八福
機器中的沙粒
經文
歌羅西書一15-27
15愛子是那不能看見之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的；能看見的，不能看見的；或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的；一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。
17他在萬有之先；萬有也靠他而立。
18他也是教會全體之首。他是元始，是從死裡首先復生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
19因為父喜歡叫一切的豐盛在他裡面居住。
20既然藉著他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，便藉著他叫萬有─無論是地上的、天上的─都與自己和好了。
21你們從前與神隔絕，因著惡行，心裡與他為敵。
22但如今他藉著基督的肉身受死，叫你們與自己和好，都成了聖潔，沒有瑕疵，無可責備，把你們引到自己面前。
23只要你們在所信的道上恆心，根基穩固，堅定不移，不至被引動失去（原文是離開）福音的盼望。這福音就是你們所聽過的，也是傳與普天下萬人聽的（原文是凡受造的），我保羅也作了這福音的執事。
24現在我為你們受苦，倒覺歡樂；並且為基督的身體，就是為教會，要在我肉身上補滿基督患難的缺欠。
25我照神為你們所賜我的職分作了教會的執事，要把神的道理傳得全備，
26這道理就是歷世歷代所隱藏的奧祕；但如今向他的聖徒顯明瞭。
27神願意叫他們知道，這奧祕在外邦人中有何等豐盛的榮耀，就是基督在你們心裡成了有榮耀的盼望。
信息分享
我們今天仍然會繼續思想八福中的「溫柔」，我們先讀一次這句經文：「溫柔的人有福了！因為他們必承受地土。」讓我們來問一問自己，到底耶穌說的「因為他們必承受地土」這句話是甚麼意思？我相信，它的意思是，當我們能培養出溫柔的性情時，整個宇宙都會支在我們的手上。比如說，我們若是決定表現出憤怒和敵意的態度，而不是培養溫柔和安靜的靈，憤怒和敵意便成了卡在「生命機器中的沙粒」。
宇宙是以合乎基督心意的方式受造的。我們今天的經文顯示神創造世界時，令世界以基督的方式運作，正如今天的經文所說：「一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的。」科學家愛迪生（Edison）做了1,100次實驗，結果全都失敗。有人對他說：「你一定會感到白白浪費了許多時間。」愛迪生回答說：「不，我是發現了1,100種不應該有的處事方式。」
世界當前熱門的事情，就是人類正在尋找生活的方式。他們發現有些事情是宇宙不容許的，有些則是宇宙容許的。可是，溫柔的人是那些明白現實處境的人，他們知道不能按自己的心意來扭轉世界，也不能使世界接受那些不被允許的事情。神既在宇宙說出第一句話便必定有祂的權柄。而凡按照主的心意行事的基督徒，都會發現在他一切所做的事情上，宇宙一直在背後支持著他。
「神讓世界以基督的方式運作」
進深研究
腓二1-11；約一3；林前八6；來一1-2
1. 耶穌怎樣表現溫柔？
2. 這怎樣應用到你身上？
祈禱
天父，感謝您提醒我生命只有一種行得通的方式──您的方式。我若能夠按照您的計劃生活，就必蒙您帶領。願您的名永遠受到稱頌。阿們。
The Beatitudes
"Sand in the machinery"
Bible reading:
Colossians 1:15-27
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior.
22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—
23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—
26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Message
We spend one more day meditating on the text: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Today we ask ourselves: What did Jesus mean by the phrase, "for they will inherit the earth"? It means, so I believe, that when we develop the attitude of meekness, the whole universe is behind us. If, for example, we decide to manifest the attitude of anger and hostility rather than cultivating a meek and quiet spirit, then the anger and hostility becomes, as someone put it, "sand in the machinery of life".
The universe has been made in a Christlike fashion. Our text for today shows that when God made the world, He made it to work in the way of Christ: "All things were created by him [Christ] and for him." Edison, the scientist, tried eleven hundred experiments, all of which turned out to be failures. Someone said to him: "You must feel that you have wasted your time." "Oh no," answered Edison, "I simply found out eleven hundred ways how not to do things."
This is what is happening in the world right now - humanity is finding out how to live. People are discovering that there are some things which the universe will not approve and some things it will approve. The meek are those who have come to terms with reality and know that they cannot twist it to their own ends or make it approve of what cannot be approved. Whoever has the first word in this universe must always remember that the universe has the last word. The Christian who adopts the attitudes of his Master finds the universe backing him in everything he does.
"God made the world to work in Christ's way"
Prayer
Father, thank You for reminding me that life works in one way only - Your way. When I live life as You designed it, then the whole universe works with me. I inherit all things - all that is Yours is mine. Blessed be Your Name for ever. Amen.
Further study
Philippians 2:1-11
John 1:3
1 Corinthians 8:6
Hebrews 1:1-2
1. How did Jesus demonstrate meekness?
2. How does this apply to you?
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