【双语灵修】慈爱的王赐与的生命THE GIFT OF LIFE FROM A GRACIOUS KING

利未记 17:10-16

“凡以色列家中的人，或是寄居在他们中间的外人，若吃什么血，我必向那吃血的人变脸，把他从民中剪除。 因为活物的生命是在血中，我把这血赐给你们，可以在坛上为你们的生命赎罪。因血里有生命，所以能赎罪。 因此，我对以色列人说：你们都不

可吃血，寄居在你们中间的外人也不可吃血。 凡以色列人，或是寄居在他们中间的外人，若打猎得了可吃的禽兽，必放出它的血来，用土掩盖。

“论到一切活物的生命，就在血中。所以我对以色列人说，无论什么活物的血，你们都不可吃，因为一切活物的血就是它的生命。凡吃了血的，必被剪除。 凡吃自死的或是被野兽撕裂的，无论是本地人是寄居的，必不洁净到晚上，都要洗衣服，用水洗身，到了晚上才为洁净。 但他若不洗衣服，也不洗身，就必担当他的罪孽。”

星期六

十一月十五日

慈爱的王赐与的生命

“‘活物的生命是在血中。’” - 利 17:11

我们有30兆的血细胞，在身体内6万哩长的血管中流动。假若我们失去超过百分之40的血液，我们的生命便会陷在严重的危险中。利未记17:11所说的是真的：“活物的生命是在血中。”

这个月我们研读的利未记，很多提到有关血的经文，利未记17章为我们解释是什么原因。第一，我们以尊重的态度处理血，因为血代表生命，而生命乃是神所赐的。我们的文化可能强调，我们应该随自己的意愿过生活。然而，生命是神赐给我们的，所以神是有权管理我们的生命的。神呼召以色列民要好好照顾祂所造的生物，就是这个原因。我们必须爱惜和保护一切的生命，以免它们受到不必要的伤害和死亡。

流血也象征藉牺牲一个生命来换取另一个生命。神赐下血来赎罪，表明犯罪是一件严重的事，带来的后果是与神和与祂的子民隔绝。

在耶稣被捉拿的那一个晚上，祂解释自己将会怎样流出祂的血，为我们舍命（路加福音 22:20）。尽管犯了罪的是我们，耶稣却与祂的父和祂的子民隔绝了，好让我们能够重拾“神与我们同在”的喜乐。神不只是要求一件祭物来偿还我们的罪债，祂更藉着耶稣来供应这件祭物呢！

祷告

主耶稣，祢流出祢的宝血，好让我们可以得到丰盛和永远的生命！纵使我们无法回报祢这份礼物，求祢帮助我们过着感恩的生活。阿们。

Leviticus 17:10-16

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15

THE GIFT OF LIFE FROM A GRACIOUS KING

“The life of a creature is in the blood. . . .” —Leviticus 17:11

We have about 30 trillion blood cells moving through about 60,000 miles of blood vessels in our bodies. And if we lose more than 40 percent of our blood, our life will be at serious risk. The words of Leviticus 17:11 are true: “The life of a creature is in the blood.”

Many of our readings in Leviticus this month have mentioned something about blood. Leviticus 17 explains why. First, blood is treated with respect because it represents life, and life is a gift from God. Our culture may emphasize that we should do as we please in life. But because life is God’s gift to us, God is the rightful authority over our lives. For this reason Israel was called to safeguard the well-being of God’s creatures. We must value and protect all life against needless harm and death.

The shedding of blood also symbolized how one life was given in exchange for another. Blood was God’s gift for making atonement, showing that sin was serious and would lead to being cut off from God and his people.

On the night of his arrest, Jesus explained how his blood would be poured out, and his life given, for us (Luke 22:20). Though we are guilty, Jesus was cut off from his Father and his people so that we could be restored to the joy of God’s presence. God not only requires a sacrifice as payment for our sin, but he also provides it through Jesus!

Lord Jesus, your blood was poured out so that we can have full, eternal life! Though we cannot repay you for this gift, help us to live in thankfulness to you. Amen.