【双语灵修】为基督作和平使者 Peacekeepers For Christ

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“若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。” - 罗 12:18

联合国维持和平部队的行动是在1948年开始的。自开始以来，维和部队在世界各地执行了72项任务，其中12项到今天仍然在持续进行中。

作为基督徒，我们也同样蒙召作维护和平的使者。这个来自圣经的呼召，吩咐我们要以行动来实践爱心。我们在基督里蒙召、以真诚中肯和切实可行的方式来爱人，我们可以透过忠诚、谦逊、慷慨、火热、同理、和乐于助人的心，来实践爱人如己。

当使徒保罗谈论这些事，他劝我们要“与众人和睦。”他也补充说：“若是能行”和“总要尽力”去做。我们需要设身处地考虑到，我们的罪性会影响我们与人的关系。

联合国维和部队的第一个任务，是维持1948年亚拉伯与以色列之间的停火协议。40年之后，和平部队获得诺贝尔和平奖，时至今日，他们在中东的这项授命仍然在有效运行。

在现实生活中，对我们来说，要在任何时候与每一个人和睦共处，大概是不可能实现的。然而，我们必须努力与人保持和睦的关系。这个标准有时很难达到，并且显得平淡乏味，但它却是我们一生的呼召。而身为和平使者，我们有值得期待的奖赏：就是神的平安和喜悦。

祷告

主啊，惟愿我们能像你爱我们那样去爱他人 － 满有怜悯和关怀。求你赐我们智慧，在日常与人相处的关系中，做一个和平使者。阿们。

罗马书 12:9-21

9爱人不可虚假；恶要厌恶，善要亲近。
10爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。
11殷勤不可懒惰；要心里火热，常常服侍主。
12在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。
13圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。
14逼迫你们的，要给他们祝福；只要祝福，不可咒诅。
15与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。
16要彼此同心；不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人；不要自以为聪明。
17不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去做。
18若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。
19亲爱的弟兄，不要自己申冤，宁可让步，听凭主怒；因为经上记着：“主说：申冤在我，我必报应。”
20所以，“你的仇敌若饿了，就给他吃；若渴了，就给他喝。因为你这样行，就是把炭火堆在他的头上。”
21你不可为恶所胜，反要以善胜恶。

Peacekeepers For Christ

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." - Romans 12:18

The United Nations peacekeeping effort first began in 1948. Since then, UN peacekeepers have participated in 72 missions worldwide, a dozen of which continue today.

As Christians, we are called to be peacekeepers as well. This calling comes in the context of biblical advice on exercising love in action. In Christ we are called to be both genuine and practical in our love. That is done through devotion, humility, generosity, spiritual enthusiasm, empathy, and hospitality.

As the apostle Paul discusses these things, he urges us to “live at peace with everyone.” And he qualifies this by saying, “If it is possible” and “as far as it depends on you.” We need to be realistic about the effects of sin on our relations with others.

The UN peacekeepers’ first mission operation was to maintain the ceasefire during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Forty years later the UN peacekeeping force received the Nobel Peace Prize, and their mission in the Middle East is still operating today.

Realistically, living at peace with everyone at all times may not be possible for us. But we must strive for peace in our relations with others. It’s a lifelong calling that at times may be tough and unglamorous. Yet in our peacekeeping we have a prize to look forward to: God’s peace and favor.

Prayer

Lord, may we love others as you have loved us—with compassion and care. Give us wisdom to be peacekeepers in our daily relations with others. Amen.