星期二:和平——爱的果子

圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。加拉太书5:22, 5:23

让我们了解一下全球的水果

蔓越莓

蔓越莓这个名字被用来描述由多种不同植物所结出的酸味红色浆果。新鲜的蔓越莓有着生涩发酸带苦的味道。约有95%的蔓越莓被用来加工做成蔓越莓果汁和蔓越莓果酱。蔓越莓被广泛地用来促进人们的整体健康，它特别对眼睛大有裨益。它也以果干和糖制方式来出售。大部分的蔓越莓在加拿大、美国和欧洲被生产及食用。欧洲出产的蔓越莓会比北美出产的小一些。

在英国、美国和加拿大，蔓越莓酱是节日宴席上的传统配菜，尤其是在美国和加拿大的感

恩节晚宴上。

今天的属灵果子是和平

圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。加拉太书5:22-23

非常重要的是，你要认识到这里只有一种果子——爱。上面这段经文中所列出的其他好的品质都是爱的果子的一部分。在今天的学习中，爱的品质是和平。和平正如爱一样，不同于肉体的情欲如“仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、”（加5:20）。无疑，和平与其他一系列坏行为的差异不能再明显了。它们确实来自于不同的源头，并且要各自奔向不同的终点。

保罗写给加拉太教会里提到的问题也是现今我们仍在努力应对的：信心与行为的分开。我们一边相信只要足够努力就能过一种良善的人生，一边又明白只有凭着上帝通过圣灵,在我们心里头动工才能让我们活出自由的生命。事实是，靠着自己的能力只会导致肉体的行为，而圣灵的果子却是基督活在我们里头的证据。这个证据往往从我们拥有的和平（平安）中得到体现。

保罗在罗马书12:18提醒我们：“若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。”整段经文保罗讲到了爱的重要性，哪怕当人被恶待时。其实，在17节他就告诉我们上帝的子民——那些被上帝的圣灵所充满的人该有的行为：“不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去作。”当然，这也包括我们该如何对待自己的家人，无论是丈夫或妻子；父亲或母亲；儿子或女儿；姐妹或兄弟；叔叔或婶婶；表兄弟姐妹还是爷爷奶奶、外公外婆；还是其他和我们有关系的人们。

再一次，保罗明确指出了被肉体的私欲所牵引和被上帝圣灵所掌管的人的不同的行为。一个被上帝圣灵所充满的人将会结出爱的果子，取代了恨意、忿怒、争闹，展现出和平的精神来。

为了让我们在每天的生活中都表现出和平的果子，怀爱伦在《给教会的勉言》中写道：“你每天需要受爱心的洗礼，这爱心曾于使徒时代使他们同心合意……应当用那刚强灵命的气氛包围你的心。应当培养信心，希望，勇气及爱心。要叫上帝的平安在你们的心里作主。”（《给教会的勉言》33章 175.3） 

此等的和平必然是通过上帝圣灵充满才能获得。因此，今天我们鼓励你去摘取和平的果子，这个果子并不光包含你可能要面对的困难，还包含与你的每一位家人，以及与其他你所认识的人的一种和平的关系。

祷告：

亲爱的天父，我们祈求您的和平在今天与我们同在。帮助我们在家中持守有您同在的感觉以及和平的气氛。愿我们能一直倚靠着你，在任何景况和环境中找寻到平安。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。

和平果子小活动

你需要准备：

• 一块大面积的织物，如一张平整的床单或旧桌布来象征水。
• 一个泡沫球、海绵，或是其他重量轻且不易破损的东西。

活动提示：

• 请阅读路加福音8:22-25 耶稣平静风浪的故事。
• 邀请在家里的人将这块布拿住，然后想象这是加利利湖。
• 练习将这块布做的“湖”拉平使它“风平浪静”，然后在布上制造出大波纹来使“湖”变得波涛汹涌，接着再次地紧拉这块布让“湖”平静下来。
• 将泡沫球或海绵放到这块布“湖”的中间，假装它是载着耶稣和门徒的船。
• 接着请一位孩子重述耶稣平静风浪的故事。先抖动布料制造出风浪，然后当故事讲到耶稣命令风浪平静时，再次把布拉紧，让湖平静下来。

