苦难里的智慧

箴言26:16  懒惰人看自己、比七个善于应对的人更有智慧。

阅读经文:箴言 26:14-17

14门在枢纽转动,懒惰人在床上也是如此。15懒惰人放手在盘子里,就是向口撤回,也以为劳乏。16懒惰人看自己、比七个善于应对的人更有智慧。17过路被事激动,管理不干己的争竞,好像人揪住狗耳。

不要自怜不向前

「门在枢纽转动,懒惰人在床上也是如此。」(箴言二十六:14)

枢纽是门把,门把只是向左右转,门不会推开,必须转了以后向前推,门才会打开。

举棋不定的人,总在门外徘徊;多疑多虑的人,常在关键处停滞。爱自怜的人,不肯离开自己的床禢。躺在家里很舒服,何需到外闯江湖。睡在床上多惬意,何必出门花力气。

常躺在床上的是病人,一直在床上的是死人。为何在有手、有脚的时候不出去?为何在有力、有气的时候不向前?

求上帝给我们一点勇气,将门推出去,给我们一点信心,离开褥子站起来。与其在床上左右转覆,倒不如到真实的世界练身体。

There’s Always Hope

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 11:11-24.  Let’s go!
 
Romans 11:11-24 (NIV)
11  Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
12  But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13  I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry
14  in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
15  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16  If the part of the dough offered as firs fruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

On verses 11-24:  Occasionally you will meet people who say they used to follow Jesus but do so no longer. Some of these people may have been Christians earlier than you. They may even have played a part in your coming to faith. But for whatever reason, they have stopped following Jesus. What should your attitude be towards such people?

谁是你生命的主?

箴言26:12  你见自以为有智慧的人么,愚昧人比他更有指望。

阅读经文:箴言 26:12-13

12你见自以为有智慧的人么,愚昧人比他更有指望。13懒惰人说道上有猛狮,街上有壮狮。

谁是你生命的主?

「你见自以为有智慧的人么,愚昧人比他更有指望。」(箴言二十六:12)

许多人做事是根据他的喜好,喜好什么就做什么,不喜好什么就放弃,或一开始就裹足不前。

上帝警告我们,自以为是的人,未来没有指望。因为他们做事以自己为标准,不会放下自己的看法,寻求上帝的旨意;不会放下自己的喜好,照圣灵的感动而行。

「指望」的原文,是「依附」的意思,如同绳索紧缚。一个人所紧缚的,决定他的未来会如何。不要紧附在错误的人、事、物上,要紧附在耶稣上。背着十字架跟随 主,不要背负自己的喜欢。跟随主,是救恩的窄路,不是自己喜欢或不喜欢,是上帝带领的问题,不是以自己为衡量一切的主体。信耶稣的意义,是接受耶稣作我们 生命的主。

如果样样都以自己的喜好为主,即使他参加许多的聚会与服事,他还是没有得救的人。只有敬虔的外貌,内心没有改变;只有宗教的热忱,生命没有重生,至终是属于撒旦国度的人。

谁是你、我生命的主?是决定我们的一生的关键。

福音与等待

箴言26:9  箴言在愚昧人的口中,好像荆棘刺入醉汉的手。

阅读经文:箴言 26:9-11

9箴言在愚昧人的口中,好像荆棘刺入醉汉的手。10雇愚昧人的,与雇过路人的,就像射伤众人的弓箭手。11愚昧人行愚妄事,行了又行,就如狗转过来,吃他所吐的。

福音与等待

「箴言在愚昧人的口中,好像荆棘刺入醉汉的手。」(箴言二十六:9)

上帝讲愚昧人会如何,是在提醒我们,处事做人要注意。我们在传讲上帝话语,对方若像醉汉沈迷于恶习,某种外来的刺激品时,对上帝话语的反应,将如同荆棘刺入醉汉的手,他们完全失痛感。

不要责怪醉汉为什么不听,不要怀疑上帝话语没功效,不要忧心自己的事奉没能力。要等待,不失望。

我们对人传福音时,荆棘刺入一时没功效,不要就拿荆棘来刺自己。等一下,再等一下,醉汉总有清醒时。等一下,再等一下,醉汉总有感觉时。等一下,再等一下,醉汉总有放掉沈湎的东西时。

You’re Not Alone

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 11:1-10.  Let’s go!
 
Romans 11:1-5 (NIV)
1  I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2  God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah–how he appealed to God against Israel:
3  “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”?
4  And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5  So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
 
On verses 1-5:  For those who wonder, “Has God completely rejected the people He originally chose, the Israelites?” The answer is no.  As an example of this, Paul says, “Look at me.  I’m a Jew myself, and God did not reject me but saved me.” 

