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Are you prepared for God’s calling on your life?
你预备好迎接神在你生命中的呼召了吗？
In the Christmas advent season, we look forward to the celebration of the coming of Christ as a baby. We prepare homes with Christmas decorations, we plan parties and get-togethers with friends and most importantly, we prepare our hearts to celebrate the birth of the King and we look ahead to the return of our King Jesus. We prepare room in our hearts as the iconic Christmas Carol states:
在圣诞节来临的季节里，我们期待着庆祝基督降世为人。我们用圣诞装饰把家装扮一新，筹备着派对，跟朋友们相聚一堂。最重要的是，我们心里预备好来庆祝王的降生，期盼我们的君王耶稣的再来。我们在心中预备好了地方，正如这首经典的圣诞颂歌所唱:
Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
普世欢腾！救主下降，
大地接她君王；
惟愿众心预备地方，
诸天万物歌唱，
How were Mary and Joseph prepared for this history-shifting moment?
马利亚和约瑟为这个改变历史的时刻做了哪些准备?
Today when parents are expecting a child, there is much to prepare for. Health checks at the doctor, purchasing furniture, clothes and all sorts of baby accessories such as bottles, cribs, bibs, diapers and whatever newest invention in baby tech there might be. Financial plans would be made, HR directors contacted and job focus shifted. Books and articles on raising children would suddenly be of great interest. But how would parents prepare their hearts and minds?
如今，父母期待孩子出生时，要做很多准备。去医生那里做健康检查，购买婴儿家具、衣服和其他各种婴儿用品，比如奶瓶、婴儿床、围兜、尿布和任何最新发明的婴儿用科技产品。还要制定财务计划，联系人力资源主管，转移工作重心。对关于养育孩子的书籍和文章会突然大感兴趣。但是父母该如何准备好他们的心思意念呢?
Mary and Joseph were spiritually prepared for the announcement that would change their lives, and all of ours – forever.
马利亚和约瑟在灵里已经为那将永远改变他们生命，也包括我们所有人的生命的好消息做好准备了。
We catch a glimpse of the spiritual preparation of Mary and Joseph’s hearts via their responses to the glorious news that would hijack the trajectory of their live. Quite simply put, their hearts were so prepared that when asked to surrender their lives and future plans into the service of God, they both immediately (and independently) said yes and acted accordingly. No hesitation. No waiting for further clarification.
透过玛利亚和约瑟对这将会掌控他们生命轨迹的荣耀消息的反应，可以瞥见他们内心属灵的预备。简单地说，他们的心早就准备好了，所以在要求他们把生命和未来的计划奉献给神时，他们都立即(并且各自)立刻答应并照做。没有犹豫。不用等待进一步的澄清。
Mary, the humble servant of God
马利亚，神谦卑的使女
What words poured forth from Mary’s mouth as soon as she heard the news of her unplanned pregnancy?
当马利亚听到她将要不期而孕的消息时，她脱口而出说了什么?
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
Luke 1:38 NIV
马利亚说：“我是主的使女，情愿照你的话成就在我身上。”天使就离开她去了。路加福音1:38
How was Mary so absolutely responsive to God’s call? With no hesitation or question she surrendered her life plan (including her soon-coming wedding day) to God’s plan that was bigger than anything she could have ever dreamed of.
马利亚怎么能如此决然而然地回应神的呼召?没有任何犹豫和疑问，她把自己的人生计划(包括她即将到来的婚礼)交给了神，神的计划大过她任何的梦想。
Mary’s ability to instantly follow the Lord’s calling had been cultivated within her over her lifetime. Her quick surrender was linked to how she viewed herself and how she viewed her God. She knew she was a servant of God and she had utter faith in Him, trusting whatever He said. “I am the Lord’s servant,” was her perspective on her life and she implicitly trusted her master.
马利亚即刻顺服神呼召的能力耕植于她的一生。她迅速把自己摆上，这跟她如何看待自己和如何看待神相关。她知道自己是神的使女，完全相信神，相信衪所说的一切。“我是主的使女。”这是她对自己生命的看法，她毫无保留地信任她的主人。
She was a servant who was responsive. She packed her bag and headed out to be with her relative Elizabeth, possibly the only woman who could understand Mary’s new situation.
她是主的使女，迅速回应了神。她收拾好行李，去找她的亲戚伊丽莎白，她可能是唯一能理解马利亚新处境的女人。
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39-40 NIV
那时候马利亚起身，急忙往山地里去，来到犹大的一座城。进了撒迦利亚的家，问伊利沙白安。
路加福音 1:39-40
Mary’s faith in God’s plan was put to action. Did she wait to see if she really was pregnant? No, she set off on a journey and her faith was activated as she headed towards Elizabeth’s home.
马利亚相信神的计划，并付诸行动。她有没有等着看自己是不是真的怀孕了?没有，她即刻上路，她的信心在去伊利沙白家的路上被激活了。
The moment Mary stepped into Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home, John in the womb was filled with the Holy Spirit and leapt in the presence of Jesus and Elizabeth exclaimed the blessedness of Mary.
