神的殿，天的门
在今天的经文中，雅各正在逃亡，然而神的眼目仍在看顾祂。
当雅各以石头为枕头进入梦乡后，他看见一个异象，他看到天和地连起来，“一个梯子立在地上，梯子的头顶着天。”他又看见神的使者不但升到天上，他们更下降到地上，在神的子民中间服事神（诗篇91:11）。雅各就把那个地方起名叫伯特利，意思是“神的殿”。
我在美国伊利诺州富林顿市一间名叫伯特利的教会长大，这间教会位于密西西比河附近的山丘上。在我成长的日子，我并不觉得这教会“奇妙可畏”或者是“天的门”。 然而现在，当我回顾过去时，我察觉到一些从前没有留意的事。
我清楚看到，我对神的信心就是在那个教会群体得到培育的；除了我的父母外，我还记得一位名叫Siebert的青年导师、一位名叫Case的牧师、和一位时常帮助我的朋友Todd。
我们在创世记28章遇见雅各时，他是孤零零一个人的，他不知道自己究竟有没有机会重返家园；然而神却提醒他，他不是真的孤单一人，天和地之间是有联系的。在今天，我们甚至可以说，这个联系就是教会。
亲爱的天地的神，惟愿“祢的国降临 ...... 在地上如同在天上。”惟愿我们张开眼睛，好叫我们看见祢的教会如何能藉着成为祢和世人的联系，去为祢作见证。奉耶稣的名祈求，阿们。
创世记 28:10-22
10 雅各出了别是巴，向哈兰走去。
11 到了一个地方，因为太阳落了，就在那里住宿，便拾起那地方的一块石头枕在头下，在那里躺卧睡了。
12 梦见一个梯子立在地上，梯子的头顶着天，有神的使者在梯子上上去下来。
13 耶和华站在梯子以上，说：“我是耶和华你祖亚伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神，我要将你现在所躺卧之地赐给你和你的后裔。
14 你的后裔必像地上的尘沙那样多，必向东西南北开展。地上万族必因你和你的后裔得福。
15 我也与你同在，你无论往哪里去，我必保佑你，领你归回这地，总不离弃你，直到我成全了向你所应许的。”
16 雅各睡醒了，说：“耶和华真在这里，我竟不知道！”
17 就惧怕，说：“这地方何等可畏！这不是别的，乃是神的殿，也是天的门。”
18 雅各清早起来，把所枕的石头立做柱子，浇油在上面。
19 他就给那地方起名叫伯特利，但那地方起先名叫路斯。
20 雅各许愿说：“神若与我同在，在我所行的路上保佑我，又给我食物吃、衣服穿，
21 使我平平安安地回到我父亲的家，我就必以耶和华为我的神，
22 我所立为柱子的石头也必做神的殿。凡你所赐给我的，我必将十分之一献给你。”
House Of God, Gate Of Heaven
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought . . . “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” — Genesis 28:16-17
In today’s verses, Jacob is on the run, but he is under the watchful eye of God.
As Jacob enters into sleep using a stone for a pillow, he receives a vision. He sees an ongoing connection between heaven and earth, “a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven.” And he sees angels not just ascending into heaven but also descending to the earth, where they serve God among his people (Psalm 91:11). Jacob called the place Bethel, which means “house of God.”
The church of my growing-up years in Fulton, Illinois, was called Bethel. It was situated on a hill near the Mississippi River. Growing up, I did not see that church as being “awesome” or the “gate of heaven,” but now, looking back, I see something that I did not see then.
I see more clearly than ever that my faith was molded within that community. Along with memories of my parents, I remember a youth counselor named Siebert, a pastor named Case, and a friend named Todd who was always there for me.
When we meet Jacob in Genesis 28, he is alone. He is not sure when, if ever, he can return home again. And yet God reminds him that he is not really alone. There is a connection between heaven and earth. Today, we might even call that connection . . . a church.
Dear God of heaven and earth, may “your kingdom come . . . on earth as it is in heaven.” May we open our eyes to see how your church can be a witness by connecting people to you. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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