[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 約翰福音 John 8-9]
42 耶穌對他們說：「假如 神是你們的父，你們會愛我，因為我本是出於 神，也是從 神而來，我不是憑着自己來，而是他差我來的。 43 你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢？無非是你們聽不進我的道。 44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們寧願隨着你們父的慾念而行。他從起初就是殺人的，不守真理，因他心裏沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己的本性，因他本來是說謊的，也是說謊者之父。
約翰 John 8:42-44
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
“如父如子”：我們經常看到父子（或母女）不僅長得像，而且舉止也像。耶穌的話很強烈，不跟隨他的人不是上帝的孩子，而是撒旦的孩子。我們的父親是誰的決定取決於我們是順服真理還是順服謊言。事實上，這是我們這個時代最大的挑戰。真理被壓制（羅馬書 1:18）然後用謊言交換（羅馬書 1:25）。我們的文化被謊言轟炸，我們的孩子被灌輸謊言: 關於生命起源，婚姻、性、公義等的定義被改變了。
作者 Erwin W. Lutzer 在他的《我們不會沉默》一書中警告我們：
今天有人呼籲福音派將基督教改造成更具包容性的宗教。有廣泛的努力使狹窄的門更寬，甚至確認其他宗教善意的人的得救。所謂進步的基督徒在愛和同情的旗幟下推進他們的議題。在這個過程中，基督教的真理要么被重新定義，要么被忽視。
耶穌說：「你們若繼續遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒了。 32 你們將認識真理，真理會使你們自由。」 （約翰福音 8:31-32）“假如 神是你們的父，你們會愛我。” （約翰福音 8:42）這問題非常重要：我們順服誰的話？這個問題的答案揭示了我們的父親是誰。
禱告：親愛的天父，請幫助我們愛祢的話語，遵守你的話語，因爲祢是我們的父親，這樣我們不僅會知道真理，而且我們也會得到自由！奉耶穌的名，阿們。
“Like father, like son”: very often we see that father and son (or mother and daughter) not only look alike but also act alike. Jesus’ words are very strong, that those who do not follow Him are not children of God but children of Satan. The determination of who our father is depends on whether or not we listen to the truth or to a lie. Indeed this is the biggest challenge of our time. The truth has been suppressed (Romans 1:18) then exchanged for a lie (Romans 1:25). Our culture is being bombarded with lies and our children indoctrinated. The truth about the origin of life has been surpressed and the definitions of marriage, sex, justice, etc. have been altered.
In his book entitled We Will Not Be Silenced, author Erwin W. Lutzer warns us:
Today there are calls for evangelicals to remake Christianity into a more inclusive religion. There are widespread efforts to make the narrow door wider and to even affirm the salvation of well meaning people of other religions. So-called progressive Christians advance their cause under the banner of love and compassion. In the process, the hard truths of Christianity are either redefined or ignored.
Jesus said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32) “If God were your Father, you would love me.” (John 8:42) The stakes are very high: in whose word do we abide? The answer to this question reveals who our Father is.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please help us to love Your word and to abide in Your word, so not only will we know the truth, but we will also be set free! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
