our daily bread
Dexu Xia
A Hidden Ministry
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us
by your prayers. 2 Corinthians 1:10–11
A big academic project was weighing on me, and I was fretting over whether I could complete it by the deadline. In the midst of my anxious thoughts, I received three notes of encouragement from friends who were cheering me on. Each one said, “God brought you to mind today when I was praying.” I felt humbled and encouraged that these friends would contact me without knowing what I was going through, and I believed God had used them as His messengers of love.
The apostle Paul knew the power of prayer when he wrote to the people in the church of Corinth. He said he trusted that God would continue to deliver them from peril “as you help us by your prayers” (2 Corinthians 1:10–11). And when God answered their prayers, He would be glorified as the people gave Him thanks for the “answer to the prayers of many” (v. 11).
My friends and Paul’s supporters were engaging in the ministry of intercession, which Oswald Chambers calls “a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which the Father is glorified.” As we focus our minds and hearts on Jesus, we find Him shaping us, including how we pray. He enables us to give the gift of true intercession to friends, family members, and even strangers.
Has God put someone on your heart and mind for whom you can pray?
Read more from Oswald Chambers at utmost.org.
God hears the prayers of His people.
隐藏的事奉
我们指望祂将来还要救我们。你们以祈祷帮助我们。-哥林多后书1章10-11节
我负责一个庞大的学术计划，但一直苦恼不知能否在期限内完成。正在担忧之际，我接连收到三封不同朋友寄给我的鼓励信函，每封信都提到：“今天祷告时，上帝让我想到你。”我深感惭愧也深受激励，因为这些朋友并不知道我所经历的事，却主动写信给我，因此我相信是上帝让他们成为传达爱的使者。
使徒保罗在写信给哥林多教会的信徒时，也深信祷告的大能，他相信上帝必继续搭救他和同工们脱离险境，因哥林多教会的信徒以祈祷帮助他们（哥林多后书1章10-11节）。当上帝回应祷告，将令许多人感谢上帝，因“这恩是藉着许多人的代求而得到的”（11节，新译本），上帝也因此得着荣耀。
我的朋友和那些支持保罗的信徒，都参与了代祷的事奉，就如章伯斯所说：“代祷乃是隐藏的事奉，会结出使天父得荣耀的果实。”只要我们的心思意念专注于耶稣，就会发现祂正塑造我们，包括教导我们如何祷告。祂将帮助我们为朋友、亲人，甚至陌生人真诚地代求，为他们带来祝福。
上帝是否让你特别想到某些人，要你为他们代祷呢？
主上帝，感谢祢，
让我不但能因别人的代祷感受到祢的爱，
也能为人代求，且深知祢必垂听。
上帝垂听祂儿女的祷告。