Dependence on God 倚靠神

[Dexu Xia]

The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Mark 10:14

Today's Scripture  Mark 10:13-16

Today's Insights  In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus seized the moment to teach a very crucial lesson about how things function in the sphere of heavenly rule and order. “Let the little children come to me,” He said, “and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (v. 14). Christ’s illustration and teaching are consistent with the principle stated in the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Bible teacher Kent Hughes offers these words: “What Jesus has in mind here is an objective state that every child who has ever lived, regardless of race, culture, or background, has experienced—helpless dependence. . . . Children of the kingdom enter it helpless, ones for whom everything must be done.” Those who are impoverished in spirit are those who are needy and know it. When we acknowledge our dependence on God, we come to Him with open hands and heart

Today's Devotional  “Oh, you look so serious!” I said to my ten-week-old granddaughter Leilani. She was studying my face with a knitted brow as I talked to her. “I’d be serious too,” I continued, “looking at this world. But you know what? Mama loves you, Daddy loves you, and Baba and Papa [our nicknames as grandparents] love you too. But best of all, Jesus loves you! And that means everything!”

Then it happened. Like a cloud letting the sun through, the furrow left her brow and her little face lit up with a smile that melted my heart. Like most grandparents, I’d like to believe she understood me, though that may be a stretch. But perhaps she caught some of the joy behind my words. The simple, innocent joy that shone on her face brought to mind Jesus’ words that we must “receive the kingdom of God like a little child” (Mark 10:15).

Jesus said those words as “people were bringing little children” to Him so He might “place his hands on them” and bless them (vv. 13, 16). But “the disciples rebuked them,” thinking Jesus too busy or important. That troubled Him (vv. 14-15).

Children are naturally humble and dependent. To receive God’s kindness to us in Christ, we too must turn from pride and admit our need for Him in everything. As we do, He exchanges this world’s hopelessness with the promise of life with God forever. And that should make us smile.

Reflect & Pray    In what ways do you need God? How can you declare your dependence on Him today?

Abba Father, please help me to humbly live in Your kindness today and also share it with others.

By James banks

“因为在神国的正是这样的人。”（马可福音 10章14 节

  今日经文：马可福音 10章13-16 节

今日见解：在马可福音 10章13-16 节中，耶稣抓住时机，教导一个非常重要的教训，即关于天国的统治以及天国的秩序如何运作的。祂说：“让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们，因为在神国的正是这样的人。”（14 节）基督的例证和教导与第一福的原则相符：“虚心的人有福了！因为天国是他们的。”（马太福音 5:3）圣经教师肯特·休斯说道：“耶稣在这里指的是每个孩子，无论种族、文化或背景如何，都经历过的一种客观状态，就是无助的依赖…。天国的子民无助地进入天国，一切都须由上帝为他们完成。”心灵贫乏的人是那些真正需要帮助且深知这一点的人。当我们承认自己依赖上帝时，我们就会敞开双手和心灵来到祂面前。

  今日灵修 “哦，你看起来好严肃啊！”我对十周大的孙女莱拉尼说。我和她说话时，她皱着眉头，端详着我的脸。“我也会很严肃，”我继续说道，“看着这个世界。但你知道吗？妈妈爱你，爸爸爱你，爸爸和爷爷（我们作为祖父母的昵称）也爱你。但最重要的是，耶稣爱你！这意味着一切！”然后，事情发生了。就像云朵让阳光透过，她额头上的皱纹消失了，她小脸上绽放出的笑容，融化了我的心。像大多数祖父母一样，我愿意相信她理解我，尽管这可能有点夸张。但也许她感受到了我话语背后的一些喜悦。她脸上流露出单纯、天真的喜悦，不禁让人想起耶稣说过的一句话：“你们要像小孩子那样，才能承受神的国”（马可福音10:15）。 耶稣说这话时，“有人带着小孩子来见他”，要他“按手在他们头上”，祝福他们（13、16节）。但“门徒就责备他们”，认为耶稣太忙或太重要，不能被孩子打扰。这让耶稣很不安（14-15节）。

  孩子天生谦卑，需要依靠。为了领受神在基督里赐给我们的恩慈，我们也必须放下骄傲，承认我们在凡事上都需要祂。当我们这样做的时候，祂用永远与神同在的应许，取代了这世上的绝望。这应该会让我们感到欣慰。

  反思与祷告：你在哪些方面需要神？你今天如何宣告你对祂的依靠？ 阿爸天父，求祢帮助我今天谦卑地活在你的恩慈里，并与他人分享你赐下的恩典。

作者：詹姆斯·班克斯