【双语灵修】圣诞人口普查THE CHRISTMAS CENSUS

路加福音2:1-5

当那些日子，恺撒奥古斯都有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。 这是居里扭做叙利亚巡抚的时候，头一次行报名上册的事。 众人各归各城，报名上册。 约瑟也从加利利的拿撒勒城上犹太去，到了大卫的城，名叫伯利恒，因他本是大卫一族一家的人， 要和他所聘之妻马利亚一同报名上册。那时马利亚的身孕已经重了。

12月13日

圣诞人口普查

「凯撒奥古斯都有旨意下来，叫天下人民都报名上册。」 - 路加福音 2:1

圣诞故事的展开竟关乎一纸行政命令：人口普查。巴勒斯坦民众当时多半抱怨凯撒这个命令：按传统，犹太人须返回祖籍登记。这对临产的马利亚和约瑟更加艰难，他们需要从拿撒勒跋涉约145公里到伯利恒，骑驴旅行需要整整一周。

凯撒自以为在清点子民，神却另有宏图。约瑟的祖籍伯利恒又称「大卫之城」，而先知早已预言：救主将出自以色列王大卫的后裔（《以赛亚书》9:6-7，11:1-10），降生于伯利恒（《弥迦书》5:2）。神竟然借政府法令为耶稣铺路，成就应许的弥赛亚和君王。

现代人批评政令并非罕见：无论是税收政策、贸易法规，还是繁琐文书，民众常对政府的要求感到沮丧。但圣诞故事显明—神甚至透过政府造成的不便来彰显救恩。纵使降生于诸多不便之中，耶稣依然来临，将神的同在带给陷在罪中的人。

在你当前艰难或不顺的境遇中，有没有看见主正在动工呢？

祷告

全能的神啊，你统管万有。求你开我们眼目，让我们即使身处困境，仍能看见你的同在。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。

Luke 2:1-5

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

THE CHRISTMAS CENSUS

Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. —Luke 2:1

The Christmas story is shaped, in part, by a government decision: a census. People in Palestine likely griped about Caesar’s decree—and, according to tradition, a Jewish citizen was expected to register in their own ancestral town. That made things inconvenient for Joseph and Mary, who was near the end of her pregnancy. They had to travel about 90 miles (145 km) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, a weeklong journey by donkey.

Caesar thought he was counting subjects, but God had a bigger plan. Joseph’s ancestral town, Bethlehem, was also known as “the town of David,” and prophecies stated that the Savior would descend from Israel’s King David (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10) and be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). God used a government regulation to prepare the way for Jesus as the promised Messiah and King.

It’s not uncommon today to hear criticisms about governments. Whether it’s taxes, policies, trade regulations, or extra paperwork, people get frustrated with government leaders and their demands. But the Christmas story shows that God works even through government inconveniences to make his salvation known. Jesus came to bring the presence of God to sinful humanity, despite the inconvenient circumstances into which he came.

In what ways can you see the Lord working today, despite situations that may be difficult or inconvenient for you?

Almighty God, you reign over all things. Open our eyes to see your presence and work,