Meeting Together in Jesus 相聚在基督里

[Dexu Xia]

 [Don’t give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another. Hebrews 10:25

When I went through an extended period of emotional and spiritual pain and struggle due to difficult circumstances in my life, it would have been easy for me to withdraw from church. (And sometimes I did wonder, Why bother?) But I felt compelled to keep attending each Sunday.

Although my situation remained the same for many long years, worshiping and gathering with other believers in services, prayer meetings, and Bible study supplied the encouragement I needed to persevere and remain hopeful. And often I’d not only hear an uplifting message or teaching, but I’d receive comfort, a listening ear, or a hug I needed from others.

The author of Hebrews wrote, “[Don’t give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another” (Hebrews 10:25). This author knew that when we face hardships and difficulties, we’ll need the reassurance of others—and that others would need ours. So this Scripture writer reminded readers to “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” and to consider how to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (vv. 23-24). That’s a big part of what encouragement is. That’s why God leads us to keep meeting together. Someone may need your loving encouragement, and you may be surprised by what you receive in return.  By:  Alyson Kieda

When have you felt encouraged after leaving a worship service? Why? Who needs your support and reassurance?

Loving God, please help me not to give up meeting together with other believers, but to experience together Your peace and love. 

你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人，倒要彼此劝勉。—希伯来书10章25节

我曾经因为陷于人生的一些困境，而经历长期的情绪与灵性上的痛苦挣扎。在那样的情况下，我很容易就会不想去教会（有时候我的确会想：为什么要这么麻烦？）。但是，我感到内心有一股力量，催逼我要持续到教堂，参加每个主日的聚会。虽然我这样的情况持续了好些年，但是到教堂和其他的信徒一起参加主日聚会、祷告会与查经班，一起敬拜上帝，让我得到了所需要的鼓励，使我能坚忍与保持盼望。很多时候，我不仅听到鼓励的信息或教导，而且还能从别人身上得到我所需的安慰、倾听和拥抱。

希伯来书的作者写道：“你们不可停止聚会，好像那些停止惯了的人，倒要彼此劝勉”（希伯来书10章25节）。这位作者知道，当我们遭遇患难和困境时，我们需要别人的安慰，而别人在面对同样的情况时，也需要我们的安慰。所以这位作者提醒读者“要坚守我们所承认的指望，不致摇动”，并且思考如何“彼此相顾，激发爱心，勉励行善”（23-24节）。这是“劝勉”的重要内涵，也是上帝嘱咐我们要持续相聚的原因。也许，有人需要你充满爱心的鼓励，而你得到的回报可能会令你感到惊奇。作者：  柯爱莉

你曾在哪次聚会结束后心得激励？为什么？现在有谁需要你的扶持与安慰？
我们是同在基督里的肢体，关注的是“彼此”，而不只是“自己”。

慈爱的上帝，帮助我不要停止与主内肢体相聚，让我能与他们一起经历祢的平安与慈爱。