《聖誕靈修默想二》:「不要懼怕!我報給你們大喜的信息,是關乎萬民的。因今天在大衛的城裡,為你們生了救主,就是主基督。」(路2:10-11)

默想一:基督的降生為什麼是『大喜的信息』?因為那是關乎萬民的喜樂,不僅在人類歷史上已經發生的事,而且與每一個人有關的。神為了拯救世人,就道成肉身成為人來到我們的世界。若基督的降生只是給人一時的狂歡,那就太沒什麼意思,人到頭來還是回到空虛、愁苦、不安的世界裡。

默想二:,假如主耶穌沒有降生,這世界會怎麼樣?這個假設不只是關係到你我的存在,也關係到整個世界的命運。如果耶穌只是虛構的故事,基督徒在世界上是最虛偽的團體,也是世界上最可憐的、最沒有盼望的人。但感謝主,基督的降生正表明了神愛世人的心腸。只有耶穌基督才能賜下真平安、真喜樂、真盼望。沒有耶穌基督的聖誕節,是空洞而無意義的節日。

禱告:主耶穌,感謝祢道成肉身降世為人。祢本來富足,卻為我們成了貧窮,叫我們因祢的貧窮,可以成為富足(林後8:9)。求祢幫助我,不僅歡慶祢的來到,我願意把關乎萬民的大喜信分享給人。讓他們同享救恩之樂後,也會見證「在至高之處榮耀歸與神,在地上平安歸與祂所喜悅的人。」(路2:14)奉耶穌寶貴的聖名祈求。阿們!

《Christmas spiritual meditation 2》:  “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luk 2:10-11)

Meditation one: Why is the birth of Christ a “good news that will cause great joy”? Because it is a joy for all the people, not only has already happened in human history, but also been relating to everyone. In order to save the world, God became flesh and came into our world. If the birth of Christ was just a momentary carnival, it would not mean much. In the end, people would fall back into a world of emptiness, sadness, and anxiety.

Meditation two: If the Lord Jesus was not born, what would the world be like? This assumption is not only related to our presence, but also related to the fate of the entire world. If Jesus is just a fictional tale, Christians would be the most hypocritical group in the world, and the most pitiable and most hopeless people in the world. But thank the Lord, the birth of Christ clearly reveals God’s love for the world. Only Jesus Christ can give true peace, true joy, and true hope. Christmas without Jesus Christ will be a pointless and meaningless holiday.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for becoming flesh and coming into this world. Though You were rich, yet for our sake You became poor, so that through Your poverty we might become rich (2Co 8:9). Please help me, not only to celebrate your coming, but I am willing to share this great joyful message for all the people. After sharing the joy of salvation, they will also testify that “glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luk 2:14). I pray in the precious holy name of Jesus. Amen!

Chinese