【双语灵修】神是鼓励者God, the Encourager

「你们从前算不得子民，现在却作了神的子民…。」 ― 彼前 2:10

彼得是耶稣最亲密的跟随者之一，他热切地鼓励在第一世纪正面对剧烈逼迫、痛苦、考验和艰辛的基督徒。特别想到他自从在加利利海边第一次遇见耶稣之后所经历的改变。我想，彼得的话可能也帮助了他自己振奋起来。从一个以捕鱼为生的渔夫，他转变成为一个建堂者、牧者、鼓励者和捍卫信仰者。他从补鱼变为去领导新建立的、充满新受洗信徒的耶稣基督教会。

彼得的话很是大胆，但又满有恩典和爱心。虽然这些话是在二千多年前写的，但对今天的你我仍然适用，因为我们也都是神的选民，一群被呼召成为我们家庭和小区的牧者。因着神的恩典，我们被分别出来，与基督一起成为祂那荣耀、尚未完全来到国度的后嗣。神赐给我们奇妙又美丽的救恩，那永生的光除去了我们因罪恶和死亡而注定要面对的黑暗。真是奇妙啊！

祷告

慈爱的神，感谢祢呼召我们作祢的子民，装备我们成为这个世代的教会。在我们的家庭和小区中，求你帮助我们看见祢正在何处作工，好叫我们可以与祢同工，在这世上建立祢的国。阿们。

彼得前书 2:9-10

9 唯有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。 10 你们从前算不得子民，现在却做了神的子民；从前未曾蒙怜恤，现在却蒙了怜恤。

God, the Encourager

“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God . . . ” - 1 Peter 2:10

Peter, one of Jesus’ closest followers, urgently encouraged Christians in the first century as they endured intense persecution, suffering, trials, and hardships. I imagine that Peter’s words also helped to lift himself up in some way, especially considering the changes he went through since first meeting Jesus near the Sea of Galilee. Once a professional fisherman, he soon became a church planter, a pastor, an encourager, and a defender of the faith. He went from mending nets to leading the newly formed church of Jesus Christ, full of freshly baptized believers.

Peter’s words are unapologetically bold while also being full of grace and love. Although these words were written over 2,000 years ago, they are just as true today for you and me, because we too are God’s chosen people, a group called to be ministers and shepherds in our homes and communities. We have been set apart by God’s grace, and we are heirs with Christ in his glorious kingdom, which is yet to come in its fullness. God has given us the wonderful and beautiful gift of salvation, the light of eternal life that eliminates the darkness of sin and death, for which we were once destined. Amazing!

Prayer

Loving God, thank you for calling us your people and for equipping us to be the church in our world today. Help us to see where you are at work in our homes and communities so that we may partner with you in building your kingdom here on earth. Amen.

诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