Good Works Prepared / 预备的善行

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 14, 2019, 2:21:32 AM2/14/19

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Good Works Prepared

Bible in a Year: Leviticus 1–3; Matthew 24:1–28

For we are . . . created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

When a burly stranger approached my wife and me on a street abroad, we shrunk back in fear. Our holiday had been going badly; we had been yelled at, cheated, and extorted from several times. Were we going to be shaken down again? To our surprise, the man just wanted to show us where to get the best view of his city. Then he gave us a chocolate bar, smiled, and left. That little gesture made our day—and saved the whole trip. It made us grateful—both to the man and to God for cheering us up.

What had made the man reach out to two strangers? Had he gone around with a chocolate bar the entire day, looking to bless someone with it?

It’s amazing how the smallest action can bring the biggest smile—and possibly direct someone to God. The Bible stresses the importance of doing good works (James 2:17, 24). If that sounds challenging, we have the assurance that God not only enables us to do these works, but has even “prepared [them] in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

Perhaps God has arranged for us to “bump into” someone who needs a word of encouragement today or has given us an opportunity to offer someone a helping hand. All we have to do is respond in obedience.

Today's Reflection Who can you pray for or help today? Who might God be putting in your path?

预备的善行

我们原是⋯⋯在基督耶稣里造成的，为要叫我们行善，就是上帝所预备叫我们行的。-以弗所书2章10节

我和妻子到国外度假，但我们的假期真是糟透了，不但被人大声呼喝、欺骗，还被敲诈了好几次。有一次我和妻子在街上拍照时，一个粗旷魁梧的陌生人走向我们，让我们不由得心惊胆颤。难道我们又要再次受惊吓吗？出乎意料地，那人只是要告诉我们从哪一个角度拍他的城市最美丽。然后，他给我们一个巧克力棒，微笑着与我们道别。这小小的举动让我们有欢愉的一天，并让整个行程不再一样了。我们为这事感恩，感谢那人和上帝将我们消沉的心情一扫而空。

是什么致使那人愿意接触两个陌生人呢？他是否整天都带着巧克力棒到处走，为要祝福别人呢？

一个微小的举动却带来最灿烂的笑容，而且还可能将人引向上帝，这是何等奇妙啊！圣经强调行善的重要性（雅各书2章17、24节）。如果这听起来很困难，别担心，上帝不但让我们有能力去行善，并且这些善行都是上帝预先安排给我们去行的（以弗所书2章10节）。

也许，今天上帝已为我们安排了善行，如碰到一些需要以言词鼓励的人，或给我们机会向人伸出援手。我们需要做的只是顺服地回应。

主啊！愿我能顺服地回应祢，
与人分享祢的爱，就如祢爱我那般。