“在你们中间凡作他子民的，可以上犹大的耶路撒冷。” – 拉 1:3
对于今天的许多人来说，“家”可能不是我们居住的地方，而是我们扎根的地方或有家族历史的地方。那也许是你成长的地方，也许是你的家族离开的国家。“家”塑造了我们，因此，有机会回到“家”会让人兴奋不已。
犹太人在远离祖先居住的流放地已经渡过了几代人的时光。虽然有些人已经习惯了他们的新家，但耶路撒冷的记忆和故事仍然牵动着其他人的心。因此，当执政的国王颁布法令提供了一个机会时，他们积极响应，互相说：“我们回去吧！”
在我们的属灵生命中，有时也会发生类似的事情。如果我们的生活远离上帝，我们就会逐渐适应世俗的生活方式。我们会习惯于随心所欲，做出错误的决定，导致我们陷入危险甚至毁灭。但是，上帝的灵会不断催促我们的心，提醒我们，我们是为敬拜独一真神并与祂建立关系而生的。
在耶稣里，上帝颁布了允许游荡和迷途的灵魂回到祂身边的法令。祂打动了我们的心，并提供了回到祂身边的环境（第5-6节）。如果你已经疏远了上帝，为什么今天不回头重新回到祂身边呢？
祷告
圣灵，感谢你牵动我们的心，敦促我们回到你身边；求你帮助我们回转，今天在基督里得到恢复。阿们。
以斯拉记 1:1-6
1波斯王居鲁士元年，耶和华为要应验藉耶利米口所说的话，就激动波斯王居鲁士的心，使他下诏通告全国说：
2“波斯王居鲁士如此说：耶和华天上的神已将天下万国赐给我，又嘱咐我在犹大的耶路撒冷为他建造殿宇。
3在你们中间凡做他子民的，可以上犹大的耶路撒冷，在耶路撒冷重建耶和华以色列神的殿，只有他是神。愿神与这人同在！
4凡剩下的人，无论寄居何处，那地的人要用金银、财物、牲畜帮助他，另外也要为耶路撒冷神的殿甘心献上礼物。”
5于是，犹大和便雅悯的族长、祭司、利未人，就是一切被神激动他心的人，都起来，要上耶路撒冷去建造耶和华的殿。
6他们四围的人就拿银器、金子、财物、牲畜、珍宝帮助他们，另外还有甘心献的礼物。
Let’s Go Back!
“Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah.” – Ezra 1:3
For many of us today, “home” may not be where we live but where we have roots or a family history. Perhaps it’s where you grew up, or maybe it’s the country your family emigrated from. Having been formed by that “home,” it can be exciting to have an opportunity to go back.
The Jews had spent several generations in exile, far away from their ancestral home. While some had grown accustomed to their new place, memories and stories of Jerusalem continued to tug at the hearts of others. So when an opportunity came through a decree of the ruling king, they responded with enthusiasm and said to one another, “Let’s go back!”
Similar things can happen at times in our spiritual lives. If we are living far away from God, we can grow comfortable with a secular lifestyle. We can get used to doing as we see fit, and we can make poor decisions that lead us into danger or even ruin. But God’s Spirit continues to nudge our hearts, reminding us that we are made for worship and relationship with the one true God.
In Jesus, God has issued the decree that allows wandering and wayward souls to return to fellowship with him. He moves our hearts and provides the circumstances (vv. 5-6) to return to him. If you have become distant from God, why not turn back and be restored to him today?
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank you for tugging at our hearts and urging us to return to you. Help us to turn back and be restored in Christ today. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
