Looking For The Obvious
You yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
(1 Thessalonians 4:9)
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A service station should provide what its name implies. Yet gas stations that offer free service seem to be a thing of the past.
In an article for the Detroit Free Press, Ellen Warren asked, “Can we get service at a service station?” She wasn’t talking merely about nostalgia but about basic services such as free air, clean and accessible restrooms, and road maps (at least ones to look at).
Warren located one station that did live up to its name, however. A sign out in front read: “Last and only gas station that offers FREE air and water, cold drinking water, clean restrooms, towels and hand fresheners, fuel gloves, travel information. Always open.”
Expecting love from Christians should be just as reasonable as expecting service from a service station. The Thessalonians had been “taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9), so Paul said he didn’t need to write them about brotherly love. And Jesus told His disciples that love would identify them as His followers (John 13:35).
A service station without service is a contradiction. So is a Christian without love! Having received God’s love (Romans 5:5) and being assured of it daily, let’s show His love to others.
Meditate: If I can do some good today, If I can help in what I say, If by my deeds Your love convey, Dear Lord, just show me how.
Aphorism:They do not truly love who do not show their love.
尋找答案
論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們，
因為你們自己蒙了上帝的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛。
(帖撒羅尼迦前書4章9節)
「加油服務站」，顧名思義，是應該提供一些服務。但如今提供免費服務的加油站似乎已成了鳳毛麟角。
在「底特律快報」上的一篇文章裏，華倫(Ellen Warren)寫道：「加油服務站能給我們哪些服務呢？」作者所談的不是過去的加油站所提供的服務，而是那些最基本的服務，例如，輪胎免費充氣、清潔的洗手間及至少一張可以查詢的地圖。
不過華倫還是找到了一個名符其實的加油服務站。在這個加油站前有個告示牌：「在所有的高速公路中，最後的一個服務站，我們提供免費的輪胎充氣、水箱加水、冷飲用水、清潔的廁所、毛巾和洗滌劑、加油手套、旅遊資訊等服務，永不打烊。」
期待基督徒以愛對人，正如期待加油站應有這些服務一樣合理。帖撒羅尼迦教會「蒙了上帝的教訓……彼此相愛」(帖撒羅尼迦前書4章9節)，因此保羅毋須教導他們彼此怎樣象兄弟般相愛。耶穌也告訴他的門徒，愛使他的門徒與眾不同(約翰福音13章35節)。
加油服務站裏沒有服務，實在是自相矛盾，沒有愛的基督徒也是如此！上帝的愛澆灌在我們心裏(羅馬書5章5節)，使我們確知主愛日日更新，讓我們將上帝的愛分享給他人吧。
默想：如果，我今天能做點好事；如果，我能做到言行一致；主啊，請你讓我知之而行；如果，我能將你的愛顯示。
格言：真愛總是會自然地流露出來。莎士比亞。
轉載：住在鄰近遠方的信仰前輩