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Are you eager to experience all God has for you?
The advent season brings us closer and closer to Christmas, the celebration of God sending His son, Jesus Christ to the world. Advent gives us time to prepare our hearts for receiving this great gift. The characters in the Biblical Christmas story were prepared in many ways for the coming of Christ. There was one character in this beloved narrative who perhaps had the longest time to prepare, for he was the one who possibly waited the longest and with the greatest expectation. He was a righteous and devout man who prepared to meet the Messiah Jesus Christ on His very first visit to the temple as a newborn.
降临节让圣诞节离我们越来越近了，为要庆祝神差派祂的儿子，就是耶稣基督来到这个世界。降临节给了我们时间来预备己心，接受这份伟大的礼物。《圣经》里圣诞节故事中的一些人物为基督的到来做了多种不同方式的准备。在这个人人都喜爱的故事中，有一个人物准备的时间可能最长，因为他或许是那个等待时间最长、期望最大的人。这人又公义又虔诚，他准备在刚出生的弥赛亚耶稣基督第一次去圣殿时见到他。
In the law given by Moses, God commanded that after a woman gave birth, she was to present an offering at the temple for her cleansing. God also commanded families to present their firstborn son to the Lord. Mary and Joseph were obedient to the law. So when Jesus was just a tiny baby, He made His first journey to His Father’s house – the temple.
在摩西所传的律法中，神吩咐妇人生产以后，她为了得洁净，要在殿里献祭。神也吩咐各家凡头生的男子必称圣归主。马利亚和约瑟都遵守了律法。因此，当耶稣还是一个小婴孩的时候，他就第一次来到祂的父家——圣殿。
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Luke 2:22-24 NIV
按摩西律法满了洁净的日子，他们带着孩子上耶路撒冷去，要把他献与主。（正如主的律法上所记：“凡头生的男子必称圣归主。”）又要照主的律法上所说，或用一对斑鸠，或用两只雏鸽献祭。路加福音2:22-24
You can imagine all of the faithful families coming to Jerusalem with their precious newborns for this holy moment at the temple. Every day there must have been many happy families with treasured babies being presented to the Lord at the temple.
你可以想象一下，为了圣殿中这神圣的时刻，所有敬虔的家庭都会带着他们宝贝的新生儿来到耶路撒冷。每天都有许多幸福的家庭在圣殿里把心爱的孩子献给主。
Simeon was a man who had been given a promise by God that He would see the Messiah. How often had Simeon visited the temple? How many babies had he seen over the years? On the right day, at the right moment, Simeon took the right baby into his arms and beheld the long-awaited Messiah.
西面得了神的应许，必会看见弥赛亚。西面多久去一次圣殿？这些年来他见过多少个婴孩？在对的日子，对的时刻，西面把对的婴孩抱在怀里，看到了期待已久的弥赛亚。
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required. Luke 2:25-27 NIV
在耶路撒冷有一个人名叫西面。这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到，又有圣灵在他身上。他得了圣灵的启示，知道自己未死以前，必看见主所立的基督。他受了圣灵的感动，进入圣殿，正遇见耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来，要照律法的规矩办理。路加福音2:25-27
How was Simeon able to know which baby was God’s Messiah? The Holy Spirit played an incredibly important role in this holy moment. Three times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the description of Simeon’s encounter with Jesus.
西面怎么知道哪个孩子就是神的弥赛亚呢？圣灵在这个神圣的时刻扮演了非常重要的角色。在西面与耶稣相遇的描述中，三次提到了圣灵。
1. The Holy Spirit was on Simeon
2. The Holy Spirit gave revelation to Simeon about Jesus
3. The Holy Spirit moved Simeon to arrive at the temple on the right day, at the right time, to meet the right baby
1. 圣灵在西面身上
2. 西面得了圣灵关于耶稣的启示
3. 西面受了圣灵的感动，在对的日子，对的时刻，遇见了对的婴孩
Simeon was in a very close relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was working in all of Simeon’s being. Simeon was surrendered to and empowered by the Spirit. Simeon listened to the Spirit, receiving clear revelation about the Messiah. Simeon was so eager to witness the fulfillment about the revelation that it was easy for the Holy Spirit to move Simeon to the temple on that prophetic day.
