與基督同活
希伯來書十三章9至14節
9你們不要被那諸般怪異的教訓勾引了去；因為人心靠恩得堅固才是好的，並不是靠飲食。那在飲食上專心的從來沒有得著益處。
10我們有一祭壇，上面的祭物是那些在帳幕中供職的人不可同吃的。
11原來牲畜的血被大祭司帶入聖所作贖罪祭；牲畜的身子被燒在營外。
12所以，耶穌要用自己的血叫百姓成聖，也就在城門外受苦。
13這樣，我們也當出到營外，就了他去，忍受他所受的凌辱。
14我們在這裡本沒有常存的城，乃是尋求那將來的城。
信息分享
我們先要記著，這封書信是寫給猶太人基督徒的，他們似乎非常懷念和渴望回復耶路撒冷聖殿昔日的光彩及敬拜生活。
作者指出：「我們有一祭壇，但不是在地上那榮耀的聖殿；反之，它是在城外一個叫各各他的地方」(12節)。
在城門外的那個小小山頭，正是基督被釘十架的地方。而且，基督也自言祂是受咒詛的，因為舊約說過：「凡掛在木頭上的，都是受咒詛的。」
要猶太人基督徒認同基督，並不是一件容易的事。可是，作者在這裡卻向他們發出明確的挑戰：「雖然城門外那個地方，被世人所鄙棄，但我們卻要走出去，與基督認同。」對猶太人基督徒來說，這行動可能意味著與他的家人或家族決裂。它可能會帶來誤解，嘲笑，甚至是逼迫或排斥。但福音卻要求信徒來到這個地方；人若接受基督，就可能要為此而付上代價，因為它正是救主為我們捨身，讓我們得著救恩的地方。
這真理至今沒有改變。我們若要與基督相交，就必須來到祂受苦的那個地方。這可能意味著不再與世俗為伍，在生活中見證自己已經與基督合而為一。
然而，這卻不是表示我們要與世隔絕，不屑與世人為伍。這種心態只是律法主義和自義自大的表現。新約教導我們，人若與基督相交，就當與弟兄和好，學習彼此相愛。並且，我們還要努力在世人面前活出美好的見證，傳揚福音真理。
禱告：
主啊，求你加添我的力量，使我能不惜付上代價，也要與你結伴同行。
OUR PLACE WITH CHRIST
Hebrews 13:9-14
9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.
11 For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.
13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.
Message
Here is one of the closing challenges of this great epistle. Are you willing to take your place openly with Christ? Where is that place?
Remember this letter was written to Jewish Christians who seemed to be missing and even longing for the splendour and the action of the great Temple worship in Jerusalem.
The writer says 'We have an altar, but it is not in the glorious earthly temple. It is outside the city at a place called Calvary' (v. 12).
That little hill on which Christ was crucified was outside the city wall. More than that, Christ himself was considered to be cursed because the Old Testament said 'Cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree'.
It would not be easy for a Jewish Christian to identify himself with Christ. But the challenge here is plain. 'Let's take our place with him, even if it is the place of rejection by the rest of the world.' For the Jewish Christians this might mean the breaking of family ties. It could mean misunderstandings and even suffering and ridicule. But this was the place to which the gospel called the believer. The cost had to be faced if Christ was to be received. The place of the Saviour is also the place for the saved.
That is still true today. If we are going to know true fellowship with Christ, then we must take our place with him. It means separating from the world that crucified Christ and letting it be known that we are one with him, no matter the cost.
This does not mean separation from every other Christian as some people have tried to make it mean. That only leads to legalism and spiritual pride. The New Testament teaches us that to be in fellowship with Christ means also to be in fellowship with God's people wherever the truth of the gospel is preached. We will be living together in eternity. Why not start recognising each other now?
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord help me to take my stand with you and for you today, no matter the cost.