our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Feb 22, 2018, 3:09:21 AM2/22/18

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The Great Physician

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. John 15:4

When Dr. Rishi Manchanda asks his patients, “Where do you live?” he’s looking for more than an address. He has seen a pattern. Those who come to him for help often live in conditions of environmental stress. Molds, pests, and toxins are making them sick. So Dr. Manchanda has become an advocate of what he calls Upstream Doctors. These are health care workers who, while providing urgent medical care, are working with patients and communities to get to the source of better health.

As Jesus healed those who came to Him (Matthew 4:23–24), He lifted their eyes beyond the need for urgent physical and material care. With His Sermon on the Mount He offered more than a medical miracle (5:1–12). Seven times Jesus described attitudes of mind and heart that reflect a well-being that begins with a new vision and promise of spiritual well-being (vv. 3–9). Two more times he called blessed those who experience relentless persecution and find their hope and home in Him (vv. 10–12).

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. John 15:4

Jesus’s words leave me wondering. Where am I living? How aware am I of my need for a well-being that is greater than my urgent need for physical and material relief? As I long for a miracle, do I embrace as enviable the poor, broken, hungry, merciful, peacemaking heart that Jesus calls blessed?

Father in heaven, it’s so hard to see beyond our pain. Please let us sense Your mercy in this moment. Lift our eyes beyond ourselves. Let us find a new vision and source of health in the care of Christ, who heals.

When God is our home, our hope is in Him

蒙福的生命

你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。-约翰福音15章4节

每当瑞希·曼千达（Rishi Manchanda）医生询问他的病人：“你住在哪里？”他想知道的其实不只是地址。他观察到，来看诊的病人大多居住在卫生条件极差的环境。霉菌、鼠疫、各种毒素都会让人生病。为此，曼千达医生开始倡导他所谓的“上游医护人员”，这些人不仅提供紧急医疗照护，更与病患和社区合作，从源头开始为健康把关。

在耶稣行了神迹，医治了前来求助的人们之后（马太福音4章23-24节），祂还引导他们看见身体与物质生活以外的需求。祂的登山宝训所带给人们的，已超越了医治的神迹（5章1-12节）。祂七次提到反映蒙福生命的心态，这种生命以崭新的眼光看待事物，并拥有领受属灵福气的应许（3-9节）。另外，祂也称那些遭受无情逼迫，却在祂里面找到盼望与归宿的人为有福（10-12节）。

耶稣的话语不禁让我思想：我又是“住在哪里”呢？我是否意识到自己所需要的，是远超过眼前的身体与物质需求呢？在追求神迹的同时，我是否渴望成为一个有福的人，如同耶稣所说，能够虚心、哀恸、饥渴慕义、怜恤人并使人和睦呢？

天父，求祢让我们能超越自身的痛苦，
感受到祢的怜悯。让我们不再专顾自己，
而是藉由基督找到新的观点和健康的泉源。