理想的基督徒家庭
以弗所书四章25至32节
25所以你们要弃绝谎言，各人与邻舍说实话，因为我们是互相为肢体。
26生气却不要犯罪；不可含怒到日落，
27也不可给魔鬼留地步。
28从前偷窃的，不要再偷；总要劳力，亲手做正经事，就可有余分给那缺少的人。
29污秽的言语一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。
30不要叫神的圣灵担忧；你们原是受了他的印记，等候得赎的日子来到。
31一切苦毒、恼恨、忿怒、嚷闹、毁谤，并一切的恶毒（或作：阴毒），都当从你们中间除掉；
32并要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。
信息分享
今天选读经文里的32节，谈到理想的基督徒家庭和家庭生活：「要互相帮助，并以恩慈相待，要彼此怜恤和体谅，更要随时无条件地互相饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕你们一样。」这是一个很高的标准，然而，我们靠着基督却可以做到。
以恩慈相待，意指无私，为别人着想，并常存感恩之心，意味着为别人多走一哩路。也意味着欣赏感激别人为我们所做的一切。有些太太们抱怨说：「我每天辛劳地为家人做饭，他们却从没有一句感谢的话。」关心家人的感受，将会为家庭营造一个温暖、和谐的气氛。
体贴意味着要体恤对方的软弱，这是大多数家庭最缺乏的。我们很容易挑剔和批评家人，对吗？可是，基督徒的家庭要有爱和体贴，甚至是赞赏。
要彼此宽恕和体谅。就算努力做到最好的时候，我们也少不了常常犯错，需要别人的原谅，对吗？在家庭里也是如此。最小的事情都可能引至彼此关系向恶，苦毒由此而生。更多的体谅、更快的和解非常必要，就像神做在我们身上一样。可惜，「对不起」这句话，对于我们许多人，并不容易说出口。不要忘记，当神赦免，祂便忘记，不再以我们的过犯对待我们。
一生年日有限，与家人共度的时光转眼逝去。时光不会倒流。我们现在就要活出基督的样式来。今天就来为此祷告，好吗？
THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN HOME
Ephesians 4:25-32
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “ Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
27 nor give place to the devil.
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Message
The Christian ideal for our homes and family life is in verse 32 of our reading. Here is one paraphrase: 'Become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tender-hearted, compassionate, understanding, and loving-hearted, forgiving one another readily and freely as God in Christ forgave you.' That is a very high standard, but it is possible through Christ.
Being kind means being unselfish as well as thoughtful and thankful. It is doing something extra which isn't required. It is showing appreciation for all that is done for us. Some wives have said, 'I have never been thanked for any of the hundreds of meals I've cooked for the family.' Being kind and thoughtful helps to create a warm emotional climate in the home to which others will respond.
Tender hearted means being sensitive to the weaknesses of others, a very great need in most families. It is so easy to be hard on others, isn't it? Yet in a Christian home surely we could expect love and tenderness - and even compliments!
Forgiving one another. There is often so much to forgive even in the best of us, isn't there? It is true in many families. Relationships can turn sour over the smallest incident and bitterness can show its ugly head all too soon. If only we could forgive each other more often and more quickly as God does for us it would make such a difference. But saying 'I'm sorry' is sometimes very difficult for many of us. Remember when God forgives he forgets. Do we?
Remember also that we don't have much time. These few years of family life together slip by so quickly. There is no 'replay' as a family, no re-run. It is now we need to act in a Christlike way. Can you make that your prayer today?