不要惧怕:基督徒该如何应对危机
Not Afraid: How Christians Can Respond to Crises

第一天
面临危机时,我们基督徒该如何回应?
Day 1
As Christians, how do we respond in the face of a crisis?

今日读经

其实明天如何,你们还不知道。你们的生命是什么呢?你们原来是一片云雾,出现片刻就不见了。(雅各书 4:14)

我对你们说了这些事,是要使你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难,但你们要有勇气,我已经胜过世界。(约翰福音 16:33)

所以,弟兄們,我以上帝的慈悲勸你們,將身體獻上當作活祭,是聖潔的,是上帝所喜悅的,你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。不要效法這個世界,只要心意更新而變化,叫你們察驗何為上帝的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。(罗马书 12:1-2)

我们要坚守所宣认的指望,毫不动摇,因为应许我们的那位是信实的。我们要彼此相顾,激发爱心,勉励行善;不可停止聚会,好像那些停止惯了的人,倒要彼此劝勉,既然知道那日子临近,就更当如此。(希伯来书 10:23–25)

灵修与祷告

当世界发生危机的时候,我们虽然身为耶稣的门徒,却很容易质疑自己的信心,又很难用耶稣应许给我们的平安来替代恐慌。

那么,作为基督徒的我们在面对自然灾难、大流行病,或者其他可怕的未知时,要做何反应呢?

首先,我们要记得这个世界不是我们的家。圣经告诉我们这世界是暂时的——就像云雾一样。这是否意味着我们可以对周遭的事情不闻不问呢?当然不是!我们不可效法这世界,但我们必须爱这世上的人。

我们回应危险和不确定性的方式,不是忽视痛苦,而是将人们带到上帝的平安中来。

圣经还提醒我们,不要活得像那些没有指望的人一样。因为我们知道耶稣为我们做了什么,所以我们清楚知道他一直和我们同在。因此,即使灾难临到,我们也不动摇,因为我们知道耶稣不会丢弃我们。

你可能会问,仁慈的上帝怎么可以允许如此糟糕的事情在世上发生。提出这个疑问是可以的。上帝并不回避我们的问题;他邀请我们到他那里去。

事实是,耶稣从未承诺给任何人没有痛苦的人生。他反而说世界会有苦难,会有些不确定性。但是我们仍然可以怀抱希望,因为这世界并不是我们最终的目的地。耶稣是这样说的:

“我将这些事告诉你们,是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上,你们有苦难;但你们可以放心,我已经胜了世界。”(约翰福音16:33)

现在你知道平安是从哪里来的了吗?只有在耶稣那里,我们才能找到平安。无论我们面对的问题是什么,这份平安都不会改变。耶稣为我们做的事让我们备受鼓舞,因为我们知道故事最后将走向哪里:终有一天,上帝会彻底纠正这世上所有不对的事。

尽管今天的我们举步维艰,只需记得,在基督里面我们有一份不会撼动的盼望,这盼望不会因为我们的境遇而改变。接下来几天,我们将分享当灾难发生时,我们还可以采取什么其他的观点,又可以做哪些具体的事,来分享耶稣的爱。

祷告:上帝啊,我今天带着对_________的惧怕来到你面前。上帝啊,我知道你并不对任何正在发生的事感到惊讶,因此请你用信心替代我内心的恐惧。帮助我今天能以确实又出我意料的方式感受到你的平安和同在,好让我能将我在你里面所拥有的盼望分享出去。感谢你从不离开我,也感谢你应许要一直与我同在。奉耶稣的名,阿们。

Today's Bible Reading

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Devotional and Prayer

When a crisis happens in our world, it’s easy to question our faith, and it’s hard to replace the panic we face with the peace we’re promised as Jesus-followers.

So, what can we do as Christians in response to natural disasters, pandemics, or any other scary unknowns we face?

First, we remember that this world is not our home. Scripture reminds us that this world is temporary—it’s just a vapor. Does that mean we just walk around unbothered by what’s going on around us? Of course not! We’re not to be conformed to the world, but we are supposed to love the world.

Our response in the wake of danger or uncertainty isn’t to ignore pain but to draw people to God’s peace.

We’re also reminded in Scripture that we don’t live like those who have no hope. Because we know what Jesus did for us, we can be confident knowing that He is always with us. So, when disaster strikes, we are not shaken because we know that we are not forsaken.

You might have questions about how a good God could allow such terrible things to happen in this world. And it’s okay to ask that question. God doesn’t evade our questions; He invites us to Him.

The truth is, Jesus never promised any of us a pain-free life. Instead, Jesus promised us that this world will bring trouble. It will bring some uncertainty. But we can still have hope because it’s not our final destination. Here’s what Jesus said about that:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

Did you catch where the peace come from? Jesus is the only place where we can find a peace that doesn’t change regardless of what problems we face. And because of what Jesus has done for us, we can be encouraged because we know how the story ends. One day, God will make all wrongs right.

So when today looks shaky, remember that in Christ, we have an unshakable hope that doesn’t change based on our present circumstances. Over the next few days, we’ll talk about some more perspectives we can have and practical things we can do to share the love of Jesus when tragedy strikes.

Pray: God, I come to You today fearful about _____. God, I know that You are not surprised by anything that is happening, so I ask You to replace my fear with faith. Help me feel Your peace and Your presence in tangible, unexpected ways today so that I can share the hope I have in You with others. Thank You for never leaving me and for promising to always be with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.