For a new start, ask God for a new heart.

要有新的开始，就求上帝赐下一颗新心。

Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:31

你们要将所犯的一切罪过尽行抛弃，自做一个新心和新灵。-以西结书18章31节

When my son acquired a small robot, he had fun programming it to perform simple tasks. He could make it move forward, stop, and then retrace its steps. He could even get it to beep and replay recorded noises. The robot did exactly what my son told it to do. It never laughed spontaneously or veered off in an unplanned direction. It had no choice.

我儿子得到一个小机器人，他编写程序让机器人执行简单的任务，并乐在其中。他不但可以让这个机器人前进、停止、原路折返，还能让机器人发出哔哔声和重播先前录制的声音。机器人完全遵照我儿子所下的指令，它不会自行发出笑声，或朝其他方向前进。总之，机器人没有选择的自由。

When God created humans, He didn’t make robots. God made us in His image, and this means we can think, reason, and make decisions. We’re able to choose between right and wrong. Even if we have made a habit of disobeying God, we can decide to redirect our lives.

上帝创造人类时，祂并不是制造机器人。上帝是按着祂的形象造人，这也意味着我们会思考、判断、做决定，并且能在对与错之间做出选择。即使我们惯于违背上帝的心意，我们仍能选择重新归向祂。

When the ancient Israelites found themselves in trouble with God, He spoke to them through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel said, “Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. . . . Get a new heart and a new spirit” (Ezek. 18:30–31).

古时的以色列人行上帝眼中看为可憎恶的事，上帝就透过先知以西结对他们说：“你们当回头离开所犯的一切罪过。这样，罪孽必不使你们败亡。你们要……自做一个新心和新灵。”（以西结书18章30-31节）

This kind of change can begin with just one choice, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). It might mean saying no at a critical moment. No more gossip. No more greed. No more jealousy. No more ___________. (You fill in the blank.) If you know Jesus, you’re not a slave to sin. You can choose to change, and with God’s help, this personal revolution can start today.

我们只需要选择靠着圣灵（罗马书8章13节） ，就能得到这种改变。这也许意味着我们在关键时刻必须说不：不再谈论是非、不再贪婪、不再嫉妒和不再……（你来填空）如果你认识耶稣，你就不是罪的奴仆。你可以选择改变，并且因着上帝的帮助，今天你的生命就可以开始改变。

Dear God, all things are possible with You. 

Through the power of Jesus’s resurrection 

help me to take the first step toward a life 

of greater devotion to You.

亲爱的上帝，在祢没有难成的事。
藉着耶稣复活的大能，
求祢帮助我迈出第一步，活出更合祢心意的生活。

Ezekiel 18:25-32New International Version (NIV)

25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. 28 Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust?

30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!

以西结书 18:25-32Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

主道至公

25 “你们还说：‘主的道不公平！’以色列家啊，你们当听！我的道岂不公平吗？你们的道岂不是不公平吗？ 26 义人若转离义行而做罪孽死亡，他是因所做的罪孽死亡。27 再者，恶人若回头离开所行的恶，行正直与合理的事，他必将性命救活了。 28 因为他思量，回头离开所犯的一切罪过，必定存活，不致死亡。 29 以色列家还说：‘主的道不公平！’以色列家啊，我的道岂不公平吗？你们的道岂不是不公平吗？

劝以悔罪离恶

30 “所以主耶和华说：以色列家啊，我必按你们各人所行的审判你们。你们当回头离开所犯的一切罪过，这样，罪孽必不使你们败亡。 31 你们要将所犯的一切罪过尽行抛弃，自做一个新心和新灵。以色列家啊，你们何必死亡呢？ 32 主耶和华说：我不喜悦那死人之死，所以你们当回头而存活。”

整理：于姊妹