We can rely on our Father for everything we need.

我们的一切所需，都可以倚靠天父。

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求祂的人吗？-马太福音7章11节

Some problems have Daddy’s name written all over them. For instance, my kids recently discovered bees had moved into a crack in our concrete front porch. So, armed with bug spray, I went out to do battle.

有些问题总是需要爸爸亲自出马。例如，最近我的孩子们发现蜜蜂在我们家前廊的裂缝中筑巢。于是，我以杀虫剂作为武器前去作战。

I got stung. Five times.I don’t like being stung by insects. But better me than my kids or wife. Taking care of my family’s well-being is at the top of my job description after all. My children recognized a need, and they asked me to address it. They trusted me to protect them from something they feared.

我被螫到了，一共五次。我当然不喜欢被螫，但更不愿妻儿被螫伤。保护家人的安危是我最重要的职责。孩子看到危机会来找我处理，因为他们相信我会保护他们免于伤害。

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches that we too should bring our needs to God (v. 7), trusting Him with our requests. To illustrate, Jesus gives a case study in character: “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?” (vv. 9–10). For loving parents, the answer is obvious. But Jesus answers anyway, challenging us not to lose faith in our Father’s generous goodness: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (v. 11).

在马太福音7章，耶稣也教导我们将各样的需要带到上帝面前（7节），要相信祂会回应我们的祈求。耶稣以父母为例，对此详加解释：“你们中间谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？求鱼，反给他蛇呢？”（9-10节）对爱子心切的父母而言，答案是清楚不过的。但耶稣仍继续讲述，提醒我们不要对天父仁慈的良善失去信心，祂说：“你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求祂的人吗？”（11节）

I can’t imagine loving my kids more. But Jesus assures us that even the best earthly father’s love is eclipsed by God’s love for us. 

我自认为非常疼爱孩子。但耶稣应许我们，地上最伟大的父爱在上帝对我们的爱面前，也黯然失色。

Father, thank You for loving us so much more than even the best father here ever could. Help us to do as Jesus said with everything that’s on our hearts; to ask, seek, and knock in our relationship with You. 

天父，感谢祢爱我们远超过世上最伟大的父亲。求祢帮助我们将心中所想的一切事情，按照耶稣的教导去行，去祈求、寻找和叩门，与祢建立关系。

Matthew 7:7-11  NIV

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

马太福音 7:7-11

7 “你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门。 8 因为凡祈求的，就得着；寻找的，就寻见；叩门的，就给他开门。 9 你们中间谁有儿子求饼，反给他石头呢？ 10 求鱼，反给他蛇呢？ 11 你们虽然不好，尚且知道拿好东西给儿女，何况你们在天上的父，岂不更把好东西给求他的人吗？

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) focuses on the attitudes and actions that are to characterize “citizens” who live under God’s rule. Yet an even more intimate relationship comes into play in the sermon. A common thread that runs through the chapters is a “family focus” or, more specifically, a “Father focus.” In Matthew 5:9 Jesus declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (emphasis added). And when followers of Christ display heaven’s light by the way they live, the “Father in heaven” gets the credit (v. 16). Showing love for one’s enemies also demonstrates kinship with our heavenly Father (vv. 43–48).

“登山宝训”（马太福音5-7章）的重点，乃是描述上帝子民应有的态度和行为。然而，在这些教导中还论述了更为亲密的关系。贯穿这几章的一个共同点是“以家庭为中心”，或更具体地说是“以天父为中心”。在马太福音5章9节，耶稣宣称：“使人和睦的人有福了，因为他们必称为上帝的儿子。”（语气加强）当基督徒透过他们的生活方式展示天国之光时，“天上的父”就会得到荣耀（16节）。对仇敌表现出爱，也能显出我们是天父的儿女（43-48节）。

Those who engage in holy habits (6:4, 6, 18), including prayer, do so with the knowledge that the primary audience is their Father in heaven. The King who rules over all is “our Father” and cares enough to hear our prayers for all our needs. Thus, we can confidently address Him, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (v. 9).

那些操练属灵美德的人，（6章4、6、18节），暗中施舍、祷告和禁食，因为他们知道， 在天上的父才是重要的观众。这位治理万有的君王是“我们的父”，祂非常关心我们，祂会聆听我们的祈求，顾念我们一切的需要。因此，我们可以信心满满地对祂说：“我们在天上的父：愿人都尊祢的名为圣。”（9节）

When you pray this week, reflect on the fact that you are praying to the One Scripture calls our heavenly Father.

本周你在祷告时，当思想我们祷告的对象，是那位我们在天上的父。

整理：于姊妹