为神而活，就要去爱
今天的经文吩咐我们，要以基督为我们所成就的一切，来做我们行事为人的标准。祂愿意顺服和受苦，而现在我们正在等候祂再来，到时祂将要 “审判活人死人。” 因此，彼得这样说：“所以你们要谨慎自守，……最要紧的是彼止切实相爱……”
在我的圣经中，这段彼得前书的经文，是以 “为神而活” 为分题的，它提醒我一首古旧的诗歌，这首诗歌开始时这样说：“为耶稣而活，才是真生命，尽力取悦主，常尊敬主名。” 我想彼得必定会喜欢英文歌词中 “strive” （尽力）这个字的；彼得是一个非常尽力做事但却不是常常成功的人，然而他明白 “爱能遮掩许多的罪。” 基督的爱遮掩了彼得的罪，也遮掩了我们的罪。
彼得说：“万物的结局近了” ，他跟着解释，我们要谨慎自守、警醒祷告，和彼此切实相爱。接着他更补充说：“你们要互相款待，不发怨言。” 彼得心目中的款待，不单是在主日崇拜前后与会友打个招呼，也不单是邀请朋友来家里吃饭。那些初来教会的人、那些与我们不同的人，不也同样需要我们的款待吗？
为神而活的意思，是指我们与别人的关系是一种舍己的关系，包括真诚和没有怨言地款待人。这样做可以带来奇妙的果效！
主啊，我们愿意在一切事上向祢表明我们对祢的爱。求祢以祢的灵的爱和温暖，加添我们力量。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
彼得前书 4:1-11
1基督既在肉身受苦，你们也当将这样的心志作为兵器，因为在肉身受过苦的，就已经与罪断绝了。
2你们存这样的心，从今以后就可以不从人的情欲，只从神的旨意在世度余下的光阴。
3因为往日随从外邦人的心意行邪淫、恶欲、醉酒、荒宴、群饮，并可恶拜偶像的事，时候已经够了。
4他们在这些事上，见你们不与他们同奔那放荡无度的路，就以为怪，毁谤你们。
5他们必在那将要审判活人死人的主面前交帐。
6为此，就是死人也曾有福音传给他们，要叫他们的肉体按着人受审判，他们的灵性却靠神活着。
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！
Living Means Loving
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." — 1 Peter 4:8-9
In today's verses we're called to a way of life based on what Christ has done for us. He submitted and suffered, and we now await his return, when he will "judge the living and the dead." So Peter says, "Therefore, be alert... Above all, love each other deeply... ."
In my Bible this section of 1 Peter is labeled "Living for God." This reminds me of an old song that begins, "Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please him in all that I do." I think Peter would have appreciated the word "striving" in these lines. He was someone who tried very hard but didn't always succeed. Yet he did learn that "love covers over a multitude of sins." Christ's love covered Peter's sins, and it covers ours too.
Peter says, "The end of all things is near," and then he explains that we should remain alert, be in prayer, and focus on loving each other. In line with this he adds, "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." Peter would have understood hospitality as more than greeting people before or after a worship service. It also means more than having just our friends over for dinner. What about newcomers and those who are not like us?
Living for God means that our relationships with others are expressed in self-sacrificing ways, including real hospitality without grumbling. It could have amazing results!
Lord, we want to show our love for you in all we do. Empower us with the love and warmth of your Spirit, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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