牧者心聲
靈修
羅惠芬牧師
2023 年 12 月 30 日 / 31 日
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靈修是培育個人屬靈生命的行動。
聖經指出，在耶穌基督救恩裡的人是重生的人，他們重新成為神的兒女，與神重新連繫。「你們看父賜給我們的是何等的慈愛，讓我們得以稱為神的兒女；我們也真是他的兒女」（約壹三1，和修版）。這重生的屬靈生命該如何培育呢？就是追求體現與神的關係，所以，靈修的目標，也是體現我們與神的關係，讓神存在於我們生活之中，務使自己具備成為神兒女的樣式。
追求成為神兒女的樣式，是會表現在重生之人的心思意念及行為上，他們會從舊人逐漸更新改變為帶著神形像的新人。「你們要脫去從前的行為，脫去舊我；這舊我是因私慾的迷惑而漸漸敗壞的。你們要把自己的心志更新，並且穿上新我；這新我是照著神的形像造的，有從真理來的公義和聖潔。」（弗四22-24）靈修就是這更新改變過程中所需要的行動。故此，凡期望得到救恩所帶來的美好，就必須有靈修，情況就如運動有助建立健康的身體，因此期望改善身體健康的，就必需有運動。
靈修是培育的行動，我們要留意重點不在於付出，靈修是為支取。弟兄姊妹對靈修容易有一種傾向，就是把焦點放在做甚麼、怎樣做、做多少，但靈修卻是仰望神在自己的屬靈生命中動工，好讓我們可以支取祂同在的平安與盼望，支取祂真理的引導、啟迪和安慰。「主耶和華——以色列的聖者如此說：『你們得救在乎歸回安息，得力在乎平靜安穩』」（賽三十15）。
按以上的靈修目標，靈修的內容是要認識和明白神的旨意。「你們蒙了重生，不是由於會朽壞的種子，而是由於不會朽壞的種子，是藉著神永活常存的道。」（彼前一23）「遵守神命令的，住在神裡面，而神也住在他裡面」（約壹三24）。所謂遵行神的旨意，就是一方面實踐作神兒女的樣式，另一方面也使自己與神的關係成為真實。因此，閱讀聖經是靈修不可或缺的內容，聖經是神為人預備的，藉此叫人認識祂和祂的救贖計劃。一本適合的聖經研讀或靈修材料，對靈修是大有助益的，能夠幫助我們掌握經文的重點，也能引導我們應用在生活處境中。
最後，我們要有禱告的心，才能投入靈修之中，禱告就是向神的仰望和尋求。「因為凡祈求的，就得著；尋找的，就找到；叩門的，就給他開門。」（太七8）
Quiet time is an act to nourish one’s personal spiritual life.
The Bible says that believers saved by the grace of Jesus Christ are born again. They become the children of God once again and are reconnected with God. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a) How should we nourish this reborn spiritual life? We do so by the pursuit of experiencing our relationship with God. Therefore, the goal of quiet time is to experience our relationship with God, and let God live in our lives so we become what children of God are like.
The pursuit of being like the children of God would manifest in the mindset and behavior of the reborn. The reborn will gradually change from their old selves into a new creation in the image of God. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) Quiet time is the act needed in this process of renewal and change. Therefore, we must have quiet time if we want to have the goodness that comes with salvation. It is like how physical exercises are beneficial for building up a healthy body. Those who wish to improve their physical health must do exercises.
Quiet time is an act to nourish. We must note that the focus is not on what you put in. Rather, quiet time is for receiving. With quiet time, brothers and sisters tend to emphasize what they do, how they do it and how much. But quiet time is really looking unto God to work on our spiritual lives so we can receive the peace and hope that comes with His presence, and the guidance, inspiration and comfort of His truth. “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’” (Isaiah 30:15)
According to the goal above, quiet time is to know and understand the will of God. “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:23) “The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them.” (1 John 3:24a) Keeping God’s commands means living out the life of the children of God on one hand and, on the other, realizing our relationship with God. Therefore, reading the Bible is an indispensable part of quiet time. The Bible is prepared by God for man by which man would know God and His salvation plan. An appropriate set of Bible study or devotional material is very beneficial for our quiet time. It can help us grasp the main points of the Scripture as well as guide us to apply it in our daily life.
Finally, we need to have prayerful hearts in order to be engaged in the quiet time. Prayer is looking unto and seeking God. “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:8)
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