Giving thanks 感谢上帝
Dexu Xia
It is more blessed to give than to receive.Acts 20:35
When Keri’s young son was going through yet another surgery related to muscular dystrophy, she wanted to take her mind off her family’s situation by doing something for someone else. So she rounded up her son’s outgrown but gently used shoes and donated them to a ministry. Her giving prompted friends and family members and even neighbors to join in, and soon more than two hundred pairs of shoes were donated!
Although the shoe drive was meant to bless others, Keri feels her family was blessed more. “The whole experience really lifted our spirits and helped us to focus outward.”
Paul understood how important it was for followers of Jesus to give generously. On his way to Jerusalem, the apostle Paul stopped in Ephesus. He knew it would likely be his last visit with the people of the church he’d founded there. In his farewell address to the church elders, he reminded them how he’d worked diligently in service to God (Acts 20:17-20) and encouraged them to do the same. Then he concluded with Jesus’ words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (v. 35).
Jesus wants us to freely and humbly give of ourselves (Luke 6:38). When we trust Him to guide us, He’ll provide opportunities for us to do so. Like Keri’s family, we may be surprised by the joy we experience as a result. By: Alyson Kieda
In what way might God be calling you to give of yourself to another? When have you been the beneficiary of someone’s generosity?
Dear Father, please help me to freely give of my time and resources to others
到了坐席的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，擘开，递给他们。—路加福音24章30节
我朋友在结束一整天医院高压的工作之后，匆忙地赶回家，希望在同样辛苦工作的丈夫下班之前，先把晚餐准备好。在过去的星期天，她煮了鸡肉，然后星期一他们把剩下的鸡肉全吃完了。接着星期二，她又煮了鸡肉，这次是用烤的。这一天，她在冷冻库里找到两片鱼排，但是她知道老公并不太喜欢鱼排。可是她一时之间无法找到其他食材，就只好做鱼排了。
把晚餐端上餐桌时，她怀着歉意告诉刚到家的丈夫：“我知道这不是你最喜欢的。”她丈夫抬起头看着她，说：“亲爱的，我很高兴我们的餐桌上有食物。”
她丈夫的态度提醒了我感恩的重要性，我们当感谢上帝赐下每日的供应──不论是什么。为日用的饮食、三餐感谢上帝，就是效法耶稣的榜样。耶稣在复活之后，与两位门徒共进晚餐，祂首先“拿起饼来，祝谢了，擘开”（路加福音24章30节）。祂感谢天父，就如祂先前以“五个大麦饼、两条鱼”喂饱五千人那样（约翰福音6章9节）。当我们为着每日的饮食和其他供应感谢上帝时，那感恩之心就反映出耶稣的样式，并荣耀我们的天父。今天，就让我们来感谢上帝吧！作者： 潘恺兰
你有多常向耶稣表达感谢？
为何这么做会荣耀祂？
上帝啊，祢是万物的主宰，感谢祢赐我日用的饮食，并供应我其他方面的需求。