【双语灵修】受保护的羊GUARDED SHEEP
诗篇 23:5
在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席，你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。
7月13日
受保护的羊
“在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席。” -诗 23:5
当植物和树木在春天再次开花和回复青绿时，我最喜欢看到的其中一个景象，就是宠物和其他动物在玩耍。当羊群长途跋涉地从一处适合放牧的青草地，来到另一处新鲜的青葱草场时，我想象羊群所经历的，也是同样的情景。
我曾读到过，在一个新的地方，羊群可以开始嬉戏之前，它们的牧羊人必定会预先检查一下那个草场，生怕那里有会令羊失足和折断脚，或有蛇匿藏的洞穴，牧羊人必定会在那些洞附近喷一些发出臭味的油，这样，羊便不会走近，而蛇也不会藏在里面了。
今天，作为主的羊，我们是否也会遇到隐藏着的危险呢？我们浏览手机和电脑屏幕时，会不会看到我们可能会堕进那些走不出来的”兔子洞”呢？至于在广告和社交媒体中，当我们看到那些暗示我们仍不够好或不足够的信息时，我们又会如何呢？主我们的牧者有甚么工具来应对那些情况呢？
第一，神把祂的话语赐给我们，今天我们也可以在手机里看到。《圣经》提醒我们神是谁，以及我们是只属于祂。第二，我们有可以倚靠的信徒群体，他们能提醒我们这些事情，并且支持我们。
最近，你曾循甚么途径来使用这些资源呢？
祷告
主啊，感谢祢走在我们前面，预先进入我们生命中那些骇人的地方和境况，又在祢的看顾中保守我们安全和稳妥。阿们。
Psalm 23:5
SUNDAY, JULY 13
GUARDED SHEEP
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. —Psalm 23:5
One of my favorite sights is to see pets and other animals playing in the spring when plants and trees are blossoming and green again. I imagine this is also the case for sheep after a long hike from a well-grazed pasture to a fresh one with lots of lush, green grass.
I have read that before the sheep can frolic in a new space, their shepherds must check through the pasture in case there might be holes that could cause a sheep to stumble and break a leg or where poisonous snakes might be hiding. Shepherds apparently spread a stinky oil near those holes so that the sheep stay away from them and snakes can’t make use of them.
Are there any hidden dangers we might encounter as the Lord’s sheep today? Could there be “rabbit holes” we go down as we scroll through our phone and computer screens? And what about messages in advertising and social media that imply we are not enough or don’t have enough? What tools does the Lord our shepherd have for those situations?
First, God provides us with his Word, which is also accessible on our phones today. The Bible reminds us who God is and that we belong to him alone. Second, there is the community of believers we can depend on to remind us of these things and to support us.
In what ways have you engaged these resources lately?
Thank you, Lord, for going ahead of us into the scary places and situations in our lives, keeping us safe and secure in your care. Amen.