《今日靈修默想》:「當感謝祂,稱頌祂的名。因為耶和華本為善,祂的慈愛,存到永遠,祂的信實,直到萬代。」(詩100:4-5)

默想一:作神子民的,為什麼要「感謝神,稱頌祂的名」?因祂不僅創造了天地萬物,還為人完成了救恩的工作。透過祂的創造,我們明白祂的智慧與能力;透過祂的救恩,我們明白祂的公義和慈愛;透過祂的啟示,我們明白祂的心意。我們對神的認識影響到我們對神的感恩,我們認識神多少,我們對神的感恩也多少。

默想二:快到2020的年底,回首看過去,你有什麼要「感謝神」的嗎?你可能會覺得工作不順、長年生病、事事倒楣、環境險惡、面對不公義時,如何感謝神?試著靜下心來,轉向耶穌基督,想到祂為您所作的:為您所犧牲的愛,為您所捨的命,為您所流的寶血,向您所顯的忍耐。想到神無限的大愛,你就會感動地像大衛王一樣,願在人面前「舉起救恩的杯,稱揚耶和華的名」(詩116:13)。

禱告:天父上帝,讚美祢!因祢是滿有恩典,有憐憫的神,且有豐盛的慈愛。祢所做的一切和祢容許發生的一切都在祢的美意裡。求祢開我屬靈的眼睛,使我看見祢的真實、美意和美善,從而發出真心的讚美。求祢教導我,靠袮每天過「常常喜樂,凡事謝恩」的生活。奉主耶穌寶貴的名禱告,阿們!

《Today’s spiritual meditation》:  “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psa 100:4-5)

Meditation one: As God’s people, why should “give thanks to God and praise His name”? Since He not only created the heaven and earth, He also completed the work of salvation for people. Through His creation, we understand His wisdom and power; through His salvation, we understand His righteousness and love; through His revelation, we understand His mind. Our knowledge of God affects our gratitude to God. How much we know God then how much we will be grateful to God.

Meditation two: Towards the end of 2020, looking back the past, do you have anything to “thank God”? You may feel that your work is not moving smoothly, you have been sick for year long, all things are clumsy, situations are dreadful, when facing injustice, how can you thank God? How about just calm down, turn to Jesus Christ, and think of what He has done for you: the love sacrificed for you, the life surrendered for you, the blood shed for you, the patience shown to you. Thinking of God’s infinite love, you will be moved just like King David, who is willing to “lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord” (Psa 116:13).

Prayer: God heavenly Father, praise You! Since You are a merciful and gracious God, and abundant in loving kindness. Everything You do and everything you allow to happen is in Your gracious will. Please open my spiritual eyes so that I can see Your truth, good pleasure, and kindness, so that I can bring forth my sincere praise. Please teach me, through You, to live a life of “rejoice always, in everything give thanks” every day. I pray in the precious name of the Lord Jesus, Amen!

Chinese