【双语灵修】艰难中的忠信DIFFICULT FAITHFULNESS

马太福音1:18-21

耶稣基督降生的事记在下面：他母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚就从圣灵怀了孕。 她丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。 正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来，因她所怀的孕是从圣灵来的。 她将要生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫耶稣，因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。”

12月9日

艰难中的忠信

「约瑟……想要暗暗地把她休了。」 - 马太福音 1:19

本月我们已经查考过《路加福音》第一章，知晓天使向马利亚报信，以及马利亚被圣灵感孕诞下圣婴耶稣的神迹。

但约瑟最初并不知晓这一切。对他而言，马利亚的解释必然荒诞不经：童女怀孕？怎有可能？约瑟明白律法站在他这边，他完全有权解除与马利亚的婚约。但他是个义人，懂得恩典的真谛。

仁义的人深深晓得，纵使表象丑陋，仍当守护别人。约瑟决意在这困局中竭尽所能—他认定必须面对马利亚看似犯罪的事实，同时在自己的世界倾覆之际，仍持守人所能凝聚的全部正直。

你可曾经历这般境地？人生难免遇到艰难抉择。就算一心向善，该做的选择一项都不会少。但神以恩典向约瑟显明：马利亚腹中之子是伟大计划的一部分。事实上，神还邀请约瑟参与这计划—藉由耶稣的降生，向世人宣告赦免之恩。恩典召唤约瑟进入这故事，同样也在召唤你。

祷告

真理之神啊，在这充满罪的世界，我们对公义的认知如同雾里看花，顺服之心也不完备。求你赐我们勇气追随你，即使在忠信之路艰难重重之时。阿们。

Matthew 1:18-21

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

DIFFICULT FAITHFULNESS

Joseph . . . had in mind to divorce her quietly. —Matthew 1:19

Having looked at Luke 1 already this month, we know about the angel’s announcement to Mary and the miraculous conception of her son, who would be named Jesus.

But Joseph did not know all of this at first. To him, Mary’s story must have sounded ridiculous: Really? A virgin birth?

Joseph knew that the law was on his side and that he had every right to end his pledged relationship with Mary. But he was also righteous enough to understand grace.

Righteous people understand the need to protect others despite the apparent circumstances. Joseph intended to do the best he could with a bad situation. He felt he had to confront what he saw as Mary’s sin while also living with as much integrity as one could muster when his world had turned upside down.

Have you been there? We all face difficult decisions at times. Even seeking to live righteously does not guarantee a life free from hard choices.

But God, in his grace, revealed to Joseph that Mary’s child was part of a bigger plan. In fact, God invited Joseph to be part of that plan: to let the world know of forgiveness through Jesus’ birth. Grace invited him into that story. It can do the same for you.

God of truth, in a sinful world our vision of righteousness is sometimes cloudy, and our obedience is imperfect. Give us the courage to follow you even when faithfulness is difficult. Amen.