God’s Better Country 神预备的更美的家乡
Dexu Xia
“ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. “(Hebrews 11:16)
Today's Scripture Hebrews 11:11-20
Today's Insights
Hebrews 11 has been referred to as the “Hall of Faith” because everyone listed in the chapter is presented as a model of faith. This makes sense because verse 6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Because our human effort to do good will always fall short of God’s standard (Ephesians 2:8-9), we’re dependent upon Him by faith. By faith we trust God now, and one day we’ll be in His eternal presence (John 3:16).
Today's Devotion
Michele experienced a mixture of emotions as her father neared the end of his life. She grieved when he said, “Honey, I won’t be here to walk you down the aisle.” But she assured him of her love, clinging to the hope she found in Hebrews 11 as she said, “You’re heading for a better country, a country in heaven.” Michele believed that her dad, when he died, would be with God forever. She reflected, “Heaven will be that good!”
The letter to the Hebrews was aimed at Jewish believers in Jesus experiencing persecution by state and religious opponents. Although it was written before the destruction of the temple in ad 70, the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans may have occurred soon after. In this climate of fear, the author urged the believers to hold firm to their faith as he highlighted a great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). Each “did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance” (11:13). They lived by faith, “longing for a better country—a heavenly one,” and God was pleased to be called their God, and “prepared a city for them” (v. 16).
Although Michele ached with sadness when her father died, she embraced the promises of her heavenly Father. We too can welcome these same promises “from a distance” (v. 13), trusting in God.
Reflect & Pray
How can you embrace God’s help and trust Him more today? How does the thought of heaven inform your hopes, dreams, and actions?
Heavenly Father, please help me live knowing that You’re trustworthy and will one day welcome me home.
“他们却羡慕一个更美的家乡，就是在天上的。所以神被称为他们的神，并不以为耻，因为他已经给他们预备了一座城。”（希伯来书 11:16）
今日经文：希伯来书 11:11-20
今日洞见： 希伯来书第11章常被称为“信心伟人堂”，因为其中列举的每个人都被视为信心的榜样。这很有道理，正如第6节所说：“人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦；因为到神面前来的人必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人。”由于我们凭自己行善总无法达到神的标准（以弗所书 2:8-9），我们必须凭信心仰赖祂。我们如今凭信心信靠神，终有一天将进入祂永恒的同在之中（约翰福音 3:16）。
今日灵修分享 当父亲生命垂危时，米歇尔的心情十分复杂。听到父亲说“孩子，我无法在婚礼上挽着你步入礼堂”时，她感到悲伤。但是，她紧紧抓住希伯来书第11章所带来的盼望，满怀爱意地对父亲说：“你要去的是一个更美的家乡，一个在天上的家乡。”米歇尔相信，父亲离世后将永远与神同在。她感叹道：“天堂就是那么美好！”
希伯来书是写给那些遭受政权和宗教敌对势力迫害的犹太裔信徒的。虽然此信写于公元70年圣殿被毁之前，但随后不久耶路撒冷城便落入了罗马人手中。在那种充满恐惧的氛围下，作者列举了一大群“见证人如同云彩”（希伯来书 12:1），以此勉励信徒坚守信仰。这些人“没有得着所应许的；却从远处望见，且欢喜迎接”（11:13）。他们凭信心生活，“羡慕一个更美的家乡，就是在天上的”；神也乐意被称为他们的神，并“为他们预备了一座城”（16节）。尽管父亲离世让米歇尔悲痛不已，但她仍紧紧抓住那位天父所赐的应许。我们同样可以信靠神，并“从远处”欣然领受这些应许（13节）。
反思与祷告 今天，你可以如何领受神的帮助并更加信靠祂？对天家的盼望如何影响你的希望、梦想与行动？ 天父啊，求祢帮助我活出这样的信念，就是信靠您，深信有一天您会接我回天家。(选自《每日天粮》)