双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：12月25日 快乐是什么意思？

12月25日

快乐是什么意思？

忽然有一大队天兵同那天使赞美神说……

——路加福音2:13

在一年当中的这个时节，当我们祝愿朋友们“圣诞快乐”的时候，我们应当意识到，内心真正快乐取决于我们是否认识到了基督为了我们的救恩降生在伯利恒这一事实。“快乐”一词来自一个古老的安格鲁—撒克逊词汇，这个词意思有时是“著名的”、“杰出的”、“伟大的”或者“强大的”。按照起初的含义来说，快乐不仅仅指愉快，而是坚强勇敢的意思。从这个意思来说，勇敢的士兵可以被称为“快乐的人”。好天气可以称为“快乐的天气”。凉爽的清风可以被称为“快乐的风”。史宾塞称伦敦为“快乐的伦敦”。“快乐”这个词带有“大能”和“愉快”的双重含义，在经文中也按照这两个意思使用。早期的圣诞节赞美诗中有一首诗歌名叫“上帝赐予你快乐，先生们”。当基督徒思想到这样一个事实，就是通过救赎他可以成为神的儿女，那他就会获得属灵的快乐。圣经告诉我们在基督降生之时，天使欢欣鼓舞。

今日祈祷

亲爱的主，今天是圣诞节，当我思想祢的降生时，我的心如此快乐。我与天使一起欢喜，赞美祢的圣名！奉主耶稣基督的圣名，阿们！

What Does Merry Mean?

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,praising God…

—Luke 2:13

When at this season of the year we wish our friends a“Merry Christmas,”it is essential to realize that true merriment of heart is contingent upon the recognition of the truth that Christ was born in Bethlehem for our salvation.The word“merry”is from an old Anglo-Saxon word which sometimes meant“famous,”“illustrious,”“great,”or“mighty.”Originally,to be merry did not imply to be merely mirthful,but strong and gallant.It was in this sense that gallant soldiers were called“merry men.”Favorable weather was called“merry weather.”Brisk winds were called a“merry gale.”Spenser speaks of London as“merry London.”The word“merry”carries with it the double thought of“might”and“mirth,”and is used both ways in Scripture.One of the early Christmas carols was“God Rest You Merry,Gentlemen.”The Christian is to engage in spiritual merriment as he thinks upon the fact that,through the redemption,he becomes a child of God’s family.The Bible teaches that the angels made merry at Christ’s birth.

Prayer for the day

This Christmas my heart is indeed merry when I think of Your birth,dear Lord.I rejoice with the angels and praise Your holy name!