[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 希伯來書 Hebrews 1-4]
15 經上說：「你們今日若聽他的話，就不可硬著心，像惹他發怒的日子一樣。」
希伯來書 Hebrews 3:15
15 As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
希伯來書的作者多次呼籲收信人不要像他們在曠野的祖先一樣，硬著心背叛神，以致不能進入神的安息。 作者指出，在過去，上帝曾通過先知向祂的子民說話，但在末世祂通過祂的兒子耶穌向他們說話，讓他們有機會做出與他們祖先不同的回應。 今天，我們也有機會正確回應上帝的信息。
希波的奧古斯丁（354 – 430 年）在從世俗的享樂和學術成就中尋求滿足之後，最後得出結論：“我的心裏沒有安息，直到遇見了上帝，在祂裏面才有真正的安息。”
聖誕節提醒我們，上帝通過祂的兒子耶穌對我們說話，給我們“大喜的信息”（路加福音 2:10）。 願我們不硬著心，敞開心扉聆聽神的聲音，就能進入神的安息！
禱告：親愛的天父，感謝祢派遣祢的兒子耶穌住在我們中間，使我們能夠聽到祢的聲音！ 願我們歡迎祢的兒子耶穌進入我們的心中，以便我們在祢裡面找到真正的安息。 奉耶穌的名，阿們。
The author of the letter to the Hebrews appealed to his recipients a number of times not to be like their ancestors in the wilderness who had hardened their hearts and had rebelled against God, resulting in their not being able to enter God’s rest. The author points out that, in the past, God had spoken to His people through the prophets, but in later times He spoke to them through His Son, Jesus, giving them an opportunity to respond differently from how their ancestors had. Today, we, too,have an opportunity to respond rightly to God’s message.
Augustine of Hippo (354 – 430), after seeking satisfaction from worldly pleasures and academic achievements, finally concluded, “Our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”
Christmas reminds us that God spoke to us through His Son Jesus to give us “good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). May we not harden our hearts but open our hearts to listen to the voice of God and be able to enter God’s rest!
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You for sending Your son Jesus to live among us so that we would be able to hear Your voice! May we welcome Your son Jesus into our hearts so that we will find true rest – in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
