今日我如何体现出上帝的爱呢？

I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 2 John 1:5

我们大家要彼此相爱。这并不是我写一条新命令给你，乃是我们从起初所受的命令。-约翰二书1章5节

My children and I have started a new daily practice. Every night at bedtime, we gather colored pencils and light a candle. Asking God to light our way, we get out our journals and draw or write answers to two questions: When did I show love today? and When did I withhold love today?

我和孩子们开始建立一个新的习惯。每晚临睡前，我们拿出彩色铅笔，点上蜡烛，求主光照我们。然后取出日记本，以图文回答两个问题：今天我用什么方式去爱人呢？今天我什么时候没有爱心呢？

Loving our neighbors has been an important part of the Christian life “from the beginning” (2 John 1:5). That’s what John writes in his second letter to his congregation, asking them to love one another in obedience to God (2 John 1:5–6). Love is one of John’s favorite topics throughout his letters. He says that practicing real love is one way to know that we “belong to the truth,” that we’re living in God’s presence (1 John 3:18–19). When my kids and I reflect, we find that in our lives love takes shape in simple actions: sharing an umbrella, encouraging someone who is sad, or cooking a favorite meal. The moments when we’re withholding love are equally practical: we gossip, refuse to share, or satisfy our own desires without thinking of others’ needs.

爱邻舍“从起初”就是基督徒生命中重要的一环（约翰二书1章5节）。约翰向会众写的第二封书信，就是要他们遵从上帝的命令，彼此相爱（约翰二书1章5-6节）。“爱”是约翰所写的书信中，最常出现的主题之一。他提到行出真实的爱，是显明我们“属真理的”一个途径，也表明我们就住在上帝的同在里（约翰一书3章18-19节） 。当我和孩子们一同省思的时候，我们发现在日常生活中，一个简单的动作就能体现爱，如与人共享一把雨伞、安慰伤心的人，或烧一顿好菜。同样地，我们也很容易在小事上缺乏爱心，如说人闲语、不愿与人分享，或只顾自己而不考虑别人的需要。

Paying attention each night helps us be more aware each day, more tuned in to what the Spirit might be showing us as we walk through our lives. With the Spirit’s help, we’re learning to walk in love (2 John 1:6).

每晚认真地省思，让我们每天更加警醒，也更留心圣灵在生活中的带领。圣灵会帮助我们学习凭爱心行事（约翰二书1章6节）。

主，帮助我们爱人不只在言语上，而在行为和诚实上。求祢教导我们，顺服回应祢的呼召，凭爱心行事。

2 John 1-6    NIV

1 The elder, To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

约翰二书 1-6 

1 做长老的写信给蒙拣选的太太和她的儿女，就是我诚心所爱的；不但我爱，也是一切知道真理之人所爱的。 2 爱你们是为真理的缘故，这真理存在我们里面，也必永远与我们同在。 3 恩惠、怜悯、平安从父神和他儿子耶稣基督，在真理和爱心上，必常与我们同在！ 4 我见你的儿女有照我们从父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚欢喜。 5 太太啊，我现在劝你：我们大家要彼此相爱。这并不是我写一条新命令给你，乃是我们从起初所受的命令。 6 我们若照他的命令行，这就是爱。你们从起初所听见当行的，就是这命令。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

Love is a prominent theme in the apostle John’s writings. In today’s reading (2 John 1:1–6) John writes: “It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us” (v. 4). Just as caring parents delight in the development of the gifts and character of their children, John had a father’s pride in those who walked in love. It is interesting to contemplate what John means by “walk in love” (v. 6). The Greek word translated “walk” can also mean a consistency one exhibits in speech, attitudes, and behavior. It’s clear that we’re being told to make sure the words we say, the attitudes we have toward others, and our general behavior be characterized by sensitivity and generosity. Of course, the ultimate example of love is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (1 John 4:10). We love others because Christ first loved us.

爱是使徒约翰著作中的一个关键主题。在今天的阅读经文中（约翰二书1章1-6节），约翰写道：“我见你的儿女，有照我们从父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚欢喜”（4节）。正如父母乐于看到儿女在恩赐和品格上有所长进，当约翰看到那些信徒行在爱中，他也像一位父亲那般自豪。值得深思的是，约翰所说“行在爱中”的意思（6节）。翻译成“行”的希腊词，也可以表示在言语、态度和行为上的一致。显然，约翰是在告诉我们，要确保我们说的话、对别人的态度以及平时的行为，都表现出体谅和慷慨的特质。当然，主耶稣基督本身就是爱的绝佳典范（约翰一书4章10节）。我们爱人，是因为基督先爱了我们。

整理：于姊妹