【双语灵修】神是保惠师(二)God, the Advocate (II)
「『我要求父,父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师,叫他永远与你们同在。』」― 约 14:16
保惠师致力于照顾、保护、关心他们被指派去服务的人,为他们争取权益。在圣经中,这个名称的希腊文是paraclete,意思是「被召到身旁。」
圣灵,就是我们的保惠师,是神赐给所有跟随耶稣之人的礼物。圣灵仍在继续耶稣的工作,祂赋与我们能力去继续主在世上的使命:教导、分享神拯救的好消息、照顾生病的人,还有数不尽的工作。除此以外,圣灵也帮助我们明白耶稣传讲的信息,以及使命的真理。
真理的圣灵不但帮助我们明白真理,祂更是我们的辅导员和训慰师,这些职责与保惠师的工作是互相配合的。
基督徒和教会已得到圣灵这份美妙的礼物。与我们同在的圣灵保护、捍卫、鼓励和赐勇气、劝戒及纠正我们。借着圣灵的能力,属主的子民继续去传扬神拯救所有受造物计划的真理。
祷告
三位一体的神,祢既奇妙又伟大。在圣子的生命里显明出来,借着圣灵浇灌在我们身上的父爱,把我们接纳进入祢荣耀的国,我们所需要的,你全都赐给了。惟愿我们的信心不断增长,继续忠心为祢而活。阿们。
约翰福音 14:15-21
15你们若爱我,就必遵守我的命令。 16 「我要求父,父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师,叫他永远与你们同在,17 就是真理的圣灵,乃世人不能接受的,因为不见他,也不认识他。你们却认识他,因他常与你们同在,也要在你们里面。18我不撇下你们为孤儿,我必到你们这里来。19 还有不多的时候,世人不再看见我,你们却看见我,因为我活着,你们也要活着。 20 到那日,你们就知道我在父里面,你们在我里面,我也在你们里面。21「有了我的命令又遵守的,这人就是爱我的。爱我的必蒙我父爱他,我也要爱他,并且要向他显现。」
God, the Advocate (II)
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever . . . ” - John 14:16
An advocate offers support and pleads on behalf of someone (or something), ensuring fair and honest treatment. An advocate aims to look after, protect, care for, and fight for the one they are assigned to. The Bible’s word for this, in Greek, is paraclete, and this means “called to the side of.”
The Holy Spirit, our paraclete, is God’s gift to all who follow Jesus. The Spirit of God continues the work of Jesus by empowering us to continue the Lord’s work on this earth: teaching, sharing the good news of God’s salvation, caring for the sick—the list goes on and on. In addition, the Holy Spirit helps us understand the truth of the message and ministry of Jesus.
The Spirit of truth not only helps our understanding but is also our Counselor and Comforter, and these roles tie in with the work of an advocate as well.
Christians and the church have been given the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, who comes alongside to protect and defend, encourage and embolden, admonish and correct. And through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s people carry on the truth of God’s redemptive plan for all creation.
Prayer
Triune God, you are mysterious and magnificent. The Father’s love, exemplified in the life of the Son, and poured out in us through the Holy Spirit, gives us all we will ever need to be received into your glorious kingdom. May we ever grow in faith and live faithfully for you. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