的,卻是經常被人忽略的,而且有時候就是因為太明顯,以至於我們會忽略它們。以下是身為基督徒每個禮拜應當作的八件很實際的事:We want Christianity to be practical and relevant to everyday life. This is a good desire. Our faith should shape the way we live. Here, I hope to show that the most practical things we can do as Christians are very ordinary, often neglected, and sometimes so obvious that we forget them. Here are eight practical things to do as a Christian every week:

1. 進一步默想主日的講章
在主日,我們的牧師對我們說到關於耶穌的十字架和耶穌的榮耀,我們的罪和救恩,信心和愛心,盼望和確據,恩典和平安,神的怒氣和憐憫,以及順服與受苦。我們聽見神已經藉著我們信靠耶穌基督而稱我們為義。我們很容易會忘記這些生命之道。禮拜一開始了,而我們的行動卻好似我們在主日聽到的話已經失效了。進一步默想主日的講章會幫助我們,以神的救恩的完整故事為基礎,把我們的身份和行動牢牢地建立在這個基礎上——從週一開始,一直到最後。
1. Further Meditation on the Sunday Sermon
On Sunday, our pastor speaks to us about Jesus’ cross and glory, life and death, our sin and salvation, faith and love, hope and assurance, grace and peace, mercy and wrath, and obedience and suffering. We hear that God has justified us by faith in Jesus Christ. It is easy to forget these words of life. Monday begins, and we can start to act as if what we heard on Sunday is no longer true. Further meditation on the Sunday sermon helps to ground our identity and actions in the whole story of God’s salvation—from the beginning of the week to the very end.

2. 每天禱告
每天的禱告是靠著聖靈的能力,與神和祂的教會相通。透過禱告,我們求神賜給我們日用所需,也投身到耶穌所賜給我們的生活裏。
2. Daily Prayer
Daily prayer is communion with God and his church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Through prayer, we ask for our ordinary needs and also participate in the life Jesus gives to us.

3. 每日讀經
當神的救恩故事在歷史中展開的時候,每天的讀經會把我們的生活建立在神的救恩故事的基礎上。每天讀經會增強我們在主日裏聽到的信息,並且使我們更渴望學習。
3. Daily Bible Reading
Daily Bible reading keeps us grounded in the story of God’s salvation being worked out in history. Daily Bible reading reinforces what we hear on Sunday and makes us eager to learn more.

4. 家庭靈修,並教導孩童
我們的信仰是值得和其他人分享的,尤其是神託付我們照顧的人。教導兒女是在我們個人的家中實踐基督信仰的一種方式,讓它成為每天生活的一部分。
4. Family Devotion and Teaching Your Children
Our faith is worth sharing, especially with the people that God has entrusted to our care. Teaching our children is a way to carry our Christianity into our homes, making it an everyday part of life.

5. 款待教會的朋友與鄰居
耶穌基督已經將聖靈賜給我們。聖靈所賜的包括仁愛、喜樂、和平、溫柔,等等(加五22)。藉著聖靈,我們有機會可以透過奉獻我們的時間、提供食物、用我們的話,和其他人分享神的愛。
5. Showing Hospitality to Members of Your Church and Your Neighbors
Jesus Christ has given us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, and kindness, among other things (Gal. 5:22). Through the Spirit, we have the opportunity to share God’s love with others through giving our time, offering our food, and using our words.

6. 記念聖徒的需要
在一個被罪粉碎的世界裏,真正的需要是無處不在的。如果我們有能力,神就要我們去幫助其他人——特別是基督徒。我們可以花時間陪伴教會裏的老年人和病人,捐款給那些在經濟上有困難的人,並且為教會每個人的需要來禱告。教會的執事也是另一個供我們諮詢的好資源,好讓我們更清楚自己的教會裏有哪些特殊的需要。
6. Remembering the Needs of the Saints
In a sin-shattered world, real needs are everywhere. As we are able, God desires us to aid others—especially Christians. We can spend time with the elderly and sick in our congregations, give money to those who experience economic hardship and pray for the needs of every member. The church’s deacons are another good resource to consult in order to become more aware of the particular needs in your own church.

7. 讓你的社區知道你是個慷慨的人
有好幾種方式可以花時間在你的社區裏行善。身為基督徒,我們要在自己的社區裏顯明憐憫和慷慨,用實際的方式來彰顯神的愛。憐憫、慷慨和分享我們的信仰是相輔相成的。
7. Showing Generosity in Your Community
There are many good ways to spend your time doing good in your community. As Christians, we show mercy and generosity in our community to demonstrate God’s love in tangible ways. Mercy and generosity go together with sharing the faith.

8. 忠心地工作,歸榮耀給神
神造我們,是為了讓我們行善。這包括我們日常的工作,無論這些工作看起來多麼不起眼。這些善工包括我們白天的工作,到雜貨店採買家庭日用品,換尿片,洗盤子。如果是用信心來作的,這些日常活動就會給我們機會為了神的榮耀來行善。我們許多人都有工作和家庭,這些都會佔據我們許多時間。這是無可厚非的。我們必須誠實地面對我們身體上的限制。要把你日常的工作當成是基督徒生活的一部分,如同其他任何被人視為是神聖的事情一樣。
8. Working Faithfully to God’s Glory
God has made us for good works. This includes our daily tasks, no matter how insignificant they seem. These good works could be your day job, grocery shopping for your family, changing dirty diapers, or washing the dishes. Done in faith, these ordinary activities present opportunities for doing good works unto God’s glory. Many of us have jobs and families, all of which demand much of our time. That is okay. We need to be honest with our bodily limitations. Consider your ordinary work as much a part of the Christian life as anything else people call holy.