We Are Strangers 我们是寄居的
Dexu Xia
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Leviticus 19:34
Everything felt drastically different in their new country—new language, schools, customs, traffic, and weather. They wondered how they would ever adjust. People from a nearby church gathered around them to help them in their new life in a new land. Patti took the couple shopping at a local food market to show them what’s available and how to purchase items. As they wandered around the market, their eyes widened and they smiled broadly when they saw their favorite fruit from their homeland—pomegranates. They bought one for each of their children and even placed one in Patti’s hands in gratefulness. The small fruit and new friends brought big comfort in their strange, new land.
God, through Moses, gave a list of laws for His people, which included a command to treat foreigners among them “as your native-born” (Leviticus 19:34). “Love them as yourself,” God further commanded. Jesus called this the second greatest commandment after loving God (Matthew 22:39). For even God “watches over the foreigner” (Psalm 146:9).
Besides obeying God as we help new friends adapt to life in our country, we may be reminded that we too in a real sense are “strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13). And we’ll grow in our anticipation of the new heavenly land to come.
By: Anne Cetas
Who might God want you to look after? In what ways has He gifted you to spread His love to others?
Compassionate God, I understand a little what it feels like to be a stranger in this world. Lead me to be an encourager of other foreigners and strangers.
和你们同居的外人，你们要看他如本地人一样。—利未记19章34节
他们从战乱的祖国来到这个新的国家，一切都感觉截然不同，新的语言、学校、风俗、交通与天气，这对夫妇不知道自己到底能不能适应。附近一间教会的会友们陪伴在他们身边，帮助他们在这片陌生的土地上展开新生活。佩蒂带着这对夫妻到菜市场购物，让他们看看有哪些食品，以及如何购买各种产品。在逛菜市场时，这对夫妇看到他们在家乡最喜爱的水果红石榴，眼睛登时发亮，开心极了。他们给家里每个小孩都买了一颗，还放一颗在佩蒂手中以表示感谢。小小的水果与新的朋友，让他们在这片陌生的土地上得到极大的安慰。
上帝藉着摩西向以色列百姓颁布了一套律法，其中包括一条诫命，就是要对待他们当中的外地人“如本地人一样”，而且上帝还命令他们“要爱他如己”（利未记19章34节）。耶稣将此称为第二大诫命，居于爱上帝之后（马太福音22章39节），因为上帝也“保护寄居的”（诗篇146篇9节）。
当我们帮助新朋友适应在我们国家的新生活时，除了是顺服上帝之外，也是提醒自己，其实我们也同样“在世上是客旅，是寄居的”（希伯来书11章13节），这会令我们更加期盼那将来临的新天新地。
作者： 施安妮
今天上帝要你去关怀什么人呢？
上帝给你哪方面的恩赐，使你能将祂的爱传递给人？
慈爱的上帝，我明白自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的，求祢引领我关怀来自他乡的客旅，带给他们鼓励