更认识我们的主
在这封信中，我们听到彼得的声音，他被恢复成了“耶稣基督的仆人和使徒。”（参4月18日）彼得直白地说，他得到了宝贵的信心。而且不仅是他，其他人也得到了。他又加上“恩惠平安”的问候，这是因认识神和主耶稣而有的。这是圣灵工作的结果，彼得很清楚这一点。
多特信经解释说，重生和恢复到在基督里的生命，完全是神的工作。尽管我们的意志在属灵的层面可能是死的，且迷失在罪中，但神的灵会“苏醒之，医治之，改正之，同时用甜蜜的、大有能力的方法使之折服。”结果是，我们渴望更顺服神，而不是抵挡神的旨意。
彼得说神“已经将一切关乎生命和敬虔的事赐给我们”，又敦促他的听众以良善、知识，节制、忍耐、敬虔、爱弟兄的心和爱众人的心来建立他们的信心。当然，只有神的灵在我们里面工作，我们才有可能在这些品格上成长，而且在这些方面，我们将更加认识我们的主和救主，耶稣基督。
我们的主愿意我们认识祂，更完全地像祂。神的灵是怎样改变你，使你重生呢？
神的灵啊，感谢你如此大有能力地工作，使我们认识耶稣。求帮助我们让他人知道，你在我们生命中的一切作为。愿荣耀都归你！阿们。
彼得后书 1:1-11
1做耶稣基督仆人和使徒的西门彼得，写信给那因我们的神和救主耶稣基督之义，与我们同得一样宝贵信心的人。
2愿恩惠、平安因你们认识神和我们主耶稣多多地加给你们！
3神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。
4因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有份。
5正因这缘故，你们要分外地殷勤：有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识；
6有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；
7有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心。
8你们若充充足足地有这几样，就必使你们在认识我们的主耶稣基督上，不至于闲懒不结果子了。
9人若没有这几样，就是眼瞎，只看见近处的，忘了他旧日的罪已经得了洁净。
10所以弟兄们，应当更加殷勤，使你们所蒙的恩召和拣选坚定不移。你们若行这几样，就永不失脚。
11这样，必叫你们丰丰富富地得以进入我们主救主耶稣基督永远的国。
Growing To Know Our Lord
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” — 2 Peter 1:3
In this letter we hear the voice of Peter, restored to being “a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.” (See April 18.) Peter states plainly that he has received a precious faith. And it’s not just his; others enjoy it too. He adds a greeting of “grace and peace” that comes only “through the knowledge of God and of Jesus.” This is the result of God’s Spirit at work, and Peter knows it.
The Canons of Dort explain that rebirth and restoration to life in Christ are entirely God’s work. Though our will may be spiritually dead and lost in sin, the Spirit of God “revives, heals, reforms, and—in a manner at once pleasing and powerful—bends it back.” As a result, we want to grow in obedience to God rather than resisting God’s will.
Noting that God “has given us everything we need for a godly life,” Peter urges his listeners to build on their faith with the spiritual fruit of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual friendship, and love. Of course, growing in all these qualities is possible only by the work of God’s Spirit in us, and in these ways we will continue to grow in knowing our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our Lord wants us to know him and to grow to be like him fully. In what ways do you see the Spirit of God changing and regenerating you?
Spirit of God, thank you for working so powerfully in us to know Jesus. Help us to tell others all that you have done in our lives—to your glory! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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