【双语灵修】谁准备好了？WHO’S READY?

约翰福音 4:27-42

当下门徒回来，就希奇耶稣和一个妇人说话；只是没有人说：“你是要什么？”或说：“你为什么和他说话？”那妇人就留下水罐子，往城里去，对众人说：“你们来看！有一个人将我素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了，莫非这就是基督吗？”众人就出城，往耶稣那里去。这其间，门徒对耶稣说：“拉比，请吃。”耶稣说：“我有食物吃，是你们不知道的。”门徒就彼此对问说：“莫非有人拿什么给他吃吗？”耶稣说：“我的食物就是遵行差我来者的旨意，做成他的工。你们岂不说‘到收割的时候还有四个月’吗？我告诉你们，举目向田观看，庄稼已经熟了，可以收割了。收割的人得工价，积蓄五谷到永生，叫撒种的和收割的一同快乐。俗语说‘那人撒种，这人收割’，这话是真的。我打发你们去收你们所没有劳碌的；别人劳碌，你们享受他们所劳碌的。”那城里有好些撒马利亚人信了耶稣，因为那妇人作见证说：“他将我素来所行的一切事都给我说出来了。”于是撒马利亚人来见耶稣，求他在他们那里住下，他便在那里住了两天。因耶稣的话，信的人就更多了，便对妇人说：“现在我们信，不是因为你的话，是你亲自听见了，知道这真是救世主。”

11月28日

谁准备好了？

“那城里有好些撒玛利亚人信了耶稣，因为那妇人作见证……” - 约 4:39

我真的希望《约翰福音》第4章能给我们多些资料，让我们知道这妇人经历过什么，以致她那天会这样开放地去相信基督。是什么挫折或损失的经历，令她的心软化了呢？最近发生了什么事，使她变得那么孤立？不过，无论如何，她似乎已经准备好，去郑重考虑这位突然在她城中出现的陌生犹太人的观点了。

昨天我们思考过，要把注意力放在人身上，以及他们当时所关切的事上，而不是立刻着眼于讲述解决他们问题的终极方案(就是相信救主耶稣基督)。有时，首要做的是去留意，看看我们身旁有哪些人，已准备好作灵性上的探讨。在你的生活中，谁有兴趣去探讨人生重大的问题呢？谁正在重新思考他们一向持有的某些能满足自我的假设呢？

切切记着，要祈求神帮助你看见那些，已预备好去相信的人。假如发现了圣灵正持续在一个我们身边的人身上作工，而我们却把所有的注意力放在一个还未准备好去相信的人身上，我们会否觉得费解和伤心呢？在改变人的生命这件事情上，是神先作工，而我们要做的就是去跟随。

在你的生命中，你看到有谁显示出神的恩典正在他身上动工的迹象呢？

祷告

神啊，求你引领我们去接触你已预备好去聆听你声音的人，帮助我们带着关爱来回应，又鼓励他们去相信你。阿们。

John 4:27–42

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 28

WHO’S READY?

Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony. . . . —John 4:39

I wish that John 4 gave us a little more background on the experiences that led this woman to be spiritually open to faith in Christ that day. What setbacks or losses had she experienced that might have softened her heart? What had happened lately to bring her to the point of isolation she had reached? In any case, she seemed ready to take seriously the perspective of this surprising Jewish stranger who had shown up in her town.

Yesterday we reflected on paying attention to people and their current concerns rather than focusing right away on the ultimate solution to their problems—that is, coming to faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes the first step comes from simply noticing people around us who may be ready for a spiritual conversation. Who in your life might be showing some curiosity about the major questions of life? Who may be rethinking some of their long-held assumptions about their personal fulfillment?

Be sure to ask God to help you see the people he is preparing for faith. Wouldn’t it be puzzling and kind of sad to discover that the Holy Spirit was working steadily in someone near us while we were focusing all our attention on someone else who wasn’t yet ready to believe? When it comes to changing lives, God works first. Our job is to follow.

Who in your life might be showing signs of God’s saving grace at work?

God, guide us to the people you have prepared to hear your voice. Help us to respond with care and to encourage them toward faith in you. Amen.