「我的心哪,你要稱頌耶和華 … 他用美物使你所願的得以知足,以致你如鷹返老還童。」 - 詩 103:1, 5
✟ 靈修
今天是新一年第一個月的最後一天了,對我們很多人來說,這一年,也許不過和往年一樣,是個「老樣子」,因為新年新開始的承諾已破碎,新年大計維持不住,而新的希望也變得渺茫了。
然而,新意不是來自新的一年,也不會因為到了一年的終結而老去的。主耶穌基督已經把一切變成新的了,所以,我們天天都能經歷豐足和生機勃勃的新意。年日會過去,但主的話卻永遠長存。
在伯利恆安頓下來後,路得並沒有追尋任何新鮮或令人興奮的事,仁慈正直的波阿斯收納了她,她便完全投入,與家人和與神共度她的一生。靠著神自有永有和活潑的道,她仍然充滿活力和生氣,直至她離世的日子。哈曼死後,末底改被提升坐在王的右邊,以斯帖也不用再因哈曼的惡行而擔憂了,她洞悉神在她生命中的時機和旨意而勝過敵人,現在她可以安安樂樂地生活了。
智慧邀請我們享用那些能使我們生命不斷更新的食物;愚昧雖默許偷來的甜美食物,但這些東西只會帶來苦毒並令我們感到無盡的衰老。讓我們在神的智慧裡享用吃喝,不斷得更新吧!
✟ 禱告
神啊,我們讚美禰,禰有無限的恩典,又賜我們各樣的美物,我們為禰的慈愛感謝禰。奉耶穌的名祈求,阿們。
✟ 經文 箴言9:1-6, 13-18
智慧建造房屋,鑿成七根柱子, 宰殺牲畜,調和旨酒,設擺筵席; 打發使女出去,自己在城中至高處呼叫, 說:誰是愚蒙人,可以轉到這裡來!又對那無知的人說: 你們來,吃我的餅,喝我調和的酒。 你們愚蒙人,要捨棄愚蒙,就得存活,並要走光明的道。 愚昧的婦人喧嚷;她是愚蒙,一無所知。 她坐在自己的家門口,坐在城中高處的座位上, 呼叫過路的,就是直行其道的人, 說:誰是愚蒙人,可以轉到這裡來!又對那無知的人說: 偷來的水是甜的,暗吃的餅是好的。 人卻不知有陰魂在她那裡;她的客在陰間的深處。
✟ Same Old, Same Old?
"Praise the LORD, my soul ... who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s". — Psalm 103:1, 5
✟ Devotion
We』ve reached the last day of the first month of this new year. It’s possible that, for many of us, this year may already be 「the same old thing」 as years before—with promises of new beginnings dashed, resolutions faltered, and hopes receded.
But newness does not come with a new year; nor does it age by the last day of an old year. Satisfying and refreshing newness is ours every day through the Lord Jesus Christ, who makes all things new. Days and years will pass, but the Word of the Lord is forever.
Once settled in Bethlehem, Ruth did not look for anything new or exciting; she was embraced by the kindness and integrity of Boaz, and she immersed herself in living out her days with her family and with God. The ancient, living Word of God kept her young and refreshed till the day she died. After Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion to the king’s right hand, Esther too was done with the anxiety and evil of Haman’s persecution. It was good to rest in the victory gained by discerning God’s timing and will in her life.
Wisdom invites us to eat what refreshes and keeps us ever new; folly winks at stolen sweetness, which only embitters and binds us to perpetual old age. Take, eat, and drink from the wisdom of God, and be ever new!
✟ Prayer
We praise you, O God! Your grace is limitless, and you provide every good thing for us. Thank you for your love. In Jesus, Amen.
✟ Scripture Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 「Let all who are simple come to my house!」 To those who have no sense she says, 「Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.」 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 「Let all who are simple come to my house!」 To those who have no sense she says, 「Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!」 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
製作:每日箴言 (普世佳音靈修事工)
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誦讀:楚雲; 片頭:張妙陽