蒙召作祝福的社群

申命记 33:1-5

以下是神人摩西在未死之先为以色列人所祝的福。他说：「耶和华从西奈而来，从西珥向他们显现，从巴兰山发出光辉，从万万圣者中来临，从他右手为百姓传出烈火的律法。他疼爱百姓，众圣徒都在他手中；他们坐在他的脚下，领受他的言语。摩西将律法传给我们，作为雅各会众的产业；百姓的众首领，以色列的各支派，一同聚会的时候，耶和华在耶书仑中为王。

「以下是神人摩西在未死之先为以色列人所祝的福。」-申 33:1

摩西在为以色列人的祝福中，显示了他期望、观察和神会为祂的子民所做的事的信念。我们可以想象到，摩西的声音是何等恳切和大胆的。他快要离世了，而以色列人不久便会进入应许之地。

教会是有君尊的祭司，是被召成为别人的祝福的群礼（彼得前书 2:9），我们是神的祝福的领受者和传送者。祝福可以是正式或非正式的，祝福带来安慰、鼓励、平安和在现今直到未来的盼望。非正式的祝福可以包括我们的产业、家人、朋友、邻居、家庭、工作、邻里、社区等等。正式的祝福可以在一个崇拜中得到，就是当牧师邀请众人接受主赐的福（「好的话」）。

我们可以诚恳地和被圣灵引导，给在基督里的弟兄姐妹非正式祝福。我们对某人的美好愿望，在他们的生活、工作和恩赐所观察到的，以及相信神可以在他们身上成就的，都可以启发这些非正式的祝福。

弟兄姊妹需要我们的祝福，我们祝福他们是一件美事。你当祈求圣灵帮助你察觉，那些地方需要祝福，和怎样去使用祝福来鼓励人。神的灵会引导我们的思想，和教导我们该说甚么话。

祷告

父神啊，我们为我们这个蒙召去祝福人的群体感谢祢。求祢使用我们，借着施展祢的慈爱、喜乐、平安、和盼望去祝福别人。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。

CALLED TO BE A COMMUNITY OF BLESSING

This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced on the Israelites before his death.                                         —Deuteronomy 33:1

In Moses’ blessing to Israel he reveals his desires, observations, and beliefs about what God would do for his people. We can imagine the sincerity and boldness in Moses’ voice. He would soon die, and they would soon enter the promised land.

The church is a royal priesthood, called to be a community of blessing (1 Peter 2:9). We are recipients and givers of God’s blessings. A blessing can be formal or informal, giving comfort, encouragement, peace, and hope for the present going into the future. Our informal blessings can include our possessions, family members, friends, neighbors, home, job, neighborhood, community, and more. A formal blessing can be delivered in a worship service, as a pastor invites the people to receive a benediction (“good word”) from the Lord.

We can give sincere, Spirit-led informal blessings to our brothers and sisters in Christ. These may be inspired by what we desire for a person’s good; what we have observed about their life, work, and spiritual gifts; and what we believe God can do in their life.

Our brothers and sisters need our blessings, and we do well to give them. Ask the Spirit to be aware of where blessings are needed and how to encourage someone with them. The Spirit of God will guide our thoughts and words.

Father God, thank you for our community of blessing. Use us to bless others by extending your love, joy, peace, and hope. In Jesus, Amen.