The Father’s Open Arms 天父敞开的怀抱
Dexu Xia
In you the fatherless find compassion. Hosea 14:3
Today's Scripture Hosea 14: 1-9
Today's Insights The book of Hosea begins with a bitter, living picture of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God, lived out in the promiscuous lifestyle of Hosea’s unfaithful wife (1:2). Ultimately Hosea buys her back out of her enslaved condition—a picture of God’s redemption of His wayward people (3:1-5). At the time, Israel faced severe judgment for their sins. The book’s final chapter brings hope and an appeal. The prophet says, “Take words with you and return to the Lord” (14:2). He counsels them, “Say to [God], ‘Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips’ ” (v. 2). Some scholars believe the “fruit of our lips” is a reference to their honest confession before God—a far preferable sacrifice than the empty rituals they’d been performing (6:6). As we share what God has done for us, we invite others to accept the love of our gracious and forgiving Father.
Today's Devotion Mary Slessor’s compassionate heart led her to open her arms to those in need. The Scottish missionary, born in 1848, served among the people of Okoyong in a distant land. Superstition led people of that region to believe that when twins were born, one was good and one was the child of a demon. This often led to both twins dying—being abandoned to starvation or other dangers. Reflecting the loving heart of God, in time Mary helped save hundreds of the at-risk children, adopting nine as her own!
In his inspired words to the rebellious nation of Israel, the prophet Hosea offers a glimpse into God’s caring heart for children. The prophet said of Him, “In you the fatherless find compassion” (14:3). Hosea stated that God cared for His own and desired to “love them freely” (v. 4). But they needed to turn from their defiance of Him and embrace His ways. They were instructed to turn from pagan deities to the true God who cares for the most helpless, the orphans. And if they returned to God, they’d find forgiveness from the one who would “receive [them] graciously” (vv. 1-2).
As we open our arms to those around us, including at-risk children, we reflect the love of God. Let’s embrace His compassionate heart and extend His care to those in need as He helps us.
Reflect & Pray
How has God’s loving example led you to care for those in need? How does it encourage you to know that in Him “the fatherless find compassion”?
Compassionate God, please open my heart and my arms to children and others who are in need around me.
By Tom Felten
因为孤儿在您耶和华那里得蒙怜悯。（何西阿书 14:3）
今日经文：何西阿书 14章1-9 节
今日洞见：何西阿书开篇就描绘了一幅令人痛心的画面，生动地展现了以色列人对神的不忠；这种不忠藉着何西阿那不贞的妻子放荡的生活展现出来（1:2）。最终，何西阿将她从奴役的境地赎回，这正是神救赎祂那悖逆子民的写照（3:1-5）。当时，以色列因其罪恶面临严厉的审判。然而，该书的最后一章带来了希望与呼吁。先知劝勉他们说：“当归向耶和华，用言语向他祷告说：‘求祢除净罪孽，悦纳善行，我们就把嘴唇的祭献上’”（2节）。一些学者认为，“嘴唇的祭”指的是百姓在神面前诚实的认罪，这远比他们过去所行的那些空洞仪式更为可贵（6:6）。当我们与人分享神为我们所做的一切时，我们也在邀请他人接受那位满有恩典与宽恕的天父的爱。
今日灵修：玛丽·斯莱索那颗充满怜悯的心使她向那些有需要的人敞开怀抱。这位出生于1848年的苏格兰传教士，曾在遥远的异乡服事奥科永族的百姓。当地人受迷信思想影响，认为双胞胎中必有一个是善的，另一个则是魔鬼的孩子，以致双胞胎往往双双丧命，他们也常被人遗弃，最终死于饥饿或其他危险之中。玛丽的生命彰显出上帝的爱，她满有慈爱地先后救助了数百名处于险境的双胞胎，并收养了其中九个孩子作为自己的儿女！
先知何西阿在向悖逆的以色列民族传达神的话语时，让我们得以窥见神那关爱孩童的心肠。先知论到神说：“在祢里面，孤儿得蒙怜悯”（14:3）。何西阿指出，神眷顾祂的子民，并渴望“甘心爱他们”（4节）。但他们需要回转，不再悖逆祂，而是顺从祂的旨意。他们受教导要离弃异教神明，归向那位眷顾孤儿，即最无助之人的真神。只要他们归向神，就能从那位“乐意施恩接纳”他们的主那里获得宽恕（1-2节）。
当我们向周围的人（包括处于困境中的儿童）敞开怀抱时，我们便彰显了神的爱。让我们领受祂那充满怜悯的心肠，并像祂帮助我们那样，向有需要的人伸出关怀之手。
反思与祷告 神那充满慈爱的榜样如何引领你去关怀有需要的人？得知在祂那里“孤儿能得到怜悯”，这对你是怎样的鼓励？ 满有怜悯的神啊，求祢开启我的心，让我向周围有需要的儿童及他人敞开怀抱。 作者：汤姆 非尔藤