July - 2
A GARDEN RELATIONSHIP
The LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
Today’s readings from Scripture show that God created us to have relationship with him. In Genesis we find a picture of God coming to the garden in the evening to walk and talk with the people he had made. And when they didn’t show up, God asked, “Where are you?” God cares deeply about maintaining a relationship with us.
In Acts 17 Paul explains the same thing. His sermon isn’t intended just to give some general information about God. He talks about renewing relationships. God has created us human beings and provided for us so that we will “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”
Can you believe that? God made us for himself, though he doesn’t need us. God has determined all our times and places, though he could have just let us go. God does this because he wants to be in relationship with us. God wants us to seek him. Ever since Adam and Eve didn’t show up for their evening walk, God has been asking: Where are you?
Isn’t that wonderful? This God, who can sometimes seem so distant and “out there” is actually looking for me, and he wants me to look for him!
So how’s that going for you? Have you heard God’s “Where are you?”
PRAYER
Dear God, often we sense your “otherness” and confess your holiness before we hear you call our names. Help us to know your love that seeks each of us, and to seek you. Amen.
今天的经文说，神创造我们，是要叫我们与祂交往。在创世记中，我们看见神在黄昏时来到园子，与祂所造的人类漫步和交谈，当他们不出现时，神便问：「你在那里？」神非常看重与我们保持一个关系。
在使徒行传17章，保罗也解释同一件事。他的讲道不单是为了提供关于神的一般资料，它所说的乃是关于关系的更新。神创造人类并供应我们所需，为要叫我们「寻求神，或者可以揣摩而得。其实祂离我们各人不远。」
你相信吗？神其实不需要我们，但祂却为自己创造了我们；神本来可以放弃我们，但祂却预先定准我们的年限和疆界。神这样做，是因为祂希望与我们交往，神希望我们寻求祂。自从那个黄昏亚当和夏娃没有出来与祂漫步，神便一直在问：你在那里？
你说奇妙不奇妙？这位有时似乎离我们很远和「高高在上」的神，竟然在寻找我们，而祂更希望我们寻求祂呢！
那么，你又如何呢？你听到神在问「你在那里」吗？
祷告
亲爱的神，我们往往只感受到祢的「超然」和看到的圣洁，却听不到祢呼叫我们的名字。求祢帮助我们明白，祢的爱寻找我们每一个人，又叫我们寻求祢。阿们。