随走随传——回中国之旅随感（二）

太10:7：“随走随传，说：天国近了。”

一提到传福音，许多人脑海中首先浮现出的是种种障碍：该怎么开口？该从哪讲起？会不会被拒绝？事实上，传福音从不是复杂的神学讲座，不是高深的文字艺术，更不是机械性的工作任务。它是生命的自然流露，是灵性上的活人向死人传递生命的信息，是一个“找着食物的乞丐告诉另一个乞丐哪里可以找到食物”。福音，是我们甘心乐意地向人诉说：耶稣基督为罪人钉十字架、并从死里复活，为要拯救像你我这样无望的人。
        今年暑假回国，我的传福音理念有四个字：“随走随传”（太10:7）。不是靠技巧，不是靠策略，而是凭信靠圣灵的引导、存祷告的心，随时随地与人分享基督。我发现，这种“随走随传”的实践，主要体现在三个层面：
一、为所遇的人祝福：关心，是福音的起点
        曾听傅凯彬牧师挑战我们：“你们是否真的对人感兴趣？若你对人不感兴趣，那就该向神悔改。”这话我至今记得。确实，若我们不真心关心人，又怎能关心他/她是否得永生呢？
        我已有八年没回中国了。从上海入境时，一位海关工作人员核对我的资料，我便亲切地与他攀谈：“你这份公务员工作挺不错啊！”他笑着回应：“我老婆是北方人，她家人一直觉得公务员挺稳定的。”离开前，我真诚地说了一句：“愿上帝赐福给你！”他愣了一下，随即回了句：“谢谢！”或许这是他人生中第一次，有人以“上帝”的名义为他祝福。谁会拒绝那来自上天的祝福呢？
       在中国坐出租车是常有的事，我也很享受与司机师傅的交流。有的司机情绪低落，满腹牢骚；有的则乐观开朗，心中阳光。一次，我刚上车便像老朋友般地问：“你今天过得怎么样？”那位师傅爽朗地说：“特别好啊！开心是一天，不开心也是一天，干嘛不开心呢？”我立刻回应：“你的心态太好了，跟我们基督徒很像！我们常说：凡事感恩。希望你有机会去教会认识上帝！愿主耶稣赐福你！”
        还有一次父亲节家人聚餐，场中有七位小朋友。我抓住时机带他们玩起“萝卜蹲”的游戏，最后还教他们齐声对在场所有父亲说：“父亲节快乐！愿耶稣赐福你们！”虽然当时在座的父亲们尚未信主，但那一刻，他们听见了“耶稣”这个名字，或许就在心中种下了福音的种子。耶稣的名字才是所有人真正蒙福的源头。

二、与人分享故事：讲出福音，让故事成桥梁
       人人都喜欢听故事。5月31日早晨，我在哈尔滨宾馆大厅读经时，注意到一位年轻员工在值班。我心中默祷后便与他攀谈起来。他说自己20岁，我便从这个年龄展开话题：“二十年前我第一次来到哈尔滨时，你还只是个刚出生的小宝宝呢……”我的故事是铺垫，耶稣的故事是重点。
       我讲到人生的方向与意义，向他介绍圣经如何指引我们的人生。我打开圣经，邀请他读一节经文：“你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光”（诗119:105）。他好奇地走过来，大声读了出来。随后我讲述上帝的爱、人类的罪、以及耶稣的救恩，并说明每一个人都需要耶稣。当我问他是否愿意让我为他做一个祝福的祷告时，他有些迟疑，最终以“还不太了解”为由婉拒了，但他愿意加我微信，他的名字叫韩雨桐。
       令我惊讶的是，一个在中国北方成长到20岁的年轻人，竟从未听过任何一位基督徒向他提起耶稣的名字。感恩的是，主让我成为他生命中第一个见证基督的人。我我为他祷告，求主继续差派第二个、第三个工人接续给他传讲，直到他归信基督。

