Pursued by God 被上帝追寻

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Dexu Xia

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Oct 16, 2025, 12:59:11 PM10/16/25

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I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands. Psalm 119:176

Today's Scripture Psalm 119:169-176

Today's Insights The Bible is God’s gift to enable us to live a life that honors Him (Deuteronomy 4:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-17). Psalm 119 is the psalmist’s unwavering commitment to live out its truths. The psalm begins with a declaration that “those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart” are blessed (v. 2). Throughout the psalm, the psalmist spells out these blessings. Its 176 verses (arranged in 22 stanzas of 8 verses each) affirm the authority, supremacy, sufficiency, and transformative power of the words of Scripture. They provide assurance, hope, peace, joy, and delight (vv. 14, 16, 24, 97, 103, 111, 114, 165). Scripture provides wisdom and guidance to navigate life’s challenges (vv. 32, 98-100, 105) and comforts us in times of trouble (vv. 28, 50, 52, 92). It empowers us to live a life that honors God, keeping us from sin and correcting us when we go astray (vv. 9-11, 29, 133). Our loving God uses the Scriptures to draw us to Himself.

Today's Devotional David Uttal is a cognitive scientist who studies navigation but has problems navigating his way around geographic locations. This isn’t a new problem for him—one that goes back to when he was thirteen years old and got lost for two and a half days on a hike. Uttal admits he’s still terrible with simple directions in life. But some people are natural navigators—knowing exactly where they are and how to get where they desire to go. Others, like Uttal, struggle even with clear directions and often get lost.

The psalmist also felt the disorientation of lostness: “I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands” (Psalm 119:176). He compared himself to a wandering sheep. Although sheep can be valuable creatures, they’re also notoriously rebellious and will sometimes drift away from their shepherd—putting them in need of rescue. The psalmist’s spiritual navigation skills had deteriorated, and his spiritual sense of direction had faded, so he needed God to pursue him and give him a “discerning mind” (v. 169 nlt).

When we wander away from God’s care, He loves us enough to seek us and lead us back to Himself. As He helps us understand the Scriptures and follow “all [His] commands” (v. 172), we can avoid getting spiritually lost.

Reflect & Pray

In what ways have you drifted away from God and His wisdom? In what ways will you remember His instruction today?

Gracious God, I recognize that I’m often like a lost sheep—easily distracted and led astray. Please bring me back to Your side.

By Marvin Williams

我如亡羊走迷了路。求你寻找仆人，因我没有忘记你的命令。诗篇 119:176

今日经文：诗篇 119篇169-176节

今日洞见：圣经是上帝赐予的礼物，使我们能够活出荣耀祂的生活（申命记 4:1-8；提摩太后书 3:14-17）。诗篇 119 篇表达了诗人对活出其中真理的坚定不移地的承诺。这篇诗篇以宣告“凡遵守祂的律例，一心寻求祂的人”为有福（2 节）开篇。诗人在整篇诗篇中都详细阐述了这些祝福。这篇诗篇共176节经文（分为22节，每节8节），它肯定了圣经话语的权威性、至高性、充分性和改变人的力量。它讲述圣经提供的确据、盼望、平安、喜乐和喜悦（14、16、24、97、103、111、114、165节）。圣经提供的智慧和指引，帮助我们应对人生的挑战（32、98-100、105节），并在我们遭遇患难时安慰我们（28、50、52、92节）。圣经赐给我们力量，使我们远离罪恶，活出荣耀神的生活，并在我们误入歧途时纠正我们（9-11、29、133节）。我们慈爱的上帝使用圣经吸引我们归向他。

今日灵修：大卫·乌塔尔是一位研究导航的认知科学家，但他在导航方面却遇到了一些问题。这对他来说并非新问题——早在他十三岁时，一次徒步旅行中迷路了两天半。乌塔尔承认，他仍然不擅长辨别生活中简单的方向。但有些人天生就是导航高手，他们清楚地知道自己身在何处，也知道如何到达目的地。而另一些人，比如乌塔尔，即使有明确的方向也常常迷路。

诗篇作者也感受到了迷失的迷茫：“我如亡羊走迷了路。求你寻找仆人，因我没有忘记你的命令。”（诗篇 119:176）他把自己比作一只迷途的羊。虽然羊是宝贵的生物，但它们也以叛逆著称，有时会离开牧羊人——因此需要拯救。诗篇作者的属灵导航能力衰退，属灵方向感也逐渐消退，所以他需要神来追随他，赐给他“明辨事理的心”（169节）。

当我们远离神的看顾时，祂仍旧爱我们，祂会寻找我们，引领我们回到祂身边。当祂帮助我们理解圣经，并遵守“祂的一切诫命”（172节）时，我们就能避免灵性迷失。

反思与祷告你在哪些方面远离了神和祂的智慧？今天你会以哪些方式记念祂的教导？仁慈的神，我意识到自己常常像一只迷失的羊，容易分心，误入歧途。求祢带我回到祢身边。