In all we do, let’s give thanks to God and honor Him.
我们做每一件事时,都当感谢尊崇上帝。
Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
无论做什么,或说话、或行事,都要奉主耶稣的名,藉着祂感谢父上帝。-歌罗西书3章17节
For many years, I’ve enjoyed the writings of British author G. K. Chesterton.  His humor and insight often cause me to chuckle and then pause for more serious contemplation. For example, he wrote, “You say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the play and the opera, and grace before the concert and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing; and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.”

多年来,我一直很喜欢阅读英国作家切斯特顿(G.K. Chesterton)的著作。他的幽默和洞察力常令我忍俊不禁,但随之会停下来认真地省思。例如,他曾写道:“你在餐前感恩,那是好的。但我在观赏戏剧和歌剧之前感恩;在音乐会和哑剧之前感恩;在我看书、写生、画画、游泳、击剑、拳击、散步、下棋、跳舞之前都会感恩;甚至在我把笔沾上墨水之前,也都感恩。”
It’s good for us to thank the Lord before every meal, but it shouldn’t stop there.  The apostle Paul saw every activity, every endeavor as something for which we should thank God and that we should do for His glory. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Recreation, occupation, and education are all avenues through which we can honor the Lord and express our gratefulness to Him.
在每次用餐之前都感谢上帝的恩典,那是好的,但不应仅此而已。使徒保罗也要我们为所做的每件事情、每份努力感谢上帝,并为荣耀祂而行,正如他说:“无论做什么,或说话、或行事,都要奉主耶稣的名,藉着祂感谢父上帝”(歌罗西书3章17节)。无论是在休闲娱乐、工作或学习时,我们都可以尊崇上帝,并表达我们对祂的感谢。
Paul also encouraged the believers in Colossae to “let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (v. 15).
保罗也鼓励歌罗西的信徒,说:“又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主,你们也为此蒙召,归为一体;且要存感谢的心。”(15节)
The best place to “say grace” is anywhere and anytime we want to give thanks to the Lord and honor Him.
当我们要感谢尊崇上帝时,任何地方,任何时候,都是感恩的最佳时机。
Thank You for Your gift of life eternal. May we acknowledge and honor You throughout this day.
上帝啊,谢谢祢赐给我们永生,求你帮助我们能一整天都感谢尊崇祢。
Colossians 3:12-17 NIV
3 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
歌罗西书 3:12-17 
3 所以,你们既是神的选民、圣洁蒙爱的人,就要存怜悯、恩慈、谦虚、温柔、忍耐的心。 13 倘若这人与那人有嫌隙,总要彼此包容,彼此饶恕;主怎样饶恕了你们,你们也要怎样饶恕人。 14 在这一切之外,要存着爱心,爱心就是联络全德的。 15 又要叫基督的平安在你们心里做主,你们也为此蒙召,归为一体;且要存感谢的心。 16 当用各样的智慧,把基督的道理丰丰富富地存在心里,用诗章、颂词、灵歌彼此教导,互相劝诫,心被恩感歌颂神。 17 无论做什么,或说话或行事,都要奉主耶稣的名,借着他感谢父神。
INSIGHT

灵粮透视

Could anything make whatever we do better? When the apostle Paul wrote to readers in Colossae, he described an alternative to any and all attitudes that are harmful to us and others (Colossians 3:5–10). In his letter to the Philippians he uses the word whatever as he describes his personal accomplishments. Whatever he once considered gained, he now considers loss for the sake of Christ (Philippians 3:7). For reasons he never expected, he found a way to move on to something better than his own efforts to be seen as a good, moral, and religious person.
有什么方法能让我们无论什么事都能做得更好的吗?当使徒保罗写信给歌罗西教会的信徒时,他提到了一种方法,可以帮助我们挪去一切对我们或对他人有害的态度(歌罗西书3章5-10节)。在保罗写给腓立比教会的书信中也提到,无论过去他有多少成就,或是以前他认为对他有益的事物,现在因基督的缘故都当作有损的(腓立比书3章7节)。在保罗出乎意料地与主相遇之后,他找到了能让自己变得更好的方法,远胜过以前他靠自己的努力,让自己看起来善良、高尚和敬虔。
Many of us know the story behind Paul’s change. After an unforeseen encounter with the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:1–6), he thought differently about anything and everything. Seeing the failure of his own efforts, he learned to live by the grace of God. By relying on the presence of Jesus, Paul discovered the means by which any of us can live with divine help and thankfulness in anything and everything worth doing.
我们许多人都知道保罗转变的过程。他与复活的基督相遇之后(使徒行传9章1-6节),对一切事情的看法就不再一样了。他看到以前靠自己的努力是完全失败的,并开始学习倚靠上帝的恩典。靠着耶稣的同在与大能,保罗找到了生活的秘诀,我们每个人也能像他一样,在一切当做的事上,心怀感恩地倚靠上帝的帮助来生活。
What will we face today that will give us a chance to see and say “grace” in whatever we encounter?
今天,有什么事能让我们有机会经历且宣扬上帝的恩典呢?
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