三、领人归主：神动工，我们回应
       此次回国最奇妙的果子之一，是莎莎师母的表哥决志信主。6月15日，家人聚餐时，莎莎的父亲突然说：“春海，今天是礼拜日，你跟大家讲讲信主的事吧！”我便顺势分享基督的福音，并述说自己的蒙恩见证。表哥听得很认真，还提出不少问题。他这些年学业、工作、身体都屡遭挫折，对人生也多了不少困惑。
       第二个主日，我特意请弟兄姊妹在晨祷会中为表哥和大姑（表哥的妈妈）的得救代祷。主垂听祷告！主日清晨，大姑和表哥按时赴约，一起参加锦州市基督教堂的敬拜。聚会时我陪在他们身边，不住为他们的心祷告。当敬拜唱到“我们呼求你，阿爸父”时，表哥说：“不知为何，听了这歌，我想流泪，觉得有点尴尬。”我告诉他：“这是圣灵在感动你。你向神认罪、求耶稣掌管你的人生！”那天讲道的题目正是：“谁需要被拯救？”讲员提到“世人重今生，轻永生”时，表哥频频点头。散会后，我带他们去认识那间教会的牧师和教士，并建立起后续的牧养联系。
        离开锦州前一天我与莎莎再次探访表哥。我再次清楚传讲救恩，邀请他全心归主，并挑战他除掉一切有形与无形的偶像。我对他说：“我们可以奉耶稣的名，今天就帮助你清除所有偶像，但决定权在你。”他沉默了一会儿，说：“让我再考虑考虑。” 我们临走前祷告，当祷告一结束，他突然说：“好吧，今天你们帮我清除这些偶像，我愿意全心跟随耶稣了！”随后他翻箱倒柜，找出了观音像、佛像、十几串念珠、十多本佛教书籍，装满了三大袋子。我为他们家做了洁净祷告，把这些偶像全数处理干净，投入“环境卫生箱”。这是一个新生命开始的记号，让我们持续为他的信仰成长守望祷告。
       我们走到哪里，福音就要分享到哪里。传福音并非总意味着每次都能完整讲述四个属灵原则或讲完一篇布道。它可能只是一次简单的祝福、一段心灵的对话、一个生命的见证。重要的是，我们心中立定这个志向：凡遇见的人，若主感动我，就勇敢为主作见证。有些人，也许你为他撒种；有些人，也许你为他浇灌；一些人，也许主会让你亲眼见证他重生归主；还有一些人，你可以伴随他们在灵里一起成长、同做主的门徒。
       福音的大使命不是留给少数“专业传道人”的，而是主托付给每一个信徒的。若我们每一个人都能“随走随传”，那福音传到“地极”的距离就不再遥远。弟兄姊妹， “随走随传”，分享福音，让我们行动起来，直到主再来——神荣耀的国度降临！ 

Proclaim As You Go:
Reflections on My Trip to China (II)
Matthew 10:7 “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’”

        When evangelism is mentioned, many people immediately think of various obstacles: How          should I begin? Where should I start? What if I get rejected? In reality, sharing the gospel is not a complex theological lecture, nor is it a refined literary craft or a mechanical task to be completed. It is a natural outflow of life, a message of life from someone spiritually alive to those still dead in sin. It’s simply “one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” The gospel is our joyful declaration that Jesus Christ was crucified for sinners and rose from the dead, to save hopeless people like you and me.
       During my trip back to China this summer, one phrase defined my principle for evangelism: “Proclaim as you go” (Matt. 10:7). Not relying on techniques or strategies but trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit and maintaining a prayerful heart, I sought to share Christ with people anytime and anywhere. I discovered that this “proclaim as you go” lifestyle took shape in three primary ways:
 
