【双语灵修】跨文化：我与你同在INTERCULTURAL: I AM WITH YOU
马太福音 28:16-20
十一个门徒往加利利去，到了耶稣约定的山上。 他们见了耶稣就拜他，然而还有人疑惑。 耶稣进前来，对他们说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以你们要去，使万民做我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗，凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守。我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”
九月二十三日
跨文化：我与你同在
“我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。” - 太 28:20
我在多年前，往中美洲的一次宣教旅程中，第一次接触到一个跟自己有很大差异的文化。我们的团队下了机，经过了海关，然后发现接待我们的人还未来到。在那个陌生的环境中，我们感到很孤单和焦虑。我们当中没有人懂西班牙语、也不知道我们该往何处。记得当时我和一个队友在机埸内踱步、祷告，谈论如果没有人来接我们，我们该怎办。最后，接待我们的宣教士史密夫来到了－我们顿时松了一口气！
那次的经验提醒我，当我们跨越文化和民族的界限时，无论是在我们的近邻、或是邻国、或在海外，我们总会有一些焦虑，不知所措。我们变得脆弱，以致通常会觉得不自在。但同时，在我那第一次宣教旅程中，也学到当我们踏出那一步时，我们便为自己开辟了新的关系、学习的机会，可以多方面彻底改变我们生命的经历。
最重要的是，我们会发现，当我们乐意接受耶稣在马太福音28章给我们的大使命时，祂说“我就常与你们同在”这句话，就变得比我们想像中的更真实了。
祷告
主啊，耶稣啊，求祢帮助我去辨明，我可以怎样支持祢向万民宣教的使命，祢邀请我去走哪一步？感谢祢应许常与我同在。阿们。
Matthew 28:16-20
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
INTERCULTURAL: I AM WITH YOU
“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:20
Many years ago on a mission trip to Central America, I experienced for the first time a culture that was very different from my own. Our team landed at the airport, went through customs, and discovered that our host had not yet arrived to pick us up. In the unfamiliar surroundings we felt alone and anxious. None of us spoke Spanish or knew where we were supposed to go. I remember pacing back and forth in the airport with one of our team members, praying and talking out what we should do if no one came to meet us. Eventually Steve, our missionary host, showed up—to our great relief!
That experience reminds me that there is always a measure of anxiety and uncertainty when we step across cultural and ethnic boundaries, whether it’s in our neighborhood or in a neighboring country or overseas. We become vulnerable—and for many of us that can feel uncomfortable. Yet, as I also learned on that first mission trip, when we take that step, we open ourselves to new relationships, learning opportunities, and experiences that can change our lives for good in many ways.
Most of all, we discover that when we embrace Jesus’ Great Commission to us in Matthew 28, his words also become more real to us than we might imagine: “Surely I am with you always. . . .”
Lord, Jesus, help me to discern how I can support your mission to all nations. What next step are you inviting me into? Thank you for your promise to be with me always. Amen.