外邦人也要仰望祂
降临节（又称将临期）乃是关乎盼望——不仅仅是盼望更好的一天或受苦的结束，也是盼望我们人类的存在有意义，以及超越我们现状的可能性。这是在神里面的盼望，神能更新一切，并且在祂“凡事都能”（马太福音 19:26）。
神的百姓盼望一位大能的弥赛亚来临，能改变他们受压迫的环境。当这个没有发生时，他们便深深地失望。但这是一种目光短浅的盼望。我们不能将盼望放在环境上，不管我们多么迫切地想要它改变。神的百姓所经历的受压迫环境与他人无异，他们也会生病，他们是暴力的受害者，他们在意外和战争中丧生，在世界某个角落的他们，也会因饥饿而死亡。
如果我们的盼望仅仅是环境的改变，那我们总会失望。正因如此，我们的盼望在于神，是一位跨越人类历史、向人启示祂自己是一位更新、救赎和转化的神。祂是一位远超过我们头脑想像力的神。
这位奇妙的神差遣了一位救主，不仅仅是为以色列人，也是为外邦人。祂差遣祂的儿子救赎这个世界——包括你和我。
你的盼望在乎谁呢？
耶稣——耶西的根啊，在这降临节期间，愿祢吸引我们归向祢。在我们里面孕育盼望，并向我显明祢如何把一切更新。奉祢的名祷告。阿们。
罗马书 15:7-13
7所以，你们要彼此接纳，如同基督接纳你们一样，使荣耀归与神。
8我说，基督是为神真理作了受割礼人的执事，要证实所应许列祖的话，
9并叫外邦人因他的怜悯荣耀神。如经上所记：因此，我要在外邦中称赞你，歌颂你的名；
10又说：你们外邦人当与主的百姓一同欢乐；
11又说：外邦阿，你们当赞美主！万民哪，你们都当颂赞他！
12又有以赛亚说：将来有耶西的根，就是那兴起来要治理外邦的；外邦人要仰望他。
13但愿使人有盼望的神，因信将诸般的喜乐、平安充满你们的心，使你们藉着圣灵的能力大有盼望。
In Him The Gentiles Will Hope
"The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope." — Romans 15:12
The season of Advent is about hope—and not just hope for a better day or an end to suffering, but also hope that our human existence has meaning and possibility beyond our present situation. This is hope in God, who makes things new and with whom "all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26).
God's people wanted a mighty Messiah to come and change their oppressive circumstances. They were deeply disappointed when that didn't happen. But that was a short-sighted view of hope. Our hope cannot be in circumstances, no matter how badly we want them to change. God's people experience oppressive circumstances in the same ways that others do. They get sick, they are victims of violence, and they get killed in accidents, in war, and, in some parts of the world, by hunger.
If our hope is only in a change of circumstances, we will always be disappointed. That is why we hope in God, who has continually, across the span of human history, revealed himself as a God of newness, redemption, and transformation. He is a God of possibilities who sees far beyond what we can think or even imagine.
This amazing God sent a Savior not just for the people of Israel but also for the Gentiles. He sent his Son to save the world—and that includes you and me.
In whom do you hope?
O Root of Jesse, during this season of Advent, draw us to you, give birth to hope in us, and show us how you can make all things new. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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