八福
接受──生命的第一条法则
经文
约翰福音一1-14
1太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。
2这道太初与神同在。
3万物是借着他造的；凡被造的，没有一样不是借着他造的。
4生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。
5光照在黑暗里，黑暗却不接受光。
6有一个人，是从神那里差来的，名叫约翰。
7这人来，为要作见证，就是为光作见证，叫众人因他可以信。
8他不是那光，乃是要为光作见证。
9那光是真光，照亮一切生在世上的人。
10他在世界，世界也是借着他造的，世界却不认识他。
11他到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待他。
12凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。
13这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。
14道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满的有恩典有真理。我们也见过他的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光。
信息分享
昨天我们提到，要取得精神和灵性健康的第一步，是舍弃自己并虚心接受。我们必须愿意承认自己需要基督，停止努力寻找快乐，接受他进到我们的生命中，好像我们曾经提及的那群门徒一样，不用辛苦摇橹，只要靠着耶稣，便能悠然地到达彼岸。
要进入神的国首先必须接受，这一点并不奇怪，所有的生命不都是从接受开始的吗？医学告诉我们，卵子和精子需要彼此接受，然后才能够开始积极地展开生命。地里的种子要接受泥土的滋润和营养，才能够长出花朵和果实。如果不以接受开始，便不会有开始。科学家倘若不像小孩子一样在事实面前坐下，或者不准备放弃任何先入为主的观念去接受自然的结果，肯定只会一无所获。
生命的第一条法则是接受，而这也是神的国度的第一条法则。再来看看我们的经文：「凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。」我们如何能够得到那权柄？首先借着接受：「凡接待他的。」在基督国度的门前，我们所遇到的要求，是倒空自己及接受。你有没有对这个要求作任何回应？如果没有，我促请你今天就行动；要是你不愿意这样做，事情不会有起色；如果你愿意这样做，其他的就会接着发生。
「一切生命都由接受开始」
进深研究
太十三1-23；徒十七11；帖前二13
1. 我们对什么必须抱持接受的态度？
2. 圣经怎样说庇里亚人？
祈祷
神啊，您包围我，就像大气包围我的身体一样。我的身体会回应周遭的环境和生命，求您帮助我也同样地回应您。奉我主耶稣基督的名字祈求，阿们。
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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