2018-10-02


衝破停滯期Pushing Through Plateaus

[每日靈修] 9/29/2018,  駱鴻銘編譯

我們當中有許多人都滿足於重覆基督徒的屬靈八股,並靠著靈奶維持生活,而不是在靈命上不斷成長。強健的增長需要健康的飲食。它需要使徒保羅所謂的「肉」(βρῶμα;林前三2,「飯」;可譯為「乾糧」、「固體食物」)。我們需要有紀律地讀經、有紀律地禱告、有紀律地服事。

我們大多數人都要求在另一個人的權柄或監護下受到管教。自律僅僅是在另一個人之下學到的紀律的延伸。它不是來自魔法。如果你想要擺脫令你癱瘓的停滯期,那麼你必須接受有資格帶領你進一步深入基督徒生活的人的管教。你的牧師是最明顯能幫助你的人。

要拒絕滿足於靈奶。擺脫停滯,並進入不斷增長的豐富發展階段是可能的。我們蒙召作門徒,不只是一年,而是我們的一生。要基督徒放棄學習成長是絕不可能的。我們的主任教師是聖靈。如果聖靈住在我們裏面,祂就不會讓我們在成長上停滯不前。

但是,我們必須記住,成聖是一個合作的過程。聖靈在我們裡面工作,但我們卻被呼召在他神聖的監督下勤奮工作。我們的成長程度在很大程度上取決於我們在敬虔紀律中的實踐。我們仍然可能會遇到陷入各種精神成長的挫折感。為了超越它們,我們需要肉食和實踐,實踐和實踐。

活在神的面光中(在神面前禱告):
您可以採取哪些步驟來製定個人精神成長計劃?

進一步研讀:
林前三13 弟兄們,我從前對你們說話,不能把你們當作屬靈的,只得把你們當作屬肉體,在基督裡為嬰孩的。我是用奶餵你們,沒有用飯餵你們。那時你們不能吃,就是如今還是不能。你們仍是屬肉體的,因為在你們中間有嫉妒、分爭,這豈不是屬乎肉體、照著世人的樣子行嗎?
帖前五23 願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖!又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守,在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候,完全無可指摘!
約十七17 求你用真理使他們成聖;你的道就是真理。
來十10 我們憑這旨意,靠耶穌基督,只一次獻上祂的身體,就得以成聖。
來五1214 看你們學習的工夫,本該作師傅,誰知還得有人將神聖言小學的開端另教導你們,並且成了那必須吃奶,不能吃乾糧的人。凡只能吃奶的都不熟練仁義的道理,因為他是嬰孩;惟獨長大成人的纔能吃乾糧;他們的心竅習練得通達,就能分辨好歹了。
彼前二2 就要愛慕那純淨的靈奶,像才生的嬰孩愛慕奶一樣,叫你們因此漸長,以致得救。


Pushing Through Plateaus

Many of us are satisfied with echoing Christian jargon and subsisting on a spiritual diet of milk instead of growing spiritually. Strong growth requires a healthy diet. It requires what the apostle Paul called “meat.” We need the discipline of study, the discipline of prayer, the discipline of service.

Most of us require being disciplined under the authority or tutelage of another. Self-discipline is merely the extension of discipline learned under another. It does not come by magic. If you desire to break out of the plateau on which you are paralyzed, then it is imperative that you get under the discipline of someone qualified to take you further and deeper into the Christian life. Your pastor is the most obvious person to help.

Refuse to be satisfied with milk. It is possible to break out of stagnation and move ahead into a growing, enriching development. We are called to be disciples, not for one year but for our lives. It is ultimately impossible for the Christian to quit his growth lessons. Our master teacher is God the Holy Spirit. If the Spirit dwells in us, He will not allow us to remain stagnant in our growth.

We must remember, however, that sanctification is a cooperative process. The Spirit is at work within us, yet we are called to work diligently under His divine supervision. The degree of our growth is dependent in large measure on our practice in godly discipline. We still may experience the frustration of getting stuck at various plateaus of spiritual growth. In order to progress beyond them, we need meat and practice, practice, practice.

Coram Deo
What steps can you take to institute a personal program of spiritual growth?

Passages for Further Study
1 Thessalonians 5:23
John 17:17
Hebrews 10:10