1. Blessing Those I Encounter: Care is the Starting Point of the Gospel
       I once heard Pastor Fu Kaibin challenge us: “Are you truly interested in people? If not, you need to repent.” His words stayed with me. Indeed, if we do not genuinely care about people, how can we care whether they receive eternal life?
       I hadn’t returned to China in eight years. Upon arriving in Shanghai, a custom officer checked my information. I chatted warmly with him: “This government job (Pinyin: Gongwuyuan) of yours is quite good, isn’t it?” He smiled and replied, “My wife is from the North. Her family always thought civil service jobs were stable.” Before leaving, I said sincerely, “May God bless you!” He was taken aback for a moment, then replied, “Thank you!” Perhaps that was the first time in his life someone had blessed him in the name of God. Who would refuse a blessing from above with a warm heart?
      Taxis are a common means of travel in China, and I greatly enjoyed chatting with drivers. Some were discouraged and full of complaints; others were upbeat and cheerful. One time, as soon as I got in the car, I asked like an old friend, “How’s your day going?” The driver responded enthusiastically, “Great! “Whether you’re happy or not, it’s still a day — so why not be happy?” I replied, “What a great attitude—you remind me of us Christians! We often say: give thanks in all circumstances. I hope you’ll visit a church someday and get to know God! May the Lord Jesus bless you!”
       Another time, during a family Father’s Day dinner, there were seven children present. I seized the opportunity to lead them in a game and eventually had them all say aloud to the fathers: “Happy Father’s Day! May Jesus bless you all!” Though none of the fathers were believers yet, they heard the name of Jesus at that moment. Perhaps the seed of the gospel was planted in their hearts. The name of Jesus is the true source of all blessing.
 
2. Sharing Stories: Let the Gospel Ride on the Bridge of Testimony
        Everyone loves a good story. On the morning of May 31, while reading the Bible in the lobby of a hotel in Harbin, I noticed a young staff member on duty. After a silent prayer, I struck up a conversation with him. He told me he was 20 years old, so I used his age as a starting point: “The first time I came to Harbin was 20 years ago—you were just a new-born baby then…” My story was the setting while Jesus’ story was the focus.
        I talked about life’s direction and meaning and shared how the Bible gives us guidance. I opened the Bible and invited him to read a verse: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). He walked over curiously and read it aloud. I then spoke of God’s love, humanity’s sin, and Christ’s redemption, emphasizing that everyone needs Jesus. When I asked if I could pray a blessing for him, he hesitated and politely declined, saying he didn’t know much about it yet. But he did agree to add me on WeChat—his name is Han Yutong.
       What surprised me was that this 20-year-old young man, raised in northern China, had never once heard a Christian talk to him about Jesus. I’m grateful that the Lord allowed me to be the first to witness to him. I continue to pray that the Lord will send a second and third messenger to share with him until he comes to faith in Christ.
 
3. Leading Others to Christ: When God Moves, We Respond
        One of the most wonderful fruits of this trip was the conversion of Sister Shasha’s cousin. On June 15, during a family meal, Shasha’s father suddenly said, “Chunhai, it’s Sunday today—why don’t you share something about believing in Jesus?” I took the opportunity to present the gospel and shared my testimony. Her cousin listened intently and asked several questions. In recent years, he had faced setbacks in academics, work, and health, and was searching for deeper answers in life.
       The following Sunday, I asked brothers and sisters to pray during morning prayer for the salvation of both him and his mother. The Lord answered our prayers! That Sunday morning, both his mother (Shasha’s aunt) and he arrived punctually at the Jinzhou Christian Church (a registered public church). I stayed with them during the service, praying silently for their hearts. When the congregation sang “We call out, Abba Father,” he said, “I don’t know why, but I feel like crying… it’s kind of embarrassing.” I told him, “That’s the Holy Spirit touching your heart. Confess your sins and ask Jesus to take charge of your life!” That day’s sermon was titled “Who Needs to Be Saved?” When the preacher said, “People value this life and neglect eternal life,” he nodded repeatedly. After the service, I introduced them to the church’s pastor and minister to ensure follow-up care.
        The day before we left Jinzhou, Shasha and I visited him again. I shared the gospel clearly once more and invited him to fully commit to Christ, challenging him to remove all visible and invisible idols. I said, “We can help you clear them out today in Jesus’ name—but the decision is yours.” He was silent for a moment and said, “Let me think about it later.” Before we left, we prayed together. As soon as the prayer ended, he suddenly said, “Alright, today you can help me get rid of these idols — I’m ready to follow Jesus with all my heart!” He then began rummaging through his house, gathering up statues of Guanyin and Buddha, over a dozen prayer beads, and more than ten Buddhist books—three full bags in total. I prayed over their home for cleansing and disposed of all the idols in the public sanitation bin. That marked the beginning of a new life. Let us continue to intercede for his spiritual growth.
        Wherever we go, the gospel should go with us. Evangelism doesn’t always mean delivering a full gospel outline or preaching a full sermon. Sometimes it’s a simple blessing, a heartfelt conversation, or a personal testimony. What matters is that we resolve in our hearts: Whenever the Lord prompts me, I will bear witness to Him. For some, you may be the one who sows; for others, the one who waters; and sometimes, the Lord will allow you to witness a new birth into His kingdom; and there are also people with whom you can grow together spiritually and walk as fellow disciples of the Lord.
        The Great Commission was not given only to “professional preachers,” but to every believer. If each of us is willing to “proclaim as we go,” then the distance between here and “the ends of the earth” is no longer so far. Brothers and sisters, “proclaim as you go,” share the gospel—let us act, until the Lord returns and His glorious kingdom comes! 

