our daily bread

[Dexu Xia]

Pulling Together

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24

Why do more than five million people a year pay money to run several miles over an obstacle course where they must ascend vertical walls, slog through mud, and climb up inside a vertical pipe with water pouring down on them? Some see it as a personal challenge to push their limit of endurance or conquer their fears. For others, the attraction is teamwork where competitors help and support each other. One person called it “a no-judgment zone” where people who are strangers will reach out to help each other finish the race (Stephanie Kanowitz, The Washington Post).

The Bible urges us to pursue teamwork as a model of living out our faith in Jesus. “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Father, give us eyes to see and strength to help.

Our goal is not to “finish first” in the race of faith, but to reach out in tangible ways of encouragement by setting an example and lending a helping hand along the way.

The day will come when we complete our life on earth. Until then, let’s spur each other on, be ready to help, and keep pulling together every day.

Father in heaven, give us eyes to see and strength to help each other in the race of faith today.

We run together in the race of faith.

同心协力

又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。-希伯来书10章24节

为什么一年有超过五百万人，愿意自费参加几公里的障碍赛跑呢？在赛程中，他们必须攀爬垂直的高墙、穿越泥浆坑，还要爬入垂直的管道内，任由水柱倾泻在他们身上。有人将障碍赛视为挑战自我极限，或战胜恐惧的壮举。但对有些人来说，障碍赛的魅力在于团队合作，在于参赛者彼此之间的支持与帮助。有人将障碍赛称作“无批评地带”，参赛者虽互不相识，但却能彼此相助以完成比赛。

圣经劝勉我们看重团队合作，成为活出基督信仰的榜样：“又要彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善。你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人，倒要彼此劝勉。既知道那日子临近，就更当如此。”（希伯来书10章24-25节）

在信仰的赛程中，我们的目标并不是要第一个冲过终点线，而是要在赛程中立下榜样，向人伸出援手，以实质具体的方式鼓励他人。

终究有一天，我们会走完世上的旅程，但在那一天到来之前，让我们彼此劝勉、随时互相帮助，并且天天齐心协力同奔天路。

天父，求祢让我们今天在信仰的赛程中，能够看见别人的需要，并赐给我们能力可以彼此扶持。

我们同心协力奔跑天路