圣诞节之二

看见你的救恩

——路加福音二章三十节

对自己饱经忧患的民族的忧伤，曾如此沉重地压抑过西面的心。对神的救恩的来到，老人不知等待过多少漫长的岁月。但当耶稣来到圣殿，尽管还是抱在父母怀中的婴儿，西面的心情感到被释，感到安然。因为他终究在未死之前看到了主所立的基督，看到了主的救恩。

这正是主的仆人应有的心。为神的家，有过忧伤，有过压抑；而当救恩与安慰来到时，感到安然，感到被释。我们曾否有过对教会而不只是对个人的忧伤？曾否有过对教会而不只是对个人的救恩的等待？而当主耶稣已经来到他自己的圣殿，我们的双目是否已经睁开？双手是否已经伸出？

主啊，求你的灵感动我们进入“圣殿”，开我们的眼得见你的救恩，使我们双手伸出接待已经来到的主。

Christmas 2

Luke 2:30

         For mine eyes have seen thy salvation

  Simeon’s heart was weighed down by the oppression of his people. Who can tell what long years this old man had waited for the coming of God’s salvation? Though Jesus was still an infant in his parent’s arms when he came to the temple, Simeon experienced a sense of release in his heart and a sense of peace. At long last, before he was called to rest, he had seen in Jesus Christ God’s salvation.

   All God’s servants should have hearts like this. If we have felt the distress and oppression of God’s people, then we should be able to experience a sense of release and inner peace when saving grace and consolation come. But have we ever felt distress on behalf of the church, and not just for ourselves? Have we waited for salvation, not just for ourselves, but for the church? And when Jesus came to his temple, were our eyes open wide? Were our hands stretched forth in anticipation?

  O God, grant that your spirit may move us to enter your temple. Open our eyes that we may see your saving grace, and stretch forth our hands to receive the Lord who has come.