【双语灵修】馨香的祈祷SWEET-SMELLING PRAYERS

启示录 5 : 6–10

我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。 这羔羊前来，从坐宝座的右手里拿了书卷。 他既拿了书卷，四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿着琴和盛满了香的金炉。这香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 他们唱新歌，说：“你配拿书卷，配揭开七印，因为你曾被杀，用自己的血从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神， 又叫他们成为国民做祭司，归于神，在地上执掌王权。”

五月二十三日

馨香的祈祷

“各拿着……盛满了香的金炉，这香是众圣徒的祈祷。”—启示录 5：8

我们的祈祷就像献给主的馨香祭物，你知道吗？试想像一下，神坐在祂的宝座上，吸入我们所有的祈祷。在祂旁边是超乎我们所能想像的四活物，又有二十四位长老，他们代表所有被神的羔羊耶稣所救赎的子民。这些奇妙的活物和长老，拿着盛载馨香祭物的金炉献给神，这些就是我们所有的祈祷。

当我们思考神的圣洁或神的同在时，我们不会联想到香气，但我们可能需要这样做了。我们知道是神创造寻血猎犬的鼻子的，它的嗅觉是人类的五十多倍。所以，或者我们可以想像一下，神正在深深吸入宇宙中最具吸引力的香气—我们的祈祷。祂深深吸一下，然后微笑。神对我们的爱是超过我们所能想像得到的，无论我们说什么，祂都喜欢听。无论我们是在表达欢乐、感谢、惊叹、伤心、悲痛、担心或焦虑，那位爱我们的神必定会渴望聆听的。

我们可以想像，我们的祈祷是献给神的一种香气，比新鲜出炉的面包，或刚刚割下的鲜花，更能够令神感到满足。我们的祈祷是用金炉盛载的宝贵香气。

你知道你虔诚的思念和语言，会在至高的天堂里、成为最悦人的香气吗？

祷告

父、子和圣灵，请接受我们献上的祈祷。当你嗅出我们真正的需要时，惟愿它们也是你所喜欢的香气。主啊，感谢你聆听我们所有的祈祷。阿们。

Revelation 5:6-10

SATURDAY, MAY 23

SWEET-SMELLING PRAYERS

They were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. —Revelation 5:8

Did you know that our prayers are like a scented offering to the Lord? Imagine God sitting on his throne, inhaling all of our prayers. He is surrounded by four creatures that are beyond our imagining, and by 24 elders who represent all of his people redeemed by Jesus, the Lamb of God. The amazing creatures and the elders hold out bowls of fragrant offerings to God, and these represent all of our prayers.

We might not usually think of scents when we consider God’s holiness or God’s presence, but perhaps we need to. We know that God created the nose of the bloodhound, which is about 50 times more sensitive than our own. So perhaps we can imagine God deeply breathing in the most attractive scent in the universe— our prayers. He takes a deep breath and smiles. God loves us more than we can imagine, and he delights in hearing whatever we have to say. Whether we express joy or thanks or wonder or sadness or grief or concern or anxiety, the God who loves us is always eager to hear us.

We can imagine that our prayers give God a scent more satisfying than fresh-baked bread or fresh-cut flowers. Our prayers are precious scents, offered to God in golden bowls.

Did you know that your prayerful thoughts and words are enjoyed as the loveliest of scents in the highest heaven?

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, accept our offerings of prayer. May they be a pleasing scent to you as you sniff out what we truly need. Thank you, Lord, for hearing all our prayers. Amen.