探访林丽宏等
——回中国之旅随感之一

“我凡事给你们作榜样，叫你们知道，应当这样扶助软弱的人；又当记念主耶稣的话，说：‘施比受更为有福。’”（徒20:35）
“只是愿意我们记念穷人，这也是我本来热心去行的。”（加2:10）
         感谢主的丰富恩典，在2025年暑假，为我预备了一个月的回国机会。临行前，我特别请弟兄姊妹为旅程代祷，其中一项祷告是：“愿我在旅途中，能遇见主所预备的人。”5月29日，当飞机即将抵达哈尔滨的那一刻，我心中祷告寻求主：“主啊，在这座城市，我该去见谁？”那一刻，一个名字清晰地浮现在我脑海中——林丽宏。
        当天上午10:30，我和我母亲以及我女儿天心一起抵达哈尔滨机场。主的预备实在奇妙——我外甥在外地读研究生，原本没有计划当天回老家，但临时决定买票，也于上午11:30抵达同一机场。我们没有事先沟通，但神却奇妙地将我们的脚步安排在一起。对于九年未回国、对本地早已陌生的我而言，有熟门熟路的外甥做向导，真是再方便不过了。
        下午两点，我们一同前往探访丽宏姊妹。
         我认识林丽宏已经22年了。她比我年长两岁，出生时便没有双腿，行动全靠轮椅。2004年夏天，我在金陵协和神学院攻读研究生一年级时，曾和同校的徐建民弟兄（他当时是本科一年级）一同在暑期去探访她。徐弟兄曾在黑龙江哈尔滨万宝镇圣经学校就读三年，每个主日都把她背到自行车上，然后推着自行车带她去参加主日崇拜，风雨无阻。他毕业之后，圣经学校一批又一批神学生轮流肩负接送她去教会的任务。
         那是我第一次见到丽宏。她苦难的命运，以及她坚定与宁静的生命，使我当晚彻夜难眠。她的经历让我联想到神子民共同的遭遇：“你使人坐车轧我们的头；我们经过水火，你却使我们到丰富之地”（诗篇66:12）。
          丽宏的人生常让我想到一句西方谚语：“一个小女孩总是抱怨自己没有一双新鞋，直到有一天她遇见了一个没有脚的人。”丽红的生命深深教导我：不要为自己的境遇怨天尤人，而要心存感恩，知足常乐（提前6:6）。
         当年她与她母亲同住，几年前她母亲离世后，她一个人生活在大哥家的八楼公寓。如今再次见面，她依旧平静安详。当我们走进她的小屋，她睁着大大的眼睛，闪闪发光，满是惊喜，也带着些许泪光。她仍坐在轮椅上，却能自如地在屋中穿梭。我问她：“你还祷告和读经吗？”她坚定而平静地回答：“每天都有。”
          我又问：“还参加聚会吗？”她叹了口气说：“附近没有合适的教会，我只能偶尔参加网上微信群里的学习。”
         我关切地问：“那些我们熟悉的老朋友们还来看你吗？”她轻声道：“很少联系了，只有几位偶尔来过。”
         她把屋子收拾得整整齐齐。至于生活起居，她说：“我自己做饭，偶尔也叫外卖。当我们下楼时，门口有一道小门槛（或小台阶），轮椅不容易通过。我需要等到有人路过时请人帮我一下，才能过去。所以，我也很少出门。”
         我们短短相聚一个小时，但这段宝贵的时间不仅触动了我，也影响了天心与外甥。这次探访让我们更深体会“施比受更为有福”的真理，也在下一代心中播种了关愛与怜恤的种子。
         几天后，我在鹤岗老家，又与几位曾在黑龙江圣经学校毕业的学生重聚。我们的相聚唤起了他们拾回往事的夙愿。他们立刻决定一起重返母校，顺道再去探望丽宏姊妹，回顾当年主的恩典。
         6月6日至7日，我转往南京，也特别去探望了曾在神学院时期常常照顾学生的两位阿姨。那时每逢新学期，她们总会带着牙膏、毛巾等生活用品来关怀神学生们。如今，一位阿姨刚动完心脏手术正在康复中，另一位则在照顾住院的丈夫。我和我的另一位同学为她们献上祷告，求主的怜悯与医治常与她们相伴。
         回首这一路的探访之旅，我深深体会：许多曾在我生命中默默播种的信徒，是主特别赐下的恩典。他们虽然无名，却被神和人所纪念。他们用实际的愛心温暖了我，影响了我，使我学习了珍惜、感恩与回应。“受人滴水之恩，当以涌泉相报。”感恩，是属灵生命成熟的标志之一；探访，则是愛心的实践和恩典传递的工具之一。当我再一次注视丽红姊妹期许的眼神、再一次留意南京阿姨们脸上的微笑，再一次给她们一个温暖的拥抱时，我知道，这是主的安排，也是我们生命中一份无法抹去的托付。这份托付虽然简单，却不轻浮；虽然不会在人心中荡起巨大波澜，却可泛起一丝盼望的涟漪。那丝涟漪来自于约翰所说：“我们愛，因为神先愛我们”（约一4：19）的真实与厚重。