思考问题

在暴风之前、暴风来临和耶稣平静风浪时，你认为门徒有什么感受？你认为在暴风前、暴风来临时和之后，耶稣有什么感受？你们最喜欢这个故事的哪一个部分？对于你个人来说，这个故事最重要的教训是什么？这个故事如何帮助我们理解和平？

你还可以这么做:先往一个塑料汽水瓶里装半瓶水，再滴入一点食用色素、一滴墨水或一些颜料把它染成蓝色。往瓶子里放一个软木塞或一小块木头来当作一艘船。拧紧瓶盖密封瓶子，把瓶子倒过来，用这个瓶子来示意平静的水面、暴风雨中的大海，以及暴风雨后的平静。

圣经经文活动

你需要准备：

• 卡纸、水彩纸或厚纸
• 蜡笔或绘画用品(颜料、刷子、水等)
• 或者在杂志或日历上找一张宁静的风景图

活动提示：

• 用你的美术材料剪出或设计出一个宁静的场景，也许它包含平静的水、鲜花以及树木。
• 用你找到的风景图或你设计出的艺术品的场景作为背景，接着在图画上写上圣经经文，提醒你平安是来自上帝的。
• 把这幅经文图画放在你的家人可以经常看到的地方，或者送给那些需要经历上帝的平安的人。

一起讨论的问题

来一起讨论吧

• 心灵安宁是圣灵的果子，因为……
• 耶稣是用……的方法来帮助人们经历平安。
• 圣经中使人和睦的人物有……
• 让我感到平安的事情有…….
• 在我……的时候，我会很难感到平安。
• 这周……的时候，我是一个使人和睦的人（我阻止了一次争吵）。
• 这周……的时候，我经历困境之中的平安。
• 我们的家庭可以因……经历更多的和平。
• 祷告：上帝，感谢您，这周……的时候，我们经历了平安。

弟兄姐妹们，我们想通过本平台分享更多国外本会优质影像资料。因为人手有限，希望招募一些志同道合的主内同工，做英文视频字幕翻译，视频字幕合成制作，视频中文配音，配音对轨制作。有意者请留言输入“义工申请”。以马内利！

Tuesday Peace:

A Fruit of Love

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

” -Gal 5:22-23

Let’s learn about fruit from around the World:

CRANBERRIES

The name cranberry is used to describe tart red berries produced by different plants. Fresh cranberries are stern, sour, and bitter. About 95% of cranberries are processed and used to make cranberry juice and sauce. Cranberry is widely used to promote overall health. It is especially beneficial to the eyes. They are also sold dried and sweetened. Cranberries are mostly grown and eaten in Canada, the United States, and Europe. The cranberries produced in Europe are smaller than the ones produced in North America.

Cranberry sauce is a traditional garnish at holiday dinners in the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, especially at Thanksgiving dinners in the United States and Canada.

Today’s Spiritual Fruit is Peace

In Galatians 5:22 and 23, the Apostle Paul says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

It is important to realize that there is only one fruit; love. All the other good qualities listed in the text are parts of the fruit of love. Today’s trait of love is peace, which like love is to be seen different from the desires of the flesh like “hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions.” (v. 20). To be sure, the contrast between peace and the list of bad deeds could not be more noticeable. They truly come from different sources and lead to separate ending points.

The problem Paul is writing about in the Galatian church is one we are still wrestling with today: the separation between works and faith. On the one hand believing we can live a good life if we try hard enough, or the understanding that living a life of freedom is only possible as a result of God working in us by His Spirit. The truth is, depending on our own strength will only lead to actions of the flesh, while the fruit of the Spirit is a sign that Christ lives in us. This proof is often shown in the peace that we have.

