与父亲连结

亚洲路德宗神学院“每週灵粮”

及至时候满足，上帝就差遣祂的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下，要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得著儿子的名分。你们既为儿子，上帝就差祂儿子的灵，进入你们〔原文作我们〕的心，叫阿爸、父。可见，从此以后，你不是奴僕，乃是儿子了，既是儿子就靠著上帝为后嗣。
加拉太书 4:4-7

有一个故事讲述一位在美国内战期间为北方作战的士兵。他所有兄弟都战死沙场，他怕自己也战死剩下母亲一人不能经营农场。于是，他到白宫，希望与林肯总统交谈，不幸被拒绝进入。

心情郁闷的他在旁边的长凳上坐下。一名小男孩注意到这个士兵，问他为什么这样悲伤。他把自己的担忧告诉了男孩。男孩回答说：“跟我来。”小男孩领着士兵走到白宫门口，他们就从那裡进门，一路走过走廊，径直走进林肯总统与他的工作人员会面的房间。

少年开口道：“父亲，这人有困难，请你听一下他的问题。”

我不知道这个故事到底有多准确，但它説出了一个重点：就是纵然其他人无法接触到的对象，他的孩子也可以直达他们跟前。

保罗写信给加拉太基督徒的信息也是如此。人无论在哪个家庭长大，耶稣都使他们作上帝的儿女。而上帝的儿女可以直接与天父联系。我们甚至可以称全能的上帝为“阿爸，父亲”。 （“阿爸”是阿兰文父亲的意思。）

你不需要被隔絶于天父之外。你可以透过祷告直达上帝的面前，被圣灵加力说出心中所想。

祷告：
阿爸，父亲，感谢祢差遣祢的独生子，使我也可以作上帝的儿女。阿门。

Access to the Father

ALS Weekly Devotions

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:4-7

The story is told of a soldier who was fighting for the North during the United States Civil War. All his brothers had died in battle. And he feared that if he died too, his mother would not be able to take care of their family farm all by herself. So, he marched up to the White House and asked to speak with President Lincoln. Unfortunately, he was denied access to enter.

Feeling dejected, he sat down by a nearby bench. A young boy noticed this soldier and asked why he looked so sad. He told the boy his concern. The boy responded, “follow me.” The young boy led the soldier up to the White House doors, where they passed right through. Together they walked down the hallway and strolled right into the room where President Lincoln was meeting with his staff.

The young boy spoke up, “Father, this man has a problem, and I would like you to listen to him.”

Now, I don’t know how accurate this story really is, but it makes an important point: Children have access to their parents, even if nobody else does.

This is the same point that Paul made when he wrote to the Christians in Galatia. He told them that no matter what family they grew up in, Jesus had made them children of God. And God’s children get access to their heavenly Father. He goes so far as to say that we can call the almighty God our “Abba, Father.” (“Abba” is the way of saying father in Aramaic.)

You don’t need to remain outside the presence of the Father. You can walk right into God’s presence through your prayers, empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak whatever is in your heart.

Prayer:

Abba, Father, thank you for sending your Son so that I too can be a child of God. Amen.