今天是星期日，普世教会神的子民，都在世界各地不同的环境之下聚集，一同敬拜主；他们诵念圣经、聆听讲道、颂唱诗歌、和同守圣礼。我盼望你今天也有机会参与一个信徒聚集一起敬拜神的教会群体。教会是基督在普天下的身体，是神所深爱的，凡到神那里诵念和聆听祂生命之道的人，祂都应许赐福给他们。
启示录是圣经最后一卷书，这卷书以神对敬拜主的子民的祝福作为卷首语：“念这书上预言的…，都是有福的。”这个祝福从为会友读经的人开始。今天你或许曾经在你的教会负责读经，又或者你将会在你自己家中读圣经。每当你读祂的话语时，耶稣应许过要赐福给你，惟愿你因此受到激励！
耶稣亦应许赐福给那些听见圣经、“又遵守其中所记载的”。身为退休牧师，我发觉原来坐在座位上听道是一件相当困难的事；我的耳朵在听（大部份时间），然而，听得入耳却不是那么简单。当圣灵感动我们去参与、向我们挑战、和改变我们时，我们才能遵守其中所记载的。这种聆听不是“懒散的聆听，”而是听得入耳的聆听。我们能够从神那里得到祝福，真是何等美好啊。
主啊，我们诵念和聆听你的话语时，求你祝福我们。惟愿我们能遵守和活出你的话语来！阿们。
启示录 1:1-3
1耶稣基督的启示，就是神赐给他，叫他将必要快成的事指示他的众仆人。他就差遣使者晓谕他的仆人约翰。
2约翰便将神的道和耶稣基督的见证，凡自己所看见的都证明出来。
3念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为日期近了。
“Blessed is the one who reads... and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written... “ - Revelation 1:3
Today, a Sunday, people everywhere will gather in all kinds of settings to worship the Lord as the global community of God’s people. Scripture will be read, sermons heard, songs sung, and sacraments celebrated. I hope you will have an opportunity to be part of a gathered worshiping church community today. The church, the worldwide body of Christ, is dear to God’s heart, and God promises to bless all who come to him to read and hear his life-giving Word.
The book of Revelation, the concluding book of the Bible, opens with this promise of blessing to the Lord’s worshiping communities: “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy... ” The blessing begins with the person(s) reading Scripture for the congregation. Perhaps you have been asked to read the Bible today in your church community, or maybe you will be reading the Bible in the privacy of your home. Be encouraged by Jesus’ promise to bless you in the reading of his Word!
Jesus also promises to bless all who hear the Scripture and “take to heart what is written in it.” One thing I have learned as a retired pastor is how hard it can be to sit in the pew. I listen with my ears (most of the time), but good listening requires more. Taking the Word to heart happens when the Spirit moves to engage, challenge, and change us. This is not “easy listening,” but it is good listening. It is good to be on the receiving end of blessing from God.
Bless us, Lord, in reading and hearing your Word. May we take it to heart and live! Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
