Kindness Unseen 看不见的恩慈
Dexu Xia
Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 2 Kings 6:16
Today's Scripture 2 Kings 6:13-17
Today's Insights In addition to the angels described in 2 Kings 6:9-17, other Scriptures speak of the protection and ministry of angels. Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man who looked “like a son of the gods” in the blazing furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3:25). After successfully overcoming Satan’s temptations, angels came and “took care of” Jesus (Matthew 4:11 nlt). As Christ agonized over His impending crucifixion, “an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him” (Luke 22:43). Jesus reminds us of God’s providential protection and care when He says that He could’ve called on “more than twelve legions of angels” to come to His rescue (Matthew 26:53). Angels are God’s “servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14 nlt). No matter what we encounter in life, we can be assured that God is watching over us. Nothing can separate us from His love
Today's Devotional The face was there all along, but no one knew. When Sir Joshua Reynolds painted The Death of Cardinal Beaufort in 1789, he put a demon’s face in the darkness behind the dying man. Reynolds was accurately depicting a scene from a Shakespearean play that mentions the presence of a “busy, meddling fiend,” but some didn’t like his literalism. After Reynolds’ death in 1792, the face was painted over and forgotten. Art conservation work recently revealed it under layers of paint and varnish.
The Bible tells of a spiritual reality around us that the eye can’t see, where God reigns supreme. When Elisha was surrounded by a “strong force” of enemy soldiers and chariots, his servant was frightened and asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha told him that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and “prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ ” Suddenly the servant “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:14-17).
The horses and chariots of fire indicate angelic beings there for Elisha’s protection. This is one of many places where Scripture underscores the comforting truth that in a world where danger lurks and spiritual warfare rages, God still watches over us. No matter what we face, how good it is to know that nothing “will be able to separate us” from His love (Romans 8:39).
Reflect & Pray
In what ways does God take care of you? How will you thank Him?
Dear Father, nothing can separate me from Your love for me in Jesus, and I praise You for it! By James Banks
与我们同在的，比与他们同在的更多。（列王纪下 6:16）
今日经文：列王纪下 6:13-17
今日洞见：除了列王纪下 6章9-17节中描述的天使之外，其他经文也提到了天使的保护和服事。尼布甲尼撒王在烈火的窑中看见沙得拉、米煞、亚伯尼歌旁边有第四个人，样子“好像神子”（但以理书 3:25）。耶稣成功抵挡撒旦的试探后，天使前来“服侍”他（马太福音 4:11）。当基督为即将到来的十字架苦难而痛苦挣扎时，“有一位天使从天上显现，加添他的力量”（路加福音 22:43）。耶稣提醒我们上帝的眷顾和保护，他说他可以吩咐“十二营以上的天使”来拯救他（马太福音 26:53）。天使是上帝的“仆役，这些灵体是奉差遣服侍那些将要承受救恩的人”（希伯来书 1:14）。无论我们在生活中遇到什么，我们都可以确信上帝正在看顾我们。没有什么能使我们与他的爱隔绝。
今日灵修：那张脸一直都在那里，但无人觉察。1789年，当约书亚·雷诺兹爵士创作《博福特枢机主教之死》时，他在垂死之人身后的黑暗中画了一张魔鬼的脸。雷诺兹准确地描绘了莎士比亚戏剧中的一个场景，其中提到了一个“忙碌、爱管闲事的恶魔”，但有些人不喜欢他这种写实的手法。1792年雷诺兹去世后，这张脸被涂掉了，也被遗忘了。最近，人们对这幅画作进行艺术修复工作，在层层颜料和清漆之下重新发现了这张脸。 圣经告诉我们，在我们周围存在着肉眼看不见的属灵现实，在那里，上帝至高无上。当先知以利沙被“大队”敌军士兵和战车包围时，他的仆人害怕地问：“我们该怎么办？”以利沙告诉他：“与我们同在的比与他们同在的更多。”他又祷告说：“耶和华啊，求你开他的眼睛，使他能看见。”突然，仆人“看见满山遍野都是火车火马，围绕着以利沙”（列王纪下 6:14-17）。这些火车火马象征着天使，他们奉命保护以利沙。圣经在许多地方都强调了这个令人安慰的真理：在这个充满危险、属灵争战激烈的世界里，上帝仍然看顾我们。无论我们面对什么，如果你我确知，没有什么“能使我们与神的爱隔绝”（罗马书 8:39），这是多么美好的事！
反思与祷告 上帝以哪些方式照顾你？你将如何感谢祂？
亲爱的天父，没有什么能使我与您在耶稣基督里对我的爱隔绝，我为此赞美您！作者：詹姆斯·班克斯