偿还债务是公平的要求。神创造我们,是要我们尽心、尽性、尽意、尽力去爱祂;祂又吩咐我们要爱我们的邻舍如同爱自己。
可惜每天我们都不能达到神的要求,以至罪债越来越沉重。神永活的儿子耶稣降世为人,住在我们中间,祂完美无瑕地持守了神爱的律法。然后,尽管祂是无罪的,祂却在十字架上为我们舍弃自己的生命,为每一个相信祂的人偿还罪债。
我们蒙召去相信这个好消息,好叫我们能够进入神的安息。在旧约圣经中,有些神的子民不服从神,他们不接受神必定会把应许之地赐给他们的好消息,他们不相信神会领他们进入祂的安息(民数记 14章)。希伯来书解释说,同样今天我们需要相信神藉耶稣来救赎我们的好消息,好叫我们能够进入祂的安息——享受到神为我们预备的丰盛和永远的生命。
这个安息也被称为“安息日的安息,为神的子民存留,”而每一个星期的安息日,就是指向这个安息日的提醒。认罪悔改并相信这位被钉死然后复活的耶稣,能够领我们进入祂的安息。因此,我们最好问问自己:“我已经进入祂的安息了吗?抑或仍然在凭自己的能力挣扎寻求与神和好呢?”
祷告
主啊,感谢你,因为我们可以藉着相信耶稣得到你所赐的真正安息。阿们。
希伯来书 3:12-4:11
12弟兄们,你们要谨慎,免得你们中间或有人存着不信的恶心,把永生神离弃了。
13总要趁着还有今日,天天彼此相劝,免得你们中间有人被罪迷惑,心里就刚硬了。
14我们若将起初确实的信心坚持到底,就在基督里有份了。
15经上说:“你们今日若听他的话,就不可硬着心,像惹他发怒的日子一样。”
16那时听见他话惹他发怒的是谁呢?岂不是跟着摩西从埃及出来的众人吗?
17神四十年之久又厌烦谁呢?岂不是那些犯罪尸首倒在旷野的人吗?
18又向谁起誓,不容他们进入他的安息呢?岂不是向那些不信从的人吗?
19这样看来,他们不能进入安息是因为不信的缘故了。
4我们既蒙留下有进入他安息的应许,就当畏惧,免得我们中间或有人似乎是赶不上了。
2因为有福音传给我们,像传给他们一样。只是所听见的道于他们无益,因为他们没有信心与所听见的道调和。
3但我们已经相信的人得以进入那安息,正如神所说:“我在怒中起誓说:‘他们断不可进入我的安息。’”其实造物之工,从创世以来已经成全了。
4论到第七日,有一处说:“到第七日神就歇了他一切的工。”
5又有一处说:“他们断不可进入我的安息。”
6既有必进安息的人,那先前听见福音的因为不信从,不得进去,
7所以过了多年,就在大卫的书上又限定一日,如以上所引的说:“你们今日若听他的话,就不可硬着心。”
8若是约书亚已叫他们享了安息,后来神就不再提别的日子了。
9这样看来,必另有一安息日的安息为神的子民存留。
10因为那进入安息的,乃是歇了自己的工,正如神歇了他的工一样。
11所以,我们务必竭力进入那安息,免得有人学那不信从的样子跌倒了。
"Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." - Hebrews 4:11
Justice requires that debts be paid. God created us to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also instructs us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
But every day we fall short of God's requirements, adding to our debt. Jesus, the eternal Son of God, came from heaven to become human and live among us. He kept God's law of love perfectly. Then, although he was innocent, he gave up his life on a cross for us, paying the debt of sin for all who would believe in him.
This is the good news that we are called to believe so that we can enter God's rest. In the Old Testament, some of God's people disobeyed and would not accept the good news that God would give them the promised land. They would not trust in God to bring them into his rest (Numbers 14). And today, as the book of Hebrews explains it, the situation is similar: we need to trust in the good news of God's salvation through Jesus so that we can enter into his rest—enjoying the full, eternal life that God has in store for us.
This is also called the "Sabbath-rest for the people of God," and the Sabbath day is a weekly reminder pointing to that rest. Repenting of sin and placing our faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus brings us into his rest. So we do well to ask, "Have I entered his rest, or am I still struggling in my own strength to find peace with God?"
Lord, thank you for the gift of true rest through faith in Jesus. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