【双语灵修】回家之路THE WAY HOME AGAIN

利未记 26:14-20, 40-45

“你们若不听从我，不遵行我的诫命， 厌弃我的律例，厌恶我的典章，不遵行我一切的诫命，背弃我的约， 我待你们就要这样：我必命定惊惶，叫眼目干瘪、精神消耗的痨病热病辖制你们。你们也要白白地撒种，因为仇敌要吃你们所种的。 我要向你们变脸，你们就要败在仇敌面前。恨恶你们的，必辖管你们；无人追赶，你们却要逃跑。 你们因这些事若还不听从我，我就要为你们的罪加七倍惩罚你们。 我必断绝你们因势力而有的骄傲，又要使覆你们的天如铁，载你们的地如铜。 你们要白白地劳力，因为你们的地不出土产，其上的树木也不结果子。

“他们要承认自己的罪和他们祖宗的罪，就是干犯我的那罪，并且承认自己行事与我反对， 我所以行事与他们反对，把他们带到仇敌之地。那时，他们未受割礼的心若谦卑了，他们也服了罪孽的刑罚， 我就要记念我与雅各所立的约，与以撒所立的约，与亚伯拉罕所立的约，并要记念这地。 他们离开这地，地在荒废无人的时候就要享受安息。并且他们要服罪孽的刑罚，因为他们厌弃了我的典章，心中厌恶了我的律例。 虽是这样，他们在仇敌之地，我却不厌弃他们，也不厌恶他们，将他们尽行灭绝，也不背弃我与他们所立的约，因为我是耶和华他们的神。 我却要为他们的缘故记念我与他们先祖所立的约，他们的先祖是我在列邦人眼前，从埃及地领出来的，为要做他们的神。我是耶和华。”

星期日

十一月三十日

回家之路

“‘我却要为他们的缘故记念我与他们先祖所立的约。… 我是耶和华。’” - 利 26:45

在耶稣所讲的浪子比喻中（路加福音 15:11-24），我们读到一个离开家园、出去追寻刺激的放荡生活的年轻人。可是，很快他便耗尽所有的资财，他的生活开始出问题了。

利未记引领神的子民，来享受有神与他们同在的生活所带来的喜乐。尽管神采取了很多行动，好让他们能够与祂一起活着，然而，神知道他们很快便会在其他地方找寻快乐的了。他们会觉得神的律例太麻烦，也会再逐渐陷入罪中。今天的经文的第一部分警诫百姓，叛逆会带来惩罚，失去神所赐的福。神这样做，不是要令他们受苦，乃是要消除他们的傲慢和固执。

感恩的是，神是不会放弃那些任性的儿女。神记得祂立约的应许，凡悔改和祈求得赦免的，神便与他们恢复关系。或许你离开了神，以致你要面对罪带来的后果。或许你与神的关系已成为很久以前的回忆，你现在的生命也变成一团糟了。

耶稣的比喻中的年轻人回家了，他后悔自己所犯的错，他惊讶看到慈爱的父亲以喜乐和恩慈欢迎他回家。藉着在耶稣里的信心，我们保证可以得到更隆重的欢迎，让我们回到父的爱里！

祷告

主神啊，感谢祢，因着耶稣的缘故，我们能够回到真正的家，就是有祢同在的家！我们为祢在基督里赐给我们的恩慈怜悯，感谢赞美祢，阿们。

Leviticus 26:14-20, 40-45

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

THE WAY HOME AGAIN

“For their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors. . . . I am the LORD.” —Leviticus 26:45

In Jesus’ parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-24) we read of a young man who leaves home to seek adventures in wild living. Soon, however, his money runs out, and his life begins to unravel.

Leviticus pointed God’s people to the joy of his presence in their lives. Yet in spite of all God had done to make it possible for them to live with him, God knew they would soon go looking for joy elsewhere. They would find his laws too burdensome, and they would spiral again into sin. The first part of our reading today warned the people that disobedience would lead to punishment and the withholding of God’s blessings. God’s aim in all this was not to inflict pain but to break down pride and stubbornness.

Thankfully, God does not give up on his wayward children. God remembers his covenant promises, and he restores all who repent and ask for forgiveness. Perhaps you too have wandered away, and you have faced the consequences of sin in your own life. Perhaps your relationship with God is a long-past memory, and your present life is a mess.

The young man in Jesus’ parable returns home, sorry for his wrongdoing, and he is surprised to be welcomed back with joy and grace by his loving father. Through faith in Jesus, we are guaranteed an even greater welcome home to our Father’s love!

Lord and God, thank you that, because of Jesus, we may come home to our true home with you! We thank and praise you for your kind mercy to us in Christ. Amen.