双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月8日 天堂美地

7月8日

天堂美地

“我若去为你们预备了地方，就必再来接你们到我那里去，我在哪里，叫你们也在那里。”

约翰福音14:3

主耶稣说，在我父那里有很多住处。“住处”这个词很有意思。所用的希腊词不是指气势恢宏的房子，而是指休息的地方。美国标准版圣经翻译成“住处”，这和英文单词词干remain是同一个词。

耶稣在世传道的时候，并没有家。他曾经说：“狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，人子却没有枕头的地方。”（太8:20）但是，他在天国的家却存到永远。

早期的门徒和其他的清教徒在很多方面都遭受患难。耶稣知道这一点。因为他所受的苦难比其他跟随者更大。但是，他们都在热切盼望一个美好、永恒、不朽的家，得享永生。

一天晚上，一个小女孩和父亲一起散步。她仰望星空，感叹道：“爸爸，如果天堂外的这一边都这么美，那么另一边又会是什么样子呀？”

今日祷告：

天父，我们如此盼望那一天，您带我们回到天堂永远的家园。那将是多么荣耀美好的一天！——奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 8

THE RIGHT SIDE OF HEAVEN

There are many rooms in my Father’s house;if there were not,I should have told you.I am going to prepare a place for you,and after I have gone and prepared you a place,I shall return to take you with me;so that where I am,you may be too.John 14:2-3,JB

When Jesus said,“In my Father’s house are many mansions,”we find a very interesting meaning for the word mansion.The Greek word used does not mean an imposing house but a resting place.The expression is translated in the margin of the American Standard Version as“abiding places.”This comes from the same stem as the English word remain.

During Christ’s ministry on earth He had no home.He once said,“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests,but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”(Matthew 8:20,NIV).But His home in heaven will last forever.

The early disciples and other Christian pilgrims suffered in many ways,and Jesus knew it-for He suffered more severely than any of His followers.But they were all eagerly anticipating the beauty and permanence of a never-ending home that would last throughout eternity.

A little girl was taking a walk with her father one evening.Looking up at the stars she exclaimed,“Daddy,if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful,what must the right side be!”

Pray for the Day:

Father,we so look forward to the Day when You will bring us to our ultimate home in heaven.What a glorious Day that will be!–in Jesus’Name,Amen.