our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Oct 30, 2017, 3:02:49 AM10/30/17

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Surviving the Wilderness

The message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Hebrews 4:2

In the 1960s, the Kingston Trio released a song called “Desert Pete.” The ballad tells of a thirsty cowboy who is crossing the desert and finds a hand pump. Next to it, Desert Pete has left a note urging the reader not to drink the water in the jar left there but to use its contents to prime the pump.

The cowboy resists the temptation to drink and uses the water as the note instructs. In reward for his obedience, he receives an abundance of cold, satisfying water. Had he not acted in faith, he would have had only a jar of unsatisfying, warm water to drink.

Help us to place our trust in You, Lord. You are what our heart thirsts after.

This reminds me of Israel’s journey through the wilderness. When their thirst became overwhelming (Ex. 17:1–7), Moses sought the Lord. He was told to strike the rock of Horeb with his staff. Moses believed and obeyed, and water gushed from the stone.

Sadly, Israel would not consistently follow Moses’s example of faith. Ultimately, “the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed” (Heb. 4:2).

Sometimes life can seem like an arid desert. But God can quench our spiritual thirst in the most unlikely circumstances. When by faith we believe the promises of God’s Word, we can experience rivers of living water and grace for our daily needs.

Help us to place our trust in You, Lord. You are what our heart thirsts after.

Only Jesus, the Living Water, can satisfy our thirst for God.

活水

只是所听见的道与他们无益，因为他们没有信心与所听见的道调和。-希伯来书4章2节

在六十年代，金斯顿三重唱录制了一首歌曲，名为《荒野彼得》（Desert Pete），描述一个口干舌燥的牛仔，在穿越沙漠时发现一个抽水机。旁边有一个水瓶，还有一张荒野彼得留下的字条，提醒看到字条的人不要喝瓶中的水，而是要将水注入抽水机，才能将水引出来。

这位牛仔遏制想一口把瓶中的水喝干的渴望，并按字条的指示使用那瓶水。因着他的顺服，结果他可以尽情享用清凉的水。若他没有凭着信心按指示而行，他便只有一瓶温热而少量的水可喝。

这使我想到以色列人在旷野中的旅程。当他们因为没有水喝而争闹时（出埃及记17章1-7节），摩西寻求上帝，上帝要他用手杖击打何烈的磐石。摩西相信且顺服，水因而从石头中泉涌而出。可悲的是，以色列民并没有一直效法摩西信而顺服的榜样。最终“所听见的道与他们无益，因为他们没有信心与所听见的道调和”（希伯来书4章2节）。

有时人的一生就像是个荒芜的旷野，但是上帝却能在最令人无法预料的情况下，解除我们灵性的干渴。当我们凭信心相信上帝的应许时，我们便能经历到上帝的活水与恩典，足以供应我们每日所需。

主啊，求祢帮助我们，能全然信靠祢，祢才是我们心中所渴求的。