西面与圣灵的关系非常密切。圣灵在西面全身动工。西面完全降服于圣灵，并领受了圣灵所赐的能力。西面听从了圣灵，清楚明白了关于弥赛亚的启示。正因为西面渴望见证这启示被实现，以至于圣灵很容易在预言的那一天将西面带到圣殿。
Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:28-35 NIV
西面就用手接过他来，称颂神说：“主啊，如今可以照你的话，释放仆人安然去世，因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，就是你在万民面前所预备的，是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的荣耀。”孩子的父母因这论耶稣的话就希奇。西面给他们祝福，又对孩子的母亲马利亚说：“这孩子被立，是要叫以色列中许多人跌倒，许多人兴起；又要作毁谤的话柄，叫许多人心里的意念显露出来；你自己的心也要被刀刺透。” 路加福音2:28-35
Simeon held tightly to a promise and eagerly awaited its fulfillment. His eagerness enabled him to be easily prompted by the Holy Spirit. He had been given a vision of salvation for Israel and the Gentile world. He held on to that vision and never let go.
西面紧守着这份应许，热切地等待着它的实现。他的这份渴慕让他很容易被圣灵激励。他得到了救恩临到以色列人和外邦人的异象。他坚持自己的梦想，绝不放弃。
Has God given you a vision for His work in your life, family or community? Has he given you dreams and mission for your hands to join in, for your eyes to see? Maybe you have not yet realized that vision, but eagerly look forward to it as Simeon did. Be so eager for what God has for you that you are easily prompted by the Spirit to get up and go to where God is moving to behold His glory and the effective work in your life and the world.
神有没有给你一个异象，让你在生活、家庭或社区里做衪的工？衪有没有给你梦想和使命，让你亲手去做，亲眼去看？也许你还没有意识到这一愿景，但你要像西面一样热切地期待它。切切渴望神为你所预备的，你就会很容易被圣灵激励，起身前往神所在之处，见证衪的荣耀，看到衪在你的生命中和这世界上有效的作工。
Simeon was spiritually prepared to meet Jesus. His partnership with the Holy Spirit led him to behold the Savior of the world. Let us also be spiritually prepared to meet Christ. May we be so eager to see Jesus that we are easily moved by the Holy Spirit this Christmas.
西面在灵里已经准备好迎接耶稣。他与圣灵的关系使他看见了世界的救主。让我们也在灵里预备好迎接基督。愿我们在今年的圣诞节因着渴望见到耶稣，就很容易被圣灵感动。
May we be easily moved this Christmas season and be prepared to let the Messiah Jesus Christ take up room in our hearts. Let us learn from the characters in this timeless story to prepare our hearts for whatever God has planned for us and for meeting Jesus face to face.
愿我们在这个圣诞季极易被感动，预备好在我们心中为弥赛亚耶稣基督留有一席之地。从这个永恒故事中的人物身上让我们有所得着，为着神为我们所安排的一切，以及亲眼遇见耶稣预备己心。
Zechariah was prepared as a priest who would father John the Baptist who would in turn prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah was prepared for the coming Messiah through his life of service and prayer. Mary was a servant of God who had prepared to immediately submit her life to God’s call. Joseph was a righteous man who was prepared in obedience to do just as the Lord directed him to do even though it meant personal sacrifice. The shepherds spent night after night on alert watching for anything that could harm their sheep. When they were alerted by angels, they knew what to do. Of all of those present for the birth of Christ, Simeon had the longest preparation as he awaited in faith God’s promise that he would not die before his own eyes beheld the Messiah.
撒加利亚预备好了成为祭司，是施洗约翰的父亲，约翰反过来将来要为弥赛亚预备道路。撒加利亚通过自己一生的服侍和祷告，为弥赛亚的降临做好准备。马利亚是神的使女，准备好立即将自己的生命降服于神的呼召。约瑟是位义人，他也预备好顺服神的指引，即使那意味着个人的牺牲。牧羊人夜夜警醒，提防自己的羊群遭害。所以天使提醒他们时，他们知道该怎么做。基督降生时在场的所有人中，西面预备的时间最为长久，他凭信等候神应许的实现，就是未死以前，他要亲眼见到弥赛亚。
As you prepare for Jesus’ coming, may His presence, love and peace take up residence in your heart every day of the year.
当你为耶稣的再来预备自己时，愿衪的同在、爱与平安每天都住在你心中。
