Freeing Obedience 听从得自由
Dexu Xia
You are free . . . but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:16–17
The look on the young teen’s face reflected angst and shame. Heading into the 2022 Winter Olympics, her success as a figure skater was unparalleled—a string of championships had made her a lock to win a gold medal. But then a test result revealed a banned substance in her system. With the immense weight of expectations and condemnation pressing down on her, she fell multiple times during her free-skate program and didn’t stand on the victors’ platform—no medal. She’d displayed artistic freedom and creativity on the ice prior to the scandal, but now an accusation of a broken rule bound her to crushed dreams.
From the early days of humanity, God has revealed the importance of obedience as we exercise our free will. Disobedience led to devastating effects for Adam, Eve, and all of us as sin brought brokenness and death to our world (Genesis 3:6–19). It didn’t have to be that way. God had told Adam, “You are free to eat from any tree” but one (2:16–17). Thinking their “eyes [would] be opened, and [they would] be like God,” they ate of the banned “tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (3:5; 2:17). Sin, shame, and death followed.
God graciously provides freedom and so many good things for us to enjoy (John 10:10). In love, He also calls us to obey Him for our good. May He help us choose obedience and find life full of joy and free of shame.
By: Tom Felten
How does the world view freedom? Why is it ultimately freeing to obey God and His ways?
Father, thank You for the true freedom and life found in choosing obedience to You
你可以随意吃，⋯⋯只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃。—创世记2章16-17节
在2022年冬奥会上，这名花式滑冰的少年选手脸上满是焦虑和羞愧。她在花式滑冰的成就远超其他选手，先前她已赢得多项锦标赛，是夺金的热门人选，但赛前的检测却显示她体内有违禁药物。教练的期盼和众人的指责让她倍感压力，以致她在比赛中多次摔倒，最后痛失奖牌。在事件爆发前，她在滑冰场上自由地发挥创意展现美感，但不论她是听从了谁错误的指示，如今违反规则的指控已粉碎了她的金牌梦。
自从上帝创造人类，祂就赐给人有自由意志，但上帝也提醒我们要听从祂的吩咐。亚当夏娃因为不听从上帝而为全人类带来毁灭性的后果，因为罪把败坏与死亡带进这世界（创世记3章6-19节）。但事情本不该如此。上帝吩咐亚当，除了其中一棵之外，“园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃”（2章16-17节）。过后他们却吃了“分别善恶树”上的禁果，因他们觉得自己吃了之后“眼睛就明亮了”，“便如上帝”一样（3章5节，2章17节）。但随之而来的却是罪恶、耻辱与死亡。
上帝以祂的恩慈和怜悯，赐下自由和许多美好的事物让我们享用（约翰福音10章10节）。祂也因爱我们，呼召我们听从祂，为要使我们得益处。愿上帝帮助我们能选择听从顺服祂，远离罪疚，得到充满喜乐的生命。
作者： 冯得恩
世人对自由的看法是什么？
为何听从顺服上帝才能得到真正的自由？
天父，感谢祢，让我因顺从祢，可以得到真正的生命和自由。