【双语灵修】寄居的国民RESIDENT ALIENS

彼得前书 1:3-9 8月26日

愿颂赞归于我们主耶稣基督的父神！他曾照自己的大怜悯，藉着耶稣基督从死里复活，重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望， 可以得着不能朽坏、不能玷污、不能衰残、为你们存留在天上的基业。 你们这因信蒙神能力保守的人，必能得着所预备、到末世要显现的救恩。 因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁， 叫你们的信心既被试验，就比那被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候得著称赞、荣耀、尊贵。

你们虽然没有见过他，却是爱他；如今虽不得看见，却因信他就有说不出来、满有荣光的大喜乐， 并且得着你们信心的果效，就是灵魂的救恩。

寄居的国民

“因此，你们是大有喜乐；但如今在百般的试炼中暂时忧愁……” -彼前 1:6

我们一家在中国生活的十九年里，我们是“外籍居民”，就是住在一个国家，却拥有另一国的公民身份。彼得写信给分散在小亚细亚（今土耳其）的基督徒时，提醒他们如同寄居者，是两个国度的国民。

彼得写这第一封信时约六十多岁，可能正身处罗马。根据《圣经》学者的研究，收信人可能是被迫迁离罗马的原住民（参见《使徒行传》18:2）。彼得凭借数十年跟随耶稣的经历，敦促这些流散的信徒牢记两点：第一，要充满喜乐，因耶稣的死与复活，已赐给他们永不朽坏的盼望；第二，即便遭遇困境甚至迫害，仍要信靠耶稣，在当下居住地作忠心顺服的居民。

从某种意义上来说，无论身处何地，我们这些跟随耶稣的人都是“寄居的国民”。在今生，我们将盼望寄托于耶稣，等候在他国度里应许的永生，直到新天新地的来临。因此，我们也当时刻喜乐，定睛耶稣。即便现况艰难，我们总能在所处之地，活出天国子民的样式。

祷告

主耶稣，求祢帮助我们专注于属天国子民的身份，无论祢引领去往何方，都紧紧跟随祢。阿们。

1 Peter 1:3-9

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26

RESIDENT ALIENS

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. —1 Peter 1:6

During the 19 years that our family lived in China, we were “resident aliens.” We were living in one country, but we had citizenship in another. Writing to Christians who were scattered throughout Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), Peter reminds them that they are like resident aliens, citizens of two worlds.

When he wrote his first letter, Peter was likely in his mid-sixties and writing from Rome. According to some Bible scholars, his readers may have been former residents of Rome who were forced to relocate (see Acts 18:2). Drawing from his decades of following Jesus, Peter urges these scattered believers to keep two things in mind. First, they should live with great joy. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, they have been given a hope that absolutely nothing could spoil. Second, though they are facing difficulties—even persecution—they should keep trusting in Jesus and living as respectful and faithful residents of their present land.

In a sense, wherever we live, we followers of Jesus are “resident aliens.” In this life our hope is in Jesus while we await our promised eternal life with him in his kingdom, which will culminate in the new heaven and earth. So we too should live with joy, keeping our eyes on Jesus. And although we may face difficulties in our present circumstances, we can live as faithful citizens of his kingdom wherever we are.

Lord Jesus, help us to focus on our citizenship with you while we seek to follow wherever you lead us. Amen.