第十六章

13 你們要警醒，要在信仰上站立得穩，要作大丈夫，要剛強。 14 你們所作的一切，都要憑愛心去作。 15 弟兄們，你們知道司提反一家人是亞該亞初結的果子，他們專心地服事聖徒。 16 我勸你們要順服這樣的人，和所有與他們一同工作一同勞苦的人。 17 司提反、福徒拿都和亞該古都來了，所以我很快樂，因為他們補上了你們的不足， 18 使我和你們的心都得著暢快。這樣的人你們要敬重他們。 19 亞西亞的眾教會都問候你們。亞居拉和百基拉，以及他們家裡的教會在主裡再三問候你們。 20 所有的弟兄都問候你們。你們要用聖潔的親嘴彼此問安。 21 我保羅親筆問候你們。 22 如果有人不愛主，他就該受咒詛。主啊，願你來！ 23 願主耶穌基督的恩惠與你們同在。 24 我的愛在基督耶穌裡也與你們同在。（有古卷加“阿們”。）

 

默想

1. 哥林多教會是一間問題重重的教會。保羅以無比的愛心和勇氣，提出處理各樣的問題的原則與方法，並且敦促他們回到基督那裡。哥林多前書教導我們：教會內的合一和愛心，遠較領導者和名聲更為重要。
2. 在給哥林多信徒最後的指引中，保羅首先吩咐他們“憑愛心而作”(14節)，然後鼓勵他們像司提反一家那樣服事別人。以愛服事聖徒應是常規，而非例外。在過去幾年中，我曾經怎樣服事聖徒？在未來又可以怎樣服事他們？有什麼是這個星期，或這個月我就可以服事的？主啊，求你指示，我願順服。

 

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 16

¹³Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. ¹⁴Do everything in love.

¹⁵You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, ¹⁶to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. ¹⁷I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. ¹⁸For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Final Greetings

¹⁹The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. ²⁰All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

²²If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!

²³The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

²⁴My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Meditation

1. The Corinthian Church has many problems.  Paul, with much love and courage, pointed out principles and methods to deal with these problems and urged them to go back to Christ.  I Corinthians taught us that Unity and Love in church is far more important than leadership and reputation.
2. In these final instructions to the Christians at Corinth, Paul first charges them to let all that they do “be done in love”(v14) and then to put themselves “at the service” of such people as the household of Stephanas.
3. Loving service to the saints seems to be the norm, not the exception.  In what ways have I “served the saints” during the past year?  In what ways can I serve them in the future?  What could I serve in this week or this month?  Lord, show me and I will obey.

 

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.