【双语灵修】神宝贵的子民GOD’S TREASURED POSSESSION

申命记 14:1-2

「你们是耶和华你们神的儿女。不可为死人用刀划身，也不可将额上剃光。因为你归耶和华你神为圣洁的民，耶和华从地上的万民中拣选你特做自己的子民。

「因为你归耶和华你神为圣洁的民，耶和华从地上的万民中拣选你特作自己的子民。」-申 14:2

我们在何处融合这世界？有时我们的境况会令自己怀疑我们是属于那一个地方？为何我们会在这里？有时，我们发现别人会用他们的经历，或他们在我们身上观察到的来定性我们。不清楚自己的人生目标和意义，可能会令我们感到困惑。

虽然《申命记》14章2节论及的是古时的以色列人，但今天我们知道，我们在基督里是神自己的子民，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〔我们〕宣扬那召〔我们〕出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德」（彼得前书 2:9）。我们从前曾迷失，但现在我们已蒙神自己呼召了。

知道是谁拣选我们，和我们是属于谁，改变了我们的人生，这在我们的敬拜中看得出来。作为神的子民，我们敬拜祂。我们在心中、在别人面前、在公开崇拜中赞美祂。在基督里成长时，我们走向尽心尽意和从内心深处去敬拜祂，这在我们与别人分享自己的信仰时，便会彰显出来。作为主的教会，我们「去使万民作〔主〕的门徒」（马太福音 28:19-20）。神正借着祂的选民的工作去建立祂的国度。

祷告

父啊，感谢祢使我们成为祢宝贵的子民。求祢帮助我们每一个祢的儿女，去过一个与我们蒙召相称的生活。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

GOD’S TREASURED POSSESSION

You are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession. —Deuteronomy 14:2

Where do we fit in the world? Sometimes our circumstances may cause us to wonder where we belong and why we are here. We may find ourselves in situations where people try to define us based on their own life experiences or what they have observed in us. We can become confused because we do not have a clear sense of purpose or meaning in life.

Though Deuteronomy 14:2 refers to the ancient Israelites, we know that in Christ we are God’s treasured possession today. We are “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that [we] may declare the praises of him who called [us] out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We were once lost, but we have been called by God himself.

Knowing who has chosen us and whom we belong to makes a difference in our lives. It shows up in our worship. As God’s treasured possession, we worship him. We declare his praises in our hearts, in the presence of others, and in public worship. As we mature in Christ, we grow to worship him with all our heart and soul, our innermost being. And this is reflected outwardly as we share our faith with others. As the Lord’s church, we “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). God is building his kingdom through the work of his chosen people.

Father, thank you for making us your treasured possession. Help each of us as your children to live a life worthy of our calling. In Jesus, Amen.