6月12日

標　　題：天國的鑰匙

經　　節：我要把天國的鑰匙給你，凡你在地上所捆綁的，在天上也要捆綁；凡你在地上所釋放的，在天上也要釋放。（馬太福音十六章19節）

天國的鑰匙可以為你打開一條門徑，讓你藉著自己與耶穌基督的關係接近天父。因著這個關係，你可以得到任何透過基督而得著的東西。這把鑰匙不是毫無條件地任意供應；耶穌是在門徒認出自己是基督之後，才交給他們這把天國的鑰匙。門徒一旦確信耶穌是救主，他們與祂就進入一個獨特的個人關係。他們與耶穌的關係，讓他們可以直接朝見天父。同樣地，你與基督的關係，也為你打開天堂的大門，讓你能夠直接與天父相交。

彼得發現自己只要持有這把天國的鑰匙，就能在任何處境來到天父面前。在五旬節那天，他站在幾千人面前講道，這位身分地位不高的漁夫，為三千人打開了天國的大門（使徒行傳二：41）。當他遇見一位瘸腿的人，他使用神的醫治大能，使那瘸腿的人能行走（使徒行傳三：6）。被關進監獄時，他發現天國的鑰匙能夠為他打開那似乎堅不可摧的監獄大門（使徒行傳十二：6∼10）。

如果你是基督徒，你也擁有天國鑰匙。你不需要中介者，你可以毫不受阻地朝見神。這把鑰匙能讓你得到所有環境需要的資源。害怕時，你可以擁有神所賜出人意外的平安（腓立比書四：6）。當我們與神的關係破裂時，可以藉著基督與神和好（哥林多後書五：18∼21）。當你遇到需要幫助的人，你可以為那個人吸取神的供應。被託管這把天國之鑰，是我們極大的榮幸！

The Keys of the Kingdom

"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

The keys of the kingdom represent the access you have to the Father through your relationship to Jesus Christ. With this relationship you have access to everything that is accessible to Christ. However, this access is not given indiscriminately; Jesus gave the keys to His disciples only after they recognized that He was the Christ. Once the disciples were convinced that Jesus was the Savior, they entered into a unique and personal relationship with Him. Their relationship to Jesus gave them direct access to their heavenly Father. Likewise, your relationship with Christ opens the door of heaven for you and gives you direct access to the Father. Peter discovered that once he had keys to the kingdom, he could go to the Father in every situation. When he stood to preach before thousands on the day of Pentecost, this simple fisherman opened the door to the kingdom for three thousand people in one day (Acts 2:41). When he encountered a lame man, he used his access to God and His healing power, and the man was healed (Acts 3:6). When he was imprisoned, Peter discovered that the keys of the kingdom could open even the most secure prison door (Acts 12:6–10).

If you are a Christian you, too, have keys to the kingdom of heaven. You do not need an intermediary, for you have an unobstructed access to God. With that access come all the resources you need to face any circumstance. When you are afraid, you have access to God's peace that surpasses comprehension (Phil. 4:6). When you have a broken relationship, you have access to the God of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–21). When you meet someone in need, you have access to God's provision for that person. What an incredible privilege to be entrusted with keys to the kingdom of heaven!