When we share our faith, we share the greatest treasure of all.

我们与人分享信仰，就是分享最贵重的珍宝。

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.Matthew 5:16 

你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。-马太福音5章16节

I was paging through my great-grandmother’s Bible when a treasure fell into my lap. On a small scrap of paper, in a young child’s handwriting, were the words, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:3–4 kjv). Scribbled beside those verses in wobbly cursive was my mother’s signature.

当我翻阅外曾祖母的圣经时，突然有张小纸条掉了出来，纸条上有小孩子的笔迹，上面写道：“虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰”（马太福音5章3-4节）。在那些字体歪斜的经文旁边，还有我母亲潦草的签名。

My great-grandmother had a habit of teaching her grandchildren to write out Scripture verses so they would learn them and take them to heart. But the story behind this verse brought tears to my eyes. My grandfather died when my mother was very young, and her little brother (my uncle) died just weeks later. It was in that tragic season that my great-grandmother pointed my mother to Jesus and the comfort only He can give.

我的外曾祖母习惯教导孙儿们写下圣经经文，好使他们学习并牢记这些经文。但想起母亲写下这些经文时所经历的一切，不禁让我热泪盈眶。我母亲很小的时候就失去了父亲，在她父亲过世几周后，最小的弟弟（我的舅舅）也过世了。在那段悲伤的时期，外曾祖母带领我母亲归向耶稣，倚靠只有耶稣才能给予的安慰。

Paul wrote Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5). Faith isn’t inherited, but it is shared. Timothy’s mother and grandmother shared their faith with him, and he believed.  

保罗写信给提摩太，说：“想到你心里无伪之信，这信是先在你外祖母罗以和你母亲友妮基心里的，我深信也在你的心里”（提摩太后书1章5节）。信仰的传承不是靠遗传，而是藉由分享。提摩太的母亲和外祖母，常向他分享她们的信仰，带领提摩太相信了耶稣。

When we encourage those close to us to have hope in Jesus, we offer them a legacy of love. Through a simple note, my mother left evidence of my great-grandmother’s love for her Savior and her family. Oh, to share Him with those who come after us! 

当我们鼓励至亲好友信靠耶稣，便留下了爱的典范。我母亲所写的这张纸条，充分表明我外曾祖母深爱她的救主和她的家人。噢，让我们向那些后生晚辈分享福音吧！

Thank You for those who shared Your love with us, Father. Please help us to point others to Your salvation today.

天父，感谢祢让许多人与我们分享祢的爱。求祢帮助我们，今日也能带领人明白祢的救恩。

2 Timothy 1:1-5    NIV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dear son:Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

提摩太后书 1:1-5

 1 奉神旨意、照着在基督耶稣里生命的应许，做基督耶稣使徒的保罗， 2 写信给我亲爱的儿子提摩太。愿恩惠、怜悯、平安从父神和我们主基督耶稣归于你！3  我感谢神，就是我接续祖先用清洁的良心所侍奉的神，祈祷的时候不住地想念你，4  记念你的眼泪，昼夜切切地想要见你，好叫我满心快乐。 5  想到你心里无伪之信，这信是先在你外祖母罗以和你母亲友尼基心里的，我深信也在你的心里。

INSIGHT

灵粮透视

The family language used in 2 Timothy 1:1–5 is hard to miss. In addition to the reference to “God the Father” (v. 2), other family terms are used. Paul refers to Timothy as “my dear son” (v. 2). The word translated “son” can refer to literal or spiritual offspring, the latter being the case here. Paul was a “spiritual father” who had invested in Timothy’s ministerial training and development. The family term in verse 3 is the word “ancestors,” and it refers to those from whom Paul had inherited a legacy of faith. Paul had spiritual roots (see Acts 22:1–3; 23:6; Philippians 3:5–7).

在阅读提摩太后书1章1-5节时，会看到其中的家庭用语。除了提到“父上帝”（2节）之外，还有其他的亲属称谓，如保罗称提摩太为“我亲爱的儿子”（2节）。翻译成“儿子”的希腊词语，可以指自己的亲生儿子，也可以指属灵的后代，此处乃为后者。保罗是一位“属灵的父亲”，积极教导和培育提摩太，好让他能牧养信徒。第3节中的家庭用语“祖先”，是指那些把信仰传承给保罗的人。保罗也有他自己属灵的根源（参阅使徒行传22章1-3节，23章6节；腓立比书3章5-7节）。

Timothy’s connection to his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother Lois was not just biological. His “sincere faith” had been nurtured by these godly women. Because of the influence of these family members, Paul could write in 2 Timothy 3:14–15: “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

提摩太与母亲友妮基和祖母罗以不只是有血缘关系，这两位敬虔的妇女更培育出提摩太的“无伪之信”。由于提摩太深受家人的影响，所以保罗写道：“但你所学习的、所确信的，要存在心里，因为你知道是跟谁学的。并且知道你是从小明白圣经；这圣经能使你因信基督耶稣有得救的智慧。”（提摩太后书3章14-15节）

What kind of spiritual roots are you leaving for those who will follow you?

你会为后生晚辈奠定什么样的信仰根基呢？

整理：于姊妹