《Lent》Day 02
改變是必須的
1 在那些日子，施洗的約翰出來，在猶太的曠野宣講：2「你們要悔改！因為天國近了。」3 這人就是以賽亞先知所說的：「在曠野有聲音呼喊著：預備主的道，修直祂的路。」4 這約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲和野蜜。5 那時，耶路撒冷、全猶太和全約旦河地區的人，都到約翰那裏去，6 承認他們的罪，在約旦河裏受他的洗。7 約翰看見許多法利賽人和撒都該人也來受洗，就對他們說：「毒蛇的孽種啊，誰指示你們逃避那將要來的憤怒呢？8 你們要結出果子來，和悔改的心相稱。9 不要自己心裏說：『我們有亞伯拉罕為祖宗。』我告訴你們，上帝能從這些石頭中給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。10 現在斧子已經放在樹根上，凡不結好果子的樹就砍下來，丟在火裏。11 我是用水給你們施洗，叫你們悔改；但那在我以後來的，能力比我更大，我就是給祂提鞋子也不配，祂要用聖靈與火給你們施洗。12 祂手裏拿著簸箕，要揚淨祂的穀物，把麥子收在倉裏，把糠用不滅的火燒盡。」(馬太福音三1-12．和修)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 4 John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:1-12. NIV)
分享：研究顯示，曾接受心臟繞道手術的患者，都知道必須改變其生活方式，否則是死路一條。然而，仍有約90%的患者在手術後的兩年裡，仍未改變自己的生活方式。縱使醫生努力解說「改變」的重要性，大部分的人寧願選擇死路，也不願意改變。
為了預防死亡，醫生鼓勵人要改變生活習慣來保持身體健康。同樣地，施洗約翰向人們宣講了屬靈改變的信息：「你們要悔改！因為天國近了。」(馬太福音三2) 然而，人是否知道「改變」的重要並願意接受呢？
悔改，代表一個人改變對上帝的心思及態度，同時也帶來一個人行動和決定的改變。人們若是悔改，且接受基督死在十架上的救贖，就能免於靈魂的滅亡 (參約翰福音三16)。悔改包括：承認自己的罪、為所犯的罪惡憂傷及離棄罪惡。施洗約翰當時正是要呼召人們改變生活方式，活出榮耀上帝的生命。今天，主仍然在呼召我們悔改，並結出與悔改的心相稱的果實 (參馬太福音三8)。你願意改變嗎？
反思：對你來說，改變最大的攔阻是什麼？
行動：寫下想改變的一件事 (必須是合神心意的)，並計劃一下怎樣改變。
Posted in CGSP Lent2024