灵命日粮 酒葫芦 你们显在这世代中，好像明光照耀，将生命的道表明出来。 —腓立比书2章15- 16节

[Hongzhi Xu]

酒葫芦


— Dennis Fisher

读经:

腓立比书2章12-18节


你们显在这世代中，好像明光照耀，将生命的道表明出来。 —腓立比书2章15- 16节


全年读经:

耶利米书50章 希伯来书8章


在美国南北战争（1861-1865）爆发之前，逃跑的黑奴可以从「地下铁道」离开而重获自由。「地下铁道」其实指的是在北方废奴主义者的帮助下，从南到北的秘密逃亡路径。黑奴要在夜间走好几英里的路程，但只要跟着天上「酒葫芦」的星光，就能走对方向。「酒葫芦」是指引北极星的北斗七星星群。有人相信，黑奴是把「跟随酒葫芦」（Follow the Drinking Gourd）的歌词解密而找到方向，免得在逃亡的过程中迷路。


废奴主义者和「酒葫芦」，都是指引黑奴重获自由的明灯。使徒保罗说，基督徒「好像明光照耀」，要给予那些追求上帝的真理、救赎以及属灵自由的人，指引正确的方向（腓立比书2章15节）。


现今这个黑暗的世界，正迫切需要看见耶稣基督的真光。上帝对我们的呼召，就是活出祂的真理，为主发光，引导人来亲近那位救赎主，那自由和生命的道路。我们要领人走向耶稣，耶稣就是道路、真理、生命（约翰福音14章6节）。

亲爱主，感谢祢救赎我，


赐我新生命。求赐我怜悯之心，


帮助那些在黑暗中失丧的人。


使我成为明光照耀，引导人归向祢──世界的光。


反映耶稣的光，照亮身边的世界。

Our Daily Bread -- The Drinking Gourd

Shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. —Philippians 2:15-16

Prior to the American Civil War (1861–1865), fugitive slaves found freedom by following the Underground Railroad, a term for the secret routes from the South to the North and the abolitionists who helped them along the way. Slaves would travel at night for many miles, keeping on track by following the light of the “Drinking Gourd.” This was a code name for the collection of stars known as the Big Dipper, which points to the North Star. Some believe the fugitives also used encoded directions in the lyrics of the song “Follow the Drinking Gourd” to keep them from getting lost as they traveled.

Both the abolitionists and the “drinking gourd” served as points of light directing the slaves to freedom. The apostle Paul says that believers are to shine as “lights in the world” to show the way to those seeking God’s truth, redemption, and spiritual liberation (Phil. 2:15).

We live in a dark world that desperately needs to see the light of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to shine forth God’s truth so that others can be directed to the One who redeems and is the path to liberty and life. We point the way to Jesus, the One who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). —Dennis Fisher

Dear Lord, thank You for redeeming me and giving

me new life. Give me compassion for those who are

still lost in spiritual darkness. Use me to be a light

that points others to You, the Light of the world.

Light up your world by reflecting the light of Jesus.