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http://www.urbanvoicechurch.com/

Urban Voice, 3520 S. Morgan Street, Chicago, IL (2026)

05/29/2026

先死而後生的群體 (2026.05.30)
今日讀經: 馬太福音 16:21-28

「凡要救自己生命的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得著生命。」 - 太16:25
你有沒有做過牙齒根管治療呢？我自己就試過三次，從中對這治療增加了一點常識。牙醫會用細小的鑽頭清除感染牙齒中的所有毒素，一直深入到牙根。隨後他便把洞填補好，把牙齒完全修補妥當，牙齒就不會再痛了。
基督徒的生命每日也應遵從這個模式去活。我們降服在耶穌面前，就是「死而後生」—把我們的罪、創傷、和所有的包袱交給衪，好讓衪藉著聖靈賜給我們新的生命。這個過程遠比根管治療複雜得多，而結果確實為人帶來一生的改變。
神呼召我們，藉著喪掉生命來得著生命，其實是相當難做到的，這並非我們與生俱來的本能。然而，在這個月裏，當我們思想「美妙的生命之道」這個主題時，我們發現，先死而後生是一個喜樂、感恩，和恩典的旅程。
在一個以敬拜為題的講座中，作家Marva Dawn說：「在敬拜聚會之前，想像一下，若每一個信徒都禱告說：『主啊，求你使用這個敬拜，讓我看見自己應當怎樣為你死掉。』結果會怎樣？」
當我試着這樣想像時，我看到了聖靈的果子—仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、良善、信實、節制等等—在神的群體中蓬勃生長，因為毒素已被清除了！這是一個先死而後生的的群體所結的果子。
禱告
耶穌啊，感謝你邀請我與你共享豐盛的生命。在我進入與你同行的生活時，求你幫助我看到，你要在哪些地方來潔淨我。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Dying to Live
Scripture Reading — Matthew 16:21-28

“Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” — Matthew 16:25

Have you ever had a dentist do a root canal on one of your teeth? I’ve learned a few things from having three root canals done. With a tiny drill the dentist cleans out all the toxins in an infected tooth, right down to the roots. And then the dentist refills all the drilled-out areas to restore the tooth to pain-free wholeness.
The life of Christian discipleship aims to follow that pattern every day. To surrender to Jesus is to “die to live,” giving over to him our sin, our wounds, and all our baggage so that he may refill us with new life through the Holy Spirit. It’s much more complex than a root canal, and the results are literally life-changing.
The call to find our lives by losing them is a bit hard to grasp, though. This doesn’t come naturally to us. But as we reflect on this theme this month, we will see that dying to live is a journey of joy, gratitude, and grace.
In a talk she gave on worship, author Marva Dawn said, “Imagine if every believer prayed before a worship service, ‘Lord, please use this worship to show me again how to die for you.’”
I did try to imagine it, and I pictured communities in which the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, self-control, and more—could grow in abundance as toxins were cleaned out. That’s the fruit of a community that is dying to live.

PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for inviting me into full life with you. Help me to see what you need to clean out as I live with you. Amen.

05/28/2026

奇妙的受造和再造 (2026.05.29)
今日讀經: 詩篇 139

「我們稱謝你，因我受造奇妙可畏。… 神啊，求你鑒察我，… 看在我裏面有甚麼惡行沒有，引導我走永生的道路。」 - 詩 139:14, 23-24
詩篇139提醒我們，儘管我們每一個人都是上帝美妙的創造，我們心裏仍然有需要對付的惡行。
創世記第三章描述，雖然人類墮入罪中，卻依然以造物主寶貴的創造這身分活著，但同時也需要從罪和破碎中得到救贖。因著神對我們偉大奇妙的愛，祂差遣獨生子耶穌基督到來，為我們償還罪債，賜我們永遠與衪同在的新生命。如今神的靈住在我們裏面，引導我們學像耶穌，引導我們「走永生的道路」。
使徒保羅這樣描述：「現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裏面活著。」（加拉太書 2:20）而這話，是聖經其中一段最清晰講及「死而後生」的話。
我們的受造（和再造），是多麼奇妙可畏，而這個事實引發出聖經中一些最榮美的宣告，就如這一段：「惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬神的子民，要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。你們從前算不得子民，現在卻作了神的子民；從前未曾蒙憐恤，現在卻蒙了憐恤。」（彼得前書 2:9-10）
禱告
聖父、聖子、聖靈，我們為你的創造和救贖獻上感謝。求你繼續鑒察我們，引導我們走永生的道路。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Wonderfully Made—and Remade
Scripture Reading — Psalm 139

