阅读经文 

在二十一世纪初的一首敬拜歌曲中，歌手/作曲家布莱恩·杜尔克森（Brian Doerksen）唱道：“耶稣，万国的盼望/耶稣，悲痛之人的安慰/祢是世人属天盼望的源泉。”

作为基督的信徒，我们承认并尊崇耶稣是世人真正的盼望，然而令人震惊的是，我们经常把盼望寄托在人类身上。在我们所有的历史书中，很明显，人们倾向于在领导人、政治家和名人身上寻找希望，而不是在唯一的真神身上。

我们为什么这样做？箴言警告说，把盼望放在人身上是徒劳的，因为任何人的力量都将归于无有。正如使徒保罗告诉我们的，“没有权柄不是出于神的”。（参罗 13:1）

保罗这样说是要信徒们确信，在任何环境下，甚至在国家动荡和全球危机中，神才是掌管万有的人。任何拥有“权柄”的人，是因着神的允许他才能拥有。

换句话说，我们的盼望和渴望必须取决于那位宇宙的主宰。我们的祷告必须朝向基督，因为祂是唯一的盼望——唯有祂能改变思想、转化心灵、驱散黑暗势力、带来复兴。

In a worship song from the early 2000s, singer/songwriter Brian Doerksen sings, "Jesus, hope of the nations/ Jesus, comfort for all who mourn/ You are the source of heaven's hope on earth."

As believers in Christ, we recognize and worship Jesus as the true hope of the world, and yet it's astounding how often we pin our hopes on human beings. In all of our history books, it is clear that people are inclined to find hope in leaders, politicians, and celebrities rather than in the one true God.

Why do we do this? Proverbs warns that placing hope in humans is futile because any human power will come to nothing. As the apostle Paul tells us, "There is no authority except that which God has established" (Romans 13:1).

By saying this, Paul is assuring believers that in all situations, even in the midst of national turmoils and global crises, God is the one who holds all authority. Any human who has "power" has it only because God allows it to be so.

In other words, our hopes and desires must lie with the One who is on the throne of the universe. Our prayers must be oriented toward Christ, for he is truly the only hope—the one who can change minds, transform hearts, disperse powers, and bring restoration.