爬出泥潭Climbing out of the Mire
[每日靈修] 12/2/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
我們的靈魂無法自行爬出罪惡的泥潭，因為它們已經死了。救恩不會臨到那些喊叫這話的人：「向我指明通往天堂的道路」，而是會臨到那些哭喊這話的人：「請帶我到那裏，因為我自己到不了。」
為了避免我們將罪人的禱告僅僅視為是技巧，我們必須謹記，基督使死人復活是為了要叫他們可以行走。我們不會口中念念有詞地重覆一些神奇的字詞，然後等死。基督信仰也關乎靈命成長。這是工作，是成聖的艱苦勞動。重生是神單方面的作為，完全是上帝的工作。成聖，也就是我們成為聖潔的過程，則是神與人的協作，上帝和我們一起工作。
對上帝來說，祂那部分很容易。祂不需要走捷徑，因為祂從不疲倦。但是，我們卻必須不斷與想要抄捷徑的誘惑作鬥爭。任何技巧都無法使我們成為聖潔。然而，魔鬼的任何技巧都無法阻擋基督使我們成為具有祂形象的人。所來召的人，祂就使他們成聖。
我們的成聖需要上帝的靈，而因為祂已經如此安排祂的世界，成聖必須有紀律地、重複使用恩典的管道。每天五分鐘的聖經研讀聞起來像技巧。但缺乏這個動作，肯定會失敗。我們必須浸泡在上帝的話語中。然後，正如耶穌所應許的那樣，我們會認識真理，而真理將使我們得自由。然後我們就會成為祂的門徒（約八31～32）。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
請記住，上帝正在你身上動工。祂從不厭倦。為這個正在進行的工程感謝上帝。
進一步研讀：
約八31～32 耶穌對信祂的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒； 你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」
約八36 所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。
詩四十2 他從禍坑裏，從淤泥中，把我拉上來，使我的腳立在磐石上，使我腳步穩當。
Climbing out of the Mire
Our
souls cannot climb out of the mire of sin because they are dead. Salvation
comes not to those who cry out, “Show me the way to heaven,” but to those who
cry, “Take me there for I cannot.”
Lest
we see the sinner’s prayer as mere technique, we must remember that Christ
raises the dead that they might walk. We do not mumble the magic words and then
wait to die. Christianity is about spiritual growth as well. It is about work,
the hard work of sanctification. Regeneration is monergistic, God’s work alone.
Sanctification, the process by which we are made holy, is synergistic, God’s
work with us.
God’s part is easy for Him. He needs no
shortcuts because He never tires. We, though, must ever fight the temptation to
seek the shortcut. No technique will make us holy. No technique of the Devil’s,
though, can stop the process of Christ making us into His image. Those whom He
calls He sanctifies.
Our sanctification requires the Spirit of God
and, because He has so ordered His world, sanctification requires the
disciplined and repeated use of the means of grace. Five minutes a day of Bible
study smells like technique. Arid, it is sure to fail. We must immerse
ourselves in the Word of God. Then, as Jesus promised, we will know the truth
and the truth will set us free. Then we will be His disciples (John 8:31–32).
Coram Deo
Remember,
God is at work in you. He never tires. Give thanks for the process that is
underway.
Passages
for Further Study
John
8:31–32
John
8:36
Psalm
40:2