6月26日
无法执行的命令？
“要常常喜乐， 不住地祷告， 凡事谢恩；因为这是神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。”
帖撒罗尼迦前书 5:16-18
两千多年前，使徒保罗教导信徒：“要常常喜乐， 不住地祷告”， 而且要“凡事谢恩”，不管他们处在怎样的境况。保罗说，这是神在基督耶稣里向他们所定的旨意。但是，这些教导是否切实可行？任何人真的都可以常常喜乐吗？真的可能不住祷告吗？在人生的低谷，在极其糟糕的境遇中，还会凡事谢恩吗？保罗所说的这些话，是否仅仅为一种安慰和劝勉的基督徒语言，类似于“振作起来”，或者“一切都会好起来的” ？人们真的可以活出这样的教导和命令吗？
这些不是简单空洞的命令。对我们软弱的人而言，这是不可能完成的任务，但是靠着大能的耶稣，就有可能活出这样的生命。在耶稣基督里，人们可以得到真正的喜乐，与神亲近交通，享有无尽的恩典。
今日祷告：
主耶稣 ，我不知该如何做到，但求你保守我的心怀意念，活出你的话语。阿们。
June 26 – Impossible Instructions?
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18
Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul encouraged a church to “always rejoice” and to “pray without ceasing.” He also told them to “give thanks always,” no matter what they were going through. This, Paul said, was God’s will for their very lives.
But are these instructions practical? Is it realistic to think that anyone could truly “always rejoice”? Is it actually possible to “pray without ceasing” ? Or what if life absolutely stinks (absolutely, repulsively, horribly stinks)—is it thinkable to “give thanks always” in those situations? Are these instructions from Paul just pleasant “Christianese” phrases similar to “keep your chin up” or “it’ll all be okay”? Or can people actually live these commands out?
These must be more than just empty commands. Perhaps in our fallen human strength these are mission impossible, but perhaps in the power of Jesus there is potential to actually live these out. Perhaps in Jesus people can be captured by joy, be caught up in conversation with God, and be
overwhelmed to overflowing with his grace.
Pray for the Day:
Lord Jesus, I don’t know how, but give me the mind and heart to live these verses out today. Amen.
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