One in Christ 在基督里合而为一
Dexu Xia
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Today's Scripture Galatians 3:26-29
Today's Insights Disunity keeps the church weak and ineffective in its role of making disciples. In John 17, Jesus prayed for unity among believers in Him (vv. 20-23). He knew they’d need each other as they faced trials because of their faith. Paul also had much to say about the importance of unity. In Ephesians 4, he urged believers “to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (v. 1) and to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (v. 3). In Philippians, he called Euodia and Syntyche “to be of the same mind in the Lord” (4:2). Finally, in Colossians he urged his readers to “bear with each other and forgive one another” and “put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (3:13-14). When believers in Christ are unified in love for Him, they bring hope and light to a dark world (Matthew 5:14-16).
Today's Devotion In January 1967, the town of Winneconne discovered it had been mistakenly omitted from the official Wisconsin state road map, costing the town vital tourist revenue. So the town decided to secede from Wisconsin and become its own sovereign state on July 21 of that year. Some say the secession was a move to embarrass the state government, while others claim it was a tongue-in-cheek act of humor. In any case, months of negotiations resulted in state and town coming together again on July 22, 1967.
Most division isn’t as good-natured or as easily resolved. Division is such a threat that the book of Proverbs lists “the person who stirs up conflict” (6:19) as one of seven things “that are detestable to [God]” (v. 16). Division may not only cause problems but misrepresents Jesus and His Father. The night before the cross, Christ prayed that His followers would be one in Him, “that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:21).
Jesus made it clear that our unity as brothers and sisters in Christ (or lack of it) impacts the world’s belief in Him! Perhaps that’s why Paul told the Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). May we allow the Spirit of Christ to make us one—that the world may be drawn to Him.
Reflect & Pray
What are some of the things that can divide you from other believers? How can those potential points of conflict be resolved, so that the body of Christ might know and display unity?
Dear Father, please give me a heart for my brothers and sisters in Christ.by Lisa M Samra
“并不分犹太人或希腊人，自主的或为奴的，或男或女，因为你们在基督耶稣里都成为一了。”（加拉太书 3:28）
今日经文：加拉太书 3章26-29节
今日洞见 分裂使教会软弱无力，无法有效地造就门徒。在约翰福音 17 章中，耶稣为信徒之间的合一祷告（20-23 节）。他知道，信徒们在因信而受试炼时，会彼此扶持。保罗也多次强调合一的重要性。在以弗所书 4 章中，他劝勉信徒“既然蒙召，行事为人就当与蒙召的恩相称”（1 节），并“竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心，用和平彼此联络”（3 节）。在腓立比书中，他呼召友阿爹和循都基“在主里同心”（4:2）。最后，在歌罗西书中，他劝勉读者“要彼此包容，彼此饶恕”，“要穿上爱，爱能把众人完全地联结在一起”（3:13-14）。当信徒们因着对基督的爱而合一时，他们就给黑暗的世界带来希望和光明（马太福音 5:14-16）。
今日灵修 1967年1月，威尼康镇发现自己被错误地从威斯康星州官方公路地图上遗漏，导致该镇损失了重要的旅游收入。于是该镇决定于同年7月21日脱离威斯康星州，成为一个独立的州。有人说，脱离威斯康星州是为了羞辱州政府，也有人说，这只是一个玩笑式的幽默。无论如何，经过数月的谈判，州政府和该镇最终于1967年7月22日重新合并。
大多数分裂并非如此善意，也并非如此容易解决。分裂的威胁如此之大，以至于《箴言》将“挑起纷争的人”（6:19）列为“神所憎恶的七件事”之一（16节）。 分裂不仅会造成问题，还会歪曲耶稣和祂的父。在被钉十字架的前夜，基督祷告，愿祂的门徒在祂里面合而为一，“叫世人相信你差了我来”（约翰福音17:21）。 耶稣清楚地表明，我们在基督里作为弟兄姐妹的合一（或缺乏合一）会影响世人对祂的信仰！或许这就是保罗对以弗所人说“竭力保守圣灵所赐合而为一的心，用和平彼此联络”（以弗所书4:3）的原因。愿我们让基督的灵使我们合而为一，好让世人被祂吸引。
反思与祷告 有哪些事情会让你与其他信徒产生隔阂？如何化解这些潜在的会造成冲突的问题，使基督的身体能够明白合一的真理，并展现合一？ 亲爱的天父，请赐给我一颗关爱基督里弟兄姐妹的心。
——丽莎·M·萨姆拉