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . . . Search me, God. . . . See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. — Psalm 139:14, 23-24
These verses from Psalm 139 remind us that while each one of us is a beautiful creation of the Lord, there are also offensive ways inside us that need to be dealt with.
After the fall into sin (described in Genesis 3), we human beings continue to live as precious works of the Creator while also needing to be redeemed from sin and brokenness. So in his great and amazing love for us, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin and to give us new life forever with him. And now the Spirit of God lives in us, guiding us to become like Jesus. He leads us “in the way everlasting.”
The apostle Paul describes it this way: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20), giving us one of the clearest statements in the Bible about dying to live.
The fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—and remade—leads to some of the most glorious announcements in Scripture, like this one: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).
PRAYER
Thank you, Father, Son, and Spirit, for your gifts of creation and redemption. Continue to search us and to lead us in your way everlasting. Amen.

05/27/2026

在神的居所中同被建造 (2026.05.28)
今日讀經: 以弗所書 2:13-22

「你們也靠他同被建造，成為神藉著聖靈居住的所在。」 - 弗 2:22
一個晚上，當我們的查經小組結束時，我突然意識到自己多麼有幸，能夠見証到耶穌在這房間每個人的生命和心靈中作工。我們這個小組的成員都是非常平凡的人：一位脾氣古怪的退休教師、一位掙扎以維持生計的藝術家、一位沮喪的年輕人，還有其他人，以及我太太和我自己。而我們也正在學習適應領養了三個小孩的生活。真的嗎？這就是耶穌居住的地方嗎？
我領悟到，就在我們平凡甚至軟弱的人生中，閃亮了耶穌同在而帶來的光芒。那位脾氣古怪的教師可能是很沒耐性和好挑剔人，但在這易怒的外表下，卻是一顆善良的心—她原來正在為幾個有需要的神學院研究生繳交學費。那位藝術家雖拙於言詞，但她的畫筆卻善於傳情達意。那位小時曾遭受虐待的年輕人，在這裏找到一個安全的地方，讓自己可以放聲的痛哭。
信徒能靠著基督同被建造，成為神居住的所在，這是在基督裏的一個美妙的奧秘！當衪的兒女奉衪的名聚集一起時，這位隨己意創造無數星宿的宇宙主宰便與他們同在！在我們一團糟的生命中，耶穌就與我們同在。衪曾對使徒保羅這樣說：「我的恩典夠你用的，因為我的能力是在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」（哥林多後書 12:9）當神在我們中間居住時，這樣的能力就能顯明出來了。
禱告
主啊，你豐盛的恩典在我們的的軟弱上顯得完全，你又以這恩典住在我們中間和在我們裏面，我們感謝你。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Where God Lives
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:13-22

In him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. — Ephesians 2:22
As we wrapped up a small group Bible study one night, I suddenly realized I had been privileged to see Jesus in the lives and hearts of each person in the room. Our little group was beautifully ordinary: a cranky retired schoolteacher, a struggling artist, a discouraged young man, others, and my wife and I, who were navigating our way with three young adopted children. Really? This is where Jesus lives?
I realized that it was in the ordinariness and even the weaknesses of our shared lives that the presence of Jesus shone through. The cranky schoolteacher could be impatient and critical, but beneath her crustiness shone a heart of gold that quietly paid for several needy students to study at a Christian graduate school. The artist stumbled with her words but spoke eloquently with her paintbrush. The young man, who had been abused as a child, had found a safe place to weep openly about his wounds.
The fact that believers in Christ are being built together into a dwelling in which God lives is one of the great mysteries of life in Christ. The Lord of the universe, who flung countless galaxies into being, is present as his children gather in his name! Jesus stands with us in the messiness of our lives. He once said to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That’s the kind of power that shows up when God makes his dwelling among us.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for dwelling among and in us with your abounding grace that is made perfect in our weaknesses. Amen.

