【双语灵修】寻求智慧SEEKING WISDOM
路加福音 1:39-45
那时候，马利亚起身急忙往山地里去，来到犹大的一座城， 进了撒迦利亚的家，问伊利莎白安。 伊利莎白一听马利亚问安，所怀的胎就在腹里跳动，伊利莎白且被圣灵充满， 高声喊着说：“你在妇女中是有福的！你所怀的胎也是有福的！ 我主的母到我这里来，这是从哪里得的呢？ 因为你问安的声音一入我耳，我腹里的胎就欢喜跳动。 这相信的女子是有福的！因为主对她所说的话都要应验。”
12月6日
寻求智慧
「这相信的女子是有福的！因为主对她所说的话都要应验。」 - 路加福音 1:45
从许多方面看，马利亚意外怀孕并不是个好消息。尽管她已接受神的旨意，但这必定令人困惑。在她所处的社会中，神作事的方式堪称惊世骇俗。纵然被称为「有福」，当时的马利亚恐怕难以从当地社群获得太多支持。
我们应该如何在生命困境中梳理神的作为？
马利亚很有智慧地去寻求亲戚伊利莎白的建议—她是一位同样因神恩典奇迹受孕的长辈。历时约一周的旅程并不轻松，孕期疲惫的她却毅然前往。因马利亚在伊利莎白身上感受到同路人的气息，相信伊利莎白能帮助她理解神在她生命中惊人的作为。
圣诞节也激励我们寻求属天的智慧。我们或许正身处艰难意外的境遇，或许被原以为会支持鼓励我们的群体抛弃甚至排斥。
谁能在令人困惑、充满挑战的时刻，帮助我们信靠神的应许呢？反过来，我们又如何成为能向别人指明神工作的朋友呢？
祷告
天父啊，相信你向我们启示的话语实为恩典。愿我们坚信你必成就所应许之事，开我们的眼目，使我们看见耶稣正走入我们的生命。阿们。
Luke 1:39-45
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
SEEKING WISDOM
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” —Luke 1:45
In many ways Mary’s surprise pregnancy was not welcome news. Though she had accepted God’s will, it must have been puzzling. God’s way of working in her life was rather shocking and scandalous in the society she lived in. Though she would be called “blessed,” Mary probably did not enjoy much support from her local community at the time.
How do we find space to process what God is doing in the hard situations of life?
Mary wisely sought out the counsel of her relative Elizabeth, who was also pregnant through a miracle of God’s grace. The journey there would not have been easy, taking Mary about a week during a time in her pregnancy when she might have been very tired. But Mary likely sensed in Elizabeth a kindred spirit who could help her think through the surprising things God was doing in their lives.
Christmas can encourage us to seek out godly wisdom as well. Maybe we are in a difficult, unexpected situation. Maybe we feel abandoned or even shunned by a community we thought would support and encourage us.
Who are the people who can help us trust in God’s promises even amid such puzzling, challenging times?
Alternatively, how can we be a friend who points out God’s work to others?
Heavenly Father, it is a blessing to believe your Word to us. May we believe that you will fulfill what you have promised. Open our eyes to Jesus’ coming into our lives. Amen.