今天有谁需要我伸出援手呢？

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。-罗马书12章13节

My husband left for a month-long trip, and almost immediately I was overwhelmed by the needs of my job, our house, and our children. A writing deadline loomed. The lawn mower broke. My children were on school break and bored. How would I take care of all of these things on my own? 

我丈夫外出一个月，他一离开我就觉得自己快要被工作、家务和照顾孩子的事给淹没了。截稿期限迫在眉睫，割草机故障了，孩子们正在放假整天闷得慌，我一个人怎能应付得了这么多事呢？

I soon realized I wasn’t on my own. Friends from church showed up to help. Josh came over to fix my lawn mower. John brought me lunch. Cassidy helped with the laundry. Abi invited my kids over to play with hers so I could get my work done. God worked through each of these friends to provide for me. They were a living picture of the kind of community Paul describes in Romans 12. They loved sincerely (v. 9), considered the needs of others rather than just their own (v. 10), shared with me when I was in need, and showed hospitality (v. 13).

但我很快就发现自己并非孤单无助，而是有许多教会弟兄姐妹乐意伸出援手。小乔修好了我的割草机，阿强带午餐来，凯思帮忙洗衣服，阿碧则把我的孩子带去和她的小孩一起玩，让我可以把工作完成。上帝亲自动工，透过每一位朋友供应我的需要。这些人体现出了保罗在罗马书12章所描绘的群体生活，他们真诚地爱人（9节），顾念他人而非仅是自己的需要（10节），在我有需要时，乐意伸出援手且热心款待（13节）。

Because of the love my friends showed to me, I remained “joyful in hope” and “patient in affliction” (v. 12), even the mild affliction of solo parenting for a month. My brothers and sisters in Christ became what one friend calls “God with skin on” for me. They showed me the kind of sincere love we ought to show to everyone, especially those in our community of faith (Galatians 6:10). I hope to be more like them.

因着这群朋友所展现的爱，我才能在这独自带孩子一个月的小小磨难里，“在指望中喜乐”、“在患难中忍耐”（12节）。正如一位朋友所说，这些主内弟兄姐妹都是我身边“上帝的使者”。他们向我展现出的真诚之爱，也正是我们应对人表现出来的爱，特别是爱主内的弟兄姐妹（加拉太书6章10节）。我深愿自己能学习他们的榜样。

亲爱的上帝，感谢祢把我们放在群体之中。求祢让我们能看顾别人的需要，并且乐于款待他人。

Romans 12:9-18 NIV

12 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

罗马书 12:9-18 

12 爱人不可虚假；恶要厌恶，善要亲近。 10 爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。 11 殷勤不可懒惰；要心里火热，常常服侍主。 12 在指望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告要恒切。 13 圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待。 14 逼迫你们的，要给他们祝福；只要祝福，不可咒诅。 15 与喜乐的人要同乐，与哀哭的人要同哭。 16 要彼此同心；不要志气高大，倒要俯就卑微的人；不要自以为聪明。17 不要以恶报恶。众人以为美的事，要留心去做。 18 若是能行，总要尽力与众人和睦。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

The practice of hospitality is a key teaching in the New Testament. Jesus told His disciples to depend on the hospitality of those they ministered to (Matthew 10:11; Luke 10:7–8). Jesus also received hospitality from others(Mark 2:15; 14:3; Luke 7:36). Mary and Martha opened their home to Jesus (Luke10:38), and this is probably where He stayed each time He came to Jerusalem(see Matthew 21:17). Luke mentioned a group of women who “were helping to support [Jesus and the twelve disciples] out of their own means” (Luke 8:3).The apostle John commended Gaius for his cheerful generosity and loving hospitality because he provided itinerant Bible teachers a place to stay (3 John 1:5–8).

接待客旅是新约中一个重要的教导。耶稣教导门徒，要接受他们所服事之人的款待（马太福音10章11节；路加福音10章7-8节）。同样地，耶稣也接受别人的款待（马可福音2章15节，14章3节；路加福音7章36节）。马利亚和马大就常常在家接待耶稣（路加福音10章38节），耶稣每次到耶路撒冷，可能都住在她们那里（参阅马太福音21章17节）。路加还提到，有一群妇女“用自己的财物供给耶稣和门徒”（路加福音8章3节）。使徒约翰也称赞该犹的热情好客，因为他接待周游各地教导福音真理的圣经教师（约翰三书1章5-8节）。

When we lovingly support ministry workers in practical ways, we are their partners in ministry (v. 8). Therefore, Paul urges us, “When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality”(Romans 12:13 NLT). Peter echoed the same sentiment: “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other . . . . Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay” (1 Peter 4:8–9 NLT).

当我们以实际的行动热切支持上帝的仆人和使女，就在他们的事工上有份（8节）。因此，保罗敦促我们说：“圣徒缺乏要帮补，客要一味地款待”（罗马书12章13节）。彼得也提到：“最要紧的是彼此切实相爱，……你们要互相款待。”（彼得前书4章8-9节）

整理：于姊妹