05/26/2026

祂使我靈魂重新得力 (2026.05.27)
今日讀經: 詩篇 23

「他使我躺臥在青草地上，領我在可安歇的水邊。」 - 詩 23:2-3
多年前我參加了一個退修會，其中有一個項目，是要求我用三個小時以詩篇23篇來禱告。我焦慮的心頓時感到慌亂。但在這種慌亂的感覺之後，我真的用了三個小時，重新體會這這篇珍貴詩篇中恩典的力量。
我發現我向來都視神為一個監工，彷彿祂主要的目標是要確保我會盡全力為祂作工。但事實卻剛剛相反，詩篇宣告耶和華是我的牧者—牧者的願望是要我的靈魂甦醒！
這種甦醒蘊含著兩大祝福。
首先，牧者知道生活會讓我身心俱疲。生活常常令人困惑。我必須做出各種各樣的決定。我嘗試去愛人，卻弄得一團糟；我制定計劃，卻往住事與願違。我每天都要應付令我感到焦慮、疲勞，和失望的境況。我的靈魂需要不斷被滋養，我的大牧者深知這一點，祂一直在我身旁與我同行。
其次，我的大牧者知道我需要青草地和可安歇的水邊。美妙之處，就是我們每個人的青草地和水邊都可能是截然不同的。然而大牧者認識你，多過你認識自己，祂必定會領你到最合適你的地方，讓你得到滋養。
而當我順服大牧者的引領時，祂必定帶我到一個令我困苦疲乏全消、生命重新得力的地方。
禱告
生命的牧者，求你幫助我看見你領我前往的青草地和可安歇的水邊，又叫我的靈魂重新得力。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Refreshing Shepherd
Scripture Reading — Psalm 23

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. — Psalm 23:2-3
Years ago on a retreat, I was instructed to spend three hours praying Psalm 23. My anxious heart panicked. But after getting over the initial shock, I spent three hours rediscovering the power of grace in this precious psalm.
I realized that I had always seen God as a taskmaster, as if his main goal was to make sure I was doing enough for him. Instead, Psalm 23 declares that the Lord is my shepherd—and the shepherd’s desire is to refresh my soul!
There are two powerful blessings in this refreshing.
First, the shepherd knows that life beats up my soul. Life is often confusing. I have to make all kinds of decisions. I try to love people, and I mess up. I make plans, and they often fall apart. Every day I deal with situations that leave me feeling anxious, weary, and discouraged. My soul needs constant refreshing, and the shepherd knows this so well that he walks right alongside me.
Second, the shepherd knows I need green pastures and quiet waters. The beauty here is that these pastures and waters can be different for all of us! Your green pastures and quiet waters may be different from mine. But the shepherd knows you better than you know yourself, and he will lead you to the right places for refreshment.
When I surrender to his leading, God takes me to places where weary exhaustion begins to die, and life is refreshed.
PRAYER
Shepherd of life, help me see the green pastures and quiet waters you are leading me to, and restore my soul. Amen.

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

05/25/2026

以神為中心的生命 (2026.05.26)
今日讀經: 詩篇 115:1-8

「造〔偶像〕的要和它一樣，凡靠它的也要如此。」 - 詩 115:8
我通常會列好數份「待辦事項」清單，每一份都是對應我生活不同方面的需要。其中有「工作」、「家居維修」、「教會」… 等等。我發覺這些清單一方面幫助我好好處理生活事情，但另一方面，也能扭曲了我的生活，甚至扭曲我自己。
在今天所讀的詩篇中，作者指出，當我們在生活中建立偶像時，我們就會變得像偶像一樣。神對我們是（應該是）最重要的，我們生命中若有什麼事務比神更重要，它們可能就成為我們的偶像。
當我的清單變得過於重要時，我把世界上所有的人事物都看成是清單上需要劃掉的一個任務。這種心態真的扭曲了愛神、愛鄰舍和關懷有需要的人的真正意義。如果他們只是我的清單上的一個項目，我根本就不是真的愛和關懷他們。就像寫在沒有深度的紙面上的清單，我也開始變成一個膚淺和沒有深度的人了。
在我們生活中，有無數「事物」向我們招手，彷彿在說：「看！注意我！我會令你快樂的。」但它們都是在欺哄你。金錢和財產令我們的心轉向「冷漠無情的現金」；追求情慾把人和人際關係降格為瞬間的快感；遵守所有「正確」的規條，把我們變成按律例批判人的奴隸—而上帝希望我們得到的是靈裏的自由。
惟有以神為中心，我們才能找到真正和豐盛的生命。
禱告
主啊，求你幫助我看到我生命中的偶像和被扭曲的地方，又賜我恩典和智慧去丟棄它們，好讓你成為我生命中唯一的中心。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

