God's Compass 上帝的指南针
Dexu Xia
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105
During World War II, Waldemar Semenov was serving as a junior engineer aboard the SS Alcoa Guide when—nearly three hundred miles off the coast of North Carolina—a German submarine surfaced and opened fire on the ship. The ship was hit, caught fire, and began to sink. Semenov and his crew lowered a lifeboat into the water and used the vessel’s compass to sail toward the shipping lanes. After three days, a patrol plane spotted their lifeboat and the USS Broome rescued the men the next day. Thanks to that compass, Semenov and twenty-six other crewmembers were saved.
The psalmist reminded God’s people that they were equipped with a compass for life—the Bible. He compared Scripture to “a lamp” (Psalm 119:105) that provides light to illuminate the path of life for those pursuing God. When the psalmist was adrift in the chaotic waters of life, he knew God could use Scripture to provide spiritual longitude and latitude and help him survive. Thus, he prayed that God would send out His light to direct him in life and bring him safely to the port of His holy presence (43:3).
As believers in Jesus, when we lose our way, God can guide us by the Holy Spirit and by the direction found in the Scriptures. May God transform our hearts and minds as we read the Bible, study it, and follow its wisdom.
How have you experienced a particular verse or passage as a compass for your life in recent days? When are you tempted not to follow the directions the compass of Scripture gives?
Jesus, thank You that when I’m tempted to drift away, the wisdom of Scripture helps bring me back.
上帝的指南针
祢的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。—诗篇119篇105节
在二战期间，锡曼诺夫（Waldemar Semenov）在美国一艘商船上担任初级工程师。在距离北卡罗来纳州海岸约480公里处，一艘德国潜水艇浮出水面并向该商船开火。商船被击中后，随即起火燃烧并开始下沉。锡曼诺夫与船员们将救生艇放到海中，靠着救生艇上的指南针驶向航道。三天后，一架巡逻的飞机发现了他们的救生艇，通知美国海军舰艇于隔日将众人救起。幸好有那个指南针，锡曼诺夫与其他26名船员才得以获救。
诗人提醒上帝的子民，他们都有指引生命方向的指南针──圣经。诗人将圣经比作“灯”（诗篇119篇105节），为那些寻求上帝的人提供亮光，照亮人生的道路。当诗人在人生的惊涛骇浪中载浮载沉时，他知道上帝能用圣经提供属灵的经纬度，使他得以生存。因此他向上帝祷告，祈求上帝发出亮光，指引他的人生方向，并将他安全地带到至圣上帝同在的港口（43篇3节）。
身为基督徒，当我们迷失方向时，上帝会藉由圣灵以及圣经中的教导来指引我们。在我们阅读、查考圣经及遵循其中的智慧时，愿上帝改变我们的心思意念。
最近你有看到哪一节或哪一段经文，
可作为你生活中的指南针？
你什么时候会不愿听从圣经这个指南针的引导？
耶稣啊！谢谢祢，在我快要迷失方向时，
祢藉着圣经中的智慧帮助我回转归向祢。