容纳他人

作者:每日箴言   来源:普世佳音

“我实在告诉你们,这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是作在我身上了。” - 太 25:40

跟从基督的生活不会只是“我,我,我”。福音挑战我们持续不断地为他人献上自己的生命。耶稣视服事他人如同服事神。

然而,我们的精力常常被我们自己的计划耗尽。我们的日程可能充满了重要的、值得尊敬的事。然而,我们常常只专注于自己的计划,而错过了生活中神给我们去容纳他人的机会。

马太一再强调,如果我们爱神,自然就会爱人。事实上,如果我们不爱人,那我们对神的爱就成问题了。

我们不仅是要把有行动的爱带给身边最亲近的人,还要带给那些被边缘化的、苦难中的和需要帮助的人。当我们关爱这些人时,实际上就是在展示对耶稣的爱。

对我们许多人来说,热情好客会让我们想到与朋友家人共度时光。但是,我们是否认为热情好客是我们信仰的一种鲜活表达呢?

圣经呼召我们要“接待客旅”和“操练好客”。不仅是容纳别人,热情好客还要求基督徒做好准备面对意想不到的状况。我们并不是要借助宽容和怜悯进入神的国,这些乃是要显出我们是神家的一员。

祷告

主啊,求祢帮助我们看见祢赐给我们去关爱他人的机会。在我们今天每一刻的生活中,都使我们满有怜悯和关爱。阿们。

 

马太福音 25:31-46

31 “当人子在他荣耀里同着众天使降临的时候,要坐在他荣耀的宝座上。
32 万民都要聚集在他面前,他要把他们分别出来,好像牧羊的分别绵羊山羊一般:
33 把绵羊安置在右边,山羊在左边。
34 于是,王要向那右边的说:‘你们这蒙我父赐福的,可来承受那创世以来为你们所预备的国。
35 因为我饿了,你们给我吃;渴了,你们给我喝;我做客旅,你们留我住;
36 我赤身露体,你们给我穿;我病了,你们看顾我;我在监里,你们来看我。’
37 义人就回答说:‘主啊,我们什么时候见你饿了给你吃,渴了给你喝?
38 什么时候见你做客旅留你住,或是赤身露体给你穿?
39 又什么时候见你病了或是在监里,来看你呢?’
40 王要回答说:‘我实在告诉你们:这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是做在我身上了。’
41 王又要向那左边的说:‘你们这被咒诅的人,离开我,进入那为魔鬼和他的使者所预备的永火里去!
42 因为我饿了,你们不给我吃;渴了,你们不给我喝;
43 我做客旅,你们不留我住;我赤身露体,你们不给我穿;我病了,我在监里,你们不来看顾我。’
44 他们也要回答说:‘主啊,我们什么时候见你饿了,或渴了,或做客旅,或赤身露体,或病了,或在监里,不伺候你呢?’
45 王要回答说:‘我实在告诉你们:这些事你们既不做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是不做在我身上了。’
46 这些人要往永刑里去,那些义人要往永生里去。”  

Room For Others

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” — Matthew 25:40

英语音频 English Audio

The life of following Christ is not just about “me, me, me.” The gospels challenge us repeatedly to devote our lives to living for others. Jesus equates serving others with serving God.

All too often, though, our lives become consumed by our own plans. Our schedules may be filled with important, honorable things to do. Yet we often risk focusing only on our own plans and missing out on the opportunities God gives us to make room for others in life.

Matthew repeatedly stresses that if we love God, we will inevitably love others. In fact, if we don’t love others, our love for God is in question. Love in action is not just for the people closest to us but also for people who are marginalized, suffering, and in need. When we care for such people, we are actually showing our love for Jesus.

For many of us, the thought of showing hospitality tends toward shared time with friends and family. But do we consider hospitality as an active expression of our faith? The Bible calls us to “welcome the stranger” and “practice hospitality.” More than making room, hospitality calls for Christians to be ready even for the unexpected. While our deeds of compassion and mercy are not the means by which we enter God’s kingdom, they show that we are part of God’s family.

Prayer

Lord, help us to see the opportunities you give us to care for others. Make us generous in compassion and care as we live each moment today. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳


发布日期:2018-08-01