当马利亚走进撒迦利亚和伊利沙白家时，在母腹中的约翰被圣灵充满，他在耶稣面前欢喜跳跃，伊利沙白高声喊着说马利亚是有福的。
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:42-45 NIV
高声喊着说：“你在妇女中是有福的，你所怀的胎也是有福的。我主的母到我这里来，这是从哪里得的呢？因为你问安的声音一入我耳，我腹里的胎就欢喜跳动。这相信的女子是有福的，因为主对她所说的话都要应验。” 路加福音1:42-45
Mary’s identity as a servant not only enabled her to instantly say yes to the Lord, but she also remained humble as she was first praised by Elizabeth and then later greeted by kings. She did not take pride in her favored position but gave glory to God. She knew who she was, she was a servant of the God she had trusted her entire life.
马利亚身为使女不仅能够立即对主称“是”，而且在她先得到伊利沙白的赞扬，然后又受到王的问候时还保持谦卑。她并不为蒙恩的地位感到骄傲，而是把荣耀归予神。她知道自己是谁，她是神的使女，一生都信靠衪。
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” Luke 1:46-49 NIV
马利亚说：“我心尊主为大，我灵以神我的救主为乐。因为他顾念他使女的卑微，从今以后，万代要称我有福。那有权能的，为我成就了大事，他的名为圣。路加福音1:46-49
How to prepare as a humble servant of God
神谦卑的使女如何做好准备
Mary’s clear understanding of her position in God’s kingdom and the greatness of her Master whom she completely trusted prepared her for the coming of Jesus Christ. Are you preparing as a servant of God?
马利亚清楚地认识到自己在神国中的地位，清楚知道那位她完全信任的耶稣基督是多么伟大，这让她为耶稣基督的到来做好了准备。作为神的仆人，你准备好了吗?
Know your position
清楚你的位置
If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, then your life is surrendered to God and He is your Lord and Master. Are your eyes looking to your master today?
如果你是耶稣基督的信徒，那么你的生命要完全献给神，衪是你的主和主人。今天你是否定睛在你的主人身上?
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. Psalms 123:2 NIV
看哪，仆人的眼睛怎样望主人的手，使女的眼睛怎样望主母的手，我们的眼睛也照样望耶和华我们的神，直到他怜悯我们。诗篇123:2
Have faith in the Master
对主人有信心
God is faithful, He will do what He says He will do. Do you trust Him? God promises in His Word to protect you and provide for you all that you need. Do you believe that His will for your life is the best will for your life?
神是信实的，衪所说的祂必成就。你相信衪吗?神应许要保护你，供给你所需要的一切。你相信神对你生命的旨意是最好的旨意吗?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切所行的事上都要认定他，他必指引你的路。
箴言 3:5-6
Remain humble
保持谦卑
When God leads you to serve, give all glory to His name. Do not seek to honor yourself.
当神引导你服侍的时候，把一切荣耀都归于衪的名，不要求自己的荣耀。
“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ” Luke 17:10 NIV
这样，你们作完了一切所吩咐的，只当说：‘我们是无用的仆人，所作的本是我们应分作的。’”
路加福音 17:10
Joseph the obedient son of a king
王顺服的儿子约瑟
It must have been the shock of his life when Joseph found out his godly fiancé was pregnant. In this situation, Joseph had the right to publicly disgrace Mary bringing shame and even punishment on her. But this was not in Joseph’s character. He lived a life of righteousness so when the difficult news came, he acted honorably, not spitefully seeking revenge.
约瑟发现自己敬虔的未婚妻怀孕了，这肯定是让他感到最为震惊的事。在这种情况下，约瑟有权公开羞辱马利亚，使她蒙羞，甚至惩罚她。但这不是约瑟的性格。他过着义人的生活，所以当不幸的消息传来时，他表现得光明磊落，而不是恶意地寻求报复。
This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. Matthew 1:18-19 NIV
耶稣基督降生的事记在下面：他母亲马利亚已经许配了约瑟，还没有迎娶，马利亚就从圣灵怀了孕。她丈夫约瑟是个义人，不愿意明明地羞辱她，想要暗暗地把她休了。马太福音1:18-19
If this moment was a test of Joseph’s character, he passed it with excellence. He had in mind to divorce her, but he would do it quietly. This must have been the best solution to Joseph, though painful. But before he could act out his honorable plan, the Lord directed him in a different direction.
如果这一刻是对约瑟人格的考验，那么他以优异的成绩通过了。他想休了她，但想暗暗地进行。这对约瑟来说肯定是最好的解决办法，虽然很痛苦。但在他实施这可敬的计划之前，神给他指引了一个不同的方向。
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:20-25 NIV
正思念这事的时候，有主的使者向他梦中显现，说：“大卫的子孙约瑟，不要怕，只管娶过你的妻子马利亚来，因她所怀的孕是从圣灵来的。她将要生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫耶稣，因他要将自己的百姓从罪恶里救出来。”这一切的事成就，是要应验主藉先知所说的话，说：“必有童女怀孕生子，人要称他的名为以马内利。”（“以马内利”翻出来就是“神与我们同在”。）约瑟醒了，起来，就遵着主使者的吩咐，把妻子娶过来，只是没有和她同房，等她生了儿子（有古卷作“等她生了头胎的儿子”），就给他起名叫耶稣。马太福音1:20-25
Joseph had in mind something to do – divorce. But when God spoke to him, he set his plan aside and obeyed immediately. This was Joseph’s righteousness in action. A lifetime of obeying God’s Word prepared him for his life mission which was kicked off with an act of obedience.
