[今日經文 Today’s Reading: 創世記 Genesis 35-38]
9 雅各從巴旦‧亞蘭回來， 神又向他顯現，賜福給他。 10 神對他說：「你的名原是雅各，從今以後不要再叫雅各，你的名要叫以色列。」於是， 神就叫他的名為以色列。
創世記 Genesis 35:9-10
9 God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel.
在整本聖經中，我們讀到上帝主動向人顯現，比如亞伯拉罕（15:1、17:1）、以撒（26:2）和雅各（35:9）。 神是亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神，祂不僅向亞伯拉罕顯現，而且在族長之後的每一代人中，祂都向個人顯現，重新確認與亞伯拉罕所立的約。
每一代人都需要與上帝相遇，並被提醒上帝的聖約。 如果上帝努力向每一代人顯現，那麼祂的教會又如何呢？ 教會和父母需要向上帝學習，向下一代“顯現”，這樣我們的下一代也能在上帝的聖約中。 這需從父親帶領全家築壇（敬拜）神，並除掉外邦的神明開始（創世記35:2-4）。
我們都對下一代負責。 我們可以改變他們的命定，我們可以成為跳板，讓他們帶著對耶穌的火與熱情進入他們的未來，並完成大使命-將福音帶到地球上最黑暗的地方。
~ 達芙妮·柯克 (Daphne Kirk) 重新連接世代
禱告：親愛的神，感謝祢是向世代顯現的神！ 幫助我們“顯現”給我們的下一代，使他們能夠繼續遵守祢的聖約。 奉耶穌的名, 阿們。
希伯來文: רָאָה rā’â (v) = 顯現 to appear
Throughout the Bible we read of God taking the initiative to appear before individuals, individuals such as Abraham (15:1, 17:1), Issac (26:2), and Jacob (35:9). God is the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, He did not just appear to Abraham but He appeared to an individual within each generation after the patriarch to reconfirm the covenant that He had established with him.
Every generation needs to encounter God and to be reminded of the covenant of God. If God makes an effort to appear to each generation, how about His Church? The Church and parents need to learn from God to “appear” to the next generation so our next generation can be also in God’s covenant. And it starts with fathers to lead the whole family to build an altar to (worship) God and to get rid of foreign gods (Gen. 35:2-4).
We are all responsible for the next generation. We can change their destiny and we can be the springboards that send them into their future with a fire and passion for Jesus to fulfill the great commission as they take the Gospel into the darkest places on earth.
~ Reconnecting the Generations by Daphne Kirk
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you that you are a who appears to each generation! Help us to “appear” to our next generation so they can continue in Your covenant. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Hebrews: רָאָה rā’â (v) = to appear
