Virtual Presence 心灵的同在

[Dexu Xia]

Though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit.  Colossians 2:5

As the novel coronavirus marched across the globe, health experts advised increased physical distance between people as a means to slow the spread. Many countries asked their citizens to self-quarantine or shelter in place. Organizations sent employees home to work remotely if they could, while others suffered a financially debilitating loss of employment. Like others, I participated in church and small-group meetings through digital platforms. As a world, we practiced new forms of togetherness despite being physically disconnected.

It isn’t just the internet that lets us maintain a sense of connection. We connect to one another as members of the body of Christ through the Spirit. Paul expressed this notion centuries ago in his letter to the Colossians. Though he hadn’t personally founded their church, he cared deeply for them and their faith. And even though Paul couldn’t be with them in person, he reminded them that he was “present with [them] in spirit” (Colossians 2:5).  

We can’t always be with those we love for financial, health, or other practical reasons, and technology can help fill that gap. Yet any form of virtual connection pales in comparison to the “togetherness” we can experience as fellow members of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). In such moments, we can, like Paul, rejoice in one another’s firmness of faith and, through prayer, encourage each other to fully “know the mystery of God, namely, Christ” (Colossians 2:2).

How have you experienced a sense of connection with other members of the body of Christ? Who needs your prayers of encouragement today?

Jesus, thank You for being with me even when no other person can be physically present. Thank You for the connection You give me to others through the Holy Spirit.

 我身子虽与你们相离，心却与你们同在。—歌罗西书2章5节

随着新冠病毒在全球蔓延，卫生专家建议增加人与人之间的身体距离，以减缓病毒的传播。许多国家要求国民自我隔离或留在家中。许多公司都尽可能地让员工在家办公，但有些人却因疫情而失去工作以致经济拮据。我和其他人一样，透过网络平台参与教会和小组在线上聚会。在这个世界上，尽管我们无法实体见面，但仍能以新的形式聚在一起。

然而，并非只有网络能让我们保持联系。作为基督教会的肢体，我们能藉着圣灵彼此连结。千百年前保罗在写给歌罗西教会的书信中，曾提到这个概念。虽然他没有亲自建立歌罗西教会，但他非常关心教会以及他们的信心。尽管保罗无法亲自跟会众在一起，但却提醒他们，他的心与他们同在（歌罗西书2章5节）。

我们会因财务、健康或其他现实中的原因，无法常常与我们所爱的人同在，而现代科技却能帮忙弥补这个缺憾。然而，任何形式的虚拟连结，比起我们在基督里互为肢体的连结（哥林多前书12章27节），都相形见绌。在这样的时刻，我们可以像保罗一样，因彼此坚定的信心而欢喜，并藉着祷告彼此鼓励，使我们“真知上帝的奥秘就是基督”（歌罗西书2章2节）。

你如何感受到与其他主内肢体的联系？
今天有谁需要你的祷告以得着鼓励？

耶稣，虽然此刻无人能相伴，但感谢祢与我同在，
感谢祢藉着圣灵让我能与其他肢体彼此连结。