• 雅各书 1:19-27

19我亲爱的弟兄们，你们要明白：你们每一个人要快快地听，慢慢地说，慢慢地动怒， 20因为人的怒气并不能实现上帝的义。 21所以，你们要除去一切的污秽和累积的恶毒，要存温柔的心领受所栽种的道，就是能救你们灵魂的道。22但是，你们要作行道的人，不要只作听道的人，自己欺骗自己。 23因为只听道而不行道的，就像人对着镜子观看自己本来的面目， 24注视后，就离开，立刻忘了自己的相貌如何。 25惟有查看那完美、使人自由的律法，并且时常遵守的，他不是听了就忘，而是切实行出来，这样的人在所行的事上必然蒙福。26若有人自以为虔诚，却不勒住自己的舌头，反欺骗自己的心，这人的虔诚是徒然的。 27在上帝—我们的父面前，清洁没有玷污的虔诚就是看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇，并且保守自己不沾染世俗。

自从自我隔离变成街坊四邻的新常态，我开始（也终于）想起周遭的邻居了。住在这条街尽头的那对老夫妇——他们过得可好？那位守寡独居的太太——如何打发孤寂？还有我们教会那位女士，新冠开始前她就很焦虑——这段时间她是否在坚强地挺过来？

这些想法都是好的。耶稣的弟弟雅各就提醒我们：“在上帝我们的父面前，那清洁没有玷污的虔诚，就是看顾在患难中的孤儿寡妇……”（雅各书1:27）

真正的虔诚不仅仅是教会侍奉、在家灵修和慷慨奉献，也是照顾那些被孤立和被忽略的人。这是把我们有限的时间投入到他们的生活中去，确保他们感到自己被看见、被听到，以及被关爱。

毕竟，这是耶稣许多奇妙之处中的一个：在患难当中，他聆听我们的祷告；在愧疚当中，他伸出双手给我们看他手上的钉伤；在惧怕当中，他的灵把我们带回上帝的各样应许，就是会为了我们的益处叫万事互相效力。自始至终，耶稣都看见我们。他完全晓得我们，并赐我们以奇妙的爱。

所以今天就环顾四周，看见你周围的人吧。趁着居家隔离的日子，想想那些因为忙碌而被你忽略的人，请联络他们，好叫他们也得以一睹耶稣的爱。

如果这个病毒让我们向“清洁没有玷污”的虔诚更近一步，那么一切都是值得的。这再一次，证明基督＞新冠病毒。

• 花点时间向神献上感恩与祈求

• James 1:19-27

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Once self-isolation became the norm in our neighborhoods, I started to (finally) think of my neighbors. The elderly couple down the road—how are they holding up? The widow who’s all alone—is she coping with the loneliness? The woman from church who was anxious before the virus became our new normal—is she staying strong?

These are good thoughts. Jesus’ brother James reminds us, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ...” (James 1:27)

Real religion isn’t just about church services, home devotions, and generous offerings. It’s about looking after the isolated and ignored. It’s investing our limited time into their lives, making sure they feel seen, known, and loved.

After all, this is one of the wonderful things about Jesus. In our distress, he listens to our prayers. In our guilt, he extends his hands and shows us his scars. In our fear, his Spirit brings us back to the promises of God to work out all things for good. Through it all, Jesus sees us. That makes us fully known and wonderfully loved.

So look around today and see people. During your isolation, think of those whom your busyness might have blinded you to. Reach out and show them a glimpse of Jesus’ love.

If this virus gets us one step closer to “pure and faultless” religion, it will all be worth it. Proof, once more, that Christ > Corona.

• Take a moment to give thanks and prayers to God