我受邀主持一个37岁年轻人的葬礼，他死于芬太尼过量。多年来他一直流落街头，并染上了非常严重的毒瘾。他平时常来我们教会，大多数时候都参加礼拜。当他不嗑药的时候，他可以与他人顺畅地交谈。我从他的故事中学到了很多。无论他的精神状态如何，有一句他经常挂在嘴边，我在他的葬礼上也重复了这句话。他说：“只要在耶稣怀里，我就是稳妥的”。无论生活中发生了什么，他都有信心，知道耶稣会赐他恩典。
在今天的经文中，这位罗马百夫长也对耶稣充满信心。尽管耶稣提出要去他家，但百夫长说，他知道只要耶稣说一句话就能使仆人痊愈——他的仆人就这样好了。他知道仆人在耶稣怀里是稳妥的，哪怕他在很远的地方。耶稣称赞百夫长比祂遇到的其他人都更有信心。
我们也可以有充足的信心，向耶稣祈求我们所需要的一切。无论我们身在何处，无论我们需要什么，祂都愿意来帮助我们。事实上，祂应许会永远与我们同在（马太福音 28:20），所以我们可以相信，在祂怀里我们是稳妥的。
主耶稣，请帮助我们凭着信心向你呼求，寻求你的恩典和帮助。感谢你的垂听和回应。阿们。
马太福音 8:5-13
5耶稣进了迦百农，有一个百夫长进前来，求他说：
6“主啊，我的仆人害瘫痪病，躺在家里甚是疼苦。”
7耶稣说：“我去医治他。”
8百夫长回答说：“主啊，你到我舍下我不敢当，只要你说一句话，我的仆人就必好了。
9因为我在人的权下，也有兵在我以下，对这个说‘去！’他就去，对那个说‘来！’他就来，对我的仆人说‘你做这事！’他就去做。”
10耶稣听见就稀奇，对跟从的人说：“我实在告诉你们：这么大的信心，就是在以色列中我也没有遇见过！
11我又告诉你们：从东从西，将有许多人来，在天国里与亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各一同坐席；
12唯有本国的子民，竟被赶到外边黑暗里去，在那里必要哀哭切齿了。”
13耶稣对百夫长说：“你回去吧！照你的信心给你成全了。”那时，他的仆人就好了。
"Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that moment." - Matthew 8:13
I was asked to officiate at a funeral for a young man (age 37) who had died from a fentanyl overdose. He had been living on the street for years and was addicted to some pretty strong drugs. He also visited our church during the week and came for most of the worship services. When he wasn't high, he could carry on great conversations, and I learned so much of his story. Regardless of his state of mind, he had a phrase that he often used, and I repeated it at his funeral. He would say, "I am always safe in the arms of Jesus." Regardless of what was going on in his life, he had faith, knowing that Jesus offers grace.
In our Bible reading today, a Roman centurion also had faith in Jesus. And even though Jesus offered to go to the man's home, the centurion said that he knew Jesus could heal his servant by just saying the word—and that's how the servant was healed. He knew that his servant was safe in the arms of Jesus, even from a distance. And Jesus praised the centurion for having more faith than anyone he had encountered in his ministry.
We too can have faith enough to ask Jesus for all we need. He is willing to come and help, regardless of where we are and what we need. In fact, he promises that he is always with us (Matthew 28:20), so we can trust that we are always safe in his arms.
Lord Jesus, help us to reach out in faith for your grace and help. Thank you that you listen and answer. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
