“Let Christ’s Love Be Seen in Our Fervent Love and Use of Gift for One Another 讓基督的愛在我們彼此切實相愛和恩賜運用上有目共睹“(1 Peter 彼得前書 4:7-10)
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
萬物的結局近了,所以你們要謹慎警醒地禱告。最重要的是要彼此切實相愛,因為愛能遮蓋許多的罪。你們要互相接待,不發怨言。你們要作神各樣恩賜的好管家,各人照著所領受的恩賜彼此服事。
Many Christians who believe that Lord Jesus is coming soon based on prophecy charts and political events often fail to pray more diligently. If we really believe that we live in the last days, we must give ourselves to serious, watchful prayer, primarily having our hearts and minds watching and ready for Christ’s return. But this also means watching ourselves and watching this world, measuring our readiness for His coming. In light of eternity, we must have fervent love for one another covering over a multitude of sins. Love will show itself not only in hospitality without grumbling but also as we give to the church family what God has given us as gifts. As we do so, we are good stewards of God’s grace given to us in its various forms.
許多基於預言圖表和政治事件來相信主耶穌快要來臨的基督徒,往往失誤於更努力地祈禱。如果我們真的相信自己生活在末世裡,就一定要認真守望禱告,首要是讓我們的心思時刻警醒,準備好迎接基督的再來。但這也意味著我們要守望自己和這個世界,衡量我們對祂降臨的準備程度。從永恆的亮光來看,我們一定要彼此切實相愛來遮蓋許多的罪。愛會不單只表現在不發怨言地殷勤好客上,也表現在當我們把神已給了我們的恩賜獻給教會家庭上。當我們如此作時,就是神各樣恩賜的好管家了。
Prayer: Oh Lord Jesus, where love is lacking, every word is viewed with suspicion, every action is liable to misunderstanding, and conflicts abound – to Satan’s perverse delight. Help us to be alert and pray more diligently. Thank you for reminding us that if we are bad stewards of your manifold grace, it is as if that grace was given to us in vain. Help us to let that grace move through us so that none is wasted. Amen.
禱告: 主耶穌啊,在缺乏愛的地方,人就帶著懷疑看待每句話語,每一個行動都易引起誤解,並衝突四起,正中撒旦異常的樂懐。求你幫助我們警醒,並更努力地祈禱。感謝你提醒我們,若我們作了你百般恩賜的壞管家,這就如那恩賜是徒然給我們的。求你幫助我們讓那恩賜透過我們流動,以致沒有一點浪費。阿們。