It is impossible to love Christ without loving others.

我们不能只爱主而不爱人。

At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6

因我们还软弱的时候，基督就按所定的日期为罪人死。-罗马书5章6节

When Kathleen’s teacher called her to the front of the grammar class to analyze a sentence, she panicked. As a recent transfer student, she hadn’t learned that aspect of grammar. The class laughed at her.

当老师在文法课上，要凯斯琳（Kathleen Parker）到台上作句型分析，她真是吓坏了。因为她是新来的转学生，这些文法她都还没学到，但全班同学还是无情地嘲笑她。

Instantly the teacher sprang to her defense. “She can out-write any of you any day of the week!” he explained. Many years later, Kathleen gratefully recalled the moment: “I started that day to try to write as well as he said I could.” Eventually, Kathleen Parker would win a Pulitzer Prize for her writing.

那时，老师维护凯斯琳，说：“她的文笔比你们任何人都好！”多年后，当凯斯琳回想这事仍感地说：“从那天起，我就努力写作，一心只想要写得和老师说的一样好。”最后，凯斯琳赢得了普立兹新闻奖。

As did Kathleen’s teacher, Jesus identified with the defenseless and vulnerable. When His disciples kept children away from Him, He grew angry. “Let the little children come to me,” He said, “and do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14). He reached out to a despised ethnic group, making the Good Samaritan the hero of His parable (Luke 10:25–37) and offering genuine hope to a searching Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:1–26). He protected and forgave a woman trapped in adultery (John 8:1–11). And though we were utterly helpless, Christ gave His life for all of us (Rom. 5:6).

耶稣就像这位老师一样，祂维护那些软弱且无力自保的人。当门徒不让孩子来到祂的面前，耶稣就说：“让小孩子到我这里来，不要禁止他们”(马可福音10章14节) 。耶稣以恩慈对待饱受种族歧视的人，让好心的撒马利亚人成为祂比喻中的英雄人物(路加福音10章25-37节) ；祂在雅各井旁，让打水的撒马利亚妇人重得盼望(约翰福音4章1-26节) ；祂也保护并饶恕一个行淫的妇人(约翰福音8章1-11节) 。不但如此，在我们还软弱无助的时候，祂就为我们舍命(罗马书5章6节) 。

When we defend the vulnerable and the marginalized, we give them a chance to realize their potential. We show them real love, and in a small but significant way we reflect the very heart of Jesus.

当我们维护弱势群体或社会的边缘人，就是让他们有机会能发掘自己的潜能。我们以真爱对待他们，就反映了耶稣慈爱的心肠。

Father, help me recognize the people in my life who need someone to stand with them. Forgive me for thinking that it’s “not my problem.” Help me to love others as You do.

天父，求祢让我能看见有些人正需要扶持，

请赦免我总是袖手旁观。
并求祢帮助我，可以像祢一样地爱他们。

Mark 10:13-16New International Version (NIV)

The Little Children and Jesus

13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

整理：于姊妹