每日读经

玛拉基书 第一章 - 我们与神的关系

我们与神关系现状的反思

|

9 分钟阅读

作为旧约的最后一本书,玛拉基书为我们揭示了以色列人与神关系的真实状态。

这实在是一幅可悲的画面。

自始至终,以色列人都未能与神建立一个忠诚、彼此回应的关系。在玛拉基书中我们看到,尽管神已借着哈该和撒迦利亚呼召他们回转顺服,几十年过去,他们仍再次回到了罪恶的道路上。

这一次,他们甚至对神的责备充耳不闻,用悖逆的言语顶撞神(玛 1:2, 6;2:14, 17;3:7-8, 13-15)。

他们的悖逆揭示出一种错误的安全感——他们以为自己与神有特权的关系,因而无须自省。他们没有意识到自己已经偏离了神的标准。事实上,神并不喜悦他们(玛 1:10),反而决定在外邦人中荣耀祂的名(玛 1:11)。

由此我们可以看出,当我们轻率地以为自己正蒙神悦纳时,是何等危险。

所以,让我们省察:

我们是否对自己与神的关系有错误的评估?

我们该如何判断?

我们可以借用神指出以色列人与祂关系失败的衡量标准来检视自己——第一是“爱”,第二是“尊荣”。


你是否爱祂?

若丈夫声称爱妻子,妻子却反问"你何时爱过我",这显然不是爱的关系。问题要么在于丈夫没有正确去爱,要么是妻子忽视了丈夫爱的行动。

在神与以色列人的关系中,是后者的情况。

神责备以色列人没有认识到祂对他们的爱(玛 1:2),并以以东的结局来对比强调祂对以色列何等大的爱。

以色列与以东都曾被神毁灭(代下 36:21;玛 1:3)。

但即便以东努力想重建,他们也不会成功,因为神的忿怒永远临到他们,祂要拆毁他们所建造的一切(玛 1:4)。

然而,神对以色列的怒气却止息了(何 14:4),并帮助他们重建国家。

以色列人在巴比伦和波斯的统治下为奴多年(代下 36:20, 22),但神感动这些外邦君王允许他们重建圣殿和城墙。

他们在重建的过程中也面临许多敌人(尼 4:8),但神使敌人的计谋落空(尼 4:15)。

神爱以色列,并不是因为他们能为祂做什么,而是因祂拣选并爱了雅各(玛 1:2)。

然而,尽管神如此爱他们,百姓却没有回应这份爱,这从他们在第2节的回答中清楚可见。

对于我们今天的信徒来说,我们所蒙最大的爱,是神拣选了我们这些外邦人。祂在我们中间荣耀祂的名,差遣圣灵进入我们的心,使我们成为祂的儿女(罗 8:16)。

所以我们要反思:

我是否意识到祂对我何等深厚的爱?

我是否看见神每天如何眷顾并与我同在?

若我真的意识到了,我是否也以同样深的爱回应祂?

你是否尊荣并敬畏祂?

因为神是全能的创造主,我们与祂的关系理当充满尊荣与敬畏。

就像孩子当尊敬父亲,仆人当敬畏主人一样(玛 1:6)。

若一个孩子真正尊敬父亲,他就会努力顺从父亲的吩咐,全心全意去完成父亲的旨意。因为在孩子眼中,父亲是高于自己的。

反观以色列人,他们却不尊重神的身份。

他们把好的留给自己,把残缺污秽的献给神,还抱怨献祭是件令人厌烦的事(玛 1:12-14)。

若他们真正明白“献祭给耶和华”的意义——那位创造万物并掌权治理万有的神(赛 41:2-4),他们就会更认真地对待献祭这事。

我们与神的关系可以通过我们是否尊荣祂而显明出来,而这常常体现在我们献给神的“祭物”中。

如今,我们不再献牛羊果子,但我们可以用金钱(十一奉献),以及时间和精力(敬拜与事奉)来作为献给神的祭。

然而,我们也可能像以色列人一样,把最好的留给自己。

比如我们可能在考试或工作汇报上花上几个小时准备,却对教会的服事却是临时才准备。

又或者,我们抱怨服事神太累,明明教会有需要,却不愿意承担更多的责任。

结语

我们与神的关系到底如何?

让我们不要重蹈以色列人的覆辙,而是清楚地察觉这段关系的真实状态。

若我们发现自己在爱与尊荣神上有所缺乏,让我们回转归向那位张开双臂等待我们的神。

意识到被祂拣选和每日蒙祂眷顾的极大恩典,从而更加爱祂;

记念祂是创造主,配得我们将最好的献给祂,从而更加尊荣祂。

相关话题

相关内容

但以理书 第四章(英文)

但以理书 第四章(英文)

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth .

关于本会

我们是真耶稣教会,一间建立在耶稣与使徒们的教导上的全球性非宗派教会。藉由圣灵创立,我们的使命是把全备的救恩真理传向地极/世界尽头。

关于本会

We have four places of worship, and we gather for Sabbath and night worship services. We welcome you to join us for any of our in-person services!

参与崇拜聚会