9月30日靈修禱文|DEVOTION

Psalm 23:2

In Phillip Keller's book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23", he talks about how it is really difficult to make sheep lie down because they are such an active livestock. In order for sheep to lie down, they need four conditions to be in place:
1. Freedom from danger (ie: predators)
2. Freedom from social tension (ie: aggression from other members of the herd)
3. Freedom from parasites and other pests
4. Freedom from hunger

Even though it is difficult to achieve these perfect conditions, there is one thing that supercedes these four conditions, and that is the presence of the shepherd. When the shepherd is present, the sheep have learned to place their complete trust and confidence in the shepherd, and they can find peace in his presence. Because of this calming presence, the shepherd is able to "make the sheep lie down in green pastures".

As sheep under the care of our Master Shepherd, Jesus Christ, are there things in your life which are causing you unrest? It might be dangers like Covid 19. It might be social tensions like relational conflicts with friends for family members. It might be parasites and pests, like the sins and temptations that steal our joy and contentment. Or it might be our hungers, like our desires for more money, power, or material possessions. Whatever is causing you unrest, place them before your Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and trust Him to make you lie down and find peace and rest.

Dear Jesus, Thank you for being my good and kind shepherd. I know that whatever trials and tribulations I am going through right now, whatever it is that is causing my spirit unrest, I know that I can come to you to find total rest. Help me to trust you completely with every aspect of my life. You are the king of the universe. You are the Alpha and the Omega. From eternity past to eternity future, you are God. And yet, you love me enough and care about me enough to lead me beside still waters and to find rest in you. Thank you. I love you, and I place my trust fully in you. In your name I pray, Amen

Elder Gabriel Choi

詩 篇 23:2

在Phillip Keller的書“牧羊人看詩篇23”中，他談到了讓綿羊躺下是怎樣的困難，因為綿羊是如此活躍的家畜。為了使綿羊躺下，牠們需要具備四個條件：
1.免於危險（即：掠食者）
2.免於群居緊張（即：不受其他牧群成員的侵略）
3.免於寄生蟲和其他害蟲
4.免於飢餓

即使很難達到這些完美條件，有一件事情可以代替這四個條件，那就是牧羊人的存在。當牧羊人在場時，綿羊學會了給牧羊人完全信任和信心，牠們可以在牧羊人面前找到平安。因為這種平靜的存在，牧羊人能夠“使綿羊躺臥在青草地上”。

作為在我們的牧羊人耶穌基督照顧下的綿羊，你的生活中是否有引起你不安的事？可能是像新冠肺炎的危險，可能是社交緊張，例如與家人或朋友之間的關係衝突。可能是寄生蟲和害蟲，像罪孽和誘惑竊取了我們的喜悅和滿足感。也可能是我們的飢餓，像我們渴望獲得更多的金錢，權力或物質財富。無論造成你不安的原因如何，請將其放於你的牧羊人耶穌基督面前，並相信祂讓你躺下及找到平安與安息。

親愛的耶穌，
謝謝你成為我善良的好牧人。我知道我現在經歷的各種考驗和磨難，不管是什麼導致我的心靈不安，我都知道我可以來你面前找到完全安息。幫助我在生活的各個方面完全信任你。你是宇宙之王。你是完全的。從永恆過去到永恆將來，你都是神。 然而，你愛我和關心我足以帶領我走在安歇的水旁，並在你的身上找到安息。謝謝。我愛你，我完全信任你。
以你的名字祈求, 阿門

蔡基立 長老