第七章

17不過，主怎樣分給各人，神怎樣呼召各人，各人就要照著去行事為人。我也這樣吩咐各教會。18   有人受了割禮而蒙召的嗎？他就不要遮掩割禮的記號。有人未受割禮而蒙召的嗎？他就不要受割禮。19割禮算不得甚麼，沒有割禮也算不得甚麼，要緊的是遵守神的命令。20各人蒙召的時候怎樣，他就應當保持原來的情況。21你蒙召的時候是作奴僕的嗎？不要為此煩惱。但如果你能夠得到自由，就要把握這機會。22因為作奴僕的蒙了主的呼召，就是屬於主的自由人了；照樣，自由的人蒙了呼召，他就是基督的奴僕了。23你們是用重價買來的，不要作人的奴僕。24弟兄們，你們各人蒙召的時候怎樣，就應當在神面前保持這原來的情況。

 

默想

1. 我們常以結婚與否、工作貴賤、財富多寡，來斷定自己的身份；但這些都只是神用來塑造我們的原料。所以，保羅勸導他們不要希望換個環境、或配偶等，因為是神，而不是結婚與否，或其他因素，來決定我們的身份與價值。
2. 我目前有些怎樣的困境，我希望能有改變的？第17，19節是否給我一些指引、原則？將心中的困境向神訴說。若有需要，可以詢問教會傳道人，並尋求屬靈指引。

 

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 7

¹⁷Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. ¹⁸Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him. ²¹Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²²For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. ²³You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to.

 

MEDITATION

1. We’d like to think that our married status, vocational status, economic status make us who we are.  These are important but not essential raw materials which God uses to shape his life in us.  So, Paul told them don’t wish to be someplace else or with someone else.  God, not your marital status or any other thing, defines your life (v17).
2. What are some of the things that I’d like to have changed in my life?  Would verses 17 & 19 provide some direction and principle?  Tell God about it and, if needed, contact your pastor for further help.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.