“Just the Office”? / 只是办公室而已？
Dexu Xia
“Just the Office”?
Bible in a Year :
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you. Ephesians 1:18
I gazed out at the rolling, green hills in Lancashire in northern England, noticing the stone fences enclosing some sheep dotted around the hills. Puffy clouds moved across the bright sky, and I inhaled deeply, drinking in the sight. When I remarked about the beautiful scene to the woman working at the retreat center I was visiting, she said, “You know, I never used to notice it before our guests would point it out. We’ve lived here for years; and when we were farmers, this was just the office!”
We can easily miss the gift of what’s right in front of us, especially beauty that’s part of our everyday lives. We can also easily miss the beautiful ways God works in and around us daily. But believers in Jesus can ask God’s Spirit to open our spiritual eyes so we can understand how He’s at work, as the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesian believers. Paul yearned that God would give them the wisdom and revelation to know Him better (Ephesians 1:17). He prayed that their hearts would be enlightened so that they’d know God’s hope, promised future, and power (vv. 18–19).
God’s gift of the Spirit of Christ can awaken us to His work in us and through us. With Him, what may have once seemed like “just the office” can be understood as a place that displays His light and glory.
Reflect & Pray
Where do you see God at work around you? How does seeing the world through spiritual eyes help?
Jesus, shine Your light on me and open my eyes and my heart to better understand Your goodness and Your grace. I want to receive Your love.
只是办公室而已？
并且照明你们心中的眼睛，使你们知道祂的恩召有何等指望。-以弗所书1章18节
在英格兰西北部兰开夏郡的退修中心，我眺望着蜿蜒的青翠山峦，山丘上点缀着圈住绵羊的石头围墙，还有万里晴空上朵朵浮云，我深深地吸了一口气，沉醉于这片美景之中。当我对中心的员工赞叹这里的环境优美时，她回答说：“在客人告诉我这里是多么美丽之前，我根本未曾留意。我们在这里住了许多年，之前这里是农场，我们在这里工作，对我们来说这里只是办公室而已！”
我们很容易错失眼前的珍宝，尤其是每日生活中习以为常的美好事物。我们也很容易错失上帝在我们心里和周遭的一切善工。然而，基督徒可以求圣灵打开我们属灵的眼睛，使我们明白祂如何动工。就如保罗在写给以弗所信徒的书信中，恳求上帝赐给他们智慧和启示的灵，使他们能充分认识上帝（以弗所书1章17节）。保罗又为他们祷告，使他们心灵的眼睛明亮，知道上帝所赐的盼望、所应许的将来，以及上帝浩大的能力（18-19节）。
上帝所赐的圣灵使我们察觉祂正在我们心中动工，并藉着我们做祂的工。因着上帝的同在，那原本只不过是“办公室”的地方，可以成为彰显祂的光辉和荣耀之地。
耶稣，愿祢的真光照亮我，开启我的眼和心，
好让我更明白祢的良善和恩典，并全然领受祢的爱。
在你生活周遭，你从何处看见上帝的工作？
藉由属灵的眼光去看这个世界对你有何帮助？