Visiting Lin Lihong & Others: 
Reflections from My Homecoming Trip, Part One

“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)
“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.” (Galatians 2:10) 
        I give thanks for the Lord’s abundant grace: in the summer of 2025, He prepared a month-long opportunity for me to return to China. Before departure, I especially asked brothers and sisters to pray—one key request being: “Lord, may I meet those You have prepared for me along this journey.” On May 29, as the plane was about to land in Harbin, I prayed in my heart: “Lord, whom should I go visit in this city?” In that moment, a familiar name came clearly to mind—Lin Lihong.
        That morning at 10:30, my mother, my daughter Tiffany, and I arrived at Harbin airport. God’s providence was remarkable—my nephew, now studying graduate school away from home, hadn’t planned to travel back that day. But on a sudden decision, he bought a ticket and arrived at the same airport at 11:30. Without prior coordination, our paths crossed through God’s divine orchestration. For someone like me, who hadn’t returned to China in nine years and had almost no familiarity with this place, having my nephew as a guide was truly a blessing.
        At 2 pm, we made our way to visit Sister Lihong.
        I have known Lin Lihong for 22 years. She is two years older than I am, born without legs, relying entirely on a wheelchair. In the summer of 2004, when I was in my first year of graduate studies at Nanjing Union Theological Seminary, I went with Brother Xu Jianmin (then an undergrad) to visit her at the Harbin Wanbao Bible School. Xu once studied for three years at the Bible School in Wanbao Town, Harbin, Heilongjiang. Every Sunday, he would carry her onto a bicycle and then push the bike to take her to the Sunday worship service, regardless of what the weather was. After he graduated, one group of Bible school students after another took turns carrying on the responsibility of bringing her to church.
       That was my first time meeting Lihong. Her suffering circumstances and her steadfast, calm faith moved me deeply, keeping me awake that night. Her life reminded me of the Lord’s people in Scripture: “You let men ride over my heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Psa 66:12)
        Her life also recalls a Western proverb in my mind: “A little girl kept complaining she didn’t have a new pair of shoes until one day she met someone with no feet at all.” Lihong’s life taught me never to pity myself—but to live with gratitude and contentment—for godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6).
        Back then, she lived with her mother. A few years ago, her mother passed away, and since then she’s been living alone in her older brother’s eighth-floor apartment. When I met her again this time, she remained peaceful and serene. As we entered her small apartment, her eyes were wide, bright with surprise, and there were tears in them. She still sat in her wheelchair yet moved freely about the room. I asked, “Do you still pray and read the Bible?” She replied firmly and calmly, “Every single day.”
          I asked again, “Do you still attend gatherings?” She let out a sigh and said, “There’s no suitable church nearby. I can only occasionally join some Bible studies in a WeChat group.”
I continued, “Do the friends we used to know still come to see you?” She replied softly, “Not often—only a few come now and then.”
        She had her place clean and tidy. When I asked about daily life, she said, “I cook for myself sometimes and get food delivery occasionally. But when I go downstair, there’s a little threshold (or step) at the doorway. The wheelchair can’t go over it easily. I have to wait for someone to pass by to help me. That’s why I rarely go out.”
         Our visit lasted a mere hour, yet those sixty minutes were precious—not only did they impact me, but they also touched Tianxin and my nephew. That visitation helped us grasp more deeply what it means that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” It planted seeds of compassion and care in the next generation from a young age in my daughter and my nephew’s life.
       A few days later, back in my hometown of Hegang, I reunited with several graduates of the Harbin Bible School. Our time together stirred up their longing for the past—and they immediately decided to return to the old Wanbao school campus together and pay a second visit to Lihong, remembering God’s gracious work in those days.
        From June 6 to 7, I traveled to Nanjing and made a special effort to visit two dear senior sisters who supported seminary students during my seminary years. At the start of each semester, they would often bring toothpaste, towels, and other small necessities to show their care for the students. Now, one has recently had open-heart surgery and is in recovery, while the other cares for her husband who is hospitalized. My classmate and I prayed fervently for their healing and for the Lord’s mercy to be with them.
       Looking back on these visits, I deeply realize: the many saints who once sowed quietly into my life are gifts from the Lord. Though unnamed, they are remembered by God and cherished by people. Their love, expressed in everyday actions, warmed my heart and taught me to cherish, to be grateful, and to respond. Gratitude is a sign of spiritual maturity; visiting others is a way to practice love and pass along divine grace. This time when I observed Sister Lihong’s expectant eyes, when I saw the tender smiles on the faces of the Nanjing senior sisters, and when I give them a warm hug, I know—this is God’s arrangement. It is a burden and a responsibility laid upon my heart, one that cannot be erased. This burden may appear simple, yet it is not trivial. It may not stir great waves among people—but it can produce gentle ripples of hope in lonely hearts. Those ripples come from the truth and depth of John’s words: “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).

