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你预备好跟神一起行动了吗？
December 13 is a Swedish holiday called “Saint Lucia Day” or in Swedish: “Santa Luciadagen.” This day commemorates an Italian woman who served poor and persecuted Christians. We celebrate this by the eldest daughter wearing a white robe, red sash and crown of candles in her hair as she serves special saffron buns and coffee to her parents in bed early in the morning while it is still dark outside. There are special songs that we sing for this day as well, as we serve our parents.
12月13日是瑞典的“圣露西亚节”，瑞典语称作：“Santa Luciadagen”。节日是为了纪念一位意大利妇女，她甘心服事贫穷和受逼迫的基督徒。大家会这样庆祝节日：一大早，外面还一片漆黑时，家里的大女儿会身穿白色长袍、佩戴红色腰带，头戴蜡烛冠冕，把特制的橘黄色小圆面包和咖啡端到父母的床边。在服侍父母时，大家也会唱专门歌颂露西亚节的歌曲。
One year, when I was in college in the U.S., my friend and I decided to dress up as Lucia and bring buns and hot chocolate to all of our friends. We woke up very early in the morning on December 13 and we headed out into the dark hours of the morning to wake up our friends with candles, hot chocolate, buns and a song. As you can imagine, our surprised friends had different reactions when they woke up to our singing and saw our candles – like the appearance of angels in their dreams!
在美国读大学时，曾有一年我跟朋友决定装扮成露西亚，然后给朋友们送去小圆面包和热巧克力。12月13号的那天早上，我们早早起了床，走进清晨的黑暗中，带着蜡烛、热巧克力、小圆面包和歌声将朋友们唤醒。大家可以想象得到，我们的朋友醒来，听到我们的歌声，看到我们的蜡烛，就像出现在他们梦里的天使一样，他们惊讶异常，每个人的反应可是各不相同！
One friend named Anders was from Sweden and when we walked into his room, he shot up straight out of his bed and said, “Lucia is here!” and he almost started to cry for joy. Another friend just laid in bed laughing. Another guy was in the shower and wasn’t so happy that we were standing outside his room singing. But the funniest encounter was with our friend Amy. We knew that she loved her sleep, and we didn’t want to wake her up too early, so she was the last friend we visited. But when we came into her room singing, she covered her face with her pillow and said, “No, don’ t come in here! No! No! Please leave!” So we just set the bun and hot chocolate next to her bed and quietly left her room and shut the door. When she finally woke up and realized what she did, rejecting the visit from Saint Lucia for a little more sleep, she was so embarrassed and sorry! We still laugh about it though. This Lucia day, Amy sent me an email. She is in fact living in Sweden now celebrating this Swedish holiday and thinking back to many years ago and our days together in college. She wrote to wish me a happy Lucia Day and to thank me for forgiving her for kicking us out the morning we came to sing to her!
有位朋友是瑞典人，他叫安德斯。我们走进他的房间时，他一下子从床上跳下来，叫到：“露西亚来了！”，开心地差不多要哭了。另一位朋友则躺在床上哈哈大笑。还有一位朋友正在冲凉，不太乐意我们站在他屋子外面唱歌。最滑稽的要数我们的朋友艾米的反应。我们知道她喜欢睡觉，不想早早吵醒她，所以最后才去她那儿。但我们唱着歌进到她房间时，她还是用枕头蒙住脸，嚷到：“不要，别进来！不要，不要，赶紧走吧！”所以我们只好把小圆面包和热巧克力放在她床边，然后蹑手蹑脚离开她的房间，轻轻带上门。她好不容易睡醒后，意识到自己做的事–居然为了贪觉而拒绝了圣露西亚，感到又尴尬又难过！我们到现在还觉得好笑。今年的圣露西亚节，艾米给我发了一封邮件。她现在居住在瑞典，正在庆祝圣露西亚节，想起多年前我们大学同窗的日子。她邮件祝我圣露西亚节快乐，也谢谢我为当年一大早去为她歌唱却被她赶了出去的事原谅了她！
On that Lucia Day when my friend and I arose early to surprise our friends, our friend Anders from Sweden knew exactly who we were and was so excited for our arrival. Another just thought we were humorous. One was in the shower and not too happy that we were there. Amy didn’t want us to come at all and slept through the magical moment of Lucia coming with a crown of candles.
在那个圣露西亚节，我和朋友为了要给朋友们一个惊喜而早早起床。安德斯当然知道我们是谁，但对我们的造访还是非常兴奋。另一位朋友就是觉得我们幽默。另外一位则因为在冲凉而对我们的造访感到不悦。艾米则根本不想让我们去找她，蒙头大睡，错过了戴着蜡烛冠冕的露西亚的造访。
Better than Lucia coming with candles in her hair, is Jesus Christ coming to this world. Are you ready for His arrival into your life? Or will you sleep through His work here on earth now and all that is going to come?
