“也要坚守我们所承认的指望,不至摇动,因为那应许我们的是信实的。” – 来 10:23
盼望(hope)不是一厢情愿的想法,就像我们说“我希望(hope)今天不要下雨”或“我希望你考满分!”时往往就是这个意思。在基督里的盼望,是建立在信实的神的应许上,祂向我们显明了祂的爱,并呼召我们相信,我们将永远与祂同住。
公元一世纪的耶稣基督的教会正处在艰难时期,约翰知道基督徒的盼望会被动摇。希伯来书的作者也指出,基督徒的盼望会受到挑战。但在耶稣里,我们的盼望必不致动摇,直到永远。“我们既因耶稣的血得以坦然进入至圣所……(就)要坚守我们所承认的指望,不至摇动,因为那应许我们的是信实的”(来 10:19-23)。耶稣“用他的宝血使我们脱离罪恶”,祂呼召我们存着充足的信心,在主的日子——祂再来的日子——临近时,在信仰群体中彼此坚守。
为什么我们有这样的信心?因为通过耶稣为我们赎罪所流的宝血,我们得了神的宽恕,没有什么能使我们与祂的爱隔绝(罗 8:39)。
祷告
耶稣,感谢你为我们打开通往天父上帝的道路,为我们提供每一天所需要的平安、力量和信心。阿们。
启示录 1:5b-7;希伯来书 10:19-25
5并那诚实作见证的、从死里首先复活、为世上君王元首的耶稣基督,有恩惠、平安归于你们!他爱我们,用自己的血使我们脱离罪恶,
6又使我们成为国民,做他父神的祭司。但愿荣耀、权能归给他,直到永永远远!阿们。
7看哪,他驾云降临,众目要看见他,连刺他的人也要看见他,地上的万族都要因他哀哭。这话是真实的,阿们。
19弟兄们,我们既因耶稣的血得以坦然进入至圣所,
20是藉着他给我们开了一条又新又活的路,从幔子经过,这幔子就是他的身体;
21又有一位大祭司治理神的家,
22并我们心中天良的亏欠已经洒去,身体用清水洗净了,就当存着诚心和充足的信心来到神面前。
23也要坚守我们所承认的指望,不致摇动,因为那应许我们的是信实的。
24又要彼此相顾,激发爱心,勉励行善。
25你们不可停止聚会,好像那些停止惯了的人,倒要彼此劝勉;既知道那日子临近,就更当如此。
Hope
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” — Hebrews 10:23
Hope is not wishful thinking, as we tend to imply when we say things like “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” or “I hope you get a perfect score!” Hope in Christ is founded firmly on the promises of the faithful God who has shown his love for us and calls us to trust that we will live with him forever.
The church of Jesus Christ in the first century A.D. was facing difficult times, and John knew that the hope of Jesus’ followers would be shaken. The writer of Hebrews also indicated that the hope of believers in Christ would be challenged. But in Jesus we have the One on whom our hope can be fixed for all eternity. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Jesus, who “freed us from our sins by his blood,” calls us to be confident and to hold on with each other in the community of faith as the day of the Lord approaches—when he will come again.
Why do we have such confidence? Because through Jesus’ blood, poured out as payment for our sins, we are forgiven by God, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love (Romans 8:39).
Prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for opening the way to God the Father for us, providing the peace, strength, and confidence we need for each day. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