安息日是提醒我们玩耍的重要性的好时机。在我们的生命中，工作和服侍固然重要，然而玩耍对我们的身体和灵魂的健康也是重要的。
不久之前我和事工领袖们到了一个中美洲国家，我们参观了几项事工，看到神如何在作工。其中一处是一个回收的运动和休闲区：一个建筑在从前是垃圾场的足球场。
当我们在聆听有关这块被赎回的土地的故事时，有些穿着足球衣的年轻女士过来练习。不久，有人走过来用西班牙语说这些球员要跟我们比赛。开波啦！虽然我们没有合适的衣服和鞋，且我们又言语不通，然而我们仍然有一段开心欢笑的美好时光。
此外，我们也明白这些年轻女士过着艰辛的生活，她们要面对很多由贫穷甚至社会上不公引起的难处。但在那段短短玩耍的时间内，我们深深感受到我们是一个群体，是彼此有关连的。
这些例子也可以成为我们基督徒表达信仰的方式。神喜悦我们和衪的世界，我们也被邀请这样去做。今天你可以拨出一些时间去敬拜和去玩耍吗？
神啊，感谢你创造我们去工作又去玩耍。帮助我们严肃地看这两个恩赐，又赐我们有喜悦和欢笑的时光。阿们。
撒迦利亚书 8:1-8
1万军之耶和华的话临到我说：
2“万军之耶和华如此说：我为锡安心里极其火热，我为她火热，向她的仇敌发烈怒。
3耶和华如此说：我现在回到锡安，要住在耶路撒冷中。耶路撒冷必称为诚实的城，万军之耶和华的山必称为圣山。
4万军之耶和华如此说：将来必有年老的男女坐在耶路撒冷街上，因为年纪老迈就手拿拐杖。
5城中街上必满有男孩女孩玩耍。
6万军之耶和华如此说：到那日，这事在余剩的民眼中看为稀奇，在我眼中也看为稀奇吗？这是万军之耶和华说的。
7万军之耶和华如此说：我要从东方从西方救回我的民。
8我要领他们来，使他们住在耶路撒冷中。他们要做我的子民，我要做他们的神，都凭诚实和公义。
"The city streets will be filled with boys and girls playing there." - Zechariah 8:5
The Sabbath day is a good time to be reminded of the importance of play. While our work and service are important in life, play is also important for the health of our body and spirit.
Awhile ago I visited a Central American country with a group of ministry leaders. We toured a number of ministry sites to see how God was at work. One site was a reclaimed sports and recreation area: a soccer pitch stood on land that had once been used as a garbage dump.
As we listened to the story about this redeemed piece of land, some young women showed up in their soccer uniforms for practice. Soon afterward, someone came over and told us in Spanish that the soccer players wanted to challenge us to a match. Game on! We didn't have the right clothes or shoes and we couldn't speak the language, but we had a great time of fun and laughter.
We were also aware that these young women lived difficult lives, facing many obstacles from poverty to injustice in their society. But in that brief time of play, we experienced community and connection in a profound way.
Examples like this too can be an expression of our Christian faith. God delights in us and in his world. We are invited to do the same. Can you find some time to both worship and play today?
God, thank you for creating us to both work and play. Help us to be serious about both of these gifts. Grace us also with times of delight and laughter. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
