God is always near in spite of our fears.
虽然我们心中惧怕,但上帝就在身边。
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
求祂按着祂丰盛的荣耀,藉著祂的灵,叫你们心里的力量刚强起来。-以弗所书3章16节
Spiders. I don’t know any kid who likes them. At least not in their rooms . . . at bedtime. But as she was getting ready for bed, my daughter spied one dangerously close to her bed. “Daaaad!!!!! Spiiiderrr!!!!!” she hollered. Despite my determination, I couldn’t find the eight-legged interloper. “He’s not going to hurt you,” I reassured her. She wasn’t convinced. It wasn’t until I told her I’d stay next to her top bunk and stand guard that she agreed to get in bed.
我想应该没有小孩会喜欢蜘蛛,特别在临睡前,看见房间里出现了蜘蛛,应该都会感到害怕。一天晚上,我女儿正预备就寝时,发现一只蜘蛛就在她床边上。她大声惊叫:“爸爸,有蜘蛛!”可是,不管我再怎么找,就是找不到这只八脚的入侵者。我只好安抚女儿说:“它不会咬妳啦!”但她根本听不进去。直到我答应待在她的床铺旁边守着她,她才愿意躺下睡觉。
As my daughter settled in, I held her hand. I told her, “I love you so much. I’m right here. But you know what? God loves you even more than Daddy and Mommy. And He’s very close. You can always pray to Him when you’re scared.” That seemed to comfort her, and peaceful sleep came quickly.
女儿进了被窝,我握着她的手,对她说:“我很爱妳,我就在这里。但妳知道吗?上帝比爸妈更爱妳,而祂就在妳身边。当妳害怕的时候,可以随时向祂祷告喔!”她似乎得到安慰,很快便安然入睡。
Scripture repeatedly reassures us God is always near (Psalm 145:18; Romans 8:38–39; James 4:7–8), but sometimes we struggle to believe it. Perhaps that’s why Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus to have strength and power to grasp that truth (Ephesians 3:16). He knew that when we’re frightened, we can lose track of God’s proximity. But just as I lovingly held my daughter as she went to sleep that night, so our loving heavenly Father is always as close to us as a prayer.
虽然,圣经不断提醒我们,上帝常在我们身边(诗篇145篇18节;罗马书8章38-39节;雅各书4章7-8节) ,但有时我们却不易相信。或许正因如此,使徒保罗会为以弗所的信徒祷告,期盼他们能刚强起来、持守真理(以弗所书3章16节)。保罗深知,当人害怕的时候,往往忘记上帝就在身边。然而,就像那晚女儿临睡前,我慈爱地握着她的手一样,只要透过祷告,你就能知道爱我们的天父也是如此亲近。
Lord, thank You for always being close by us. 
Please give us strength and power in our hearts 
to remember You are always near us,
You love us deeply, and we can always call out to You. 
主啊,感谢祢常与我亲近。
求祢在我们心中赐下力量与大能,
好让我们记得祢就在身边。

祢深爱我们,我们可以随时向祢呼求。

Ephesians 3:14-19New International Version (NIV)

3For this reason I kneel before the Father,15 from whom every familyin heaven and on earth derives its name.16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,18may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

以弗所书 3:14-19

3因此,我在父面前屈膝,15 天上地上的各家,都是从他得名,16求他按着他丰盛的荣耀,借着他的灵,叫你们心里的力量刚强起来,17 使基督因你们的信住在你们心里,叫你们的爱心有根有基,18 能以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深,19并知道这爱是过于人所能测度的,便叫神一切所充满的充满了你们。

INSIGHT

Today’s passage describes the overflowing riches of God’s grace, which is accessed through the Holy Spirit. God’s love is infinite and therefore beyond our understanding, but the Spirit enables our comprehension. Life-transformation is in view when we are told to be “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19); spending time with God transforms how we live. Experiential knowledge of the God of grace should flow over into what we say, think, feel, and do. Life is filled with ever-changing circumstances that may cause joy, sadness, satisfaction, or stress. But no matter what we experience, God is always near.
What are you struggling with now? How does the immeasurable love of Christ and God’s never-ending presence encourage you?

灵粮透视

今天阅读的经文描述的是上帝丰丰富富的恩典,这是我们藉着圣灵便可得到的。上帝的爱没有限量,因此远超出我们的理解,但圣灵能帮助我们明白。上帝的灵会使我们“被充满,得着上帝的一切丰盛”(以弗所书3章19节,新译本),让我们的生命得到改变。花时间亲近上帝,会改变我们的生命。当我们亲身经历了这位满有恩典的上帝,我们的言语、心思、意念和行为就会有所改变。人生的境遇并非一成不变,可能会带来快乐、悲伤、满足或压力。但无论我们正面对什么处境,上帝总在你我身旁。
你正面对什么困难?基督无法测度的爱和上帝时刻的同在,如何让你得着激励?
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