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Matthew 10:40-42 says, "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you that person will certainly not lose their reward."

Last week we finished collecting the Christmas shoeboxes. On the building we had a sign and in the church there were volunteers receiving the boxes and making sure they were packed before being shipped to different parts of the world.

These boxes become a tangible sign of God's grace and love to young children - children who are less fortunate than us, who need that wonderful sense of God's love and peace in their lives.

In Matthew 10:40-42, Jesus reminds us that if we even offer a cup of cold water to a little one who is one of his disciples then we show our love for him and we show what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Of course, the shoeboxes are more than just a cup of cold water, but you get the idea: a simple, meaningful way that touches people's lives can make all the difference. That's what the shoeboxes are all about as these two volunteers explain.

The best part is knowing that that box will make a kid very, very happy. And that a person is taking the time out of their schedules to make this box for these kids. And it means the world to both be a giver and a recipient. That's what it is for me.

The best thing is seeing people come together and actually bring different gifts. And for different people, it has different meaning for different people. And I have the pleasure of watching that and even hearing different stories as well. So for me, that's the best part.

As we draw nearer to the beginning of Advent, let’s remember these verses about offering even a cup of cold water. Let's remember that we can make a difference in somebody's life. It does not have to be an elaborate, expensive gift. It may be coming alongside somebody, listening to them, offering to pray for them, sharing Scripture with them, letting them know that Jesus loves them, holding their hand, giving them a hug. These are things all of us can do.

May you be blessed as you serve Jesus and take the opportunities the Lord gives to show his love in a meaningful yet perhaps simple way to somebody.

視頻大意翻譯(video Chinese translation):

大家早，歡迎再次參加今天的線上靈修。

在馬太福音10:40-42說到:

” 人接待你們、就是接待我．接待我、就是接待那差我來的。人因為先知的名接待先知、必得先知所得的賞賜、人因為義人的名接待義人、必得義人所得的賞賜。無論何人、因為門徒的名、只把一杯涼水給這小子裏的一個喝、我實在告訴你們、這人不能不得賞賜。”

我們即將結束收集聖誕鞋盒。在我身後，你會看到這個標誌。在教堂裡，義工們收到這些盒子，並確保它們在運往世界不同地區之前都打包好。在那裡，這些盒子成為神對孩子恩典和愛的有形標誌—這些孩子不像我們擁有那麼多，他們只是在生活中需要神的愛與平安的美妙感覺。

在剛剛我讀的經文中，耶穌提醒我們，如果我們給一個門徒中最小的一個孩子一杯涼水，那麼我們就表明我們對他的愛，表明成為耶穌的追隨者意味著什麼。我們表現出服事耶穌的熱情。

當然，這些鞋盒不僅僅是一杯涼水，但你明白了：一種簡單、有意義的方式觸動人們的生活，可以讓一切變得不同。這就是鞋盒的意義所在。

以下是兩個人志願者從他們自己的經歷中分享鞋盒對他們服事時的意義。

“最棒的部分是知道有個孩子會非常非常快樂。而且有個人在每日忙碌的行程中為這些孩子準備這些鞋盒。這意味著這世界是個施予者，也是個接收者。對我來說就是這樣。”

“最好的事情是看到人們聚在一起，還帶來了不同的禮物。而對於不同的人來說，它有不同的意義。我很高興看到，甚至聽到不同的故事。所以對我來說，這是最好的部分。”

本周，隨著我們越來越接近降臨節，讓我們記住這節經文，即使是獻上一杯涼水。讓我們記住，我們可以改變某人的生命。它不一定是一份精心製作昂貴的禮物。它可能與某人並肩同行，傾聽他們的聲音，主動為他們禱告，與他們分享聖經，讓他們知道耶穌愛他們，握住他們的手，給他們一個擁抱。這些都是我們所有人都能做到的。

當我們度過這一周時，主會給我們很多機會，以一種有意義但也許簡單的方式向某人表達祂的愛。所以，願你在服事祂時得到祝福。

讓我們禱告。 

主阿，我們為這個季節來感謝你，謝謝你給我們這特權可以跟隨並服事你-即便是準備一個鞋盒這樣的小事。主阿，當我們遇見有需要的人時，我們能展現你的恩典，不論是在工作場所、在家、在學校、在我們的鄰舍、在教會、甚或是在路上遇見的陌生人。幫助我們，主阿，能彰顯你的愛和恩典。願主你得榮耀! 這樣禱告是奉主耶穌的名祈求。阿們。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum