还是老样子？ Same Old, Same Old?

新意不是来自新的一年，也不会因为到了一年的终结而老去的。主耶稣基督已经把一切变成新的了，所以，我们天天都能经历丰足和生机勃勃的新意。年日会过去，但主的话却是永存的。

“我的心哪，你要称颂耶和华 … 他用美物使你所愿的得以知足，以致你如鹰返老还童。” - 诗 103:1, 5

　　今天是新一年第一个月的最后一天了，对我们很多人来说，这一年，也许不过和往年一样，是个“老样子”，因为新年新开始的承诺已破碎，新年大计维持不住，而新的希望也变得渺茫了。

　　然而，新意不是来自新的一年，也不会因为到了一年的终结而老去的。主耶稣基督已经把一切变成新的了，所以，我们天天都能经历丰足和生机勃勃的新意。年日会过去，但主的话却永远长存。

　　在伯利恒安顿下来后，路得并没有追寻任何新鲜或令人兴奋的事，仁慈正直的波阿斯收纳了她，她便完全投入，与家人和与神共度她的一生。靠着神自有永有和活泼的道，她仍然充满活力和生气，直至她离世的日子。哈曼死后，末底改被提升坐在王的右边，以斯帖也不用再因哈曼的恶行而担忧了，她洞悉神在她生命中的时机和旨意而胜过敌人，现在她可以安安乐乐地生活了。

　　智慧邀请我们享用那些能使我们生命不断更新的食物；愚昧虽默许偷来的甜美食物，但这些东西只会带来苦毒并令我们感到无尽的衰老。让我们在神的智慧里享用吃喝，不断得更新吧！

祷告

神啊，我们赞美祢，祢有无限的恩典，又赐我们各样的美物，我们为祢的慈爱感谢祢。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。

箴言9:1-6, 13-18 Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18

1智慧建造房屋，凿成七根柱子，
2宰杀牲畜，调和旨酒，设摆筵席；
3打发使女出去，自己在城中至高处呼叫，
4说：谁是愚蒙人，可以转到这里来！又对那无知的人说：
5你们来，吃我的饼，喝我调和的酒。
6你们愚蒙人，要舍弃愚蒙，就得存活，并要走光明的道。
13愚昧的妇人喧嚷；她是愚蒙，一无所知。
14她坐在自己的家门口，坐在城中高处的座位上，
15呼叫过路的，就是直行其道的人，
16说：谁是愚蒙人，可以转到这里来！又对那无知的人说：
17偷来的水是甜的，暗吃的饼是好的。
18人却不知有阴魂在她那里；她的客在阴间的深处。

Same Old, Same Old?

"Praise the LORD, my soul ... who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s". — Psalm 103:1, 5

英语音频 English audio

We’ve reached the last day of the first month of this new year. It’s possible that, for many of us, this year may already be “the same old thing” as years before—with promises of new beginnings dashed, resolutions faltered, and hopes receded.

But newness does not come with a new year; nor does it age by the last day of an old year. Satisfying and refreshing newness is ours every day through the Lord Jesus Christ, who makes all things new. Days and years will pass, but the Word of the Lord is forever.

Once settled in Bethlehem, Ruth did not look for anything new or exciting; she was embraced by the kindness and integrity of Boaz, and she immersed herself in living out her days with her family and with God. The ancient, living Word of God kept her young and refreshed till the day she died. After Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion to the king’s right hand, Esther too was done with the anxiety and evil of Haman’s persecution. It was good to rest in the victory gained by discerning God’s timing and will in her life.

Wisdom invites us to eat what refreshes and keeps us ever new; folly winks at stolen sweetness, which only embitters and binds us to perpetual old age. Take, eat, and drink from the wisdom of God, and be ever new!

Prayer

We praise you, O God! Your grace is limitless, and you provide every good thing for us. Thank you for your love. In Jesus, Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