God at the Center
Scripture Reading — Psalm 115:1-8

Those who make [idols] will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. — Psalm 115:8
I generally have several “to do” lists, and each one deals with a different area of my life. There’s a “work” list, a “home maintenance” list, a “church” list, and so on. I find these lists helpful for managing my life. But I’ve also found that these lists can easily distort not only my life but also me.
The psalmist says that when we set up idols in our lives, we become like them. An idol can be anything in our lives that becomes more important to us than God is (or should be).
When my lists become too important, I see everything and every person in my world as a task that needs to be crossed off the list. That really distorts the meaning of loving God and my neighbor and caring for people in need. If all they are is an item on my list, I am not loving or caring for them at all. And just as lists are written on two-dimensional sheets of paper, I begin to become a shallow, two-dimensional person.
There are hundreds of “things” that call out to us, saying, “Look! Pay attention to me! I’ll make you happy.” But they are all lying. Money and possessions turn our hearts toward “cold, hard cash.” Sexual pursuits reduce people and relationships to fleeting pleasures. Following all the “right” rules makes us judgmental slaves to a law when God wants us to have spiritual freedom.
We can find true, full life when God alone is at the center.
PRAYER
Lord, help me see the idols and distortions in my life, and grant me the grace and wisdom to cast them aside so that only you are at the center of my life. Amen.

05/24/2026

被煉淨步向完全 (2026.05.25)
今日讀經：約翰一書 3:1-3
「我們知道，主若顯現，我們必要像他，因為必得見他的真體。」 - 約一 3:2

慷慨地施與（Lavish）這個字在聖經中出現次數極少，而當約翰一書3章用了這個字時，是很令人注目的。那裏說：「你看父給我們是何等〔慷慨地施與〕的慈愛！…。」這正是我們得救的開端：源於上帝那勢不可擋和恩典滿溢的愛。
接著，使徒約翰比較了我們的現在（我們是神的兒女！）和將來（我們必要像他，因為必得見他的真體）。他所描述的是一個已經完成的工程，就是神在我們心裏成全的善工（腓立比書 1:6）。我們如今「彷彿對著鏡子觀看，模糊不清」，但當我們見到祂的真體時，我們便會像衪的了。（哥林多前書 13:12）
約翰繼續說：「凡向他有這指望的，就潔淨自己，像他潔淨一樣。」耶穌就是那一道橋，要把現今神慷慨地施與我們的愛，以及衪回來時我們像衪一樣的兩者連接起來—這是上帝定意要把我們帶回家的愛。我們的盼望並非妄想，這盼望乃是活潑的，能潔淨人心的。正如上帝的靈要燒毀我們一切的污穢邪惡，這盼望會激動我們降服在上帝潔淨的靈火之下。
惟願我們能養成一個好習慣，反省每一天的日子，把它交給神，又這樣禱告說：
禱告
主啊，求你以你潔淨的靈火燒毀我身上那些傷害羞辱你和別人的地方，又幫助我在那些事上死，好叫我能活出真正和滿有耶穌的完美的生命。主啊，我為你在我裏面動了的善工感謝你，求你不斷天天潔淨我。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Purified as We Move Toward Perfection
Scripture Reading— 1 John 3:1–3

