our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Jan 31, 2018, 2:53:25 AM1/31/18

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The Last Word

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart. Ecclesiastes 5:2

One day during a university philosophy class, a student made some inflammatory remarks about the professor’s views. To the surprise of the other students, the teacher thanked him and moved on to another comment. When he was asked later why he didn’t respond to the student, he said, “I’m practicing the discipline of not having to have the last word.”

This teacher loved and honored God, and he wanted to embody a humble spirit as he reflected this love. His words remind me of another Teacher—this one from long ago, who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. Although not addressing how to handle an angry person, he said that when we approach the Lord we should guard our steps and “go near to listen” rather than being quick with our mouths and hasty in our hearts. By doing so we acknowledge that God is the Lord and we are those whom He has created (Ecclesiastes 5:1–2).

Lord, teach me how to pray and how to listen.

How do you approach God? If you sense that your attitude could use some adjustment, why not spend some time considering the majesty and greatness of the Lord? When we ponder His unending wisdom, power, and presence, we can feel awed by His overflowing love for us. With this posture of humility, we too need not have the last word.

Lord God, I want to honor You and I bow before You now in silence. Teach me how to pray and how to listen.

Carefully chosen words honor God.

不坚持己见

你在上帝面前不可冒失开口，也不可心急发言。-传道书5章2节

某一天，在大学的一堂哲学课上，有个学生对教授的观点提出一些具有煽动性的批评。但令其他学生讶异的是，这位教授不但没有反驳他，甚至还感谢他提出他的看法，之后便继续教课。后来，有人问这位教授为何没有予以反击，他回答说：“我正在学习不逞口舌之快，不坚持己见。”

这位教授爱上帝且尊荣上帝，他希望在反映这份爱的同时，也能具体呈现一个谦卑的生命。他所说的话使我想到传道书中的一句话，这是在很久以前有位非常有智慧的人所写下的。其重点并不在于教导我们如何面对怒气冲冲的人，而是提醒我们来到上帝面前时，要小心谨慎并且近前倾听，而不要冒失开口或心急发言（传道书5章1-2节）。当我们如此行，就是承认上帝是主，而我们是祂所造的。

你以什么样的态度来到上帝面前呢？如果你觉得自己的态度需要调整，何不花些时间思想上帝的尊荣与伟大？在默想上帝至高的智慧、权能与同在时，我们将因祂无尽的慈爱而感到敬畏。只要带着这份谦卑的态度，我们面对上帝时就能不坚持己见。

主上帝，我愿尊荣祢，现在我在祢面前静默、屈膝，
求祢教导我如何向祢祷告，以及如何聆听祢的声音。