【双语灵修】我是一个代求者I AM AN INTERCESSOR

提摩太前书 2:1-6

我劝你第一要为万人恳求，祷告，代求，祝谢， 为君王和一切在位的也该如此，使我们可以敬虔、端正、平安无事地度日。这是好的，在神我们救主面前可蒙悦纳；他愿意万人得救，明白真道。因为只有一位神，在神和人中间只有一位中保，乃是降世为人的基督耶稣，他舍自己做万人的赎价，到了时候这事必证明出来。

5月16日

我是一个代求者

“我劝你第一要为万人恳求，祷告，代求，祝谢……” - 提前 2:1

你或许曾经见过一个写着“祷告能改变事情”的牌子或标志。真的，神在《圣经》中显明，祂会使用祂子民的祷告来成就衪在世上建立衪国度的事工。很多例子告诉我们，神时常供应衪子民在祷告中的恳求。

然而这并不表示，神像一道有求必应的幸运符或一个懂魔法的精灵。我们的祈求必须符合神在我们生命中的旨意和衪在世上建立衪国度的事工（参看马太福音 6:9-13；约翰一书 5:14-15）。尽管神会应允我们那些符合衪旨意的祈求，然而有时衪的回应也可能会与我们祈求的不一样。有时我们不明白衪的旨意、计划，甚至衪作工的方式（以赛亚书第五十五章）。神的回应有时可能是“好的，但现在仍不是时候”，或“不是你想象中的”，甚至是“不”（参看路加福音 22:42）。

在《提摩太前书》第二章中，保罗劝喻信徒当为万人代求（祷告）——包括“君王和一切在位的”——因为“这是好的，在神我们救主面前可蒙悦纳。”

当我们诚心为人代求时，我们便是亲身在参与神的救赎事工了。我深信，每一次在灵里的胜利，都是有人一直在祷告的明证。

祷告

主和救主，求你帮助我们忠心的为别人祷告，好叫他们能认识你和相信你。惟愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。主啊，当我们在挣扎时，求你把你的平安赐给我们。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

1 Timothy 2:1-6

FRIDAY, MAY 16

I AM AN INTERCESSOR

“I urge . . . first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. . . .” — 1 Timothy 2:1

Maybe you have seen a plaque or a sign that says “Prayer Changes Things.” Indeed, God has shown in the Bible that he uses the prayers of his people in his kingdom-building work in this world. Many examples show that God often provides what his people ask for in prayer.

But that doesn’t mean God is something like a good-luck charm or a magic genie that grants our wishes. Our prayers need to be in line with God’s will for our lives and for his kingdom work in this world (see Matthew 6:9-13; 1 John 5:14-15). And while God will often answer our prayers aligning with his will, there are times when the answer may be different from what we ask. At times we don’t understand God’s will or his plans or even his ways (Isaiah 55). Sometimes God’s answer may be “Yes, but not yet” or “Not in the way you think” or even “No.” (See Luke 22:42.)

In 1 Timothy 2 Paul urges believers to intercede (pray) for everyone—including “kings and all those in authority”—because “this is good, and pleases God our Savior.”

When we intercede faithfully for others, we become personally involved in God’s redemptive work. Each spiritual victory, I believe, is a testament to the fact that someone has been praying.

Lord and Savior, help us to pray faithfully for others, that they may come to know you and have faith in you. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And when we struggle, Lord, please give us your peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.