【双语灵修】归家的羊HOMEGOING SHEEP

诗篇 23:6

我一生一世必有恩惠、慈爱随着我，我且要住在耶和华的殿中，直到永远。

7月30日

归家的羊

“我且要住在耶和华的殿中，直到永远。” -诗 23:6

“永远”是一段很长的时间。我们大多数人都不喜欢等待的，有时甚至觉得穿插在我们喜爱的电视节目中的广告，好像是永无止境般。

想到永远时，似乎会令人生畏、或难以承受。因此，结合人际关系来思考这个问题会有所帮助。与家人的关系常常能经得起时间的考验，可是在这个时代，一段三十五年的婚姻看起来却像是稀世奇珍。在当今这个充满变动和分裂的文化中，一段四十六年的友情也会比以前较为罕见。

诗篇的作者希望主的羊知道，好牧羊人永远不会离弃我们，这是我们的安慰，它可以帮助我们渡过在今时今日具有挑战性的关系所带来的起起伏伏。

我们也可以把永远看为一个地方。我们这些羊很多都相当满意我们在世上的生活，我们时常能找到享受美丽和幸福的地方。但是我们只认识这些地方，所以我们很难想象得到，其实有更美好的地方。

然而，诗人提醒我们，牧羊人可能叫我们前往其他的草场―而这意味着我们有时可能需要走过艰难的通道和黑暗的幽谷。不过，想到我们与好牧羊人在爱里的关系，便能帮助我们保持平静安稳，最终我们便会去到新天新地中的新草场，在那里我们永远与祂同活。

这个应许今天怎样鼓励你呢？

祷告

主啊，求祢帮助我们信靠祢，因为知道祢与我们同在，从今时直到永远。阿们。

Psalm 23:6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 30

HOMEGOING SHEEP

I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. —Psalm 23:6

Forever is a long time. And most of us are not fans of waiting. Sometimes even TV ads between our favorite shows can seem unending.

When we think about it, forever can seem intimidating or overwhelming. So it can help to think about this in connection with relationships. Relationships with family members often stand the test of time, and yet today a 35-year marriage can seem like a rare treasure. In our mobile and divisive culture today, a 46-year friendship may also be less common than in the past.

The psalm writer wants the Lord’s sheep to know that the good shepherd will never let us go. This is a comfort that can carry us through the ups and downs of challenging relationships in the here and now.

We can also think of forever in terms of location. Many of us sheep are pretty happy with the life we have here on earth. We are often able to find places we enjoy for beauty and bliss, and it can be hard to imagine anything better because this is all we know.

But the psalmist reminds us that the shepherd may call us to move along to other pastures—and yet that may mean going through tough passageways and dark valleys at times. Being in a loving relationship with the good shepherd will keep us calm, though, and eventually we’ll move on to new pastures in a new heaven and earth, where we will live with him forever.

How does this promise encourage you today?

Lord, help us to trust in you, knowing that you are with us now and forever. Amen.