Back to the Basics 回到基本原则

[Dexu Xia]

Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right. Ezekiel 45:9

Resolutions, it seems, are made to be broken. Some folks poke fun at this reality by proposing New Year’s vows that are—shall we say—attainable. Here are a few from social media:

Wave to fellow motorists at stoplights.

Sign up for a marathon. Don’t run it.

Stop procrastinating—tomorrow.

Get lost without any help from Siri.

Unfriend everyone who posts their workout regimen.

The concept of a fresh start can be serious business, however. The exiled people of Judah desperately needed one. Just over two decades into their seventy-year captivity, God brought encouragement to them through the prophet Ezekiel, promising, “I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob” (Ezekiel 39:25).

But the nation first needed to return to the basics—the instructions God had given to Moses eight hundred years earlier. This included observing a feast at the new year. For the ancient Jewish people, that began in early spring (45:18). A major purpose of their festivals was to remind them of God’s character and His expectations. He told their leaders, “Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right” (v. 9), and he insisted on honesty (v. 10).

The lesson applies to us too. Our faith must be put into practice or it’s worthless (James 2:17). In this new year, as God provides what we need, may we live out our faith by returning to the basics: “Love the Lord your God,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).

In what ways do you sense you need to get back to the basics? How will you put this into practice in the new year?

Father, may Your Spirit show me the places where I need to put others before myself. Help me love You with all my heart.

要除掉强暴和抢夺的事，施行公平和公义。—以西结书45章9节

人们在新年立下的誓愿似乎总是无法实现。因此，有些人以嘲弄的方式，提出一些应该可以实现的新年誓言，例如：停车等红灯时，向其他驾驶员挥手致意；报名参加马拉松，但弃权不跑；停止拖延习惯，但从明天才开始；不靠手机而迷路；与所有在社群网站发布健身心得的人删除好友关系。

不过，新的开始这个概念可以是件很严肃的事。流亡在外的犹大百姓迫切需要新的开始。他们将要被掳七十年，在刚度过前二十年时，上帝就藉着先知以西结鼓励犹大百姓，应许他们说：“我要使雅各被掳的人归回。”（以西结书39章25节）

但犹大百姓首先要回到基本原则，也就是遵行上帝在八百年前赐给摩西的律例典章，这包括在犹太人的新年举行盛宴，这场盛宴从初春开始（45章18节）。上帝设立不同节期的主要目的，是提醒犹大百姓记得祂的特质，以及祂对百姓的期望。上帝告诉以色列的王，“要除掉强暴和抢夺的事，施行公平和公义”（9节），并强调以公道待人（10节）。

这教导也适用于我们。我们的信仰必须实践在生活中，否则一切毫无意义（雅各书2章17节）。在新的一年，当上帝供应我们一切所需，愿我们能活出信仰，回到基本原则：“爱主你的上帝”及“爱人如己”（马太福音22章37-39节）。

你觉得自己在哪方面需要回到基本原则？
你如何在新的一年里付诸实行？

天父，愿祢的灵指引我，让我看到自己在哪方面
需要先人后己。求祢帮助我全心全意爱祢。