Tuesday, 24 August 2021
Title: Rejoice always
By: Dr. Hew Fen Lee

1 Thess 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Madam TF has been my patient for quite a few years. She has just celebrated her 80th birthday. She has had more medical issues and hospital admissions in the last few years than the number of letters Paul has written in the New Testament. On top of that she had to look after her daughter who had gone through a major surgery, despite the fact that she herself was needing a wheelchair to move around. This was not helped by the recent death of her son. Despite all these events plus the pandemic she would sit in front of me in the clinic recounting joyfully the things that she had to give thanks to God for. She would tell me how thankful she was that her grandson has taken a day off to take her to run errands; how her church group had made her favourite dish for her birthday; that she could now walk with a frame for another 10m at home…..All these were blessings from above and she would joyfully acknowledge and share with others. She then presented me with a thank you card which she made herself. In it she copied Psalm 23 in Chinese in clear and firm strokes – a reflection of her faith in God, perhaps even clearer and firmer.

Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church which he founded during his second missionary journey. The young church faced opposition and persecution from non believing Jews almost immediately and Paul and Silas had to leave town secretly and hastily to escape harm (Acts 17:1-10). It would have been quite daunting for the new Christians to face such violent persecution so early in their faith. Yet they have remained steadfast in their faith. Paul was writing to encourage them to live spirit filled lives in Christ by always rejoicing, continually praying and be thankful at all times in all circumstances. Yes in all circumstances especially difficult and trying times. We are to see beyond those circumstances and see God behind those dark clouds and stormy weather.

Madam TF’s heart and kidney function were not as good as her ever beaming smile would suggest. I adjusted her medication and advised her on the timing of her medications. As she left she thanked me and as she would do each time she visited me, reminded me that she would have me in her prayers. I hope that the change of medication would make her better. One thing was for sure, her visit that day was certainly therapeutic to me in reminding me to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances.

Prayer:

Father please make us rejoice and be thankful for the blessings you have given us each day, some so small that we hardly have noticed, some so mundane that we have taken for granted, some so trivial that perhaps we don’t think it is necessary to give thanks for. Please help us to pray and yearn for your face to shine upon us each day. In Jesus‘ name we ask, Amen.

班底浸信教会
每日灵粮
星期二，2021年8月24日
标题：常常喜乐
作者：丘宏礼医生
翻译：陈晓佩姐妹

帖撒罗尼迦前书5:16-18

要常常喜乐，不住地祷告，凡事谢恩；因为这是神在基督耶稣里向你们所定的旨意。

TF女士多年以来一直是我的病人。她刚刚庆祝了80岁的生日。在过去几年里，她的健康问题和入院的次数超过保罗在新约里所写书信的数量。除此之外，她还需要照顾动了大手术的女儿，虽然她自己需要依靠轮椅行动；最近她儿子的逝世更是雪上加霜。尽管发生了这些事，再加上大流行疫情，她还是会在诊所里坐在我的面前，喜乐地数算她要向上帝感恩的事。她会告诉我她是多么的感恩，因为她的孙子请了一天假带她处理杂事；她教会的团体为她的生日准备了她最喜欢的菜肴；她现在可以在家使用助行架多走10米了……所有这些都是上天的恩赐，她欣然感谢并与他人分享。然后她送给我一张她亲手制作的感谢卡。在里头，她以清晰和坚定的笔迹用中文抄写了诗篇23篇 – 这反映了她对上帝的信心，也许更清晰、更坚定。

保罗写信给他在第二次宣教旅程建立的帖撒罗尼迦教会。这年轻的教会几乎立即遭到了来自不信的犹太人的反对和迫害，保罗和西拉不得不暗中而匆忙地离开城镇逃避伤害（使徒行传17:1-10）。新基督徒在信仰初期就面对猛烈的迫害是相当令人畏惧的；然而，他们仍然坚持他们的信仰。保罗写信鼓励他们在基督里过圣灵充满的生活，在任何情况下要常常喜乐、不住地祷告和感恩。是的，在任何情况下，尤其在艰辛和难挨的时候。我们要超越那些环境，看见那在乌云和暴风雨背后的上帝。

TF女士的心脏和肾功能并不像她灿烂的笑容所显示的那么好。我调整了她的药物并建议她服药的时间。当她离开时，她向我道谢，并且像她每次来看我时一样，提醒我她会在祷告中记念我。我希望换了药会让她更好一些。有一件事是肯定的，她那天的来访对我来说无疑是一种治疗，提醒我要常常喜乐、不住地祷告并且在任何情况下都感恩。

祈祷：

父啊，求祢帮助我们，为祢每天所给我们的祝福而喜乐和感恩；有些小至我们几乎没有注意到，有些平凡到我们认为理所当然，有些琐细的，也许我们认为没有必要感恩。求祢帮助我们祷告，渴望祢的脸光照我们。奉耶稣的名求，阿们。