Renaissance in Jesus 重生复兴
Dexu Xia
Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. John 12:24
We know Leonardo da Vinci as the renaissance man. His intellectual prowess led to advances across multiple fields of study and the arts. Yet Leonardo journaled of “these miserable days of ours” and lamented that we die “without leaving behind any memory of ourselves in the mind of men.”
“While I thought I was learning how to live,” said Leonardo, “I was learning how to die.” He was closer to the truth than he may have realized. Learning how to die is the way to life. After Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday; see John 12:12–19), He said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (v. 24). He spoke this about His own death but expanded it to include us all: “Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25).
The apostle Paul wrote of being “buried” with Christ “through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:4–5).
Through His death, Jesus offers us rebirth—the very meaning of renaissance. He has forged the way to eternal life with His Father.
By: Tim Gustafson
How do you measure the value of your life? How might you need to change those values?
Dear Father, I can find meaning and purpose nowhere else but in You
一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来。—约翰福音12章24节
我们都知道李奥纳多·达文西是文艺复兴时期的杰出代表人物。他才华卓越，横跨多个学术研究和艺术领域，缔造了非凡成就。然而，达文西曾在日记中写道：“我们过着悲惨的日子，哀哉，我们死后不会在人们的脑海中，留下任何关于我们的记忆。”
达文西说：“我以为我一直在学习怎样活，其实我是在学习怎样死。”也许他还不知道，这番领悟已接近真理了。唯有经历死亡，才能得到生命。耶稣光荣地进入耶路撒冷（现今的棕枝主日；参阅约翰福音12章12-19节），过后祂说：“一粒麦子不落在地里死了，仍旧是一粒；若是死了，就结出许多子粒来”（24节）。耶稣说的这番话是指祂将受死，但也可延伸至我们每一个人，因“爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命；在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生”（25节）。
使徒保罗写道：“我们藉着洗礼归入死，和[基督]一同埋葬，原是叫我们一举一动有新生的样式，像基督藉着父的荣耀从死里复活一样。我们若在祂死的形状上与祂联合，也要在祂复活的形状上与祂联合。”（罗马书6章4-5节）
耶稣受死让我们得以重生，这才是真正最大的复兴。耶稣与天父一同开创了这条通往永生的道路。作者： 葛庭墨
你是用什么来衡量你生命的价值？
有哪些价值观你可能需要做出改变？
亲爱的天父，只有在祢里面，我才能够明白生命的意义和目的
Love God by Loving Others
Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.
The Alba family experienced the rare occurrence of birthing two sets of identical twins just thirteen months apart. How did they juggle their parental responsibilities as well as their jobs? Their community of friends and family stepped in. Grandparents on both sides took a set of twins during the day so the parents could work and pay for health insurance. One company gave a year’s supply of diapers. The couple’s coworkers donated their personal sick days. “We couldn’t have done it without our community,” they agreed. In fact, during a live interview, the cohost removed her mic and ran after one renegade toddler, continuing the communal investment!
In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus tells a parable to make the point that when we serve others, we serve God. After listing acts of service, including providing food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, lodging for the homeless, clothes for the naked, and healing for the sick (vv. 35–36), Jesus concludes, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (v. 40).
Imagining Jesus as the ultimate recipient of our kindness is true motivation to serve in our neighborhoods, families, churches, and world. When He prompts us to sacrificially invest in the needs of others, we serve Him. When we love others, we love God.
By: Elisa Morgan
How might you serve Jesus in your community today? How can you love God by loving others in your path?
Loving God, please open my eyes to the needs of others around me so I can help meet them and love You better
爱他人即爱上帝
我实在告诉你们：这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。—马太福音25章40节
艾尔巴夫妇在短短13个月内生下两对同卵双胞胎。他们如何兼顾父母的责任和工作呢？幸亏他们有家人和社区里的朋友。双方的父母白天各带一对双胞胎，好让艾尔巴夫妇专心工作，以支付医疗保险；某家公司供应一年的尿布；同事将自己的病假时间转赠给他们。两人一致表示：“若没有大家的帮助，我们根本就无法照顾两对双胞胎。”在一次实况采访艾尔巴一家人时，有位主持人甚至当场摘了麦克风，帮忙追其中一个不受控的幼童，大家一直齐心协力帮助这个家庭！
在马太福音25章31-46节，耶稣说了一个比喻，表明了我们服事人，就是服事上帝。祂列举了一些付出关怀的具体行动，例如：送食物给饥饿的人，拿水给口渴的人，提供住处给无家可归的人，送衣物给赤身露体的人，以及医治生病的人（35-36节）。耶稣说：“我实在告诉你们：这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是做在我身上了。”（40节）
把耶稣设想为你我服事的最终对象，这可成为我们在社区、家庭、教会，以及世界各地服事他人的真正动力。当祂感动我们为他人的需要而作出牺牲时，我们就是在服事祂；当我们爱他人，就是爱上帝。
作者： 莫丽莎
今天你要如何在你的社区和群体当中服事耶稣？
你如何藉由爱你周遭的人来爱上帝？
慈爱的上帝，请开启我的眼睛看见周围其他人的需要，
好让我能帮助他们，更深地爱祢