12月23日
圣诞节的礼物
What’s in a Gift?
因有一个婴孩为我们而生……他的名称为奇妙、策士、全能的 神、永在的父、和平的君。
—— 以赛亚书 9:6
For unto us a child is born…and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
—Isaiah 9:6
对于基督徒而言,圣诞节的快乐绝不仅限于主耶稣的降生,更是在于祂的死亡和复活的得胜——这赋予祂诞生的意义。圣诞时分,我们胸臆中充溢着美妙感受的慷慨赠予, 正是主耶稣在加略山上舍身救赎的余晖折射。十字架的光芒辉映并且圣化了这个日子。 在我们互相交换礼物之际,让我们铭记这礼物象征着那无以言说的神的大爱。
我认为基督徒不应该给予彼此太贵重的礼物。我们只需要悄悄地赠送一些简朴的小礼物,以代表我们对礼物接受者的爱与奉献。毕竟这只是象征,象征着上帝的恩惠。如果我们能够认识到圣诞节的真正含义,那么每一年成千上万的基督徒家庭可以节省多少金钱来奉献到上帝的国度之中啊?
To Christians the joy of Christmas is not limited to His birth. It is built even more on the triumph of His death and resurrection—that gave meaning to His birth. The mysterious spirit of generosity which possesses us at Christmas is the afterglow of Calvary. The fact of the cross illuminates this day and hallows it. As we exchange our gifts, let us remember that they are symbolic of the unspeakable gift of God’s love.
I do not believe that Christians should be giving expensive gifts to each other. We should quietly give simple little gifts that are expressions of our love and devotion to the recipients. These gifts become symbolic of the gift of God’s love. How much money could be saved and invested in the Kingdom of God by thousands of Christian families every year if the true meaning of Christmas was observed.
今日祷告
慈爱的上帝,我的天父, 你赐给我们主耶稣这件礼物,让我看到祢对全人类那不可测度的大爱。我何等的赞美祢,敬拜祢!
Prayer for the day
Loving God, my heavenly Father, in Your gift of Jesus I see Your immeasurable love reaching out to all mankind. How I praise You and adore You!
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