建立正確的觀念
帖撒羅尼迦後書一章5至12節
5這正是神公義判斷的明證,叫你們可算配得神的國,你們就是為這國受苦。
6神既是公義的,就必將患難報應那加患難給你們的人;
7也必使你們這受患難的人與我們同得平安。那時,主耶穌同他有能力的天使從天上在火燄中顯現,
8要報應那不認識神和那不聽從我主耶穌福音的人。
9他們要受刑罰,就是永遠沉淪,離開主的面和他權能的榮光。
10這正是主降臨,要在他聖徒的身上得榮耀,又在一切信的人身上顯為希奇的那日子。(我們對你們作的見證,你們也信了。)
11因此,我們常為你們禱告,願我們的神看你們配得過所蒙的召,又用大能成就你們一切所羨慕的良善和一切因信心所做的工夫;
12叫我們主耶穌的名在你們身上得榮耀,你們也在他身上得榮耀,都照著我們的神並主耶穌基督的恩。
信息分享
他們其中一點不明白的,就是神為何不懲罰那些逼迫他們的人。保羅的答案直截了當:神必會懲罰他們,而且,當基督再來的時候就必施行審判。這是基督再來的另一面信息。保羅對他們說:「稍安無躁,神必用祂的方式去審判他們。」
在基督再來的時候,與祂一同出現的眾天使,將會帶著權能和刑罰來到。那些敵擋神的人,當然不會被迎接到神的面前,反之,卻要與神永遠隔絕。
保羅沒有再仔細描述未得救者的可悲結局。他迅速轉移另一個角度,指出基督再來對信徒來說是何等奇妙,以及神在此刻的心意(10-11)。無論是在基督再來的時候,或是在祂再來之前,神的心意都是希望基督的榮耀得到彰顯,能夠被人看見。
我們今天怎能讓人看見基督呢?別人能夠透過我們的言行舉動和心態反應來看見基督。別人能夠透過祂賜給我們的平安,以及我們所顯出的愛心來看見祂。
有些人認為,別人若見到我們的情緒高漲,或有行異能的能力,就會看見聖靈在我們的生命中工作。然而,基督耶穌並不是這樣說。祂清楚表明,聖靈的工作是要榮耀祂。因此,唯有當我們學像基督,這就是聖靈在我們心中工作的明證。
反思:我今天的生命能讓人看見基督嗎?
LET'S GET THINGS STRAIGHT
2 Thessalonians 1: 5-12
5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe,[a] because our testimony among you was believed.
11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Message
One thing they didn't seem to understand was why God didn't punish the people who were persecuting them. Paul's reply was clear. God will punish them and He will do it when Christ comes. This is the other side of Christ's return. Paul was saying, “Just wait. God will take care of them in His own way.”
The angels at Christ's coming will be angels of power and punishment. Those who have worked against God's people will not be welcomed into God's presence but will be shut out from Him forever.
Paul didn't say any more about this tragic future for the unsaved. He switched back as quickly as possible to the wonder of Christ's coming for His own and the purposes of God (vv.10-11). Both at His coming and before He comes, God wants Christ's glory to be seen.
How can Christ be seen in us today? He can be seen in our attitude, our actions, and our reactions. He can be seen in the peace He gives and the love we show.
Some say that the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in your life will be seen in emotions built up or in your ability to perform in certain ways. That is not what Christ said. His words concerning the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work were, “He shall glorify me.” Therefore, the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in you or in me is found in our likeness to Christ.
A GOOD QUESTION: HOW MUCH OF JESUS WILL BE SEEN IN ME TODAY?

