查驗加爾文的禱告規則（二）Examining Calvin’s Rules of Prayer (Part 2)
[每日靈修] 1/3/2018, 駱鴻銘編譯
約翰•加爾文的第三個禱告規則是我們必須始終以真實的情感禱告。禱告是一種激情：「許多人以一種敷衍馬虎的方式禱告，拘泥於形式，好像他們正在向上帝執行任務......他們出於習慣履行職責，因為他們的思想既是冷冰冰的，也不思考他們祈求的是什麼。」
加爾文的第四個禱告規則是：它必須總是伴隨著悔改：「上帝不聽惡人；他們的禱告和獻祭都是上帝所憎惡的。因為那些關閉他們心靈的人，會發現上帝的耳朵對他們來說也是關閉的。」
加爾文說謙卑的順服是必要的：「關於這種摧毀一切傲慢的順服，我們在上帝的僕人當中見到許多例子。他們越是聖潔，當他們進到主的面前時，越是謙卑地俯伏。」
如果我可以簡潔地總結一下加爾文關於禱告的教導，我會這樣說：禱告的首要規則就是要記住上帝是誰並記得你是誰。如果我們記住這兩件事，我們的禱告將永遠以崇拜和認罪為標誌。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
你用真實的情感禱告嗎？你總是帶著悔改來禱告嗎？
進一步研讀：
腓四6 應當一無掛慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，和感謝，將你們所要的告訴神。
雅五16 所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求，使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。
彼前四7 萬物的結局近了。所以，你們要謹慎自守，警醒禱告。
Examining
Calvin’s Rules of Prayer (Part 2)
John
Calvin’s third rule of prayer was that we must always pray with genuine
feeling. Prayer is a matter of passion: “Many repeat prayers in a perfunctory
manner from a set form, as if they were performing a task to God … They perform
the duty from custom, because their minds are meanwhile cold, and they ponder
not what they ask.”
A
fourth rule of prayer from Calvin was that it be always accompanied by
repentance: “God does not listen to the wicked; that their prayers, as well as
their sacrifices, are an abomination to them. For it is right that those who
seal up their hearts should find the ears of God closed against them.”
Calvin
said a humble submission is required: “Of this submission, which casts down all
haughtiness, we have numerous examples in the servants of God. The holier they
are, the more humbly they prostrate themselves when they come into the presence
of the Lord.”
If I
can summarize Calvin’s teaching on prayer succinctly, I would say this: The
chief rule of prayer is to remember who God is and to remember who you are. If
we remember those two things, our prayers will always and ever be marked by
adoration and confession.
Coram
Deo
Do
you pray with genuine feeling? Do you always accompany your prayers with
repentance?
Passages
for Further Study
Philippians
4:6
James
5:16
1
Peter 4:7
Ephesians
6:18
