Caring Letters 关怀书信

0 views

Skip to first unread message

Dexu Xia

unread,

Mar 20, 2021, 11:11:05 PM3/20/21

to dmcf_dailybread

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession. 1 Peter 2:9

Decades ago, Dr. Jerry Motto discovered the power of a “caring letter.” His research found that simply sending a letter expressing care to discharged patients who had previously attempted suicide reduced the rate of recurrence by half. Recently, health care providers have rediscovered this power when sending “caring” texts, postcards, and even social media memes as follow-up treatment for the severely depressed.

Twenty-one “books” in the Bible are actually letters—epistles—caringly written to first-century believers who struggled for a variety of reasons. Paul, James, and John wrote letters to explain the basics of faith and worship, and how to resolve conflict and build unity.

The apostle Peter, however, specifically wrote to believers who were being persecuted by the Roman emperor, Nero. Peter reminded them of their intrinsic value to God, describing them this way in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” This lifted their gaze to God’s great purpose for them in their world: “that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Our great God Himself wrote a book filled with caring letters to us—inspired Scripture—that we might always have a record of the value He assigns us as His own. May we read His letters daily and share them with others who need the hope Jesus offers.

How does reading the Epistles as caring letters help you receive God’s encouragement? How will you share the hope of God’s caring letters today?

Loving God， Thank you for the caring letters in the Bible

惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属上帝的子民。—彼得前书2章9节

数十年前，美国精神科医生杰利 ‧ 莫多（Jerry Motto）发现表达关怀的信具有莫大的影响力。研究显示，寄信给曾企图自杀的出院患者表达关心，可让病患的再自杀率降低一半。近来，医务人员也发现在跟进重度忧郁症患者的治疗时，发送关怀的简讯、明信片、影片或图像，也具有同样的效果。

圣经书卷里有21卷是属于书信，实际上这些是表达关怀的信，是写给第一世纪因各种原因而遭遇患难的信徒。保罗、雅各和约翰在信里解释了信心和敬拜的基本原则，以及如何解决冲突与建立合一。

使徒彼得还特别写信给被罗马皇帝尼禄迫害的信徒，提醒这些信徒他们在上帝眼中宝贵的价值，并清楚指出：“惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属上帝的子民”（彼得前书2章9节）。这让活在逼迫中的信徒能专心仰望上帝，明白上帝对他们的旨意：“要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗、入奇妙光明者的美德。”（9节）

这位伟大的上帝亲自写了一本书，里面包含了给我们的关怀之信。这本书就是上帝所默示的圣经，叫我们总是有所凭据，明白作为祂的儿女被赋予的价值。愿我们每天都能阅读祂写给我们的信，并分享给那些需要耶稣所赐盼望的人。

将使徒的书信视为关怀书信，如何帮助你更得激励？
你如何与人分享圣经里关怀书信所带来的盼望？