《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:來到2019的年底,回首看看過去,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,賺錢不夠用,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、祢容許發生的一切都在祢的美意裡。求祢開我屬靈的眼睛,讓我看見祢、認識祢,以致我看見祢的美善時,使我從心發出讚美。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》: “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: Why, as children of God, should “give thanks to Him and praise His name “? It is because He not only created all things, but also accomplished the work of salvation for all 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 will. Our understanding of God affects how much we give thanks to God. How much we know God, and then how much we are grateful to God.
Meditation two: As the year of 2019 is approaching toward the end and looking back, do you have anything to “Thank God”? You may feel that your work is not smooth, you have been ill often, have bad luck, are in deficit, then how can you thank God? Try to calm down and turn to Jesus Christ. Think of what He has done for you: for the love He has sacrificed for you, the life He has laid down for you, the blood He has shed for you, the patience He has shown to you. Think of God’s infinite love and you will be moved like King David in the presence of all his people to “lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psa 116:13).
Prayer: God Heavenly Father, praise You! For You are a gracious God, merciful, and abundant in kindness. Everything you do, everything you allow to happen, is in your wonderful will. Open my spiritual sights, let me see You and know You so that I can see Your goodness and make me praise You deep from my heart. Teach me to live a daily life of “rejoicing always, in everything giving thanks”. I pray in the precious name of the Lord Jesus, Amen!