【双语灵修】跨文化：去到偏远地区INTERCULTURAL: REACHING REMOTE PLACES

哥林多后书 9章25备好了，已经有一年了，并且你们的热心激动了许多人。 但我打发那几位弟兄去，要叫你们照我的话预备妥当，免得我们在这事上夸奖你们的话落了空。 万一有马其顿人与我同去，见你们没有预备，就叫我们所确信的反成了羞愧，你们羞愧更不用说了。因此，我想不得不求那几位弟兄先到你们那里去，把从前所应许的捐资预备妥当，就显出你们所捐的是出于乐意，不是出于勉强。“少种的少收，多种的多收”，这话是真的。 各人要随本心所酌定的，不要作难，不要勉强，因为捐得乐意的人是神所喜爱的。 神能将各样的恩惠多多地加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多行各样善事， 如经上所记：“他施舍钱财，赒济贫穷，他的仁义存到永远。” 那赐种给撒种的、赐粮给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增

添你们仁义的果子，叫你们凡事富足，可以多多施舍，就藉着我们使感谢归于神。 因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且叫许多人越发感谢神。 他们从这供给的事上得了凭据，知道你们承认基督、顺服他的福音，多多地捐钱给他们和众人，便将荣耀归于神。他们也因神极大的恩赐显在你们心里，就切切地想念你们，为你们祈祷。 感谢神，因他有说不尽的恩赐！

九月二十五日

跨文化：去到偏远地区

“因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且叫许多人越发感谢神。” - 林后 9:12

苏丹和南苏丹是世界上生活最困苦的国家之一。在这些国家，有数以百万计的人因内战、政局动荡和天灾而流离失所。

然而，耶稣仍在作工。我所属的宣教机构有一个为牧师和教会领袖而设的培训课程，名叫Timothy Leadership Training (TLT)。一位南苏丹的教会领袖Patrick牧师最近报告，在当地已有43位牧师和事工领袖完成了TLT课程，而他们正在所处的社区发挥作用。虽然现时非苏丹人通常都不能进入这些国家，但我们仍能透过像 TLT 这些课程，去祝福和鼓励当地的教会和信徒。

这便反映出哥林多后书第9 章所流露的喜乐--保罗因哥林多教会慷慨奉献，去祝福其他地方的教会而欢喜快乐。他们对天国的投资，使奉献的和接受奉献的都得着祝福。最重要的是这样做能尊崇耶稣。

当我们考虑在神的普世宣教事工扮演的角色时，不要轻看我们与其他事工的合作，能够怎样造福我们未能去到的地方居民。无论身在何处，我们的慷慨都能以意想不到的方式，祝福世界各地的弟兄姊妹。

祷告

神啊，求祢帮助我们在奉献的恩典中成长。但愿我们的慷慨能够服侍世界各地的人，并且尊崇祢。阿们。

2 Corinthians 9

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

INTERCULTURAL: REACHING REMOTE PLACES

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. —2 Corinthians 9:12

The countries of Sudan and South Sudan are among the world’s most difficult places to live in today. Millions of people in these countries have been displaced by civil war, political unrest, and disasters.

Yet Jesus continues to be at work. The mission agency I serve provides a training program for pastors and church leaders called Timothy Leadership Training (TLT). Reverend Patrick, a church leader in South Sudan, recently reported that 43 pastors and ministry leaders completed the TLT program and are making a difference in their communities. Though non-Sudanese people cannot generally enter these countries right now, we can still bless and encourage churches and believers there through programs like TLT.

This reflects the joy that flows through 2 Corinthians 9. Here Paul celebrates the generosity of the church in Corinth as it gives to bless churches in other lands. And their investment in God’s kingdom will result in blessings multiplied for both the giver and the receivers. Most significantly, this work honors Jesus.

As we consider our place in God’s worldwide mission, we cannot underestimate how our partnership with other ministries can benefit people in places we cannot go. Wherever we are, our generosity can bless Christian brothers and sisters around the world in extraordinary ways.

God, help us to grow in the grace of giving. May our generosity minister to others around the world and honor you. Amen.