涌流出来的平安
一月份某一个黄昏，我从多伦多开车回家，我知道我要格外小心，因为一月时下的大雪已经开始溶化，但瞬息间天气将会改变，气象报告预测将会下雨和转冷，又可能会带来夹杂着冰雨的雪。
在这种天气中开车有很大压力，然而有一件事对我很有帮助，那就是仪表板上仪器显示的室外温度，看到温度保持在冰点以上，这就保证路上不会结冰了。
这个经历提示了我怎样去思想祷告；我知道我们在里面看到的事，能够影响我们怎样去面对外面的境况。在今天的经文中，我们看见保罗和西拉虽然被毒打、上了木狗、和被囚禁、但神的平安仍然能从他们身上涌流出来，而藉着他们，其他的囚犯便有机会听到主奇妙的爱和能力了。
接着神更行了神迹奇事，衪打开监牢的门和松开每一个人的锁链，此外，禁卒和他的一家都因此相信耶稣和得了新生命呢！
面对困境时，神的平安仍然可以充满我们和涌流至别人的生命的。藉着祷告，我们与神连在一起，并更接近祂，而祂就是那位掌管天上地下一切权势的神，试想想，这位全能神能做何等伟大的事来回应我们的祷告呢！
主啊，生活困苦时，我们感到难以祷告。我为每一个正在受苦的人祈求，求祢以祢的平安充满他们的心。阿们。
使徒行传 16:16-34
16 后来，我们往那祷告的地方去，有一个使女迎着面来，她被巫鬼所附，用法术叫她主人们大得财利。
17 她跟随保罗和我们，喊着说：“这些人是至高神的仆人，对你们传说救人的道！”
18 她一连多日这样喊叫，保罗就心中厌烦，转身对那鬼说：“我奉耶稣基督的名，吩咐你从她身上出来！”那鬼当时就出来了。
19 使女的主人们见得利的指望没有了，便揪住保罗和西拉，拉他们到市上去见首领，
20 又带到官长面前，说：“这些人原是犹太人，竟骚扰我们的城，
21 传我们罗马人所不可受、不可行的规矩。”
22 众人就一同起来攻击他们。官长吩咐剥了他们的衣裳，用棍打。
23 打了许多棍，便将他们下在监里，嘱咐禁卒严紧看守。
24 禁卒领了这样的命，就把他们下在内监里，两脚上了木狗。
25 约在半夜，保罗和西拉祷告，唱诗赞美神，众囚犯也侧耳而听。
26 忽然地大震动，甚至监牢的地基都摇动了，监门立刻全开，众囚犯的锁链也都松开了。
27 禁卒一醒，看见监门全开，以为囚犯已经逃走，就拔刀要自杀。
28 保罗大声呼叫说：“不要伤害自己！我们都在这里。”
29 禁卒叫人拿灯来，就跳进去，战战兢兢地俯伏在保罗、西拉面前，
30 又领他们出来，说：“二位先生，我当怎样行才可以得救？”
31 他们说：“当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。”
32 他们就把主的道讲给他和他全家的人听。
33 当夜，就在那时候，禁卒把他们带去，洗他们的伤，他和属乎他的人立时都受了洗。
34 于是禁卒领他们上自己家里去，给他们摆上饭，他和全家因为信了神都很喜乐。
Peace Overflowing
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. . . ." — Acts 16:25
Driving home from the Toronto airport one evening in January, I knew I had to be careful. A January thaw had settled in, but the weather was turning quickly. The forecast called for precipitation, and in the cooling temperatures that could bring a mix of snow and freezing rain.
Driving in those conditions can be stressful. But one thing that helped me was a gauge on my dashboard showing the temperature outside. Knowing that the temperature remained above freezing assured me that ice was not forming on the roads.
That gave me a helpful way to think about prayer. What we know on the inside can affect the way we deal with situations on the outside. In today's Bible reading, for example, we see Paul and Silas overflowing with the peace of God even though they had been severely beaten, put in stocks, and imprisoned. And through them, the other prisoners were hearing about the amazing love and power of the Lord.
Then God did some amazing things, opening up the prison and loosening everyone's chains. What's more, the jailer and his household came to faith and new life in Jesus!
In our difficult situations, the peace of God can fill us and overflow into the lives of others too. In prayer, we connect with and grow closer to God, who has all the power in heaven and earth at his command. Imagine what God can do in response to our prayers!
Lord, when life is hard, praying can be difficult. For all who are hurting, I ask that you fill their hearts with peace. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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