In what ways can you thank God today through simple acts of kindness?

今天，你如何透过爱的举动来感谢上帝呢？

We love him because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19

我们爱，因为上帝先爱我们。-约翰一书4章19节

In 1936, song writer Billy Hill released a popular hit song titled “The Glory of Love.” Before long a nation was singing about the joy of doing even little things out of love for one another. Fifty years later, lyricist Peter Cetera wrote a more romantic song with a similar title. He imagined two people living forever, knowing together they did it all—for the glory of love.

在1936年，美国词曲创作人比利·希尔（Billy Hill）发表了一首烩炙人口的流行歌曲，名为《爱的荣耀》（The Glory of Love）。不久，全美都在传唱这首歌，歌词描述两人因爱而为对方付出，即使做一些小事也会带来快乐。50年后，另一名作词者彼得·赛特拉（Peter Cetera）又写了一首歌名相近、但更浪漫的歌曲。他想像着两个人永远生活在一起，相知相惜，他们所做的一切都为着爱的荣耀。

Revelation, the last book in the Bible, describes a new love song that will someday lift the voices of everyone in heaven and earth (Revelation 5:9, 13). The music begins, however, in a minor key of mourning. John, our narrator, cries, seeing no answer to all that has gone wrong with the world (vv. 3–4). But his mood brightens and the music builds to a crescendo (vv. 12–13) as John learns the real glory and story of love. Soon he hears all creation praising the powerful Lion-King of Judah (v. 5), who has won the hearts of His subjects by lovingly sacrificing Himself, like a Lamb, for our rescue (v. 13).

圣经的最后一卷书启示录，也叙述了一首新的情歌，有朝一日，不论在天上或地上，每个人都将高声颂扬（启示录5章9、13节）。但这首情歌一开始却是哀伤的小调。执笔人约翰放声大哭，因为看不到解决世上一切罪恶的方法（3-4节）。然而当他了解真正的荣耀和爱的故事后，心情便转为喜乐，歌曲的旋律也渐次加强（12-13节）。随后他又听见，所有受造物齐声赞美犹大支派中的狮子（5节），祂因为爱而牺牲自己救赎了我们，如同羔羊一般，祂已赢得万民的心（13节）。

In the most moving lyrics ever sung, we see why even simple acts of kindness rise on the wings of a song. The glory we sing about reflects the heart of our God. We sing about Him because He gave us our song. 

从这首由受造物齐唱的赞美诗中，我们可以理解为何出于爱的善意举动，即使简单微小都值得传颂，因为我们所歌颂的这些爱的举动，正反映了上帝的爱。我们要歌颂赞美上帝，因祂给了我们一首新的情歌。

Revelation 5:1-13    NIV

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four eldersfell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,because you were slain,and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,and they will reign[b] on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,for ever and ever!”

启示录 5:1-13

5 我看见坐宝座的右手中有书卷，里外都写着字，用七印封严了。 2 我又看见一位大力的天使大声宣传说：“有谁配展开那书卷，揭开那七印呢？” 3 在天上、地上、地底下，没有能展开、能观看那书卷的。 4 因为没有配展开、配观看那书卷的，我就大哭。 5 长老中有一位对我说：“不要哭。看哪，犹大支派中的狮子，大卫的根，他已得胜，能以展开那书卷、揭开那七印！” 6 我又看见宝座与四活物并长老之中有羔羊站立，像是被杀过的，有七角七眼，就是神的七灵，奉差遣往普天下去的。 7 这羔羊前来，从坐宝座的右手里拿了书卷。8 他既拿了书卷，四活物和二十四位长老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿着琴和盛满了香的金炉。这香就是众圣徒的祈祷。 9 他们唱新歌，说：“你配拿书卷，配揭开七印，因为你曾被杀，用自己的血从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神，10 又叫他们成为国民做祭司，归于神，在地上执掌王权。” 11 我又看见且听见宝座与活物并长老的周围有许多天使的声音，他们的数目有千千万万， 12 大声说：“曾被杀的羔羊是配得权柄、丰富、智慧、能力、尊贵、荣耀、颂赞的！” 13 我又听见在天上、地上、地底下、沧海里和天地间一切所有被造之物都说：“但愿颂赞、尊贵、荣耀、权势都归给坐宝座的和羔羊，直到永永远远！”

Father, please help us to see that even the smallest acts of love and kindness can remind us of Your love for us.

天父，求祢让我们知道每一个爱的举动，无论大小，都是在提醒我们祢对我们的爱。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

A repeated word in today’s passage is worthy (vv. 2, 4, 9, 12), which is used to describe Jesus. But what does worthy mean? While a dictionary definition is helpful, the passage itself defines it. First, Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed (v. 5) and can therefore open the scroll and break the seals. But John goes on to describe how He has triumphed. Jesus is worthy because He has triumphed by being slain and purchasing people with His blood (v. 9).

在今天阅读的经文中，多次以“配”或“配得”（2、4、9、12节）来描述耶稣。但“配得”是什么意思呢？虽然字典的定义颇有帮助，但其实这段经文已清楚阐明其意。首先，耶稣之所以配得，是因为祂已经得胜了（5节）。所以，祂可以展开书卷，揭开封印。约翰接着描述耶稣如何得胜，表明耶稣配得乃因祂流血舍命，并用祂的宝血买赎万民（9节）。

整理：于姊妹