渴慕神的道
彼得前书二章1至3节
1所以,你们既除去一切的恶毒(或译:阴毒)、诡诈,并假善、嫉妒,和一切毁谤的话,
2就要爱慕那纯净的灵奶,像才生的婴孩爱慕奶一样,叫你们因此渐长,以致得救。
3你们若尝过主恩的滋味,就必如此。
信息分享
彼得在第一章的最后几节告诉我们,我们是如何重生,并如何借着重生进入神的家。
来到第二章,他便继续告诉我们如何在神的家中成长。我们是借着神的道重生,同样地,我们也是借着神的道成长。
我们重生的时候,就仿如是神家里的一个初生婴孩。第2节所用的词「婴孩」,跟路加福音二章16节形容马槽中的「婴孩」,属同一个字。
婴孩要吃奶才能够成长。正如有人说过:「神赐予我们的新生命,必需吸取适当的食物,才能长大成人,享受救恩完全的喜乐。」我们研读神的话语──圣经,就像进食一样,让我们吸取足够的营养,使灵命得以成长。
正如婴孩患病会影响食欲,同样地,我们若有某些「心病」,也会妨碍我们对神话语的渴慕。彼得在二章1节列出了其中一些「心病」,它们包括:对别人心存恶毒的仇恨;诡诈和欺骗;以虚假待人,或甚至是外表虔诚而内心污秽的伪善。此外,嫉妒可以腐蚀人的内心,不单使他与人疏远,更使他远离神。毁谤是对别人说出恶意侮辱和失实中伤的话。
这一切「心病」和恶行,都属于老我的旧本性。当我们重生之后,若再让它们占据我们的心,便会大大影响我们对神话语的渴慕。彼得劝告我们说:「要把这一切除去,并要有一颗渴求神话语的心。」
你若发现自己不再热切渴求神的话语,请回想神的话语过去如何帮助和引导你。神的话语永不改变;无论你现在处于甚么光景,它都能够满足你的需要并帮助你的成长。
HUNGRY FOR THE WORD OF GOD
1 Peter 2: 1-3
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Message
In the last few verses of chapter 1, Peter told us how we had been born again and by that new birth had entered the family of God.
Now in chapter 2, we are told how to grow as children of that family. We grow in the same way we were born again. That is by the Word by God.
We need to see that when we are born again, we are babies in the family of God. The word used here for newborn babes is the same word used in Luke 2:16 when speaking of the baby in the manger.
A baby has to eat to grow. As someone said, 'our new, God-given life needs suitable food if it is to grow into the full enjoyment of our salvation'. Reading and studying God's Word, the Bible, is like food which will help us grow spiritually.
There are things which will hinder our desire for God's Word. Peter mentions them in the first verse. Malice can spoil our hunger for the Word of God. This is ill-feeling against someone else. Guile, which is deceit, is another. Hypocrisy is a false front or put-on attitude toward others or even toward God. Envy is jealousy and can be one of the most harmful feelings in a person's heart. It can turn a person away from other people and away from God as well. Slander is saying unkind and untrue things against other people.
These wrong things all belong to the old life which we lived before we were born again. If they show up in our new life they will hinder our appetite for the Word of God. Peter says, ' Put them all away and be hungry for the Word of God'.
Remember how much the Word of God has meant to you in the past. It is still the same. It is waiting to meet your need today and to help you grow.