相比头发上妆点着蜡烛的圣露西亚的造访，耶稣基督来到世上造访这个世界则更为美好。你预备好迎接祂到自己的生命中了吗？还是会呼呼大睡，错过祂现在在世上的工作和将来要发生的一切？
During the days leading up to Christmas, we prepare our hearts to meet Jesus. Why is preparation so important? Without preparation, you will not be ready to face the challenge, rise to the occasion, pass the test or answer the call. The shepherds in the Christmas story are a perfect example of why preparation is so important. If they weren’t prepared, they would have slept right through the biggest night of their lives.
在圣诞节即将到来的这些 日子里，我们预备好心来迎接耶稣。为何预备如此重要？没有预备，就不能准备好迎接挑战，应对环境，通过试炼而完成呼召。圣诞故事中的牧羊人是完美的例子，表明预备为何如此重要。如果他们不加预备，就会呼呼大睡而错过人生中最重要的一个夜晚。
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:8-14 NIV在伯利恒之野地里有牧羊的人，夜间按着更次看守羊群。有主的使者站在他们旁边，主的荣光四面照着他们，牧羊的人就甚惧怕。那天使对他们说：“不要惧怕，我报给你们大喜的信息，是关乎万民的。因今天在大卫的城里，为你们生了救主，就是主基督。你们要看见一个婴孩，包着布，卧在马槽里，那就是记号了。”忽然有一大队天兵同那天使赞美神说：“在至高之处荣耀归与神，在地上平安归与他所喜悦的人（有古卷作“喜悦归与人”）。
路加福音2：8-14
What were the shepherds doing right before they were charged with a mission by an angel army? They were living in the fields keeping watch over their flocks at night. Why were they even awake at that time of the night? They were on alert, guarding their flocks from any dangerous predators or possibly making sure no sleep-walking sheep wandered off. Night after night these rugged men trained themselves to stay awake ready to defend their flock from any sneak-attack of a wolf or bear. They were ready for anything. But were they ready for an angel army?
在天军差派他们使命之前，牧羊人正在做什么呢？他们住在旷野，夜晚也在看守羊群。夜晚为什么要警醒不睡呢？他们在警醒保护羊群免遭凶恶动物的袭击，也可能是为了确保梦游的羊不会走失。一晚又一晚，这些顽强的牧羊人训练自己在晚上保持清醒，随时准备好保护羊群不受任何狼或者熊的袭击。他们做好了万全准备。但是他们预备好天军的出现了吗？
At the sight of the angel, their first reaction was terror. But who could blame them? The middle of the night, the sky is lit up by an angel (this was way before LED light shows!) who was a warrior in God’s heavenly army. But after the reassurance from the magnificent angel to not be afraid, the shepherds calmed down and listened carefully. After the angels disappeared, the shepherds knew exactly what to do and they took immediate action.
看到天使后，他们的第一反应是惊恐。但怎能责怪他们呢？正当半夜，神的天军里的勇士，一位天使照亮整个夜空（这会儿可压根儿没有什么LED灯光秀呀）。在这位庄严的天使安抚消除他们的惧怕后，这些牧羊人慢慢安静下来，认真听天使说话。天使离去后，牧羊人清楚知道该做什么，并立刻行动起来。
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:15-20 NIV众天使离开他们升天去了，牧羊的人彼此说：“我们往伯利恒去，看看所成的事，就是主所指示我们的。”他们急忙去了，就寻见马利亚和约瑟，又有那婴孩卧在马槽里。既然看见，就把天使论这孩子的话传开了。凡听见的，就诧异牧羊之人对他们所说的话。马利亚却把这一切的事存在心里，反复思想。牧羊的人回去了，因所听见、所看见的一切事，正如天使向他们所说的，就归荣耀与神，赞美他。
路加福音2：15-20
The alertness of the shepherds prepared them to:
牧羊人的警醒让他们得以预备：
1. Instantly overcome their terror in the presence of a mighty angel
2. Listen to and retain all of the information the angel passed on to them about how to find Jesus
3. Quickly discuss and come to a unified decision to leave the flock behind and get to Bethlehem as fast as they could
4. Locate the baby in a city full to overflowing with visitors for the census
5. Effectively spread the word about the child resulting in amazement in all who heard their story
6. Return to their spot out in the fields as worshippers
1. 在大有能力的天使面前，迅速克服恐惧。
2. 聆听并记住天使告诉他们如何找到婴孩耶稣的信息
3. 迅速讨论并一致决定，要撇下羊群，尽快赶到伯利恒。
4. 在因为人口普查而人满为患的城里找到了婴孩耶稣
5. 有效地将婴孩耶稣的消息传开，以致所有听到的人都甚为惊讶。
6. 回到野外牧羊的地方，敬拜神。
These guys were alert and ready for action. Just as King David trained as a shepherd to fight Goliath and later Philistine armies, these shepherds trained to be alert, attentive, work as a team and go when given a mission from God.
这些牧羊人保持警醒并随时准备好行动。就像大卫王牧羊时受训跟歌利亚、后来又跟非利士人争战一样，这些牧羊人也受训能保持警醒、专心，在神差派他们使命时，能协同合作，并肩前行。
How about you? Are you watching, alert, ready for action?