“We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” — 1 John 3:2
The word “lavish” appears only rarely in Scripture, so its use in 1 John 3 stands out: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us….” This is how our salvation begins—with God’s irresistible and overflowing love.
John then contrasts our present (“we are God’s children!”) with our future (“we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”). What he describes is a work brought to completion—the good work that God is accomplishing in us (Philippians 1:6). For now, “we see only a reflection as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12), but when we see Him as He is, we shall be like Him.
John continues, “All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.” Jesus is the bridge that connects the love God has so generously lavished on us now with the reality that we will be like Him when He returns. This is the love of God, determined to bring us home. Our hope is not wishful thinking; it is a living hope that purifies the heart. As the Spirit of God burns away all impurity and evil within us, this hope moves us to surrender under His purifying fire.
May we cultivate the habit of reflecting on each day and offering it to God, praying:
PRAYER
Lord, by Your purifying fire, burn away all in me that dishonors You and harms others. Help me to die to these things, so that I may live out a life that is truly and fully like Jesus. Lord, I thank You for the good work You have begun in me. Please continue to cleanse me day by day. Amen.

05/24/2026

讓我們一起尋求和敬拜這位與我們同行的上帝！
Chicago 10 AM
Hong Kong 11 PM
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05/21/2026

在不斷犯錯中邁向天國 (2026.05.22)
今日讀經: 腓立比書 2:1-13

「就當恐懼戰兢，做成你們得救的功夫。因為你們立志行事，都是神在你們心裏運行，為要成就他的美意。」 - 腓 2:12-13
在我教書的第一年，我遇到一個高中生，她一定要把作業做得十全十美，否則情願不交。她是一個既聰明又勤奮的學生，但最後她這門課卻不合格，因為她欠交的作業實在太多了。我便約了她和她的媽媽傾談，討論這令她陷於癱瘓的完美主義。接著我們便安排她以自修的方式重修這一門課，結果她以優異成績通過了。
談到跟隨耶穌，我們也很容易陷入類似的完美主義。我們內心深處會有一個聲音告訴我們，如果我們沒有完美地跟隨耶穌，我們就是在犯罪。然而，我們需要棄絕這些傾向，因為即使我們是因著耶穌的犧牲而得蒙拯救，我們仍會一生繼續與罪搏鬥的。儘管我們並不總是清楚去做神引導我們去作的事，但我們必須相信，神必定會繼續在我們生命裏作工的。
舉例說，我太太和我參與了安置難民的事工，有機會認識來自世界各地不平凡的人，我們為此感到興奮和榮幸。但我們卻是「恐懼戰兢」地參與這事工，因為我們並不是專家，我們需要不斷學習不同的文化和跨文化的交流技巧。即便如此，當我們在建立新的友誼中仍會不斷犯錯時，我們的新朋友總是以寬容和感激之情接納我們。
禱告
主啊，為著你與我們這些不斷犯錯的人同行，我們感謝你。求你平靜我們的恐懼戰兢，又藉著我們把你的愛傳給別人。奉耶穌祈求，阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Stumbling Toward the Kingdom
Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:1-13

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. — Philippians 2:12-13
In my first year of teaching I had a high school student who refused to hand in any work unless it was perfect. She was a bright and dedicated student, but she failed the course because so much work was not handed in. I sat down with her and her mother, and we discussed her paralyzing perfectionism. Then we made arrangements for her to retake the course as an independent study, and she passed with flying colors.
It can be easy for us to fall into a similar perfectionism in following Jesus. A voice within us can convince us that if we are not following Jesus perfectly, we are sinning. We need to die to tendencies like that because we will continue to struggle with sin even though we are already saved through Jesus’ sacrifice for us. We have to trust that God will continue to work in us even though we aren’t always sure how to do what God is leading us to do.
For example, my wife and I help with a refugee resettlement ministry, and we have been excited and honored to meet amazing people from all over the world. But we work at this with some “fear and trembling” because we are not experts and we keep learning about different cultures and intercultural sensitivity. Even so, as we stumble our way into new relationships, our new friends have always received us with grace and gratitude.
PRAYER
Thank you, Lord, for walking with stumblers like us; steady our fear and trembling, and work through us to bring your love to others. In Jesus, Amen.

