A Longing Fulfilled 渴望的实现
Dexu Xia
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Revelation 21:3
Today's Scripture Revelation 21:1-4
Today's Insights After God created the heavens and the earth, He placed Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. But then they sinned, and pain, strife, and death were the result (Genesis 1-3). In Isaiah, the prophet declares that God will one day create “new heavens and a new earth” where “the former things will not be remembered” (65:17; see also 66:22). Later, Peter wrote of “a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13). In Revelation 21, John has a vision of this new heaven and new earth, where they’ll be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (v. 4). In this vision, Jesus—“he who was seated on the throne” (v. 5)—declares, “those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children” (v. 7). God rejoices when we repent of our sin and seek forgiveness. Those who do will enjoy this new earth with Christ for all eternity.
Today's Devotional Blaise Pascal famously said there’s an “infinite abyss” inside us that only an infinite God can fill. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord,” Augustine prayed, “and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” As David put it, like thirsty people in the desert, our whole being “longs” for God (Psalm 63:1). Surprisingly, however, it isn’t only humans that experience longing. God does too. While the infinite God of the universe needs nothing outside Himself to be fulfilled, the Bible says He “longs” to have us back when we stray (James 4:4-5), and repeatedly says He wants a people to call His own (Exodus 6:7; Hebrews 8:10).
For thousands of years this longing has fueled God’s missionary endeavors: sending prophets to win back His straying people and ultimately sending His Son to find His lost sheep (Isaiah 30:18; Luke 19:10). The good news is that in the end, this longing will be fulfilled. “They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God,” and God and human beings will dwell together (Revelation 21:2-3).
Humans long for God, and no substitute will satisfy. God longs for humans, and no substitute will do. So no wonder there’s rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). When we run to God’s open arms, everyone is fulfilled.
Reflect & Pray
How do you feel about God “longing” for you? How can this encourage you when you need to repent for doing wrong?
Heavenly Father, thank You for passionately longing for me to know You.
By Sheridan Voysey
他们将成为祂的子民，神自己也要与他们同在，作他们的神。启示录 21章 1-4节
今日经文 启示录 21章1-4节
今日洞见 神创造天地之后，将亚当和夏娃安置在伊甸园里。但他们犯罪了，结果带来了痛苦、纷争和死亡（创世记 1-3）。在以赛亚书中，先知宣告,有一天上帝会创造“新天新地”，在那里“先前的事不再被记念”（65:17；66:22）。后来，彼得写道：“我们照祂的应许，盼望新天新地，有义居在其中”（彼得后书 3:13）。在启示录 21 章，约翰看到了这新天新地的异象，在那里“不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、疼痛”（4节）。在这个异象中，耶稣 “坐在宝座上的”（5节），宣告：“得胜的必承受这一切为业；我要作他们的神，他们要作我的儿子”（7节）。当我们悔改认罪并寻求赦免时，神会喜悦。那些按照上帝心意做的人将与基督一同享受这新天新地，直到永永远远。
今日灵修 帕斯卡曾说过，我们内心有一个“无限的深渊”，只有无限的神才能填满。“主啊，你创造我们是为了你自己，”奥古斯丁祈祷说，“我们的心除非安息在你里面，否则永不得安息。”正如大卫所说，我们如同在沙漠中干渴的人那样地“切慕”神（诗篇 63:1）。然而，令人惊讶的是，并非只有人类才会经历渴望。上帝也会。虽然宇宙中无限的神不需要任何外在的东西来满足自己，但圣经说，当我们迷失时，祂“切慕”我们回到祂身边（雅各书 4:4-5），并且反复说祂渴望拥有一群属于祂自己的子民（出埃及记 6:7；希伯来书 8:10）。几千年来，这种渴望一直推动着上帝的宣教事工：祂差遣先知去挽回祂迷失的子民，最终差遣祂的儿子去寻找祂失丧的羊（以赛亚书 30:18；路加福音 19:10）。好消息是，最终，这种渴望将会得到满足。“他们要作祂的子民，上帝要亲自与他们同在，作他们的上帝”，上帝和人类将永远同住（启示录 21:2-3）。
人类渴望上帝，这种渴望任何替代品都无法满足。上帝对人类的渴望也是任何替代品都无法取代。所以，当一个罪人悔改时，天上欢喜的场景也就不足为奇了（路加福音 15:7）。当我们奔向上帝敞开的怀抱时，我们全人都会得到满足。
反思与祷告 你对上帝“渴望”你有什么感受？对上帝的渴望如何鼓励你需要为自己的过错悔改。 天父，感谢您，如此热切地渴望我认识您。 作者：谢里顿仸以瑟