【双语灵修】被提升的羊ELEVATED SHEEP

诗篇 8

耶和华我们的主啊，你的名在全地何其美，你将你的荣耀彰显于天！ 你因敌人的缘故，从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敌和报仇的闭口无言。 我观看你指头所造的天，并你所陈设的月亮星宿， 便说：“人算什么，你竟顾念他？世人算什么，你竟眷顾他？ 你叫他比天使[a]微小一点，并赐他荣耀尊贵为冠冕。 你派他管理你手所造的，使万物，就是一切的牛羊，田野的兽，空中的鸟，海里的鱼，凡经行海道的，都服在他的脚下。” 耶和华我们的主啊，你的名在全地何其美！

7月15日

被提升的羊

“你叫他比天使微小一点，并赐他荣耀尊贵为冠冕。” -诗 8:5

在这个月开始时（七月二日），我曾提到我未必喜欢像《诗篇》第二十三篇那样被比拟为一只羊。纵使被视为羊儿并不是我们引以为荣的事，然而，我们却可以确信，主我们的牧者非常爱我们和珍视我们。

许多人认为《诗篇》第八篇也是大卫所写的，这篇诗篇提醒我们，神非常重视我们人类，祂甚至”赐〔我们〕荣耀尊贵为冠冕”。在创天造地时，我们荣耀地被膏立，被差派去做一件重要的工作，就是与神同工来看顾和照料祂的创造。我们得到一个重要的呼召，为了实践这个呼召，最好的做法就是好好去跟从我们的主和牧羊人了。

正如主的带领赐福了我们，并引领我们茁壮成长，我们也被邀请以同样的方式去对待所有我们接触到的所有受造物、所有生物和人。面对那些或许感到迷失、孤单、或被遗弃的人，我们有机会向他们延展我们的牧者所赐予的宽大关怀。

你领受了这个崇高使命，如何影响你今天的生活呢？

祷告

主啊，求祢帮助我们，在今天和每一天都活出祢在我们生命中的伟大呼召。求祢以祢的慈爱和关怀充满我们，又求祢差派其他跟随祢道路的人围绕我们，支持和鼓励我们。阿们。

Psalm 8

TUESDAY, JULY 15

ELEVATED SHEEP

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. —Psalm 8:5

Earlier this month (July 2) I mentioned that I wasn’t so sure I liked being compared to a sheep, as in Psalm 23. But even though it’s not very flattering for us to be called sheep, we can be assured that the Lord our shepherd dearly loves and treasures us.

Psalm 8, which is also attributed to David, reminds us that God values us human beings so highly that he has “crowned [us] with glory and honor.” At creation we were anointed with glory and commissioned to the important work of partnering with God in caring for and tending to his creation. We have been given a high calling, and in order to live into that calling we are best served by following our Lord and shepherd well.

Just as the Lord’s leadership blesses us and guides us into flourishing, we are invited to do the same with all of creation and all the creatures and people we engage with. To others who may feel lost, alone, or abandoned, we have the opportunity to extend the great care that our shepherd has given us.

How does the truth of your own high calling affect how you will live today?

Lord, help us today and every day to live into the great calling you have placed on our lives. Fill us with your love and care, we pray, and surround us with other followers of your way who can support and encourage us. Amen.