【双语灵修】款待与被款待THE OTHER SIDE OF HOSPITALITY

创世记 18:1-8

耶和华在幔利橡树那里，向亚伯拉罕显现出来。那时正热，亚伯拉罕坐在帐篷门口，举目观看，见有三个人在对面站着。他一见，就从帐篷门口跑去迎接他们，俯伏在地，说：「我主，我若在你眼前蒙恩，求你不要离开仆人往前去。容我拿点水来，你们洗洗脚，在树下歇息歇息。我再拿一点饼来，你们可以加添心力，然后往前去。你们既到仆人这里来，理当如此。」他们说：「就照你说的行吧。」亚伯拉罕急忙进帐篷见撒拉，说：「你速速拿三细亚细面调和做饼。」亚伯拉罕又跑到牛群里，牵了一只又嫩又好的牛犊来，交给仆人，仆人急忙预备好了。亚伯拉罕又取了奶油和奶，并预备好的牛犊来，摆在他们面前，自己在树下站在旁边，他们就吃了。

2月17日

款待与被款待

「无论进哪一家，先要说：『愿这一家平安！』……吃喝他们所供给的……」 -路 10:5-7

有一次，我们正从菲律宾的巴科洛德市向南行驶，与其他车辆一起去参加教会的退修会。当我们进入巴利亚多利德时，我发现我们的汽车煞车制动失灵了。于是，我们摇摇晃晃地开进市中心附近的一个服务站。那里的人说：「我们一定能修好，别担心。」但其实我很担心。我不知道我是否能相信他们会把活儿干好，我还担心他们会不会占我们便宜，多收我们钱。

等了好一会儿，他们终于修完了。我问：「多少钱？」他们说：「噢，不用付钱！」但经过一番协商，他们同意让我支付一部份费用。然后我们就上路了，再没有遇到煞车问题。服务站传承了菲律宾人热情好客的传统，对我这个外国人非常慷慨，我后来一直为自己缺乏信任而感到惭愧。

我们因着要跨越国界和各种障碍去分享耶稣的福音，我们往往在自己的家园、邻社和自己国家以外的地方，成为客人。而以尊重和信任招待我们的一方，成为良好的客人，将有助于我们架起与人建立关系、分享福音的坚固桥梁。

如果你到别的国家旅行，而那里的人们可能有着不同的文化和宗教信仰，可以考虑在当地人的家里借宿，去了解东道主，做个好客人，让隔阂慢慢消失。

祷告

主啊，请帮助我们成为好客人，赐给我们智慧，使我们尽力去爱和信任他人。奉祢的名祷告，阿们。

THE OTHER SIDE OF HOSPITALITY

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ . . . Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you.”                                      —Luke 10:5-7

We were heading south from Bacolod City in the Philippines, convoying with other vehicles for a church retreat. As we entered Valladolid, I found that our car’s brakes weren’t working. So we hobbled into a service station near the center of town. “Sure, we can fix it,” they said. “Don’t worry.” But I did worry. I didn’t know if I could trust them to do the job well, and I wondered if they might take advantage and overcharge us.

After a long wait, the work was done. “How much?” I asked. “Oh, you don’t need to pay!” they said. But after some negotiation they let me pay some of the cost. Then we were on our way, and we didn’t have brake trouble again. With traditional Filipino hospitality, the service station was very generous to me as a foreigner. I still feel ashamed for my lack of trust.

As we cross borders and barriers to share the good news of Jesus, we will often be guests—in homes, neighborhoods, and countries other than our own. And being good guests, by honoring and trusting our hosts, will help to build strong bridges for friendship and sharing the gospel.

If you travel to a different land, where perhaps the people have a different culture and religion, consider arranging a homestay with local people. Get to know your hosts, be a good guest, and watch barriers come down.

Lord, help us to be good guests, and give us wisdom as we seek to love and trust others, in your name. Amen.