2015年12月25日
脆弱的禮物 A Fragile Gift
读经: 路加福音2章1-7節
Reading: Luke 2:1-7
感謝上帝，因祂有說不盡的恩賜。-哥林多後書9章15節
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
全年读经: 西番雅書1-3章;啟示錄16章
Bible in a Year: Zephaniah 1–3; Revelation 16
當我們包裝易碎、易受損的禮品時，總會在包裝外面特別標示「易碎品」這三個大字，提醒大家一定要小心輕放，以免損壞裡頭的禮品。
上帝賜給我們的禮物，是最脆弱、最易損傷的禮物：小嬰孩。我們一想到耶穌降生的景象，就會聯想到聖誕卡上美麗祥和的畫面。但任何一位母親都會告訴你，事實並非如此。馬利亞極其疲憊，可能還感到憂心不安。這是她的第一個孩子，卻降生在衛生條件極差的馬廄裡，她只能將孩子「用布包起來，放在馬槽裡，因為客店裡沒有地方」（路加福音2章7節）。
嬰孩需要無微不至的呵護。嬰孩哭泣、進食和入睡，全都仰賴別人的照顧，這是因為他們缺乏自主的能力。此外，在馬利亞的那個年代，嬰兒死亡率很高，產婦也常因生產而喪命。
為什麼上帝要讓祂的獨生子成為脆弱的嬰孩來到世上？因為耶穌必須成為人的樣式，才能救贖我們。上帝將最尊貴的禮物，以脆弱嬰兒的形式賜給我們，全是因為祂愛我們，祂甘願承擔一切的風險。今天，就讓我們為這份珍貴的禮物獻上感謝！
親愛的主啊，祢是大有能力、全能的上帝，
我感謝祢，在二千多年前，祢願意成為小小的嬰孩。
祢為我和世人所做的一切，真是讓我驚嘆不已！
願你在一年中的每一天，都能領會聖誕的平安。
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When we give a fragile gift, we make sure it is marked on the box that contains it. The word fragile is written with big letters because we don't want anyone to damage what is inside.
God's gift to us came in the most fragile package: a baby. Sometimes we imagine Christmas day as a beautiful scene on a postcard, but any mother can tell you it wasn't so. Mary was tired, probably insecure. It was her first child, and He was born in the most unsanitary conditions. She "wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7 nkjv).
A baby needs constant care. Babies cry, eat, sleep, and depend on their caregivers. They cannot make decisions. In Mary's day, infant mortality was high, and mothers often died in childbirth.
Why did God choose such a fragile way to send His Son to earth? Because Jesus had to be like us in order to save us. God's greatest gift came in the fragile body of a baby, but God took the risk because He loves us. Let us be thankful today for such a gift!
Dear Lord, the Strong and Mighty One, I thank You for becoming small and fragile on that day long ago. It amazes me that You did that for me and the rest of Your world.
May you know the peace of Christmas every day of the year.