【双语灵修】福音引起我们的共鸣THE GOSPEL RESONATES WITH US

使徒行传 2:42-47

都恒心遵守使徒的教训，彼此交接、掰饼、祈祷。众人都惧怕，使徒又行了许多奇事神迹。信的人都在一处，凡物公用，并且卖了田产、家业，照各人所需用的分给各人。他们天天同心合意恒切地在殿里，且在家中掰饼，存着欢喜、诚实的心用饭，赞美神，得众民的喜爱。主将得救的人天天加给他们。

9月29日

福音引起我们的共鸣

“信的人……擘饼，存着欢喜诚实的心用饭，赞美神……” - 徒 2:44-47

多年来妻子和我曾经在教会参加过很多不同的小组，但在其中一个小组中，我们却经历到特别浓厚的群体意识。这个小组还有三对比我们年轻、与我们在不同的人生阶段中的组员。小组最初开始时，他们还是未婚的，只是在约会或是已订了婚。这个情况很快便改变了，在短短的一段时间里，我们便欢乐地参加了三个婚礼。在每次婚礼的筵席中，我们小组的组员都会坐在一起，一同享受这份并肩走过人生里程碑的礼物。

我们也会分担彼此的伤痛。在其中的一次婚礼之前不久，那对将要结婚的情侣突然失去一个挚爱的家人。在婚礼那天，眼泪和欢笑交织在一起，我们感受到悲伤但又感恩，我们为所失去的哀痛，同时又为一个新的开始感恩。

读到《使徒行传》第2章所描述的群体生活时，我觉得这好像太理想化了，不过，在新约圣经其他的地方，也有指出初代教会是经历过冲突和痛苦的。

就是在今天，圣灵仍继续把信徒带进深入和能引起共鸣的关系中。我们是不应该孤单地跟随耶稣的。虽然我们是不完全的人、又住在一个破碎的世界中，但神却选择住在祂的子民中。我们可以怎样彼此大大的敞开我们的生命和我们的家庭呢？

祷告

耶稣啊，基督徒群体中纵然有时会有困难，但求你帮助我们更深入地投入彼此的关系中。求你以你的爱，和彼此关怀的心充满我们。阿们。

Acts 2:42-47

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

THE GOSPEL RESONATES WITH US

All the believers . . . broke bread . . . together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God. . . . Acts 2:44-47

My wife and I have been part of many small groups in our church over the years, but one experience of community stands out as especially rich. We were in a group with three other couples who were younger than us and in a different stage of life. When we first began meeting, none of them were married; they were dating or engaged. That soon changed, and in a short span of time we joyfully celebrated three weddings. At each reception our small group sat together, enjoying the gift of walking through these milestones side by side.

We also shared one another’s sorrows. Shortly before one of those weddings, the bridal couple experienced the sudden and tragic loss of a beloved family member. On the day of their celebration, tears and laughter mingled freely as we felt both grief and gratitude, mourning what was lost while giving thanks for a new beginning.

When I read the description of community in Acts 2, it can sound almost too ideal. Yet the rest of the New Testament shows that the early church also knew conflict and pain.

Still today, the Spirit continues to draw believers into deep, resonant fellowship. We are not meant to follow Jesus alone. Though we are imperfect people in a broken world, God chooses to live among his people. How might we open our lives and homes more fully to one another?

Dear Jesus, though Christian community can be challenging at times, help us to step more deeply into our relationships. Fill us with your love and care for each other. Amen.