阅读经文 

对很多人来说，夏天是野营的季节，这是到外面野营和享受户外生活的最好时光。

以色列民在旷野的四十年，都是在野营，他们没有固定的居所，他们都是以帐幕为家的。

帐幕的安排，是由神制定的，每一个支派的帐幕都有特定的位置。这种安排最值得留意的地方，就是所有支派都是对着会幕的四围安营的。会幕是神在场和住在祂子民当中的地方，它位于所有营地的中间，神住在祂的子民当中，以色列民的生活和旷野旅程，都是以耶和华为中心的。

事实上，神与我们同在是圣经最常提及的其中一个应许。神告诉我们，无论我们往哪里去，祂都必定与我们同在，这位信实的神是永远不会离开或撇弃我们的。

今天，我们知道神已经藉着祂的儿子耶稣临格在我们当中，祂降生时，耶稣被称为以马内利，意思是“神与我们同在”。（参太 1:23）在我们走过生命中的旷野时，这个应许必定能带给我们鼓舞。

然而，我们也需要回应一个挑战：我们过的生活，是否以神为我们生命的中心呢？

For many people, summertime is camping season. It's a great time to go camping and enjoy the outdoors.

For 40 years in the wilderness, Israel camped. They didn't have permanent homes; they lived in tents.

Their camping arrangement was set by God. Each tribe had its assigned place. What was most notable about the arrangement is that all the tribes camped around the tent of meeting. The tabernacle, or tent of meeting, was the place where God was present and lived among his people, and it was the center of the camp. God was in the midst of his people. The Lord was at the heart of Israel's life and wilderness journey.

The truth that God is with us is one of the most repeated promises in the Bible. God tells us that he will be with us wherever we go. God, who is faithful, will never leave us or forsake us.

Today we know that God came to live among us in the person of his Son, Jesus. At his birth, Jesus was called Immanuel, which means "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). This is a promise that should encourage us through the wilderness of life.

But there's also a challenge to respond to. Are we living with God in the center of our lives?