使用恩赐就是实践爱
爱人包括使用圣灵赐给我的恩赐。我们每一个人都有我们可以使用的天赋和才能，来荣耀和尊崇神。此外，我们更有 “叫人得益处” （哥林多前书 12:7）的属灵恩赐。在罗马书12章、哥林多前书12章、彼得前书4章，和其他经文中，我们看到很多属灵的恩赐：说预言、信心、施舍、劝勉、智慧、款待等等。我们每一个人最低限度会有一种恩赐，我们可以用它来服事人和见证神的恩典。
不论我们有哪些恩赐，我们都要使用它们。首先，我们要知道和乐于接受我们的恩赐是什么。只有我们发掘自己的恩赐时，我们才能使用它来表达爱。如果我们不愿意承认或不看重这些恩赐，那么让我们记着，是神装备我们，并要求我们去侍奉的。
无论我们得到什么恩赐，都要为别人的缘故使用它们。我们的社区、我们的家庭，都需要我们去使用这些恩赐。纵使只有一个人决定把神交付的恩赐 “搁置不用” ，基督身体的效用便会因此减弱了。就如历史悠久的《海德堡要理问答》所说的： “每个信徒都应该视此为一种责任，就是甘心乐意地使用自己的恩赐，来服待其他肢体，叫他们得到益处。” （第55条问答）你有没有这样做呢？
父啊，求祢帮助我们找到我们的恩赐，这些都是祢为要我们去服待人而交托给我们的。我们愿意尊崇祢。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
彼得前书 4:7-11
7万物的结局近了。所以，你们要谨慎自守，警醒祷告。
8最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，因为爱能遮掩许多的罪。
9你们要互相款待，不发怨言。
10各人要照所得的恩赐彼此服事，作神百般恩赐的好管家。
11若有讲道的，要按着神的圣言讲；若有服事人的，要按着神所赐的力量服事，叫神在凡事上因耶稣基督得荣耀。原来荣耀、权能都是他的，直到永永远远。阿们！
Loving Means Using My Gifts
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins... Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others..." — 1 Peter 4:8, 10
Loving others includes using the gifts provided by God's Spirit. Each of us has talents and abilities we can use to bring glory and honor to God. In addition, we have spiritual gifts "for the common good" (1 Corinthians 12:7). As we find in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4, and other passages, there are many gifts of the Spirit: prophecy, faith, giving, encouragement, wisdom, hospitality, and more. Each of us has at least one gift, and with it we can serve others and testify to God's grace.
Whatever gifts we have need to be used. That begins by recognizing and acknowledging what gifts we have. We need to discover our giftedness so that we can use it to express love. If we are reluctant or prefer to be modest in acknowledging our giftedness, let's remember that God equips those whom he calls.
Whatever gifts we are given are to be used for the sake of others. Our communities and our families need us to use our gifts. The effectiveness of the body of Christ is diminished when even one person decides to "sit on the gift" entrusted to them. As an ancient confession of the church, the Heidelberg Catechism, puts it, "Each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members" (Q&A 55). Do you?
Father, help us to recognize the gifts you have entrusted to us for the sake of serving others. We want to honor you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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