【双语灵修】问候的力量THE POWER OF GREETING
罗马书 12:9-21
爱人不可虚假；恶要厌恶，善要亲近。爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。殷勤不可懒惰；要心里火热，常常服侍主。在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。逼迫你们的，要给他们祝福；只要祝福，不可咒诅。与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。要彼此同心；不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人；不要自以为聪明。不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去做。若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。亲爱的弟兄，不要自己申冤，宁可让步，听凭主怒；因为经上记着：“主说：申冤在我，我必报应。”所以，“你的仇敌若饿了，就给他吃；若渴了，就给他喝。因为你这样行，就是把炭火堆在他的头上。”你不可为恶所胜，反要以善胜恶。
9月23日
问候的力量
“与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。” - 罗 12:15
耶稣可以用很多种方式传送生命的能力。我的同工Joyce曾往尼日利亚宣教，她告诉我们，尼日利亚传统的“问候”令她大受感动。她知道当有重要的事情发生时—无论是欢欣或悲痛的事，人们都会在那个时刻来陪伴你，陪伴本身便是最好的礼物。
Joyce说当她女儿出生时，邻居便一个一个的来“问候”。大家又唱又跳，充满了喜乐。这小女孩被接纳和受到欢迎，进入整个社群的生活中。
Joyce又提到，很不同的另一天—2001年9月12日。大清早她和丈夫便被邻居的拍门声吵醒了。这些朋友刚听到，纽约市的世贸中心在前一天被摧毁的消息，虽然在他们中间没有人到过美国，但他们知道，对他们的美国朋友来说，这是极悲痛的消息。他们来“问候”这位朋友—在朋友仍在尝试承受他们的震惊和悲痛时，用爱拥抱他们。
就如今天的主题经文提醒我们，喜乐和悲伤都是会传染的。今天你可以去“问候”谁？在他们欢乐时与他们一起庆祝，或在他们伤痛时在身边陪伴，藉此反映出神不断的回荡的爱呢？
祷告
耶稣啊，感谢你，我们喜乐和伤心时你都照料我们。在我们的朋友和邻居欢欣或悲痛之时，求你帮助我们能以关心来回应。阿们。
Romans 12:9-21
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
THE POWER OF GREETING
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. —Romans 12:15
The life-giving power of Jesus rings out in many ways. My colleague Joyce, a former missionary to Nigeria, tells of her moving experience with the Nigerian practice of “greeting.” She learned that whenever something significant happened— whether joyful or painful—people would gather simply to be present with you in that moment. Presence itself was the gift.
She recalls how, when her daughter was born, neighbors came one after another to “greet” the child. There was singing and dancing, and the joy was immense. This little girl was embraced and welcomed into the life of the whole community.
Joyce also recalls another, very different day—on September 12, 2001. Early in the morning she and her husband were awakened by neighbors at their door. These friends had just learned of the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City the day before. Though none of them had ever been to the United States, they knew this would be devastating news for their American friends. They came to “greet” them—to hold them in love as they tried to absorb their shock and grief.
As our theme verse for today reminds us, both joy and sorrow are contagious. Whom might you “greet” today—to celebrate their gladness or to sit gently with them in their pain—as a reflection of God’s resounding love?
Jesus, thank you for ministering to us in our joy and sorrow. Help us to respond with care for our friends and neighbors in their times of happiness and sadness. Amen.