每日箴言
悔改（记号：贝壳）
“那时，有施洗的约翰出来，在犹太的旷野传道，说，天国近了，你们应当悔改。” - 太 3:1-2
✟ 灵修
如今圣诞节已成为一个“舒适”的节日。在许多人的脑海中，圣诞节让人联想到一个漂亮舒适的房间，里面有一棵闪闪发光的圣诞树，树下是五颜六色的礼物盒。壁炉的火辟啪响着，有蛋奶酒，还有圣诞歌曲作为背景音乐。
相比之下，很少有人会想到施洗约翰。约翰穿着粗糙的骆驼皮衣服，吃的是蝗虫野蜜，这些一点也谈不上舒适。然而，人们却从约旦河周围赶来听他的讲道。
约翰所讲的信息丝毫谈不上舒适。他猛烈抨击，提醒人们罪的严重性以及神对罪的愤怒。“你们要悔改，相信神！”祂大声喊着说。
然而，约翰的信息并不都是烈火和警告。这里面也有盼望，因为他正在预备救主的道路。教会用以代表约翰的记号之一是蛤蜊或扇贝壳。据说他曾用贝壳倒出洗礼的水。对约翰来说，洗礼是我们悔改和被饶恕的标志以及印记，标志着我们属于弥赛亚。
所以，你可以和家人朋友度过一个美妙的圣诞节，但不要太过舒适。要思想并且牢记，我们的救主来到世上为要填补人类心灵巨大的空虚。
✟ 祷告
耶稣，求你洁净我们一切的罪，赦免我们，再次更新我们，愿我们带着喜乐庆祝圣诞，并且知道我们的盼望在乎你，阿们！
普世佳音每日箴言
✟Repentance (Symbol: A Shell)
"John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." — Matthew 3:1-2
✟ Devotion
Christmas has become a “cozy” holiday. Christmastime in many people’s minds conjures up images of a plush room with a shimmering Christmas tree and colorful packages underneath, a crackling fire, eggnog, and Christmas carols playing in the background.
In contrast, very few people think of John the Baptist. There’s nothing cozy about John, with his coarse camel-skin outfit and his diet of honey and locusts. Yet people came in droves from all around the Jordan River to hear John’s thunderous preaching.
John’s message couldn’t be further from cozy. John pounded so hard that people were reminded of the seriousness of sin and God’s wrath against it. “Repent and believe!” he called out.
Yet John’s message is not all fire and warning. There is hopefulness here too, for he is preparing the way for the Savior. One of the symbols the church uses for John is a clam or scallop shell. It is said that he used a shell to pour the water of baptism. For John, baptism is a sign and seal of our repentance and forgiveness, of our belonging to the Messiah.
So have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. But don’t get too cozy. Remember and reflect on the great need our Savior has come to fill.
✟ Prayer
Jesus, cleanse us from all our sins; forgive us and make us new again. May we celebrate Christmas with joy, knowing our hope is in you. Amen.
诵读:楚云丨片头: 张妙阳
感谢《普世佳音》制作上传网络
文字校对：李清
图文编排：裕化
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每日箴言（中英）︱背井离乡（记号：眼泪）
每日箴言（中英）︱神搭救忠心的人（记号：空帐篷）
每日箴言（中英）︱顺服呼召（记号：火钳火炭）
每日箴言（中英）︱牧羊人（记号：牧羊人的杖）
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