你怎么样？你保持警醒并预备好行动了吗？
Alert to temptation and attack
对试探和攻击保持警醒
The shepherds were constantly on alert guarding their sheep from sneak attacks from predators such as wolves, bears or thieves. The shepherds also had to be watching to be sure no sheep stayed from the flock.
牧羊人时刻警醒，以保护羊群免受狼和熊等凶猛野兽的袭击或者被盗贼偷走。他们也要警醒以防止羊不会走丢。
As Christians, we have a predator looking to attack. The Bible says that we must be alert of this danger.
作为基督徒，也有凶恶的敌人要袭击我们。圣经吩咐我们一定要对此危险保持警醒。
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8 NIV务要谨守、警醒，因为你们的仇敌魔鬼，如同吼叫的狮子，遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人。彼得前书5：8
Resist temptations and stay away of situations where you could stray away. Daily wear the full armor of God listed in Ephesians 6.
抵挡试探，远离可能会让自己迷失的环境，每天穿戴以弗所书6章列出的神的全副军装。
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV所以，要拿起神所赐的全副军装，好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住。所以要站稳了，用真理当作带子束腰，用公义当作护心镜遮胸，又用平安的福音当作预备走路的鞋穿在脚上。此外又拿着信德当作藤牌，可以灭尽那恶者一切的火箭。并戴上救恩的头盔，拿着圣灵的宝剑，就是神的道。
以弗所书6：13-17
Alert to pray for each other
为彼此警醒祷告
The shepherds were watching out for their sheep and watching out for each other. We can do the same as we pray for each other.
牧羊人为羊群守更，也为彼此警醒守望。我们为彼此祷告，也就在同样做。
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18 NIV靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此警醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求，
以弗所书6：18
Alert to serve
警醒事奉
Jesus told us that we should get to work serving now in His kingdom while we still have the opportunity.
耶稣吩咐我们，趁现在还有机会时，要在祂的国里做工。
As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
John 9:4-5 NIV趁着白日，我们必须作那差我来者的工；黑夜将到，就没有人能作工了。我在世上的时候，是世上的光。”
约翰福音9：4-5
Now is not the time to sleep, it is time to look up, be watchful, be alert to what Jesus is calling you to do. What mission has God put in your hand? Who are the people in your life that you can serve? Don’t sleep through this moment, be awake and watching prepared to do whatever the Master has called you to do.
现在不是贪睡的时候，而是要举目向上，对耶稣的呼召保持警醒。神托付你什么使命？在生活中你可以服事什么人？不要在这个时刻昏睡，醒过来，保持警醒。无论你的主呼召你做什么，要预备好。
Alert to the return of Christ
对耶稣的再来保持警醒
The shepherds did not know when an intruder would come, but they were always ready. Their alertness enabled them to receive the good news from the angels and then spring to action. In the same way, we should be alert, eagerly watching for the return of Christ.
牧羊人并不知道侵犯者会在什么时候到来，但他们随时做好准备。他们的警醒使他们能迎接天使的好消息并马上行动起来。同样的，我们也要保持警醒，热切等候基督的再来。
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”
Mark 13:32-37“但那日子，那时辰，没有人知道，连天上的使者也不知道，子也不知道，惟有父知道。 你们要谨慎，警醒祈祷，因为你们不晓得那日期几时来到。 这事正如一个人离开本家，寄居外邦，把权柄交给仆人，分派各人当做的工，又吩咐看门的警醒。 所以，你们要警醒；因为你们不知道家主什么时候来，或晚上，或半夜，或鸡叫，或早晨； 恐怕他忽然来到，看见你们睡着了。 我对你们所说的话，也是对众人说：要警醒！”(马可福音 13:32-37 和合本)
Advent is the period of preparation. During the advent season of Christmas, we prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. But we are also living in a season of advent leading up to the return of Christ. Are you alert, watching for His coming? Do you see what God is doing in the world today to prepare people for His return? Don’t sleep through these times. Be alert and watching as the shepherds were and see God’s glory, seek Jesus, tell others and be filled with joy as you worship the Savior.
降临节是预备的时期。在圣诞节前夕的降临节，我们预备好庆祝耶稣的降生。但我们也是在基督再来前的降临节时期。你在警醒守望祂的再来吗？你看到神为预备耶稣再来而正在世上进行的工作吗？不要昏睡而错过这些时刻。像牧羊人一样警醒守望，看到神的荣耀。寻求耶稣，向他人宣讲，在敬拜救主时充满喜乐。
Be so eager for His moving in your life that you are like my Swedish friend Anders who jumped out of bed with joy when he heard the Lucia song. He knew exactly what was going on. Don’t sleep through what the Lord is doing in these special days. Be like the shepherds who prepared in alertness to jump right in when God invited them into His glorious plan.
要热切渴望祂在你生命中动工，就像我那位瑞典朋友安德斯一样，在听到露西亚颂歌时，他喜乐地从床上跳了起来。他清楚知道在发生什么。主在这特别的时代工作，不要昏睡而错过。要像牧羊人一样，他们警醒预备，在神邀请他们参与祂荣耀的计划时，能立刻行动起来。
