查驗上帝誡命性的旨意Examining the Preceptive Willof God
[每日靈修] 1/18/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
上帝誡命性的旨意（preceptive will）與上帝在已經發佈的律法裏所啟示的誡命有關。當上帝命令我們不可偷竊時，這項諭令並不會帶來直接必然的後果。儘管光不可能在受造界拒絕發出光芒，但是我們卻有可能拒絕服從這個命令。總而言之，我們在偷盜。
我們必須小心，不要過分誇大這種區別。我們絕不能愚蠢地認為上帝誡命性的旨意與祂諭旨性的旨意（decretive will）是分開的。這不是說誡命性的旨意不會產生任何果效或沒有必然的後果。我們或許有權不服從這個命令，但是我們卻沒有能力逍遙法外、不受懲罰。我們也無法藉著漠視它來使它失效。無論我們遵守還是違背，祂的法律都還是完整無缺的。
從某種意義來說，誡命性的旨意是諭旨性的旨意的一部分。上帝主權地並有效地諭旨祂的律法會得到確立。它一旦確立，就沒有任何東西可以廢掉它。祂的律法和日光一樣，都是確確實實存在的，我們藉著日光才能閱讀祂的律法。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
在接下來的幾天裏，請閱讀詩篇一一九篇，這首詩篇讚美上帝誡命性的旨意，這是祂在書成的道中所啟示的。
進一步研讀：
羅十二2 不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。
約一12～13 凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。這等人不是從血氣生的，不是從情慾生的，也不是從人意生的，乃是從神生的。
可三35 凡遵行神旨意的人就是我的弟兄姐妹和母親了。
Examining the Preceptive Will
of God
The
preceptive will of God relates to the revealed commandments of God’s published
law. When God commands us not to steal, this decree does not carry with it the
immediate necessity of consequence. Where it was not possible for the light to refuse
to shine in creation, it is possible for us to refuse to obey this command. In a word, we steal.
We
must be careful not to make too much of this distinction. We must not be lulled
into thinking that the preceptive will of God is divorced form His decretive
will. It is not as though the preceptive will has no effect or no necessity of
consequence. We may have the power to disobey the precept. We do not have the
power to disobey it with impunity. Neither can we annul it by our disregard.
His law remains intact whether we obey or disobey it.
In
one sense, the preceptive will is part of the decretive will. God sovereignly
and efficaciously decrees that His Law be established. It is established and
nothing can disestablish it. His Law exists as surely as the light by which we
read it.
Coram
Deo
During
the next few days, read Psalm 119, which praises the preceptive will of God as
revealed in His written Word.
Passages
for Further Study
Romans
12:2
John 1:12-13
Mark 3:35