05/20/2026

變成一個小孩子 (2026.05.21)
今日讀經: 馬太福音 18:1-5

「我實在告訴你們，你們若不回轉，變成小孩子的樣式，斷不得進天國。」 - 太 18:3
耶穌說我們需要「變成小孩子的樣式」，這是甚麼意思呢？在今天所讀的經上中我們看到一個線索。耶穌當時是在回答「天國裏誰是最大的？」這個問題，而衪這樣說：「凡自己謙卑像這小孩子的，他在天國裏就是最大的。」
在記載耶穌和門徒的事蹟的幾本福音書中（馬太、馬可、路加、約翰），我們發現門徒時常都在爭論誰為大；他們似乎是相當好勝逞強的一群人。他們是按人的領導力、知識、權力、影響力等等，來衡量誰最偉大。
因此耶穌是在告訴祂的門徒，他們需要改變對偉大的看法。他們需要降卑像小孩子那樣。跟從耶穌的人需要棄絕他們自私的野心，並且明白到，就像小孩子依賴父母和照顧他們的人那樣，我們今天的需要和前面的人生，是完全依賴上帝的。
以下這個看法很有意思。一個六十多歲的男士這樣說：「上週，我四歲的孫子說他長大後想當消防員。我回答說：我長大後，希望做一個四歲的小孩子。」我的孫子睜大眼睛，滿臉好奇地看著我。
你最近有沒有瞪大眼睛，以好奇的目光環顧上帝創造的世界呢？每當我聽到耶穌的呼召，叫我們變成小孩子時，我都渴望我能夠有這樣的眼光。
禱告
主啊，在我們嘗試天天為你而活時，求你賜我們小孩子的謙卑和好奇的心。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Growing Up to Become a Child
Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:1-5

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 18:3

What does Jesus mean by saying we need to “change and become like little children”? One clue we have here is that Jesus is responding to the question “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And he replies, “Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
In the books about Jesus and his disciples (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), we find that the disciples often argued over which of them was greatest; they seem to have been a competitive group. And they were thinking of greatness in terms of leadership, knowledge, power, influence, and other things.
So Jesus is telling his disciples that they need to change their attitudes about greatness and become lowly and humble like little children. Jesus’ followers need to die to their selfish ambitions and realize that, just as little children depend on parents and caregivers, we are all totally dependent on God for all our needs and future living.
Here’s another thought. A man in his sixties said, “Last week my four-year-old grandson said he wanted to be a firefighter when he grew up. I replied, ‘And when I grow up, I want to be a four-year-old boy.’ My grandson stared at me with wide, wondering eyes.”
Have you looked around at God’s world with “wide, wondering eyes” lately? That’s something I long for when I hear the call to change and become like a little child.
PRAYER
Lord, please give us the humility and wonder of a child as we seek to live for you each day. Amen.

05/19/2026

宣告自由的敬拜 (2026.05.20)
今日讀經: 路加福音 4:14-21

「主的靈 … 用膏膏我，叫我傳福音 … 報告神悅納人的禧年。」 - 路 4:18-19

我偶爾會在一所高度設防的監獄裏和一群信徒一起敬拜。上帝恩典的福音深深觸動了他們。在敬拜中，經常有人見證自己的生命如何被改變。至於講道，既風趣又嚴肅，能一矢中的，直達人心。而敬拜的時刻，由一群精於音樂的監獄樂隊帶領，他們的歌聲充滿感情，甚至洋溢著激情。這裏有來自不同種族的敬拜者聚集一起，同心禱告、讚美、並得到牧養。
今日所讀的路加福音4章的經文，讓我想起了那個群體。儘管這些參與敬拜的人，很多都是被判無期徒刑的，然而當我想到耶穌「報告被擄的得釋放」這句話時，我知道他們真的得釋放了！他們的眼中閃爍著感恩的目光，他們放聲讚美，彼此伸出雙手，真切地表達著聖徒之間的團契。
每次敬拜結束時，這個群體的人都會手牽手圍成一個大圈，齊聲歌唱：「朋友，願你在我們主救主的恩典和知識上有長進。願榮耀歸與神 …。」
當我思索為何那裏的敬拜給我如此豐盛的感覺，我不禁想到經文中「報告神悅納人的禧年」這句話。我乍然明白了我一向太容易响往「令我悅納」的敬拜，現在卻從那群監獄裏的聖徒中我學到了何謂真正的敬拜—活出耶穌宣告的自由和新生命。監獄中的弟兄們，感謝你們教我學會了！
禱告
耶穌啊，你宣告神悅納我們，並伴隨而來的獲得自由的新生命，我們感謝你。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Signs of Hope
Scripture Reading — Luke 4: 14-21

