第三章

¹   所以，你們既然與基督一同復活，就應當尋求天上的事，那裡有基督坐在神的右邊。   ²   你們要思念的，是天上的事，不是地上的事。   ³   因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同隱藏在神裡面。   ⁴   基督就是你們的生命，他顯現的時候，你們也要和他一同在榮耀裡顯現。   ⁵   所以要治死你們在地上的肢體，就如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾和貪心，貪心就是拜偶像。。。。

¹²   所以，你們既然是神所揀選的，是聖潔、蒙愛的人，就要存憐憫的心腸、恩慈、謙卑、溫柔和忍耐。   ¹³   如果有人對別人有嫌隙，總要彼此寬容，互相饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要照樣饒恕人。   ¹⁴   在這一切之上，還要有愛心，愛心是聯繫全德的。   ¹⁵   又要讓基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們蒙召歸為一體，也是為了這個緣故。你們要有感謝的心。   ¹⁶   你們要讓基督的道豐豐富富地住在你們心裡，以各樣的智慧，彼此教導，互相勸戒，用詩章、聖詩、靈歌，懷著感恩的心歌頌神。   ¹⁷   凡你們所作的，無論是言語或行為，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。

 

默想：

1. 慢慢地讀這段經文，仔細的思考穿上新人過程中的幾個部分：

–          新生命是可能的 （3-4節）

–          除去舊生命（5節）

–          穿上新生命（12-14節）

–          穿上新生命所需的內心及行為的改變（15-17節）

2. 那個部分對我是特別需要的？重新回去讀那些經文，再看這個部分的哪個字詞特別觸動我？為什麼？這與其他部分有什麼關連？這又與“聯繫全德的愛心”有什麼關連？
3. 以個人化的經文來向神禱告，例：13節“如果我對別人有嫌隙，求主助我對那人寬容，並饒恕他；主怎樣饒恕了我，我也要照樣饒恕人他。”（可以將自己和對方的名字放進去來禱告。）

 

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 3

¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  ⁵Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ……

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  ¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Meditation:

1. Read the passage and consider these segments included in the process of putting on the new life.

–          A new life is possible (vv3-4)

–          Get rid of the old life (v5)

–          Put on the new life (v12-14)

–          Inner thoughts and behavior needed to put on new life (vv15-17)

2. Which segment of this process speaks to me most right now?  Reread the verses that correspond to that segment.  What word or phrase in that segment speaks to me?  Why?  How does that idea relate to the other segments?  How does it relate to love “which binds them all together in perfect unit”?
3. Pray back to God the segment that speaks to me, personalizing it.  For example, based on v13, Please help me to bear with XX(someone’s name) and forgive XX for the grievances I have against XX.  Help me to forgive as the Lord forgave 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.