五月二十四日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/05/0524.mp3″]
经文: 只要你们行事为人与基督的福音相称。(腓立比书一:27)
行事为人包括我们生命的全部过程,和在世上的一切行为。希腊原文中,这个字强调的是公民的行动和权利。因此,上帝命令我们的行为要像新耶路撒冷的公民,使基督的福音得荣耀。福音原本十分简单。我们的仪式、言词、衣着和全部的行为皆需简单化。这是美丽的中心内涵。福音是完全真实的。基督徒的生命若缺少真理的珠宝就失去光辉、毫无价值。福音是不怕一切的福音,勇敢地向世人宣告真理,不论人喜爱与否。我们必须同样忠诚、不畏缩。但是福音也是十分温柔的。请注意福音的基本精神:“压伤的芦苇祂不折断。”(太十二:20)让我们以温柔的言语和行动来赢得人。福音更是无比的爱。它是上帝向失丧堕落的人所发出的爱之信息。基督向祂的门徒发出最后的命令:“你们要彼此相爱。”(约十三:34)但愿在圣徒之中有更多的爱和更强的合一。但愿向那些最恶劣、最卑贱的灵魂有更多的温柔怜悯!我们必不能忘记基督的福音是圣洁的。它永不接受罪恶,唯有经过赎罪才能得赦免。如果我们的生活要与福音相称,就必须规避每样阻挠我们完全顺服基督之事。为了祂,为了我们自己,也为了其他人,我们必须日复一日的奋力,使我们行事为人与祂的福音一致。
Evening, May 24
Scripture: “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.”(Philippians 1:27)
The word “conversation” does not merely mean our talk and converse with one another, but the whole course of our life and behaviour in the world. The Greek word signifies the actions and the privileges of citizenship: and thus we are commanded to let our actions, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. What sort of conversation is this? In the first place, the gospel is very simple. So Christians should be simple and plain in their habits. There should be about our manner, our speech, our dress, our whole behaviour, that simplicity which is the very soul of beauty. The gospel is pre-eminently true, it is gold without dross; and the Christian’s life will be lustreless and valueless without the jewel of truth. The gospel is a very fearless gospel, it boldly proclaims the truth, whether men like it or not: we must be equally faithful and unflinching. But the gospel is also very gentle. Mark this spirit in its Founder: “a bruised reed he will not break.” Some professors are sharper than a thorn-hedge; such men are not like Jesus. Let us seek to win others by the gentleness of our words and acts. The gospel is very loving. It is the message of the God of love to a lost and fallen race. Christ’s last command to his disciples was, “Love one another.” O for more real, hearty union and love to all the saints; for more tender compassion towards the souls of the worst and vilest of men! We must not forget that the gospel of Christ is holy. It never excuses sin: it pardons it, but only through an atonement. If our life is to resemble the gospel, we must shun, not merely the grosser vices, but everything that would hinder our perfect conformity to Christ. For his sake, for our own sakes, and for the sakes of others, we must strive day by day to let our conversation be more in accordance with his gospel.