Read: Romans 15:1-6 

Read the Bible to get to know its Author.

越读圣经，越认识上帝。

Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Romans 15:4 

从前所写的圣经，都是为教训我们写的。-罗马书15章4节

I enjoy visiting museums such as the National Gallery in London and the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. While most of the art is breathtaking, some of it confuses me. I look at seemingly random splashes of color on canvas and realize I have no idea what I am seeing—even though the artist is a master at his craft. 

我喜欢参观博物馆，像是伦敦的国家艺廊，或是莫斯科的特列季亚科夫国家画廊。这些美术馆中收藏了好些令人惊叹的艺术品，但也有些作品令我困惑不已。虽说有些画作是出于大师之手，但在我看来，似乎是随意将颜料挥洒在画布上的涂鸦，真是让我雾里看花，越看越花。

Sometimes we can feel the same way about the Scriptures. We wonder, Is it even possible to understand them? Where do I start? Perhaps Paul’s words can give us some help: “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). 

当我们读圣经时，或许有时也有相同的感受。心里嘀咕：这经文有谁能看得懂呢？该从何读起呢？对此，使徒保罗的话语可成为我们的帮助。他说：「从前所写的圣经，都是为教训我们写的，叫我们因圣经所生的忍耐和安慰，可以得着盼望。」（罗马书15章4节）

God has given us the Scriptures for our instruction and encouragement. He has also given us His Spirit to help us to know His mind. Jesus said that He was sending the Spirit to “guide [us] into all the truth” (John 16:13). Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:12, saying, “What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

上帝赐下圣经，为要引导、鼓励我们；祂也赐下圣灵，为要让我们明白祂的心意。耶稣说祂差圣灵来，是要引导我们「明白一切的真理」（约翰福音16章13节） ，保罗在哥林多前书2章12节也同样提到：「我们所领受的，并不是世上的灵，乃是从上帝来的灵，叫我们能知道上帝开恩赐给我们的事。」

With the help of the Spirit, we can approach the Bible with confidence, knowing that through its pages God wants us to know Him and His ways.

有了圣灵的帮助，我们在读圣经时可以更有把握，知道上帝要透过圣经的字句让我们更认识祂，以及祂行事的法则。

Prayer 祷告：

Father, thank You for giving us Your Son to bring us into relationship with You. Thank You for giving us the Scriptures so that we can know You better. And thank You for giving us Your Spirit to guide us into the truth of what we need to know about You and Your great love.

天父，感谢祢赐下爱子，使我们能与祢建立关系。感谢祢赐下圣经，使我们能更认识祢。感谢祢赐下圣灵，引导我们明白真理和祢奇妙大爱。

整理：于姊妹