認識我們的朝聖之旅Understanding Our Pilgrimage
[每日靈修] 2/17/2019, 駱鴻銘編譯
安憩在自由女神像的影子下，被稱為艾利斯島（Ellis Island）的方寸之地已經成為美國歷史的象徵。移民抵達這個國家之後，就聚集在那裏。他們出於種種原因、從世界各地而來。他們都仰望著自由女神尋找盼望——儘管她的微笑有點虛偽，因為她是在國會通過限制移民法案兩年後才豎立起來的。
我有兩個祖先抵達了艾利斯島。一個來自愛爾蘭，為了躲避馬鈴薯饑荒。他離開一個滿地泥濘、以茅草為房頂的家。另一個來自南斯拉夫，他在那裏是克羅地亞貴族的一員。
兩個人擁有一個共同的目標。他們都為了尋求一個更美的國家而離鄉背井。他們是朝聖者，在異鄉的寄居客。和亞伯拉罕一樣，他們出去尋找一座城。然而與亞伯拉罕不同，我的先祖尋找的是人的城。
每個基督徒都被稱為朝聖者（天路客）。我們是地上的朝聖客和寄居者。我們的家在上帝的城。我們的社區是教會，是對無形上帝國度的有形見證。這就是我們的社區——信仰的社區。
活在神的面光中（在神面前禱告）：
你是生活在這個世界的朝聖客，還是定居在此世的永久居民？
進一步研讀：
來十一13 這些人都是存著信心死的，並沒有得著所應許的；卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。
彼前二11 親愛的弟兄啊，你們是客旅，是寄居的。我勸你們要禁戒肉體的私慾；這私慾是與靈魂爭戰的。
詩一一九54 我在世寄居，素來以你的律例為詩歌。
Understanding Our Pilgrimage
Resting
within the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, the small piece of real estate
known as Ellis Island has become a symbol of American history. There,
immigrants assembled on arrival to this nation. They came from many places for
many different reasons. They all looked to Lady Liberty for hope—this despite
her somewhat hypocritical smile, inasmuch as she was erected two years after
Congress passed a law limiting immigration.
Two
of my ancestors arrived at Ellis Island. One came from Ireland to escape the
potato famine. He left a thatched-roof home with a mud floor. The other one
came from Yugoslavia, where he was a member of the aristocracy of Croatia.
The
two shared a common goal. They both left their homelands seeking a better
country. They were pilgrims, sojourners in a foreign land. Like Abraham, they
went out seeking a city. Yet unlike Abraham, my ancestors sought the city of
man.
Every
Christian is called to be a pilgrim. We are pilgrims and sojourners on the
earth. Our home is in the city of God. Our community is the church, the visible
testimony to the invisible kingdom of God. It is our community—a community of
faith.
Coram
Deo
Are
you living like a pilgrim in this world or have you settled in as a permanent
resident?
Passages
for Further Study
Hebrews
11:13
1
Peter 2:11
Psalm
119:54