从这段描述利未支派的经文中,我们看到正直的人可以带来很大的影响力。正直意味着言行一致。利未人行为公义和平,正如他口里所说的。利未人行事不但不违背真理,他们更引导人明白真理。
因着利未人言行一致的教导,百姓得以离弃罪恶。正直具有吸引人的魅力,不正直却把人吓跑了。可惜在玛拉基的年代,身为祭司的利未人失落了,需要有人这样提醒他们。神告诉他们,如果他们希望再次得到神的祝福,他们需要回归正直的言行。正直的教师能吸引人效法他们,更重要的是,他们言行一致的教导能使百姓明白神的旨意和得到衪的恩惠。
与玛拉基时代的神的子民一样,今天的基督徒也在正直上挣扎。有时我们说得漂亮,但我们的行为或态度却与我们所说的不相称;有时我们的行为表现很不错,但我们口中说的却很尖酸和粗暴。
到底怎样才能做到正直呢?以利未人为例,如果没有“与我同行” 这四个字,我们是没有可能做一个正直的人。唯有与主同行,我们才有希望做到言行一致。
亲爱的主,求祢把祢的道和话语写在我们心板上,让我们与祢的国度完全协调,好叫我们所讲所作的都能荣耀祢。奉耶稣名求,阿们。
玛拉基书 2:6; 雅各书 2:14-18
6真实的律法在他口中,他嘴里没有不义的话。他以平安和正直与我同行,使多人回头离开罪孽。"True instruction was in his mouth and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin." — Malachi 2:6
These words about the tribe of Levi tell us what an influence we can have when we have integrity. Integrity is when everything about us is in alignment. Levi's actions were both righteous and peaceful, and they matched Levi's words. The Levites not only avoided being dishonest; they sought to help others understand the truth.
Because the Levites' words and actions were aligned, people were drawn away from sin. Integrity is powerfully attractive. A lack of integrity turns people away. In Malachi's day, the priests—that is, the Levites—needed this reminder. God was saying that if they wanted to see God's blessings again, they needed to live with integrity. Integrity would draw other people to be like them. And, more important, teaching the ways of God with integrity would realign them with God's will and God's favor.
Christians today struggle with integrity just as God's people did in Malachi's time. Sometimes we say the right things, but the way we live or the attitude we carry is not aligned with our words. Other times our behavior is good, but our words might be cruel or vulgar.
Integrity would be impossible except for four little words in the example of Levi, "He walked with me." Walking with the Lord is our only hope for aligning our words and actions.
Dear Lord, write your ways and words on our hearts. Make us so in tune with your kingdom that we honor you in all we do and say. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