“The Spirit of the Lord . . . has anointed me to proclaim good news . . . and . . . the year of the Lord’s favor.” — Luke 14: 18-19

Sometimes I worship with a congregation in a maximum security prison. The good news of God’s grace moves powerfully and deep in that congregation. The worship often includes testimonies of changed lives. The preaching hits straight to the heart, mixing humor with seriousness. The singing is passionate, even boisterous, led by the musically skilled jailhouse band. Worshipers from every race come together in unity to pray, praise, and be ministered to.
These verses from Luke 4 remind me of that community. And while many of the worshipers there have life sentences, as I think about Jesus’ words “to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,” I realize that these worshipers are truly free! Their eyes shine with gratitude, their voices let loose in praise, their hands reach out to one another in tangible expressions of the communion of saints.
Every worship service ends with the community forming a large circle, holding hands, and singing, “My friends, may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. . . . To God be the glory. . . .”
Pondering why the worship blessings there are so rich, I am drawn to the phrase “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” I realize how easily I like worship to match “my favor.” And I have learned that the saints in that prison are my role models for worship, for living out Jesus’ declaration of free, new life. Thank you, brothers!
PRAYER
Jesus, thank you for proclaiming the Lord’s favor, and for the free, new life it brings. Amen.

05/17/2026

壓傷的群體 (2026.05.18)
今日讀經: 馬太福音 12:15-21

「壓傷的蘆葦，他不折斷；將殘的燈火，他不吹滅。…」 - 太 12:20
一位牧師分享他從他教會會眾所學到的—這群他每個主日講道牧養的人，往往是表裏不一致的。
就說，那坐在第六排正在微笑的女士，正切切擔憂她上週的醫療檢查，恐怕報告會發現她患了癌症。坐在她後面那對目無表情的父子，原來在來教會途中，一直在爭吵，火氣還未平息。另外，那坐在後排年邁的鰥夫，正在擔心自己這週沒錢吃飯。又，那坐在第三排、正在起勁地唱歌的女士，開始懷疑自己所唱的歌詞。
年輕時我以為世界上只有兩種人：正常的人和受創傷的人（壓傷的蘆葦）。後來，有一位導師告訴我，沒有一個人是正常的。
教會是壓傷的蘆葦和將殘的燈火組成的群體，教會裏常常都有假裝「事事妥當」的人。可是，沒有一個人的生活是完全沒有困難和掙扎的。
然而，謙卑作為僕人的耶穌，賜給我們盼望。祂說：「在世上你們有苦難，但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。」（約翰福音 16:33）
在教會裏我最喜愛的時刻，就是領受聖餐的時刻。在這刻，我從人們的眼神看到他們期待耶穌再來的那一天，祂將要「擦去他們一切的眼淚。不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛…」（啟示錄 21:4）。主啊，願你快來！
禱告
主啊，我們是壓傷的蘆葦、將殘的燈火。你以你的憐憫和恩典看顧我們，我們感謝你。阿們。

Thanks to thisistodays.org / chinesetodays.org 每日箴言

Community of Bruised Reeds
Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:15-21

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not s***f out. . . .” — Matthew 12:20
A church pastor shared what he had learned about the community he preached to every Sunday. He had learned that appearances can be deceiving.
The smiling woman in the sixth row was terrified that the medical tests she had last week would show that she had cancer. The father and son sitting expressionless behind her had argued on the way to church, and both were still fuming. The elderly widower toward the back worried that he would not have money for food that week. A woman singing heartily in the third row was no longer sure she believed the words she was singing.
When I was younger, I thought the world had two kinds of people: normal ones and hurting ones—bruised reeds. Later a counselor taught me that there are no normal people.
Churches are communities of bruised reeds and smoldering wicks. Often there are folks in churches who pretend to “have it all together,” but no one’s life is free of trouble and struggle.
Yet Jesus, the Servant, gives us hope! “In this world you will have trouble,” he says, “But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Some of my favorite times in church have been celebrations of communion, when I have seen in people’s eyes a longing for the day when Jesus will return and “wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. . . .” (Revelation 21:4). Lord, come quickly!
PRAYER
Lord, we are bruised reeds, smoldering wicks. Thank you for tending us with your care and grace. Amen.

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