对今日诗句的想法
接下来的几天里，让我们与约瑟、玛利亚同行，感受他们所经历神不可思议的恩典。这几节经文给我们一些背景：他们从家乡南下，来到伯利恒，大卫的城。他们已经“订婚”或者说已经起誓婚约，然而还未完婚。玛利亚怀着孕，他们去向罗马政府报名上册。整个过程伴随着诡计与谣言。从应许到成就，强烈地暗示了其中的联系。在经历风暴的过程中，信心得以展现。一个真实的历史故事，在罗马帝国的人口普查中诞生。谣言、应许、信心与历史相互碰撞，主耶稣在我们每个人都经历的环境中降临——一个希望与梦想被留言与失望所损毁的世界。他将成为一个民族的弥赛亚。在其降生以前我们就知道这一点，这使我们对他的爱与感激更深。神选择作为我们中的一员来到世间，而非某些遥不可及的外星人。这位就是我们能够触及并跟从的弥赛亚。这位耶稣是我们中间的一员。
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
For the next few days, let's journey with Joseph and Mary as they experience the incredible grace of God. These verses give us the basics: they took a trip south from their home, they went to Bethlehem which was King David's city, they were "betrothed" or pledged in marriage but not yet fully married, Mary was pregnant, and they were going there to register with the Roman government. Intrigue and scandal ripple between the lines of this straightforward account. Promise and fulfillment are strongly suggested with the connection. Faithfulness through the midst of storm is demonstrated. A real historical context for everyday people is made with the presence of a Roman census. Scandal, promise, faithfulness, and history collide. Jesus enters our world very much in a place where we find ourselves — a place of hope and dreams marred by scandal and disappointment. He will be a people's Messiah. We know it before he is even born. It makes us love him and appreciate him more. God has chosen to enter our world as one of us, not as some pristine and untouched alien from beyond. This is a Messiah we can reach and follow. This Jesus is one of us.
我的祷告
圣洁、慈爱的神啊，感谢你赐下主耶稣。感谢主耶稣来到我们混乱的世界——矛盾、嘲弄与冲突。感谢你未曾疏远或不顾我们的挣扎。我为主耶稣感谢赞美你！奉主耶稣之名祈求，阿们！
My Prayer...
Holy and loving God, thank you for the gift of Jesus. Thank you that he entered our messy world with all its contradictions, ironies, and conflicts. Thank you for not being aloof or immune to our struggles. Thank you for Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
