What Scripture Reveals 圣经的启示
Dexu Xia
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. 2 John 1:7
Today's Scripture: 2 John 1:4-11
Today's Insights: Love is a major theme of John’s writings, and he continues it here in his second letter. The apostle says, “I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another” (2 John 1:5). But in John’s gospel, he records Jesus telling His disciples, “A new command I give you: Love one another” (John 13:34). Is the command to love old or new? It’s old, because Christ affirmed that the greatest two commands are to “love the Lord your God” (Matthew 22:37; see Deuteronomy 6:5) and “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39; see Leviticus 19:18). It’s also new because Jesus expanded the scope of these commands when He instructed His disciples to love each other “as I have loved you”—completely and sacrificially (John 13:34). “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples” (v. 35).
Today's Devotional
In April 1817, a disoriented young woman was found wandering around in Gloucestershire, England, wearing exotic clothes and speaking an unknown language. Assuming she was a beggar, authorities placed her in prison. However, she convinced her captors that she was Princess Caraboo from the island of Javasu. For ten weeks, the community treated her as royalty until a boardinghouse keeper revealed that the woman was, in fact, a servant girl named Mary Willcocks. We may wonder how this young woman deceived an entire community for almost three months. But the book of 2 John warns us that deception is nothing new as it mentions “many deceivers who . . . have gone out into the world” (1:7). These are people who deny that Jesus Christ came “in the flesh” (v. 7), or those who go beyond what Christ taught (v. 9)—proclaiming that the Bible isn’t adequate for us today. Both these types of deceivers can cause us to not “receive [our] full reward” (v. 8 nlt) and can even trick us into helping them in their work (v. 11). No one likes to be deceived. The people of Gloucestershire didn’t lose much, just some clothing and a few meals. But the Bible says that the consequences of sin and deception continue to threaten us. As we engage with Scripture, God will help us avoid deception as we “walk in obedience to his commands” (v. 6).
Reflect & Pray: How do you watch for false teachers today? What will help you read, reflect on, and respond to Scripture?
Dear Father, please help me to stand firm on the wisdom of Scripture and not be deceived.
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世上有许多迷惑人的出来，他们不认耶稣基督是成了肉身来的，这就是那迷惑人敌基督的。约翰二书 1:7
今日经文：约翰二书 1:4-11
今日心得：爱是约翰书信的主题，他在第二封信中继续了这个主题。使徒说：“我现在劝你，我们大家要彼此相爱。这不是我写一条新命令给你，乃是我们从起初所受的命令。”（约翰二书 1:5）。但在约翰福音中，他记录了耶稣对他的门徒说：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱”（约翰福音 13:34）。爱的命令是旧的？还是新的？说它是旧的，因为基督肯定律法中两条最大的命令是“爱主你的上帝”（马太福音 22:37；申命记 6:5）和“爱人如己”（马太福音 22:39；利未记 19:18）。说它是新命令，因为耶稣在教导门徒彼此相爱时扩大了这命令的范围，要他们完全无私地相爱“像我爱你们一样”（约翰福音 13:34）。“众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了”（35节）。
今日灵修：1817年4月，人们发现一名精神恍惚的年轻女子，在英国格洛斯特郡四处游荡，她穿着奇装异服，说着一种不为人知的语言。当局以为她是个乞丐，把她关狱。然而，她让抓捕她的人相信她是来自爪哇岛的卡拉布公主。十个星期以来，社区一直把她当作皇室成员对待，直到一位寄宿公寓管理员透露，这名女子实际上是一个名叫玛丽·威尔科克斯的女仆。
我们可能想知道这个年轻女子如何欺骗整个社区近三个月的。但约翰二书警告我们，欺骗并不是什么新鲜事，因为它提到“许多迷惑人的已经到世界上来了”（1:7）。这些人否认耶稣基督“以肉身”来到这个世界（7节），或者超越了基督的教导（9节），宣称圣经不适合今天的我们。这两种骗子都会导致我们“得不到 [我们] 的全部奖赏”（8节），甚至我们可能被诱骗去帮助他们工作（11节）。
没有人喜欢被欺骗。除了一些衣服和几顿饭，格洛斯特郡的人们没有损失太多。但圣经说，罪恶和欺骗的后果仍旧在威胁着我们。若我们“照他的命令行”（6节），那么当我们研读圣经的时候，上帝会帮助我们不致被迷惑。
反思和祈祷：你今天如何提防假教师？有什么能帮助你阅读、反思和回应圣经？ 亲爱的天父，请帮助我坚定地相信圣经的智慧，不受迷惑。
撒旦被称为“谎言之父”。查看《撒旦——几乎真实的大师》以了解如何看清他的谎言。