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Last week, my son celebrated his 18th birthday. My wife and I wanted his birthday to be special. We invited the youth group, young adults, and some older adults for an evening of food and games.

Like any party, there was a lot of setup. We moved the barbecue. We put out about 25 chairs. We set up tables. We decorated the yard with birthday banners. And we prepared food. Once everyone arrived, there was laughter, conversation, gifts, and lots of empty plates. Then, as daylight began to fade, my son cut his birthday cake.

Birthday celebrations are only mentioned a few times in the Bible. Nevertheless, the Scriptures do highlight God’s sovereign power and grace over our lives – even from before we were born. Listen to Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

These verses remind us that our conception – and subsequent birth – was in God’s hands and purposes. It’s reassuring to know that God knows each day of our lives. As a result, we don’t need to be fearful about the future: “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

And listen to these words from Psalm 103:13-18

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

These verses remind us that whether we’ve only had a few birthdays or many birthdays, the number of birthdays of God’s love cannot be counted – his love is from everlasting to everlasting. And this everlasting love is with all those who fear him – who have welcomed Jesus as Lord.

Perhaps you recently had a birthday, perhaps your birthday soon approaches, perhaps your birthday is many months away. No matter your age or the date of your birthday, be encouraged that the Lord knows you, will fulfil his purposes in you, and pours out his everlasting love upon you. 

視頻大意翻譯(Brief video Chinese translation):

大家早，歡迎參加今天的線上靈修。

上星期，我們慶祝了兒子18歲的生日。我們邀請了一些年輕人和大人在傍晚一起時吃東西和玩遊戲。

就像其他派對一樣，有許多的東西要準備。我們把燒烤搬到了院子，擺了25張椅子，擺好了桌子，將院子點綴了生日派對的裝飾，並準備好食物。當然，當大家都來到時，有許多的笑聲和對話，許多的禮物和空盤子。接著，就在日漸西斜時，我兒子切了他的生日蛋糕。

有點驚訝，在聖經裡只提過幾次慶祝生日。當然聖經中提到神主宰的大能和在我們生命中充滿的恩典-甚至在我們出生前就提到。讓我們來聽聽詩篇139:13-16:

我的肺腑是你所造的．我在母腹中、你已覆庇我。我要稱謝你、因我受造奇妙可畏．你的作為奇妙．這是我心深知道的。我在暗中受造、在地的深處被聯絡、那時、我的形體並不向你隱藏。我未成形的體質、你的眼早已看見了．你所定的日子、我尚未度一日、你都寫在你的冊上了。

這段經文提醒我們，我們的受孕-以及隨後的出生-都在神的手中，也有神的旨意。再次確信，神知道我們每日的生活。因此，有祂做我們的主，我們不須為未來害怕。” 你所定的日子、我尚未度一日、你都寫在你的冊上了。”

讓我們來聽聽詩篇103:13-18:

父親怎樣憐恤他的兒女、耶和華也怎樣憐恤敬畏他的人。因為他知道我們的本體、思念我們不過是塵土。至於世人、他的年日如草一樣．他發旺如野地的花。經風一吹、便歸無有．他的原處、也不再認識他。但耶和華的慈愛、歸於敬畏他的人、從亙古到永遠．他的公義、也歸於子子孫孫．就是那些遵守他的約、記念他的訓詞而遵行的人。耶和華在天上立定寶座．他的權柄。聽從他命令成全他旨意有大能的天使、都要稱頌耶和華。你們作他的諸軍作他的僕役行他所喜悅的、都要稱頌耶和華。你們一切被他造的、在他所治理的各處、都要稱頌耶和華．我的心哪、你要稱頌耶和華。

這段經文提醒我們，不管我們有多少生日，神的愛是不能以過生日的次數來算的-祂的愛是從永遠直到永遠。這永遠的愛是與敬畏他的人一起的-就是那些歡迎耶穌當他的主的人。

上週，我兒子慶祝他18歲的生日。那是個美妙的晚上為他的生命，他寶貴的家人，教會的朋友和神的愛獻上感恩。

或許你最近剛過生日，或許你生日就到了，或再過幾個月就到了。無論你的年紀或生日的日期，主認識你，祂將實現祂在你生命的目的，倾倒予你祂永恆的愛。祂是我們的父，祂憐愛你。                    

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum