2016年4月16日
眼中的瞳人The Apple of His Eye
读经: 撒迦利亞書2章
Reading: Zechariah 2
摸你們的，就是摸祂眼中的瞳人。-撒迦利亞書2章8節
Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. Zechariah 2:8
全年读经: 撒母耳記上30-31章;路加福音13章23-35節
Bible in a Year: 1 Samuel 30–31; Luke 13:23-35
朋友的幼兒癲癇發作，他們趕緊召救護車，將幼小的女兒送往醫院救治。朋友緊握女兒的小手，內心焦急地為她禱告。她對孩子那份強烈的愛，讓她再次想起，主對我們的愛是何等長闊高深，將我們視如「祂眼中的瞳人」。
當上帝的子民被擄到巴比倫，而後回到耶路撒冷，先知撒迦利亞便對百姓說了這話。撒迦利亞呼籲他們悔改，重建聖殿，並要恢復對獨一真神起初的愛。因為上帝深深地愛著祂的百姓，將他們視同眼中的瞳人。
在撒迦利亞書2章8節提到「眼中的瞳人」，意思是指兩個人面對面站立時，在自己的瞳孔中映照出對方的影像。「瞳人」也就是「眼珠」，正如眼睛既珍貴又脆弱，需要好好保護，我們在上帝的眼中也是如此。上帝想要愛我們，保護我們，把我們捧在手心上。
主住在我們當中，以祂的愛澆灌我們，甚至遠超過母親對生病的孩子所做的一切。我們是祂眼中的瞳人，是祂的摯愛。
天父上帝，祢如此地愛我們，
甚至賜下祢的獨生子為我們捨命犧牲，
使我們得著永恆的生命。
願我們今日就接受祢的愛，並活在祢的愛裡。
父母對孩子的愛，反映天父對我們的愛。
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A friend's baby was suffering seizures, so they sped to the hospital in an ambulance, her heart racing as she prayed for her daughter. Her fierce love for this child hit her afresh as she held her tiny fingers, recalling too how much more the Lord loves us and how we are "the apple of His eye."
The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God's people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves His people greatly; they are the apple of His eye.
The Lord loves His people greatly.
Hebrew scholars suggest this phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes one's reflection in the pupil of another's eye, with the word "apple" emerging because it's a common spherical object. So with eyes being precious and fragile, they need protecting, and that's how the Lord wants to love and protect His people—by holding them close to His heart.
The Lord who dwells in our midst pours out His love on us—even, amazingly, far more than a loving mother who does all she can for her ailing child. We are the apple of His eye, His beloved.
Father God, You love us so much that You gave us Your only Son to die that we might live. May we receive Your love this day and live in it.
A parent's love for a child reflects our Father's love for us.