In Romans 12:18 Paul reminds us: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.” This passage finds the Apostle Paul speaking about the importance of loving even when one is being treated badly. In fact, in the previous verse (17) he tells us how the people of God—those filled with His Spirit—should behave: “Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people.” This, of course, includes how we should behave with the members of our family; whether husband or wife, father or mother, daughter or son, sister or brother, aunt or uncle, cousin or grandparents; or any other person we are in relationship with.

Paul makes clear, again, there is a difference in the behavior of the person led by the desires of the flesh and those who a controlled by the Spirit of God. Instead of hostility, anger and dissension, the person who is filled with God’s Spirit will produce the fruit of love, displayed in a spirit of peace.

For the fruit of peace to be manifested in our lives each day, Ellen White in Counsels for the Church offers: “You need a daily baptism of the love that in the days of the apostles made them all of one accord…Surround your soul with an atmosphere that will strengthen spiritual life. Cultivate faith, hope, courage, and love. Let the peace of God rule in your heart” (Counsels for the Church, p. 175).

This kind of peace only comes as a result of being filled with the Spirit of God. So, today we encourage you to pick the fruit of peace not only about difficulties that you might be facing, but a relationship of peace with everyone in your family and others you are in relationship with.

PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask for Your peace to be with us today. Help us to maintain a sense of Your presence and peace in our homes. May we find peace in every situation and circumstance as we always rely on You. In the name of Jesus, amen.

Fruitful Peace Activity

You will Need:

• A large piece of fabric, like a flat sheet or old tablecloth, to represent water

• A foam ball, sponge, or something light and unbreakable

Instructions:

• Read the story of Jesus calming the storm in Luke 8:22-25.

• Invite each person in the home to hold onto the piece of fabric, and imagine it is Lake Galilee.

• Practice making the fabric lake very still and calm, then very rough, by making big ripples in the fabric, and then calming the lake down by pulling the fabric tight again.

• Add the foam ball or sponge to the center of the fabric lake and pretend that it is the boat containing Jesus and the disciples.

• Then ask one of the children to retell the story of Jesus calming the storm. Ripple the cloth to make the stormy waves, and then pull the fabric tight again to calm the lake when Jesus commands the waves to be peaceful and still.

• Wonder together: How do you think the disciples felt before the storm, during the storm, and then when Jesus calmed the wind and waves? How do you think Jesus felt before the storm, during the storm and after it? What do each of you like best in this story? What is the most important message in the story for each of you? What does this story help us to understand about peace?

• Alternatively, half fill a plastic soda bottle with water. Tint it blue with a little food coloring, a drop of ink, or some paint. Add a cork or small piece of wood to the bottle to make a boat. Seal the bottle, turn it on its side, and use this bottle to illustrate the calm water, the stormy seas, and the peace after the storm.

BIBLE VERSE ACTIVITY

You will Need:

• Cardstock, watercolor paper or heavy paper • Crayons or painting supplies (paints, brushes, water, etc.)

• Or find a picture of a peaceful scene in a magazine or picture calendar. Instructions:

• Cut out, or create with your art materials, a peaceful scene, perhaps with still water, flowers and trees.

• Use the picture or your artwork as a background and write the Bible verse on the picture to remind you of the peace that comes from God.

• Put the verse picture where your family will see it often or give it to someone who needs to experience God’s peace.

QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT TOGETHER

• Being peaceful is a fruit of the Spirit because…

• Jesus helped people to experience peace by…

• Some Bible characters who were peacemakers were…

• Some things that make me feel peaceful are…

• It is hard for me to feel peaceful when…

• I was a peacemaker (I stopped an argument) this week when I…

• I experienced peace in a difficult situation this week when…

• We could experience more peace in our family by…

• Pray: Thank You, God, that we experienced peace this week when…