“他必像牧人，牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，慢慢引导那乳养小羊的。” – 赛 40:11
以赛亚书40章对神的大能和威荣，有非常精彩和清晰的描述。我们可以观测的宇宙，从一边到另一边的距离，估计有450亿光年。然而，跟据以赛亚所说的，这只不过是如同神手掌的阔度而已。不过，以无限的神来与这个有限的宇宙相比 – 尽管宇宙也非常广阔 －终究是没有意义的。
尽管如此，当我们想到，全能的神用膀臂把衪的子民揽在怀里、就像牧人抱起羊羔那样，我们仍然倍受感动，想要去赞叹衪这份温柔的爱。我们知道神已把我们的名字写在衪的掌心上（以赛亚书 49:16）、衪怀抱我们时又会喜乐歌唱（西番雅书 3:17），我们从中所得到的安慰，是无法言表的。
今天，我们中间有些人需要经历来自我们这位神的温柔的安慰，读到并经历衪温柔慈爱看顾是一个良好的开始。然而，当我们以神待我们的温柔去待人时，人们便经历到神的温柔道成肉身在世界上了。
今天你可以用什么方式来以温柔待你周围的每一个人呢？
祷告
父啊，你是无限和全能的，我们却是渺小和软弱的。你用膀臂把我们抱起、爱护我们，赐福给我们。今天惟愿我们在你的爱里找到荫庇，又愿我们能够荫庇其他受创伤的人。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
以赛亚书 40:10-26
10主耶和华必像大能者临到，他的膀臂必为他掌权。他的赏赐在他那里，他的报应在他面前。
11他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，慢慢引导那乳养小羊的。
12谁曾用手心量诸水，用手虎口量苍天，用升斗盛大地的尘土，用秤称山岭，用天平平冈陵呢？
13谁曾测度耶和华的心，或做他的谋士指教他呢？
14他与谁商议，谁教导他？谁将公平的路指示他，又将知识教训他，将通达的道指教他呢？
15看哪，万民都像水桶的一滴，又算如天平上的微尘，他举起众海岛，好像极微之物。
16黎巴嫩的树林不够当柴烧，其中的走兽也不够做燔祭。
17万民在他面前好像虚无，被他看为不及虚无，乃为虚空。
18你们究竟将谁比神，用什么形象与神比较呢？
19偶像是匠人铸造，银匠用金包裹，为它铸造银链。
20穷乏献不起这样供物的，就拣选不能朽坏的树木，为自己寻找巧匠，立起不能摇动的偶像。
21你们岂不曾知道吗？你们岂不曾听见吗？从起初岂没有人告诉你们吗？自从立地的根基，你们岂没有明白吗？
22神坐在地球大圈之上，地上的居民好像蝗虫。他铺张穹苍如幔子，展开诸天如可住的帐篷。
23他使君王归于虚无，使地上的审判官成为虚空。
24他们是刚才栽上，刚才种上，根也刚才扎在地里，他一吹在其上便都枯干，旋风将他们吹去，像碎秸一样。
25那圣者说：“你们将谁比我，叫他与我相等呢？”
26你们向上举目，看谁创造这万象？按数目领出，他一一称其名；因他的权能，又因他的大能大力，连一个都不缺。
The Almighty, Gentle God
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” – Isaiah 40:11
Isaiah 40 speaks of the power and might of God with amazing clarity. Estimates hold that the observable universe is 45 billion light years across, and yet, according to Isaiah, that is only like the breadth of God’s hand. Ultimately, though, comparing the infinite God to the finiteness of this universe—as expansive as it is—would be futile.
Even so, when we consider that the almighty God scoops up his people in his arms and carries them like lambs, close to his heart, we are moved to marvel at his gentle love. Knowing that God has written our names on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:16) and that he sings over us (Zephaniah 3:17) as he carries us along is comforting beyond words.
Today some of us need to experience the comfort of our gentle God. Reading of his gentle loving care is a good start. However, God’s gentleness is experienced in an incarnational way (in the flesh) when we treat others with the gentleness that God has shown us.
In what ways can you show gentleness to everyone around you today?
Prayer
Father, you are infinite and almighty. We are small and weak. You pick us up in your arms, and you love us and bless us. May we find shelter in your love today, and may we be shelter for people who are hurting. In Jesus, Amen.