不要作反见证

箴言26:7  瘸子的脚,空存无用;箴言在愚昧人的口中,也是如此。

阅读经文:箴言 26:6-8

6藉愚昧人手寄信的、是砍断自己的脚、自受损害。7瘸子的脚,空存无用;箴言在愚昧人的口中,也是如此。8将尊荣给愚昧人的、好像人把石子包在机弦里。

看清所托,才能交棒

「藉愚昧人手寄信的、是砍断自己的脚、自受损害。」(箴言二十六:6)

不能将重要的事交给愚昧人,因为他们做事漫不经心,热心接受,不会完成;他们享受爱做的,忘记任务;追求自己所爱的,无法专心;重视自己的感受,忘记承诺。

这是愚人,无法完成所交付的工作。我们不能把事交给没事干的人,以为帮助他们,其实是害了自己,如同砍断自己的脚。

国家的强弱,组织的兴衰,公司的成败,在乎多少人能够承负责任,完成所托。下一代若是萎靡、沮丧、享乐,国家将完,公司将垮,组织将散。仔细一想,原来大家都是愚人,没有手的,交给无脚可行的。谁是能够承负责任的人呢?求上帝赐给能上战场的忠心者。

Our World Needs Jesus

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 10:12-21.  Let’s go!

Romans 10:12-13 (NIV)
12  For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
 
On verses 12-13:  “There is no difference” – in other words, regardless of your background, as long as you call on Jesus’ name to save you, you will be saved.  That is why Jesus is Lord over the largest and most racially, culturally, linguistically, economically and demographically diverse family that has ever existed: His church.  The moment you receive Jesus, in the grand scheme of things, you have more in common with your brothers and sisters in Christ living in other parts of the world than your unsaved next door neighbour. 

Salvation Made Simple

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Romans 10:1-11.  Let’s go!

Romans 10:1 (NIV)
1  Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
 
On verse 1:  In Romans 9 Paul was talking about how it is God who elects in advance whom He will save.  Yet notice that this does not stop Paul in Romans 10 from praying to God for the Israelites that they may be saved.  Why is Paul praying for his fellow Israelites’ salvation when he knows that God has already made a decision about whether or not to save the Israelites?  It’s because even though God is sovereign, our choices still matter.  Just because God, who stands outside of time and space, makes choices doesn’t mean that our prayers and our decisions don’t also have a real impact.  Don’t let God’s sovereignty be the reason you throw in the towel and say, “Who cares then since God is in control anyway”.  Instead let God’s sovereignty be the reason to throw your whole self into living for God’s glory, since God is the judge and only God knows the ultimate outcome of our stories. 

不讲话的学问

箴言26:4  不要照愚昧人的愚妄话回答他,恐怕你与他一样。

阅读经文:箴言 26:4-5

4不要照愚昧人的愚妄话回答他,恐怕你与他一样。5要照愚昧人的愚妄话回答他,免得他自以为有智慧。

不讲话的学问

「不要照愚昧人的愚妄话回答他,恐怕你与他一样。」(箴言二十六:4)

讲话的学问在知道什么时候该讲,什么时候不该讲。讲个不停,不是最好的讲话方式,不讲话,也不是解决问题的方法。即使同一个对象,也有讲与不讲的时候。

圣经里的「愚人」,原意是偏离正常岔路的人,这包括个性上倔强,做事上极端,性情上反复,判断上曲解,真理上讥讽,行为上堕落,心灵里邪恶,性欲上泛滥, 金钱上贪婪,势力上嗜血;宗教上有敬虔,却背了有敬虔的实意;知识上有聪明,却拿来反对创造知识的上帝;做事上有行动力,却不知做事的目的;感情上有需 要,却在相反的一方得满足等。

当愚人陷在自我为义时,智慧的人要保持静默,免得与他同调。那是体力的浪费,智力的消耗,心力的损伤。

火车交会要不同轨,否则会对撞。行车安全要有红绿灯,否则不知往前或停止。我们与愚人同轨吗?我们的生命没有红绿灯吗?上帝啊,求祢给怜恤的机会。

真正的尊荣

箴言26:1  夏天落雪,收割时下雨,都不相宜。愚昧人得尊荣,也是如此。

阅读经文:箴言 26:1-3

1夏天落雪,收割时下雨,都不相宜,愚昧人得尊荣,也是如此。2麻雀往来,燕子翻飞,这样,无故的咒诅也必不临到。3鞭子是为打马,辔头是为勒驴,刑杖是为打愚昧人的背。

真正的尊荣

「夏天落雪,收割时下雨,都不相宜。愚昧人得尊荣,也是如此。」(箴言二十六:1)

夏天,是作物获得充份阳光,快速生长的季节,如果这时下雪,对作物是很大的伤害。秋天,是作物要收割的时候,如果这时下雨,作物会长霉,结穗会掉落,将使一年的收成没结果。

我们要小心,不适当的尊荣,伤害将多于荣耀,是不相宜的事。「不相宜」是含蓄的用词,意即不美好、不恰当、不相称的意思。有些头衔一戴,自己几年的岁月就成那头衔的奴隶。有些奖项一拿,自己得失的心就重,不易接受自己还会失败。

对「董事长」、「部长」、「校长」、「主任」、「队长」、「站长」、「台长」等名词都要小心,这些尊荣使人不易当个好「家长」。真正的荣耀是上帝给的,不是人给的。只有在上帝台前的那一天,才有真正的尊荣。