“The Importance of Right Relationship with God 與神有正確關係的重要性“（Romans 羅馬書 8:15-17）
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
你們接受的，不是奴僕的靈，使你們仍舊懼怕；你們接受的，是使人成為嗣子的靈，使我們呼叫“阿爸、父”。聖靈親自和我們的靈一同證明我們是神的兒女。既然是兒女，就是後嗣；是神的後嗣，也和基督一同作後嗣。我們既然和他一同受苦，就必和他一同得榮耀。
Those having feelings of emptiness and inadequacy seem to have a plea about becoming a ‘whole person,’ the important fruit of having right relationship with God. By the work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth, the ‘divine nature’ enters the deep-in core of the believer’s heart and establishes residence there. If those do not have Christ’s Spirit, they do not belong to Christ because the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Religious externals such as baptism, confirmation, the receiving of the sacraments , church membership may have a meaning for the God-inhabited soul; for any others they are not only useless but may actually become snares, deceiving them into a false and perilous sense of security. Keeping your heart with all diligence is a solemn charge laid upon us by the One who cares most about us!
那些感到空虛和不足的人似乎懇切渴望成為一個「完整的人」，那與神有正確關係的重要果子。藉著聖靈在人重生中的工作，那「屬神的本性」便進入信徒內心深處的中樞，在那裡建立居所。人若沒有基督的靈，就不是屬基督的，因為聖靈自己與我們的心靈同證我們是神的兒女。宗教形式/儀式如浸禮、堅信禮、領聖餐、教會入會等，對於有神內住的心靈會具有意義，但對於其他人不僅無益，反而會實際上成為他們的網羅，欺騙他們落入虛假又危險的安全感中。要竭力保守你的心，是最關心我們的那一位加給我們嚴肅的指示！
Prayer: God of Trinity, being your children we are so privileged to have the Holy Spirit dwelled in us to lead, guide and correct us. ‘Fathering’ or ‘parenting’ is a role we can play in other people’s lives whether or not we are their natural parents. There are individuals for whom we should be a spiritual parent, following the example of your perfect fatherhood. Help us to know you more, to love you more, and to serve you more. Amen.
禱告: 三一真神啊，作為你的兒女，有著聖靈內住在我們裡面去帶領、引導和矯正我們，是何等榮幸的。不論我們是否為人生父/母，「為父」或「教養兒女」是一個我們在別人生命中能夠扮演的角色，應當效法你完美父性的榜樣，為個別者成為一位屬靈的父母。求你幫助我，去認識你更多，去愛你更多，去服侍你更多。阿們。
