Love That Goes the Distance 跨越一切距离的爱

[Dexu Xia]

Teach [my commands] to your children. Deuteronomy 11:19

Today's Scripture Deuteronomy 11:13-21

Today's Insights   Deuteronomy derives from the Greek word deuteronomion, which means “second law.” Most of the book of Deuteronomy repeats the law of Moses given to Israel on Mount Sinai forty years earlier. The generation that had agreed to that law (Exodus 24:7) decades earlier, however, had died in the wilderness. Now, the law needed to be rehearsed for a new generation preparing to enter the promised land. The law instructed them not only how to relate to God but also to one another. Today, as we study the Scriptures, we also learn how to share His love and truth with others.

Today's Devotion    “We wave until they’re out of sight. It’s a way of showing that we love them.” Those words from my mother when I was a boy explained a habit she and my father had when a family member left our home after a visit. Mom and Dad stood outside and waved to the ones leaving until they disappeared in the distance. Sometimes they stood there for a long time, but that didn’t matter. When I left home myself, I understood why.

Seeing them waving in the rearview mirror touched my heart, and I felt loved and cared for. I still say goodbye to our family visitors that way to show love for them. It’s a habit I hope my children will continue.

Another way we can express love for our families is to communicate God’s love shared in Scripture. As the Israelites prepared to cross the Jordan into the promised land, God taught them with these instructions for life: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds. . . . Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19).

These are words that would one day find fulfillment in the perfect love of Jesus, who promised, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). As we share His truth and kindness, we can trust that His love is able to overcome every distance.

Reflect & Pray    Whom can you encourage with God’s wisdom and truth today? In what ways will you show them His love?

Please help me, dear Father, to share Your love and truth with others today so they may believe and walk with You always.

 By James banks

要将[我的诫命]教导给你们的儿女。申命记11章19节

 今日经文：申命记11章13-21 节

今日洞见： “申命记”（Deuteronomy）一词源自希腊语 *deuteronomion*，意为“第二律法”。申命记一书的大部分内容重申了四十年前摩西在西奈山上赐给以色列民的律法。然而，几十年前曾立约遵行这律法的那一代人（出埃及记24:7），早已在旷野中离世。如今，需要对即将进入应许之地的新一代人重新宣讲与教导这律法。这律法不仅教导他们当如何与神建立关系，也教导他们当如何彼此相待。今日，当我们研读圣经时，我们也从中学习如何将神的爱与真理分享给他人。

 今日灵修  “我们要一直挥手，直到他们消失在视线之外。这是我们表达爱意的一种方式。”当我还是个小男孩时，母亲的这番话解释了她与父亲的一个习惯：每当有亲友来访后离家时，父母总会站在屋外，向离去的人挥手致意，直到他们的身影消失在远方。有时他们会站在那里很久，但他们毫不在意。后来，当我自己离家远行时，我终于明白了其中的缘由。透过后视镜看到父母挥手的身影，我的内心深受触动；那一刻，我真切地感受到了被爱与被关怀的温暖。如今，每当有亲友来访离去时，我依然会用这种方式与他们道别，以此表达我对他们的爱。我衷心希望我的儿女也能将这一习惯传承下去。

    我们向家人表达爱意的另一种方式，就是将圣经中所启示的上帝的爱传达给他们。当以色列民预备渡过约旦河、进入应许之地时，上帝赐下了这些关乎生命与生活的教导：“你们要将我这些话存记在心，系在手上为记号……也要教导你们的儿女，无论坐在家中，行在路上，躺下，起来，都要谈论”（申命记11:18-19）。 这些话语终有一天会在耶稣那完美的爱中得以成全；因为耶稣曾应许说：“我就常与你们同在”（马太福音28:20）。当我们分享祂的真理与良善时，我们可以确信，祂的爱足以跨越一切距离。

反思与祷告  今天，你可以用上帝的智慧与真理去鼓励谁？你将以何种方式向他们展现上帝的爱？

 亲爱的天父，求祢帮助我，使我今天能与他人分享祢的爱与真理，好让他们能够信靠祢，并永远与祢同行。

作者： 詹姆斯·班克斯