向情欲说“不”

“凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲，同钉在十字架上了。” - 加 5:24

　　杰克说：“我无法抵挡它。”“它”是指他时常放纵的情欲。芝莉说：“我又不能控制它了。”她是说自己又忍不住用尖酸刻薄的舌头，伤害了别人。有些人甚至放弃，认为不再需要制服这个“它”了。

　　一幅由盖瑞拉尔森绘画的《远处》系列漫画，上面是一个妇人拼命地抓住停车收费器，因为她好像被一个强力吸尘器吸住了，双脚离地，被吸向一间糖果店的大门。我可以理解这个试探是何等强烈，因为我也十分爱吃巧克力！当然，吃克巧力不是犯罪，但过份着迷和滥吃也可能成为我们的罪。对任何人来说，犯罪的试探都非常厉害，它们往往是难以抵挡的。

　　保罗说，我们必须钉死“肉体”——我们的邪情私欲。我们可能以为这只不过是保罗用的生动的比喻，但事实并非如此，我们若相信基督，我们的灵便真的与祂同钉在十字架上了。

　　我们必须天天钉死“顺从肉体的行为”，例如淫乱、仇恨、嫉妒。今天的经文列了一连串的罪行，这些罪行向我们的灵性宣战，并且严重地破坏我们与神和与人的关系。

　　钉死肉体，也就是对围攻我们的情欲说“不”，这是一种折磨，就像钉十字架是一种折磨一样。然而，仰赖神的帮助和藉着圣灵的能力，我们可以做得到。

父啊，感谢祢，使我们在基督的死和复活上与祂联合，也让祢的灵活在我们心里。求祢帮助我们追求敬虔，不断成长。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

16我说，你们当顺着圣灵而行，就不放纵肉体的情欲了。
17因为情欲和圣灵相争，圣灵和情欲相争，这两个是彼此相敌，使你们不能做所愿意做的。
18但你们若被圣灵引导，就不在律法以下。
19情欲的事都是显而易见的，就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、
20拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、
21嫉妒、醉酒、荒宴等类。我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人必不能承受神的国。
22圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、
23温柔、节制。这样的事没有律法禁止。
24凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。
25我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。
26不要贪图虚名，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。

Crucify The Flesh

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." - Galatians 5:24

英语音频 English Audio

"I couldn't help it," said Jack. "It" was his lust, which he frequently fed. "I just lost it," said Jill. What she lost was control of her sharp tongue, which she regularly used to cut people down. Some think there's no use fighting "it."

A Far Side cartoon by Gary Larson depicts a woman clinging for dear life to a parking meter. She is being sucked off her feet, as if by a huge vacuum, pulled toward the door of a candy store. I understand the temptation, since I absolutely love chocolate! But, of course, eating chocolate is not a sin. Obsessing over it or overindulging in it, though, can be sinful. For any of us, temptations to sin can be so strong that they can be hard to resist.

Paul says we must crucify "the flesh"—our sinful passions and desires. We might think this is simply a vivid metaphor. But that is not the case. Believing in Christ, our spirits are united with him in his death on the cross.

Every day we must put to death "the acts of the flesh," such as sexual immorality, hatred, jealousy—today's verses list a host of offenses. Such sins wage war on our souls and play havoc with our relationships.

Crucifying the flesh—saying "No!" to the passions that besiege us—is torture, just as crucifixion was a form of torture. But with God's help and through the power of the Holy Spirit, it can be done.

Prayer

Thank you Father, that we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection, and that your Spirit lives within us. Help us to grow in godliness. Amen.