爱我们的仇敌
一位支持我们事工的好朋友，与我们分享了下面的故事：第二次世界大战时，她在荷兰长大。她的国家被纳綷党占领时，她信奉基督教的家庭，被指令为一个年轻的德国士兵提供住处。我们不难理解，这个士兵被看作一个不受欢迎的敌人。
有一天，这年轻人收到一个来自德国的小包裹。他非常兴奋 － 原来他的母亲给他寄了一些保暖的袜子！那些对他心怀厌恶的主人家的心灵被触动了，在伴随战争而来的仇恨、死亡和痛苦之中，他们看到这个敌人身上的人性。他们邀请他到教会、接纳他参与他们的家庭灵修，并且带领他认识了基督。在这个小型的战争前线，基督徒的爱战胜了战争的仇恨。
今天的经文，传达了一个几乎无法执行的命令：“你们要完全，像你们的天父完全一样。”耶稣把完美的爱的理想摆在我们面前，这是神的标准，是我们必须不懈努力来达到的标准。神知道我们往往会视敌人为魔鬼；然而祂要我们看到他们的人性、要以善胜恶、并藉着表达爱心来消除仇恨。
与基督同行时，我们会遇到很多不同的人。我们必须记着神的吩咐，那就是我们不单要爱我们的朋友，也要爱我们的仇敌。
主啊，在你完美的亮光中，我们看见我们的缺欠。求你以你的灵充满我们，好让我们学习如何爱人如己、甚至能够爱我们的仇敌。奉耶稣祈求，阿们。
马太福音 5:43-48
43“你们听见有话说：‘当爱你的邻舍，恨你的仇敌。’
44只是我告诉你们，要爱你们的仇敌，为那逼迫你们的祷告，
45这样就可以做你们天父的儿子，因为他叫日头照好人也照歹人，降雨给义人也给不义的人。
46你们若单爱那爱你们的人，有什么赏赐呢？就是税吏不也是这样行吗？
47你们若单请你弟兄的安，比人有什么长处呢？就是外邦人不也是这样行吗？
48所以你们要完全，像你们的天父完全一样。
Loving Our Enemies
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. . . ." - Matthew 5:44
A dear friend of our ministry shared this story: She grew up in the Netherlands during World War II. During the Nazi occupation of her homeland, her Christian family was ordered to house a young German officer. Understandably he was an unwelcome enemy.
One day the young man received a small package from Germany. He was so excited—his mother had sent him warm woolen socks! Something moved in the hearts of his unwilling hosts. In the midst of the war’s hatred, death, and suffering, they could see a human soul in this enemy. They invited him to church, included him in their family devotions, and led him to Christ. On this small front, Christian love dealt a blow to the hatred of war.
Our Scripture reading today highlights a seemingly impossible command: “Be perfect . . . as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Jesus sets before us the ideal of perfect love, God’s standard that we must always strive for. God knows that we often tend to demonize our enemies. But he wants us to see humanity in them, to overcome evil with good, and to wear down hatred by showing love.
As we walk in Christ, we are surrounded by all kinds of people. We must remember that we are called to love not only our friends but also our enemies.
Lord, in the bright light of your perfection we see our imperfections. Fill us with your Spirit, that we may learn how to love others, even our enemies. In Jesus, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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