八福
接受──生命的第一條法則
經文
約翰福音一1-14
1太初有道，道與神同在，道就是神。
2這道太初與神同在。
3萬物是藉著他造的；凡被造的，沒有一樣不是藉著他造的。
4生命在他裡頭，這生命就是人的光。
5光照在黑暗裡，黑暗卻不接受光。
6有一個人，是從神那裡差來的，名叫約翰。
7這人來，為要作見証，就是為光作見証，叫眾人因他可以信。
8他不是那光，乃是要為光作見証。
9那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。
10他在世界，世界也是藉著他造的，世界卻不認識他。
11他到自己的地方來，自己的人倒不接待他。
12凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。
13這等人不是從血氣生的，不是從情欲生的，也不是從人意生的，乃是從神生的。
14道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿的有恩典有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。
信息分享
昨天我們提到，要取得精神和靈性健康的第一步，是舍棄自己並虛心接受。我們必須願意承認自己需要基督，停止努力尋找快樂，接受他進到我們的生命中，好像我們曾經提及的那群門徒一樣，不用辛苦搖櫓，隻要靠著耶穌，便能悠然地到達彼岸。
要進入神的國首先必須接受，這一點並不奇怪，所有的生命不都是從接受開始的嗎？醫學告訴我們，卵子和精子需要彼此接受，然後才能夠開始積極地展開生命。地裡的種子要接受泥土的滋潤和營養，才能夠長出花朵和果實。如果不以接受開始，便不會有開始。科學家倘若不像小孩子一樣在事實面前坐下，或者不准備放棄任何先入為主的觀念去接受自然的結果，肯定隻會一無所獲。
生命的第一條法則是接受，而這也是神的國度的第一條法則。再來看看我們的經文：「凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就賜他們權柄，作神的兒女。」我們如何能夠得到那權柄？首先藉著接受：「凡接待他的。」在基督國度的門前，我們所遇到的要求，是倒空自己及接受。你有沒有對這個要求作任何回應？如果沒有，我促請你今天就行動；要是你不願意這樣做，事情不會有起色；如果你願意這樣做，其他的就會接著發生。
「一切生命都由接受開始」
進深研究
太十三1-23；徒十七11；帖前二13
1. 我們對什麼必須抱持接受的態度？
2. 聖經怎樣說庇裡亞人？
祈禱
神啊，您包圍我，就像大氣包圍我的身體一樣。我的身體會回應周遭的環境和生命，求您幫助我也同樣地回應您。奉我主耶穌基督的名字祈求，阿們。
The Beatitudes
Receptivity - the first law of life
Bible reading:
John 1:1-14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Message
We ended yesterday by saying that the first step toward mental and spiritual health is self-renunciation and receptivity. I must be willing to acknowledge my need of Christ, stop striving to find happiness and instead receive Him into my life then, like the disciples we talked about the other day, I have reached the shore where I was going.
It should not be considered strange that entrance into the kingdom of God begins with receptivity - isn't that where all life begins? Our scientists tell us that the ovum and the sperm have to receive each other before they can begin the positive business of producing active life. The seed in the ground receives moisture and nutrition from the earth before it can begin to give forth in flower and fruit. If it doesn't begin with receptivity, it doesn't begin. The scientist who doesn't sit down before the facts as a little child and who is not prepared to give up every preconceived notion and follow to whatever end nature will lead him will know nothing.
The first law of life is receptivity, and that is also the first law of the kingdom of God. Look at our text once again: "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God." How do we get power? First by receptivity: "as many as received him". At the very threshold of Christ's kingdom, then, we are met with the demand for self-emptying and receptivity. Have you made your own personal response to this demand? If not, I urge you to do so today. If you are not willing to do this, then nothing else can follow; if you are willing, then everything else follows.
"All life begins with receptivity"
Prayer
O God, You wrap me around as the atmosphere wraps itself around my body. Help me to respond to You as my physical body responds to its environment and lives. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Further study
Matthew 13:1-23
Acts 17:11
1 Thessalonians 2:13
1. To what must we be receptive?
2. What was said of the Bereans?
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