操练感恩五

阅读经文：腓立比书 4:8-9

        如果你每天都操练感恩，你认为结果会是什么？

        圣经应许，看见日常生活中的美好会带来平安。

         “若有什么德行，若有什么称赞，这些事你们都要思念。你们在我身上所学习的、所领受的、所听见的、所看见的，这些事你们都要去行，赐平安的神就必与你们同在。”

                                                                                                                   （腓立比书 4:8-9）

        医学研究也证实了感恩与心理健康之间的联系。当受试者每天写下三件好事（Seligman 等人，2005年）、保持感恩日记（Kerr, O’Donovan 和 Pepping, 2014年），或写感恩信给他人（Toepfer 等人，2012年），他们的焦虑、抑郁以及生活满意度都有所改善。

        圣经和科学研究都证明，简单的感恩操练很有效。如果你想加深内心的平安和与神的关系，感恩是一个很好的起点。

操练：

        回想过去一周，哪种感恩操练最能带给你平安？是每天觉察三件好事？是在困境中找到感恩？是感谢他人？还是用感恩取代比较？

        无论哪种方式最有效，今天就开始操练吧。

        制定未来计划：你如何将感恩操练融入日常生活？

祷告：

         神啊，感谢祢赐给我的一切。请赐我一颗感恩的心，并让我与祢建立更深的关系。今日求祢赐我平安。阿们。

引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

  Practicing Gratitude, Part 5

 Scripture Reading: Philippians 4:8-9

          If you practice gratitude every day, what do you think the result will be?

          The Bible promises that seeing the good in daily life leads to peace.

          “If there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8–9).

         Medical studies confirm the link between gratitude and mental health. When test subjects wrote down three good things (Seligman et al., 2005), kept a gratitude journal (Kerr, O’Donovan, & Pepping, 2014), or wrote letters of gratitude to other people (Toepfer et al., 2012) all demonstrated improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction.

