八福
机器中的沙粒
经文
歌罗西书一15-27
15爱子是那不能看见之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。
16因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的，地上的；能看见的，不能看见的；或是有位的，主治的，执政的，掌权的；一概都是借着他造的，又是为他造的。
17他在万有之先；万有也靠他而立。
18他也是教会全体之首。他是元始，是从死里首先复生的，使他可以在凡事上居首位。
19因为父喜欢叫一切的丰盛在他里面居住。
20既然借着他在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，便借着他叫万有─无论是地上的、天上的─都与自己和好了。
21你们从前与神隔绝，因着恶行，心里与他为敌。
22但如今他借着基督的肉身受死，叫你们与自己和好，都成了圣洁，没有瑕疵，无可责备，把你们引到自己面前。
23只要你们在所信的道上恒心，根基稳固，坚定不移，不至被引动失去（原文是离开）福音的盼望。这福音就是你们所听过的，也是传与普天下万人听的（原文是凡受造的），我保罗也作了这福音的执事。
24现在我为你们受苦，倒觉欢乐；并且为基督的身体，就是为教会，要在我肉身上补满基督患难的缺欠。
25我照神为你们所赐我的职分作了教会的执事，要把神的道理传得全备，
26这道理就是历世历代所隐藏的奥秘；但如今向他的圣徒显明了。
27神愿意叫他们知道，这奥秘在外邦人中有何等丰盛的荣耀，就是基督在你们心里成了有荣耀的盼望。
信息分享
我们今天仍然会继续思想八福中的「温柔」，我们先读一次这句经文：「温柔的人有福了！因为他们必承受地土。」让我们来问一问自己，到底耶稣说的「因为他们必承受地土」这句话是甚么意思？我相信，它的意思是，当我们能培养出温柔的性情时，整个宇宙都会支在我们的手上。比如说，我们若是决定表现出愤怒和敌意的态度，而不是培养温柔和安静的灵，愤怒和敌意便成了卡在「生命机器中的沙粒」。
宇宙是以合乎基督心意的方式受造的。我们今天的经文显示神创造世界时，令世界以基督的方式运作，正如今天的经文所说：「一概都是借着他造的，又是为他造的。」科学家爱迪生（Edison）做了1,100次实验，结果全都失败。有人对他说：「你一定会感到白白浪费了许多时间。」爱迪生回答说：「不，我是发现了1,100种不应该有的处事方式。」
世界当前热门的事情，就是人类正在寻找生活的方式。他们发现有些事情是宇宙不容许的，有些则是宇宙容许的。可是，温柔的人是那些明白现实处境的人，他们知道不能按自己的心意来扭转世界，也不能使世界接受那些不被允许的事情。神既在宇宙说出第一句话便必定有祂的权柄。而凡按照主的心意行事的基督徒，都会发现在他一切所做的事情上，宇宙一直在背后支持着他。
「神让世界以基督的方式运作」
进深研究
腓二1-11；约一3；林前八6；来一1-2
1. 耶稣怎样表现温柔？
2. 这怎样应用到你身上？
祈祷
天父，感谢您提醒我生命只有一种行得通的方式──您的方式。我若能够按照您的计划生活，就必蒙您带领。愿您的名永远受到称颂。阿们。
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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