第二章

¹¹ 親愛的，我勸你們作客旅和寄居的人，要禁戒肉體的私慾，這私慾是與靈魂爭戰的。¹² 你們在教外人中，應當品行端正，使那些人，雖然毀謗你們是作惡的，但因為看見你們的好行為，就要在鑒察的日子頌讚神。

¹³ 你們為主的緣故，要順服人的一切制度，無論是至尊的君王，¹⁴ 或是君王所派賞善罰惡的官員；¹⁵ 因為這是神的旨意，要藉著你們的善行，塞住糊塗無知人的口。¹⁶ 你們是自由的人，但不要用自由來掩飾邪惡，總要像神的僕人。¹⁷ 要尊重眾人，愛護弟兄，敬畏神，尊敬君王。

²¹ 你們就是為此蒙召，因基督也為你們受過苦，給你們留下榜樣，叫你們跟隨他的腳蹤行。

 

 

默想：

1. 初期信徒很多時候被人批評指責，因為他們在公開場合中不肯敬拜皇帝或其他的神明。但是，當時羅馬政府一項調查指出，在基督徒的聚會中，他們宣誓要過正直樂善的生活，為皇帝祈禱，並順從當權者。
2. 然而，過順從領袖的生活，並不表示我們就不會被人誹謗，或不會受到不公平的待遇。但是，當我們使用自己的自由，在社會上選擇過屬神兒女的生活，亦即，在社會上做個好公民，必會帶來別人的讚賞，並歸榮耀給神。
3. 我能夠在所居住的城市、省份、國家，如何做個好公民？有什麼是我應當，但尚未做到的事情？求主幫助我。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

Chapter 2

¹¹Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. ¹²Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

¹³Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, ¹⁴or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. ¹⁵For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. ¹⁶Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. ¹⁷Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

²¹To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

 

Meditation

1. Early Christians were at times criticized as misfits because they did not take part in worship at social events honouring the Emperor or state deities.  Yet, the earliest investigation by Roman authorities reports that in Christian meetings they bound themselves by oath to live good lives, to pray for the Emperor, and to obey the authorities.
2. A life of submission to authorities will not prevent us from being slandered or unfairly treated.  But using our freedom to live as God’s servant in our society, to be good citizens in our community, will surely win praises from people and bring glory to God.
3. What can I do to be good citizen of my city, province and nation?  What are the things I need to do but haven’t done?  Ask God to help me.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.