The Bible’s Cherished Words 圣经值得珍爱的话语
Dexu Xia
You have the words of eternal life. John 6:68
Today’s Scripture John 6:60-69
Today's Insights In John 6, Jesus’ teaching that His disciples would have “no life in [them]” if they didn’t “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” (v. 53) was a difficult one for them to understand (v. 60). After Christ responded to their “grumbling” (v. 61) by saying “no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them” (v. 65), “many . . . no longer followed him” (v. 66). But despite the difficulty of the message, Jesus’ words were also filled with the hope of resurrection, a theme that can be seen in the word life. This passage describes Christ’s death as offering up His body “for the life of the world” (v. 51). Whoever accepts by faith this sacrifice for sin receives God’s grace and “has eternal life, and [He] will raise them up at the last day” (v. 54). Peter seemed to have partly understood, confessing, “You have the words of eternal life” (v. 68).
Today's Devotional My dad carried his beloved Bible for more than thirty years before the worn binding finally split in two. When we took it to a book binder for professional restoration, the craftsman was curious about what made the book so special. It wasn’t an expensive antique, and its pages were full of handwritten notes. His questions about the Bible created an opportunity for my family to share the gospel and pray with him.
Yes, the Bible is more than just a family heirloom or a nice decoration. Inside its pages are the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68) as God reveals Himself to us through His Son. The opening chapter of the gospel of John says that Jesus is the “Word [who] was with God, and . . . was God” (1:1). He’s described as making “his dwelling [home] among us” (v. 14). The Bible contains not only the account of the life of Christ but also all of God’s activity throughout the ages, from creation to its eventual redemption.
During His time on earth, Jesus spoke words that were “full of the Spirit and life” (6:63). When He gave a difficult teaching and the crowds grumbled and many “turned back and no longer followed him” (v. 66), His disciples chose to stay. They realized that no other words could satisfy. My dad felt the same way about his Bible. Through many mountains and valleys in his life, God provided hope, direction, comfort, and truth through the words of Scripture.
Reflect & Pray Whose words have you allowed to shape your life? What words from Scripture are inspiring you today?
Dear God, as I read Your Scripture today, please open my ears to hear Your voice. By Karen Pimpo
你有永生的话语。约翰福音 6:68
今日经文 约翰福音 6章60-69节
今日心得 在约翰福音6章中，耶稣教导他的门徒，如果他们不“吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血”，他们就“没有生命”（53节），这对他们来说是一个难以理解的教导（60节）。基督回应他们的“抱怨”（61节）说“若不是蒙父赐力量，就没有能到我这里来的”（65节），“许多人……不再跟随他”（66节）。但是，尽管信息很难理解，耶稣的话也充满了复活的希望，这个主题可以在生命这个词中看到。这段经文将基督的死描述为“为世人的生命”献出他的身体（51节）。凡凭信心接受这赎罪祭的人，就得到神的恩典，并且“有永生，并且在末日叫他们复活”（54节）。彼得似乎部分理解了，承认说：“你有永生之道”（68节）。
今日灵修 我爸爸携带他心爱的圣经三十多年，直到破旧的封面终于裂成两半。当我们把它拿到装订商那里进行专业修复时，工匠很好奇这本书为什么如此特别。它不是一件昂贵的古董，书页上满是手写的笔记。工匠对这本圣经的疑问，为我家创造了一个与他分享福音、和他一起祈祷的机会。
是的，圣经不仅仅是传家宝或漂亮的装饰品。圣经的书页里有“永生之道”（约翰福音6:68），这是上帝通过他的儿子向我们启示的。约翰福音的开篇说，耶稣是“道与神同在，道就是神”（1:1）。圣经描述耶稣“住在我们中间”（14节）。圣经不仅记载了基督的生平，还记载了上帝从创世到最终救赎的各个时代的所有活动。耶稣在世时所说的话“充满圣灵和生命”（6:63）。当他传授艰难的教训时，群众抱怨，许多人“转去不再跟随他”（66节），他的门徒却选择留下来。他们已经明白，没有其他话语能使他们得到满足。
我父亲对他的圣经也有同样的感受。在他一生的许多高山低谷中，上帝通过圣经的话语为他提供了希望、方向、安慰和真理。
反思和祈祷 你让谁的话语来塑造你的生活？今天的经文中有哪些话语使你被激励？
亲爱的上帝，当我今天阅读您的话语时，祈求您打开我的耳朵，让我听到您的声音。作者：凯伦·皮姆波。