【双语灵修】最意想不到的人LEAST EXPECTED

列王纪下 5:1-19

亚兰王的元帅乃缦在他主人面前为尊为大，因耶和华曾藉他使亚兰人得胜。他又是大能的勇士，只是长了大痲疯。 先前亚兰人成群地出去，从以色列国掳了一个小女子，这女子就服侍乃缦的妻。 她对主母说：“巴不得我主人去见撒马利亚的先知，必能治好他的大痲疯。” 乃缦进去，告诉他主人说：“以色列国的女子如此如此说。” 亚兰王说：“你可以去，我也达信于以色列王。”于是乃缦带银子十他连得、金子六千舍客勒、衣裳十套，就去了。 且带信给以色列王，信上说：“我打发臣仆乃缦去见你，你接到这信，就要治好他的大痲疯。” 以色列王看了信就撕裂衣服，说：“我岂是神，能使人死使人活呢？这人竟打发人来，叫我治好他的大痲疯！你们看一看，这人何以寻隙攻击我呢？”

神人以利沙听见以色列王撕裂衣服，就打发人去见王，说：“你为什么撕了衣服呢？可使那人到我这里来，他就知道以色列中有先知了。” 于是乃缦带着车马到了以利沙的家，站在门前。 以利沙打发一个使者对乃缦说：“你去在约旦河中沐浴七回，你的肉就必复原，而得洁净。” 乃缦却发怒走了，说：“我想他必定出来见我，站着求告耶和华他神的名，在患处以上摇手，治好这大痲疯。 大马士革的河亚罢拿和法珥法岂不比以色列的一切水更好吗？我在那里沐浴不得洁净吗？”于是气愤愤地转身去了。 他的仆人进前来，对他说：“我父啊，先知若吩咐你做一件大事，你岂不做吗？何况说你去沐浴而得洁净呢？” 于是乃缦下去，照着神人的话，在约旦河里沐浴七回。他的肉复原，好像小孩子的肉，他就洁净了。

乃缦带着一切跟随他的人回到神人那里，站在他面前，说：“如今我知道，除了以色列之外，普天下没有神。现在求你收点仆人的礼物。” 以利沙说：“我指着所侍奉永生的耶和华起誓，我必不受。”乃缦再三地求他，他却不受。 乃缦说：“你若不肯受，请将两骡子驮的土赐给仆人。从今以后，仆人必不再将燔祭或平安祭献于别神，只献给耶和华。 唯有一件事，愿耶和华饶恕你仆人：我主人进临门庙叩拜的时候，我用手搀他在临门庙，我也屈身。我在临门庙屈身的这事，愿耶和华饶恕我！” 以利沙对他说：“你可以平平安安地回去。”乃缦就离开他去了，走了不远。

2月27日

最意想不到的人

“巴不得我主人去见撒玛利亚的先知，必能治好他的大麻疯。” - 列王纪下 5:3

我喜欢这个圣经故事有诸多缘由。乃缦是个拥有一切的人，作为军队统帅，他可以发号施令。他家庭美满，资产丰厚。他的军队常侵袭别国，有一天他们掳回了一个以色列小女奴，成了乃缦妻子的婢女。

乃缦原以为拥有一切就已经足够，后来却发现自己患了痲疯病——这种疾病在当时常导致患者被放逐、毁容，最终在孤独中死去。

那位年幼的婢女本来可以保持沉默，但她心怀对神与人的爱，更有值得分享的佳音。她告诉乃缦的妻子，应当去找先知以利沙寻求医治。乃缦因此深受触动，谦卑下来，最终遵照指示而行，从而得了医治。乃缦的人生由此转变，成为神的异国追随者。

这个故事本可能有全然不同的结局。只因一个小女孩选择传递神的爱，便为医治与救赎打开了大门。乃缦虽身处绝境，以利沙却给了他平安的祝福。

今天的我们同样面临选择：是畏缩不前，为自己的沉默寻找借口；还是选择以恩慈相待，即便对方曾伤害过我们。

你可以做些什么来分享神的爱，并带来和平呢？

祷告

亲爱的神，即便当我们心怀怨恨或痛苦时，也请帮助我们传播你关于盼望与医治的讯息。奉耶稣名求，阿们。

2 Kings 5:1-19

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27

LEAST EXPECTED

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” —2 Kings 5:3

I love this Bible story for many reasons. Naaman was a guy who had everything. As an army commander, he could tell people what to do and where to go. He also had a family and was very wealthy. His army carried out raids on other countries, and one day they carried off a young Israelite girl who became a servant for Naaman’s wife.

But Naaman learned that having everything wasn’t enough. He discovered that he had leprosy, which in those days often led to banishment, disfigurement, and a lonely death.

The young slave girl could have said nothing, but she loved God and others and had good news to share. She told Naaman’s wife that he should go to Elisha the prophet and be healed. Naaman was humbled by that, but he eventually did what he was told and was healed. Naaman’s life turned around, and he became a follower of God in a foreign land.

This story could easily have turned out differently. But a young girl chose to share the love of God, and she opened a door for healing and restoration to happen. Naaman was in a tough situation, but Elisha blessed him with peace.

We too have choices to make. We can hold back and justify our reasons for not sharing our faith, or we can choose to be gracious and giving even to people who may have offended or harmed us.

What can you do to share God’s love and bring peace?

Dear God, help us to share your message of hope and healing, even if we are tempted to hold on to grudges or bitterness. In Jesus, Amen.