God is always present and at work.

永活的上帝一直都在彰显祂的作为。

Let us acknowledge the ; let us press on to acknowledge him. Hosea 6:3

我们务要认识耶和华，竭力追求认识祂。-何西阿书6章3节

A plaque in our home states “Bidden or not bidden, God is present.” A modern version might read, “Acknowledged or unacknowledged, God is here.”

我们家有一块匾牌，上面刻着：“祷告或不祷告，上帝都同在。”以现代的角度来诠译，这句话意指：“无论是否认识上帝，祂都在这里。”

Hosea, an Old Testament prophet who lived in the late eighth century  (755–715), wrote similar words to the Hebrew nation. He encouraged the Israelites to “press on” (Hosea 6:3) to acknowledge God because they had forgotten Him (4:1). As the people forgot God’s presence, they began to turn away from Him (v. 12) and before long there was no room for God in their thoughts (see Psalm 10:4).

公元前第八世纪末期（主前755-715年）的旧约先知何西阿，也曾对希伯来人传达了类似的信息。他劝勉以色列人要“竭力追求”认识上帝，因他们已经忘了上帝（4章1节）。他们一旦忘记上帝的同在，就会开始远离上帝（12节），不久之后他们就以为没有上帝（诗篇10篇4节）。

Hosea’s simple but profound insight to acknowledge God reminds us He’s near and at work in our lives, in both the joys and struggles.

何西阿简单而深刻的见解，提醒我们无论顺境或逆境上帝都同在，祂也在我们的生命中彰显作为。

To acknowledge God might mean that when we get a promotion at work, we recognize God gave us insight to finish our work on time and within budget. If our housing application is rejected, acknowledging God helps to sustain us as we trust Him to work in the situation for our good.

“认识上帝”或许意味着，当我们在职场上获得升迁时，要认识到是上帝赐给我们能力，可以在经费预算内如期完工；当我们购屋的申请被拒绝时，要知道上帝会帮助扶持我们，更相信上帝会让万事互相效力，让我们得益处。

If we don’t make it into the college of our choice, we can acknowledge God is with us and take comfort in His presence even in our disappointment. As we enjoy dinner, to acknowledge God may be to remind ourselves of God’s provision of the ingredients and a kitchen to prepare the meal.

当我们无法进入心目中理想的大学时，知道上帝与我们同在，就能在失望中得安慰；在享用晚餐的时刻，因着认识上帝，我们就会记得祂供应了食材与厨房，令我们得着饱足。

When we acknowledge God, we remember His presence in both the successes and sorrows, whether big or small, of our lives.

当我们认识上帝，就会记得在我们生活中所经历的大小事、成功或缺憾，祂都与我们同在。

Lord Jesus, please forgive me for the times I am prone to forget You. Help me to acknowledge Your presence in my life.

主耶稣，求祢赦免我，因我很容易就忘记祢。求祢帮助我知道生命中一直有祢同在。

Hosea 6:1-6    NIV

6 David had just s“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces，but he will heal us; he has injured us，but he will bind up our wounds. 2 After two days he will revive us;  on the third day he will restore us,  that we may live in his presence. 3 Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises,  he will appear，he will come to us like the winter rains,  like the spring rains that water the earth.”; 4 “What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. 5 Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun. 6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,  and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

何西阿书 6:1-6

6 来吧，我们归向耶和华！他撕裂我们，也必医治；他打伤我们，也必缠裹。 2 过两天他必使我们苏醒，第三天他必使我们兴起，我们就在他面前得以存活。 3 我们务要认识耶和华，竭力追求认识他。他出现确如晨光，他必临到我们像甘雨，像滋润田地的春雨。4 主说：“以法莲哪，我可向你怎样行呢？犹大啊，我可向你怎样做呢？因为你们的良善如同早晨的云雾，又如速散的甘露。 5 因此，我借先知砍伐他们，以我口中的话杀戮他们，我施行的审判如光发出。 6 我喜爱良善，不喜爱祭祀；喜爱认识神，胜于燔祭。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

James Limburg comments on today’s passage in his book Interpretation: Hosea—Micah: “The contrast which comes to expression in Hosea 6:6 is between two fundamentally different notions of religion. The one thinks in terms of discharging religious obligations through . . . sacrifice and offering; the other speaks of loyal love and of acknowledging God as God. . . . When religion becomes preoccupied with the niceties of liturgy, the nuances of language, the novelties of music, art, and architecture, but forgets the neighbor, then religion has been reduced to cultic correctness . . . . True religion has that rich word hesed [steadfast love] at its center, recalling God’s steadfast love (Ps. 136) and mercy (Titus 3:5–7) and then calling for lives which respond to that love with loyal devotion to God and loving service to the neighbor.”

对于今天的阅读经文，詹姆斯．林堡（James Limburg）在他一本注释书（Interpretation: Hosea—Micah）解释说：“何西阿书6章6节，表达了对宗教信仰两种截然不同的观念。一种观念认为，可以透过祭祀和燔祭履行宗教义务；另一种观念则注重忠诚的爱，并要认识上帝的特质。当信仰只专注于各种仪式的细节、词汇和音乐的优美，以及艺术和建筑的华丽，却忘记邻舍时，那这信仰就只是推崇正确的崇拜仪式罢了。真正的信仰是以上帝不变的爱为核心，思想上帝长存的爱（诗篇136篇）和怜悯（提多书3章5-7节），然后呼吁人们活出这份爱，就是对上帝忠诚，又能以爱心服事邻舍。”

Are there areas of your life where the line between religion and relationship has become blurry?

在你的生活中，有哪些领域或在什么时候，会把你和上帝的关系变成执行宗教仪式呢？

整理：于姊妹