賽42: 以神的警告、責備和懲罰及審判的警告為結束。神看見百姓的悖逆,然而在43: 我們看見的是神的憐憫和恩典。神兩次對百姓說:“不要懼怕”,同樣地,祂也兩次提到 “我與你同在”。從字裡行間,神表達了對以色列百姓最深沉的愛,祂提供了以色列百姓所需要的救贖和不改變的愛。
照樣,我們這些蒙神所造,本來是悖逆神,與祂為敵的罪人,理應得到神的審判和懲罰, 然而因為神對我們的愛,我們得到了救贖,神的憐憫在基督裡臨到我們身上。雖然在人生的道路上會有艱難,我們是屬祂的,祂看我們為寶為尊。祂愛我們就愛我們到底。主耶穌救贖了我們,祂也應許,在世上有苦難,但祂已經勝過了世界。我們可以不用懼怕,因祂與我們同在。所以我們可以放心將自己交主手裡。感謝主,神的救恩不但是涉及將來我們永恆的問題,也是關乎我們今生生命和生活可以經歷永生,過得勝的生活。
願我永記自己在主裡的身分,在主愛裡珍惜祂的同在,過一個得勝的生活。
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從去年的12月初開始,到現在的4月底,新冠病毒依然在全球肆虐。工廠停工,學校停課,全世界人民都如同在深水中行走,不知道前面等待的是什麼,而那些不幸染上新冠肺炎的病人正經歷著溺水般的掙扎。
“你從水中經過,我必與你同在。” 每當我讀到以賽亞書的這段經文時,心中就充滿了喜樂和盼望。聖經一再告訴我們,上帝應許與我們同在,無論我們是生是死,祂都會看顧引導,永不離棄我們。
人會出爾反爾,上帝卻永不食言。蕭瑟的大地已經一片翠綠,明媚的陽光照耀著初開的花朵,我看見上帝在動工。終有一天病魔會退去,人們重新歡樂地相聚在一起。
感謝讚美神!
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神愛祂的百姓,看祂的百姓為寶為尊。神應許與祂的百姓同在,從深水火焰中經過。
今日全世界受到病毒的威脅,求主叫病毒止住;讓凡稱為祢名下的人平安度過這次危機。好叫祢的名在萬民中得著榮耀、稱讚,好叫世界得知祢的道路,萬國得知祢的救恩。
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When the people of Judah were wounded and desperate, facing enemies and feeling helpless. And Isaiah predicted that one day the Judah people would also be consumed by Babylonia. They really needed a God who could help, rescue and not forsake them. But when the people heard God’s assurance: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (Isaiah 43:5). Whatever happened to them they would endure, He would be with them. He would “pass through the waters” with them, leading them to safety. He would “walk through the fire” with them, helping them through the scorching flames.
What an assurance they got from God to care for them, guide them, and never forsake them-whether in life or death. Even when we find ourselves in difficult places, God is with us. He’ll help us pass through the waters. Particularly when we are in the pandemic crisis, He will carry us through this rough time.
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