12月27日
標 題:當有這個心
經 節:你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。(腓立比書二章5節)
態度不是自然而然就產生的,態度是選擇的結果。保羅鼓勵信徒要與基督的態度一樣。耶穌是神的兒子。祂正坐在全能天父的右邊,統治整個宇宙。再也沒有比坐在天父右邊的位置更榮耀的了!耶穌與天父的關係使祂有權利得到這個榮耀。
耶穌選擇不要享受這個榮耀。沒有任何東西是祂不能放棄的,即使是天上的地位,祂只選擇天父要祂做的事。對天父的愛驅使祂願意犧牲一切,付上任何代價去順服天父。當天父需要一個無瑕疵的祭物,好救贖人類時,耶穌沒有抱著祂的權利不放,也沒有爭論自己何須為這些悖逆、如塵土般渺不足道的受造物,忍受那樣的苦痛(以賽亞書五十三:7)。更確切地說,祂放棄了自己在天上的榮耀,降世為人。祂降生在一個馬棚裡,睡在馬槽中。祂的一生,就是為被釘十字架的痛苦之日所預備。然而,祂甘心情願去做。
我們往往會緊緊抓住神的賜予不放。我們說:[我願意為神放棄任何東西,但是,我不認為祂要我放棄任何東西!]天父要祂的愛子徹底調整自己的生活,難道我們不該期待祂會同時要求我們犧牲,並安慰我們嗎?
每回你發現自己不願意應神的要求,來調整自己的生活時,當求聖靈賜給你像耶穌一樣無私的態度。
Have
Their Mind in You
Let
this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5)
Attitudes
do not just happen; we choose them. Paul urged believers to have the same
attitude that Jesus had. Jesus was the Son of God. His place was at the right
hand of His Father, ruling the universe. No position could be more glorious or
honorable than the right hand of the heavenly Father. Jesus’ relationship with
the Father gave Him the right to this honor.
Jesus
chose not to hold on to this right. Nothing, not even His position in heaven,
was so precious to Him that He could not give it up if His Father asked Him.
His love for His Father compelled Him to make any sacrifice necessary in order
to be obedient to Him. When the Father required a spotless sacrifice for the
redemption of humanity, Jesus did not cling to His rights, nor did He argue
that He should not have to suffer for the sins of rebellious creatures of dust
(Isa. 53:7). Rather, He relinquished the glory of His heavenly existence in
order to become a man. He was born in a cattle shed; he slept in a feeding
trough. His life was spent preparing for the day when He would suffer an excruciating
execution. All of this He did willingly.
We
are tempted to hold tightly to things God has given us. We say, “I would be
willing to give up anything God asked of me, but I just don’t think He would
ask me to give anything up!” The Father asked His Son to make radical
adjustments in His life. Can we not expect that He will ask us to sacrifice
privileges and comforts as well?
If
you find yourself resisting every time God seeks to adjust your life to His
will, ask the Spirit to give you the same selfless attitude that Jesus
demonstrated.