關於「和平」的自勉

基督降臨節第二週的主題是「和平」，上週是「盼望」。按照長老會的降臨節日歷，這幾天開始默想的經文是腓立比書第四章。今天（第二天）的內容是每個基督徒都應該對自己說的話，翻成中文如下。

經文：當叫眾人知道你們謙和的心。主已經近了。（4節）

當叫眾人知道你謙和的心。主已經近了。
謙和比公正更有力量。
謙和明白公平的標準，卻隨和而親善。
它饒恕多於公義，堅定多於嚴厲。

那些不配得你仁慈的惡棍，他們不為罪道歉。
願你的忍耐開出花朵，
你的溫和或許讓他們開口禱告，你聽不到，但神會聽到。

保持謙卑吧，我們都從平凡開始。
我們都會跌倒。
願人都知道你的溫和，
不僅對你的仇人或前嫌溫和，也對你自己溫和。
主已經親近你這樣的人了。

禱告：神啊，求你到我這裡來，因為我需要你來柔軟我的判斷，讓我成為一個慈悲的人。

原文對照：
Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Gentleness does more than justice.
It understands standards of fairness, yet relaxing into goodwill,
is more forgiving than righteous, more steadfast than strict.

Consider the scoundrels who neither warrant your kindness
nor atone for their crimes.
Let forbearance flower from you.
Your gentleness may lead those miscreants to offer up prayers you'll never hear, but God will.
Stay humble.We all start small.
We all fall down.
Let your gentleness be known not only to your exes and enemies,
but show as much gentleness to yourself, too.
The Lord is near to people like you.

Come near to me, God, because I need you to soften my judgments and make me a merciful person.