Daily Devotion - Dec 11 - ¥q¥¬¯u¨C¤éÆF­×(©]) Evening by Evening

司布真每日靈修(夜) Evening by Evening

十二月十一日

經文: 你們所事奉的乃是主基督。（歌羅西書三：24）

這些話是向哪一階層的人說的呢？向那些驕傲地自誇有上帝的權柄去統治人的國王嗎？不，他們常常事奉他們自己或撒但，而忘卻是上帝的憐憫讓他們登上人間的王座。保羅是向那些所謂「在上帝�面虔敬的神父」、主教、或副主教說的嗎？不，其實保羅並不知道這些人造的頭銜。保羅甚至也不是向牧師和教師，或我們信徒中有財富、有地位的人說的，他是向僕人、向奴隸說的。使徒保羅在勞苦大眾、浪浪漢、勞工、家庭僕役中發現也有主所揀選的人。他向他們說：「無論作甚麼，都要從心�作，像是給主作的，不是給人作的。因你們知道從主那�，必得著基督為賞賜。你們所事奉的乃是主基督。」（西三：23∼24）這話教在地上受僱出賣勞力的得到尊崇，並為最卑賤的行業增添光輝。為人洗腳可能是卑賤的工作，但是能為主洗腳卻是尊貴的工作。為人解鞋帶是低下的工作，但是能為偉大的主解鞋帶卻是王子般的特權。當人為上帝的榮耀去工作時，工廠、殼倉、廚房都成為聖殿！服事上帝不是某些時候或某些地方的事，乃是全部生命在主面前成為聖潔。任何場所、任何事物都可以像會幕和其中的金燈台一樣聖潔。

Evening, December 11

Scripture: "Ye serve the Lord Christ."(Colossians 3:24)

To what choice order of officials was this word spoken? To kings who proudly boast a right divine? Ah, no! too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose sufferance permits them to wear their mimic majesty for their little hour. Speaks then the apostle to those so-called "right reverend fathers in God," the bishops, or "the venerable the archdeacons"? No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants, aye, and to slaves. Among the toiling multitudes, the journeymen, the day labourers, the domestic servants, the drudges of the kitchen, the apostle found, as we find still, some of the Lord's chosen, and to them he says, "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." This saying ennobles the weary routine of earthly employments, and sheds a halo around the most humble occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but to wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe-latchet is poor employ, but to unloose the great Master's shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then "divine service" is not a thing of a few hours and a few places, but all life becomes holiness unto the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick.

"Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see;

And what I do in anything to do it as to thee.

All may of thee partake, nothing can be so mean,

Which with this tincture, for thy sake, will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine;

Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, makes that and the action fine."


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