        The Bible and the scientific material both attest to the effectiveness of simple gratitude practices. If you want to deepen your level of peace and your relationship with God, gratitude is a great place to start.

Practice:

        Reflect on the past week. Which practice of gratitude gave you the most peace? Was it noticing something good three times a day? Finding gratitude in something hard? Thanking another person? Replacing the urge to compare with gratitude for what you have right now?

Whichever discipline most helped you to experience gratitude, make that your practice today.

       Make a plan for the future: How can you build a practice of gratitude into your daily life?

Prayer: God, thank you for all that you’ve given me. Please give me a grateful heart and a deeper relationship with you. Grant me peace today. Amen.

       If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions

Quote: Called To Work dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com,Mon, Mar 17, 4:33 PM. 

操练感恩四

阅读经文：诗篇 16:5-6，出埃及记 20:17
        当你试图激起感恩的火焰时，“比较”就像一桶冷水把它浇熄。
        “比较”意味着看着别人拥有的，然后衡量它比自己的是好还是差。这是如此危险，以致第十诫特别警告我们不要这样做：“不可贪恋人的房屋；也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴，并他一切所有的。”（出埃及记 20:17）
        “比较”会破坏两种关系：你与神的关系，以及你与他人的关系。当你嫉妒别人或试图胜过别人时，就无法完全地爱他们。同样地，当你认为神对你不公平时，也难以爱神。
       当你忍不住拿自己与他人比较时，把这个念头转为感恩的祷告。诗篇第16篇是一个好例子：“耶和华是我的产业，是我杯中的分；我所得的，你为我持守。用绳量给我的地界，坐落在佳美之处；我的产业实在美好。”（诗篇 16:5-6）
         诗人承认神是他一切供应的源头，并宣告神赐给他的一切都是美好的。这正是对抗“比较”的解药。

操练：
         回想你上一次与别人比较自己或自己所拥有的是什么时候。
         为那人所蒙的祝福感谢神。
         为神赐给你的人生样貌感谢祂。
         今天，当你发现自己在比较，列出神在这方面赐给你的祝福。
         今晚睡前进行一次“比较盘点”：我是否嫉妒任何人？我是否需要对神说：“谢谢祢赐给我所拥有的一切”？

祷告：
         神啊，感谢祢为我设下生活的边界。感谢祢赐给我所拥有的一切。求祢成为我对抗嫉妒和不满的见证。阿们。
引自：https://zh-hant.theologyofwork.org/devotions/practicing-gratitude

Practicing Gratitude, Part 4

Scripture Reading: Psalms 16:5-6, Exodus 20:17
       When you’re trying to fan your flame of gratitude, comparison douses it like a bucket of ice water.
       Comparison means looking at what someone else has and thinking about how much better or worse it is than what you have. It’s so dangerous that the 10th commandment warns against it. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17).
       Comparison sabotages two relationships at the same time: your relationship with God, and your relationship with other people. You can’t fully love others when you’re jealous of them or trying to outperform them. And you can’t love God when you think maybe God has given you a bad deal.
       When you feel the urge to compare your lot in life with someone else’s, replace that thought with a prayer of gratitude. A good example comes from Psalm 16. “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.” (Psalm 16:5–6).
        The writer of the psalm acknowledges God as the source of his provision. He declares that what God has given him is good. This is an antidote to comparison.

Practice:
       Think about the last time you compared yourself to someone else or compared what you have to what someone else has.
       Thank God for blessing that person.
       Thank God for your lot in life – exactly the way it is right now.
       Today when you notice yourself making a comparison, make a list of the good things that God has blessed you with in this area.
       Before you go to bed tonight, do a comparison inventory. Ask yourself: Am I jealous of anyone else? Do I need to say “thank you, God” for what I have?
Prayer: God, thank you for setting boundaries around what is mine. I am grateful for the lot you’ve given me. Be my proof against envy and unhappiness. Amen.

Further Exploration: Read this reflection on loving other people without jealousy .

Quote: Called To Work dcrandall-keeptouch.com@shared1.ccsend.com,Mon, Mar 10, 9:06 AM