西面的信心

西面的信心
聖經閱讀：路加福音2:25-35 現代中譯本|合和本
2013年1月20日(日)

上帝曾應許以色列人說祂會差派一位拯救者給他們，因此，多年來他們不斷地等待再等待那位拯救者的來臨。 　一個名叫西面的人等待著上帝差派那位拯救者。西面住在耶路撒冷，他已經很老了，他最渴望的一件事就是看見上帝賜下的拯救者。聖靈告訴西面，在沒有看見那位拯救者前，他不會死去。 　有一天，聖靈帶領西面去到聖殿，當他在那裡時，正好約瑟和馬利亞將嬰孩耶穌帶來獻給上帝。聖靈告訴西面，耶穌就是那位上帝應許的拯救者，然後，「西面把孩子抱在懷裏，頌讚上帝說：主啊，你已實現了你的應許；如今可讓你的僕人平安歸去。」（第28-29a節）。 　聖經告訴我們，有一天我們也能見到耶穌。當我們等候耶穌的同時，我們必須順服、跟從上帝，並且向人傳講耶穌。—DJH* 「看哪，他駕著雲來了！每一個人都要看見他，連槍刺他的那些人也要看見他。他來的時候，地上萬民要為他悲傷痛哭。這事必然發生！阿們。」 啟示錄1:7 禱告：天父，我們期待永遠與祢同住天堂的日子。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (SDL譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Simeon’s Faith
Bible Reading: Luke 2:25-35
Sunday, January 20, 2013

God promised the Israelites that He would send them a Savior. They waited and waited many years for the Savior to come. 　A man named Simeon was waiting for God to send the Savior. Simeon lived in Jerusalem. He was very old. The one thing that Simeon wanted most of all was to see God’s Savior. The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Savior. 　One day the Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple. While he was there, Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to dedicate Him to God. The Spirit told Simeon that Jesus was the promised Savior. “Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God: ‘Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant, die in peace as you said’” (verses 28-29a). 　The Bible tells us that we, too, will see Jesus someday. While we are waiting to see Jesus, we need to obey and follow God and tell people about Jesus. —DJH* “Look, Jesus is coming with the clouds! Everyone will see him, even those who pierced him. All peoples of the earth will cry loudly because of him. Yes, this will happen! Amen.” Revelation 1:7 PRAYER: Father, we look forward to when we live with You forever in heaven. In Jesus’ name. Amen.