约瑟想到了离婚。但神对他说话的时候，他就把自己的计划搁置起来，立刻照神的话行了。这就是约瑟的义。一生顺服神的话语为他预备了人生使命，这使命是以顺服的行为开始的。
When the angel spoke to Joseph, he addressed him as “Joseph son of David.” This was a royal title that was also given to Jesus – “Son of David”. Joseph was from a royal lineage and acted as the son of a king. Honorable, obedient and quick to take action. Joseph was the man chosen by God to protect Jesus in his early years when He was so vulnerable to the schemes of wicked King Herod and his predecessor. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph twice was specifically and urgently directed in dream to protect the life of Jesus. Each time, Joseph obeyed immediately, even once jumping out of bed to awaken Mary and Jesus and lead them to escape under the cover of darkness to Egypt.
天使对约瑟说话，称呼他为大卫的子孙约瑟。这君尊的头衔也给了耶稣——“大卫的子孙”。约瑟有王室血统，是国王的子孙。可敬，顺服，行动迅速。当年幼的耶稣在邪恶的希律王和他前任的阴谋面前被攻击时，约瑟被神选中来保护耶稣。耶稣诞生后，约瑟两次在梦中被特别紧急指示去保护耶稣的生命。每一次，约瑟都立刻顺服，有一次他甚至从床上跳起来叫醒马利亚和耶稣，在夜色的掩护下带着他们逃到埃及去。
Preparing for a life of daring decisions and valiant rescue
为勇敢的决定和英勇的救援做准备
Joseph led a bold life as the mighty protector of Mary and Jesus. He had prepared his during his lifetime for this incredible role in the salvation story. He was in essence the savior of the Savior. Joseph followed God’s Word his whole life which enabled him to quickly obey. He was also a descendant of the mighty warrior King David. A man of honor and action. How can you prepare for a life of obedience and honor?
约瑟是马利亚和耶稣强大的保护者，过着勇敢的生活。他一生都在为这个救赎故事中不可思议的角色做准备。他本质上是救主的救主。约瑟一生都遵行神的话，这使他能迅速顺服神。他也是勇士大卫王的后裔。一位可敬和有行动力的人。你如何预备自己过顺服和可敬的生活?
Live in obedience to God’s Word
活着要顺服神的话
Joseph had cultivated a life of obedience. He obeyed God’s Word and when it came time to follow God in an unexpected way, Joseph did it. As you read God’s Word daily and purpose to obey it in the every-day moments, you will be preparing yourself for the big moment. You may not know when it is coming, but you can prepare for it by obeying in the small things today.
约瑟养成了顺从的生活。他遵行神的话，当要以一种意想不到的方式来跟随神的时候，约瑟就这样做了。当你每天阅读神的话语，并立志在每一天的每一刻遵守神的话，你就会为重要的时刻做好准备。你可能不知道它什么时候会来，但你可以通过在今天发生的小事上顺服来做好准备。
I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Psalms 119:60 NIV
我急忙遵守你的命令，并不迟延。诗篇119:60
Honor of others and God 尊荣他人与神
Before marriage the way Joseph treated Mary was with honor. After the birth of Jesus, Joseph continued as a man of honor defending the child. Do you act honorably in all of your relationships? How do you respond when you have a conflict, or you are wronged by someone? As a Christian, you are the son or daughter of the king. Like Joseph, you can act as the son of a king and rise up to be a person of honor. Do you defend the weak and vulnerable with honor? Now is the time to prepare.
婚前，约瑟很尊重马利亚。约瑟是可敬的人，他在耶稣出生后，继续保护着这个孩子。你在所有的人际关系中都表现得让人尊敬吗?当你和别人发生冲突或者被别人冤枉时，你如何应对?作为基督徒，你是王的儿女。就像约瑟一样，你可以像一个王的儿子那样行事，并成为一个尊荣的人。你会用尊荣来保护弱者吗?现在要开始准备了。
远离纷争，是人的尊荣，愚妄人都爱争闹。箴言20:3
Mary and Joseph are incredible examples of people who were prepared and then used by God as central figures in His plan for saving the world. You also have a role to play in God’s mission. How have you prepared as a humble servant and an obedient son or daughter of the king?
马利亚和约瑟的故事令人难以置信，他们预备好自己， 神就使用他们，作为自己救世大计的核心人物。在神的大使命中，你也要扮演一个角色。作为谦卑的仆人和顺服的王的儿女，你如何预备?
