2008-05-17 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧，歡迎訂閱，推介及奉獻支持。 《網絡天糧》查詢，請電郵：ccf@ccfellow.org 訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持 耶穌喜愛小孩 粵語 國語 第 17 天 讀經：馬可福音十章13至16節 　　在今天的社會，教導小孩的責任往往落在母親的身上；然而，我們今天選讀的經文卻顯示，把孩子帶到耶穌面前來的人，可能是孩子的父親，因為和合本聖經譯為「有人」（第13節）的那個字詞，其希臘原文其實是「他們」。 　　這點實在並不出奇，因為在猶太人的家庭中，通常是由父親負責兒女的宗教教育。母親在這方面的角色，當然十分重要；我們在摩西、撒母耳和提摩太的身上，都看到母親對他們靈命帶來深遠的影響。其實，連祖父母也可以對兒孫的生命產生重大的影響。無論如何，家庭是培養兒童靈命的最佳場所；父母在信仰上對兒女的建立和薰陶，必對他們日後的成長產生深遠的影響。 　　反觀我們的家庭，是怎樣推動宗教教育的呢？教導兒女的責任，是否完全落在母親的身上？做父親的，是否只懂得說：「教養兒女的事，我已經全權交在太太的手上」？然而，聖經卻不是這樣教導我們的啊！ 　　新約非常清楚地指出，作丈夫和父親的，必須在屬靈的事情上作「頭」的角色──即負起帶領的角色。基督亦要求基督徒的家庭常有美好的見證，以致讓人看見基督是他們的一家之主，他們的一家常有一位慈愛的天父看顧。 　　經文亦告訴我們，基督是何等的喜愛小孩；所以，作父母的，應自小教導兒女認識基督的愛，和教導他們凡事向天父祈禱。小孩子那些簡單而純真的禱告，是最令人感動的。基督直言我們成年人最需要學習的，正是小孩子那種單純的信心。全然的信靠和單純的愛，是神所喜悅的。 　　孩子是神給予我們的寶貴禮物，我們在他們身上學到甚麼是單純的信靠。神喜歡小孩子，所以，我們應自小教導小孩認識神的愛，並引領他們來到祂的面前。 反思： 我的家是否能常常見證神的愛？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN Day 17 BIBLE READING: Mark 10:13-16 We often sing, 'when mothers of Salem their children brought to Jesus'. But the words used in our reading today show that it was the fathers who actually brought their little ones to Christ. In a Jewish family it was always the father who had the responsibility of training the children in spiritual things. Certainly the mothers had a big part to play also, as we see in the lives of Moses, Samuel and Timothy. Even grandparents shared in this. Spiritual training was the very best education a family could give their children. What about our families today? Is the spiritual training of the children left to the mothers? How often have you heard it said 'Well I leave those things to my wife'? But that is not what the Word of God says. The New Testament is very clear that the husband and father is the one who should take the lead and be the spiritual head of the house. Christ also wants Christian families to be a witness to the world of how wonderful it is to have a loving heavenly Father who cares for use always. The reading also tells us how much Christ loves little children. They are never too young to be prayed for. Very early in their lives they should be told about his love. There is nothing more moving than the prayer of a little child simply telling God all about all that has happened to him that day. Christ said that the simple faith of a child is something we all need to practise. God loves to see that kind of trust and love. Children are God's gift to us. He loves them and he wants us to teach them about his wonderful love for them. A QUESTION: How much of the love of God can be seen in your home day by day?