QT 09/09/2024 Mon. Ephesians 5. Walk in love. Walk in the light. 凭着爱心行事。行在光明中。

QT 09/09/2024 Mon. Ephesians 5. Walk in love. Walk in the light.
http://www.esvbible.org/eph5

Paul instructs readers with two "walks". Firstly, "walk in love" (Eph 5:2). How do we do that? Live a life of love the same way Christ loved and gave Himself up for us (Eph 5:2).

Imitating the holy God implies rejecting all sexual immorality and impurity (Eph 5:3-6) and past misdeeds (Eph 5:7-8).

Secondly, "walk as children of light" (Eph 5:8). Avoid "unfruitful works of darkness" that Paul even found it shameful to mention (Eph 5:11-12). Instead, be acquainted with "the will of the LORD" (Eph 5:17), "be filled with the Spirit" (Eph 5:18), praise God and be thankful (Eph 5:19-20).

True reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21) manifests itself deeply in other relationships--mutual submission in the relationships of wife-husband (Eph 5:22-33), children-parents (Eph 6:1-4) and servant-master (Eph 6:5-9).

Both sides in these relationship are given difficult tasks because all involved dying to self but serving others. But our reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21) would make it easier when we follow His example.

星期一 2024年9月9日 今日读经：以弗所书5章。凭着爱心行事。行在光明中。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Eph/5/

保罗吩咐读者要有两“行”。首先，“凭着爱心行事”(弗5:2)。我们当如何行呢？要凭着爱心行事，好像基督爱我们，为我们舍己(弗5:2)。

效仿圣洁的神意味着弃绝所有的淫乱和污秽(弗5:3-6)及过去在黑暗中所行的事(弗5:7-8)。

第二，“行事为人就应当像光明的儿女”(弗5:8)。不要参与“暗昧无益的事”，保罗认为这些事连提起来也是羞耻的(弗5:11-12)。相反的，要明白“主的旨意”(弗5:17),“要让圣灵充满”(弗5:18)，当赞美主和感谢父神(弗5:19-20)。

敬畏基督的心(弗5:21)会在与他人的关系中有所表现--夫妻关系中的互相顺服(弗5:22-33),父母和孩子的关系(弗6:1-4)和主人与仆人的关系(弗6:5-9)。

在这些关系中的两面都是不容易的，因为当中的任务包括自我牺牲和服侍他人。但我们对基督的敬畏(弗5:21)会使我们在效仿祂的榜样时不那么艰难。