救恩的礼物（记号：包裹）
许多圣诞卡上都有一棵装饰好的圣诞树，树枝下面有五颜六色的礼物。当然，我们喜欢送圣诞礼物，但迷人的包裹可能会让我们忘了圣诞礼物的习俗是如何开始的，以及它意味着什么。
赠送圣诞礼物最有可能起源于东方智者的故事，在耶稣出生后，他们跟着一颗星星和一个预言，最终到达了伯利恒，去拜访耶稣。那颗星停在耶稣和祂父母所在地的上空，于是这些拜访者从满是灰尘的骆驼身上下来，进了屋子。
马太说，他们看见小孩子耶稣之后，“就俯伏拜那小孩子。”马太在他的福音书中屡次提到这句话，以描述人们对耶稣的反应。那些智者还带来了珍贵的礼物。
这个故事充满了神秘感，但它教会了我们几样重要的事。我们也应该像那些智者一样，俯伏敬拜耶稣，尊祂为王。我们也应该献礼物给祂，献上我们最好的，最重要的是，献上我们的心和服事。我们只能为主做一点点，而祂带给我们的是最美好的礼物：救恩和新生命。
主啊，带领我们，就像很久以前的智者那样，怀着崇敬和谦卑服事的心俯伏祢面前。感谢祢来到世上拯救我们！奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
马太福音 2:1-12
1 当希律王的时候，耶稣生在犹太的伯利恒。有几个博士从东方来到耶路撒冷，说：
2 “那生下来做犹太人之王的在哪里？我们在东方看见他的星，特来拜他。”
3 希律王听见了，就心里不安，耶路撒冷合城的人也都不安。
4 他就召齐了祭司长和民间的文士，问他们说：“基督当生在何处？”
5 他们回答说：“在犹太的伯利恒。因为有先知记着说：
6 ‘犹大地的伯利恒啊，你在犹大诸城中并不是最小的，因为将来有一位君王要从你那里出来，牧养我以色列民。’”
7 当下，希律暗暗地召了博士来，细问那星是什么时候出现的，
8 就差他们往伯利恒去，说：“你们去仔细寻访那小孩子，寻到了就来报信，我也好去拜他。”
9 他们听见王的话就去了。在东方所看见的那星忽然在他们前头行，直行到小孩子的地方，就在上头停住了。
10 他们看见那星，就大大地欢喜。
11 进了房子，看见小孩子和他母亲马利亚，就俯伏拜那小孩子，揭开宝盒，拿黄金、乳香、没药为礼物献给他。
12 博士因为在梦中被主指示不要回去见希律，就从别的路回本地去了。
The Gift Of Salvation (Symbol: A Wrapped Present)
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him." — Matthew 2:11
Many Christmas cards feature a decorated Christmas tree with colorful presents beneath its branches. Of course we love Christmas gift-giving, but attractive packages can make us forget how the custom of Christmas gifts started and what it signifies.
Most likely, Christmas-gift giving stems from the story about wise men from the east who came to visit Jesus after his birth in Bethlehem. Following a star and a prophecy, they arrived at last. The star stood over the place where Jesus and his parents were staying, and the visitors dismounted their dusty camels and entered the house.
Matthew says that when they saw the child Jesus, “they bowed down and worshiped him.” He uses this expression several times throughout his gospel to describe people’s reactions to Jesus. The wise men also came bearing lavish gifts.
Mystery surrounds this story, but it teaches us several important things. Like the wise men, we too should bow and worship Jesus as King. We should also offer gifts to him, the best of all that we have, and, most important, our hearts and our service. That’s the least we can do for the One who brings us the choicest gift of all: salvation and new life.
Lord, lead us, like the wise men long ago, to kneel before you in adoration and humble service. Thank you for coming to save us! We pray in your name. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
编辑进度:
发布时间:
繁體版:
Line:
栏目:
机构:
作者: