How to Listen to Jesus

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 8:14-21.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 8:14-21 (NIV)
14  The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat.
15  “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
16  They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

On verses 14-21: The disciples were concerned about how they had forgotten to bring bread with them on the boat (v14).  So when Jesus says, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod” (v15), the disciples immediately assume that Jesus is talking to them about how they had no bread (v16). 

慈爱的天父

箴言4:1 众子啊,要听父亲的教训,留心得知聪明。

箴言23:24  义人的父亲必大得快乐;人生智慧的儿子,必因他欢喜。

申命记5:16   当照耶和华你神所吩咐的孝敬父母,使你得福,并使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐你的地上得以长久。

当一个人失去父爱,心中往往会留下深深的空缺。唯有经历与神相遇后,那真正不离不弃、永远慈爱的「天父的爱」才能填满这空缺,且满溢而出。

美国知名演员克里斯·普瑞特(Chris Pratt)以《星际异攻队》、《侏罗纪世界》等电影而广为人知,但他的成长过程并不如银幕上的英雄般光鲜。他坦言,在他青少年时期,父亲与家庭疏离,逐渐变得沉默、冷漠,几乎没有情感交流,这段关系在他内心留下深刻的伤痕。

普瑞特大学一年级就退学,当过打折票推销员、脱衣舞猛男,然后到了夏威夷毛伊岛生活,睡在厢型车或海滩上的帐棚内,收入也仅能维持生活基本开支。

The Difference Between Having Questions and Unbelief

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 8:1-13.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 8:1-10 (NIV)
1  During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said,
2  “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.
3  If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.”

On verses 1-10:  Like when Jesus fed the five thousand in Mark 6, here we see:

– It was Jesus’ heart of compassion for the people, not the desire to put on a show, that led Jesus to feed the people.  Out of the heart the mouth speaks, and out of the heart ministry happens. 

Let The Deaf Hear, Let The Mute Speak

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 7:31-37.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Mark 7:31-35 (NIV)
31  Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.
32  There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

On verses 31-35:  At first glance, to us reading these verses today, the steps Jesus took to heal this deaf and mute man might seem strange.  But keep in mind that Jesus would often touch people as a part of healing them.  He would often look to heaven while praying.  He would sigh out of compassion and sometimes frustration.  So perhaps it’s just the spitting part that throws us off. 

二人同行

创世记22章1-19节记载亚伯拉罕带着以撒上摩利亚山献祭。亚伯拉罕心里明白,这不是习常的献祭,而是献上他晚年得来、万分疼爱的以撒。往摩利亚山的路,漫长且沉重,亚伯拉罕手拿刀与火,以撒背负献燔祭的柴,父子俩人一步步走向神所指定的山。圣经简洁却有力的描述:「于是二人同行。」(创世记22:6)

旅程中亚伯拉罕沉默不语,脚步坚定,心中却藏着撕裂的痛。以撒问:「父亲哪!」亚伯拉罕说:「我儿,我在这里。」以撒说:「请看,火与柴都有了,但燔祭的羊羔在哪里呢?」亚伯拉罕说:「我儿,神必自己预备作燔祭的羊羔。」圣经再次描述:「于是二人同行。」(创世记22:8)

「二人同行」不只是地上的路,更是心灵的同步:父亲在信心中前行,儿子在顺服中同行,他们一起经历神的考验,也一起见证神的预备(创世记22:16-18)。

长久以来,我们家以及父亲的家,除了家人偶有远行、或迁移外地,主日总是「家人同行」到教会的日子。对我而言,感受更觉深刻,因为我除了出国读书期间外,就一直在台南;从小跟着父亲到教会,他刻钢板,我学刻钢板,他画海报,我学画海报…,他教主日学、讲故事,我也学教主日学、讲故事…,我就是这样与父亲「同行」长大的。但是,父亲与我也有一段沉重的「同行」旅程。

金多加金,甜上加甜

诗篇19:7-9

7 耶和华的律法全备,能苏醒人心。耶和华的法度确定,能使愚人有智慧。
8 耶和华的训词正直,能快活人的心。耶和华的命令清洁,能明亮人的眼目。
9 耶和华的道理洁净,存到永远。耶和华的典章真实,全然公义。

大卫在诗篇19:7-9描述神对人的启示,经由六个层面让人认识祂、经历祂、也得着祂:

耶和华的律法(教导与指引)全备,能苏醒人心。
耶和华的法度(神自己见证)确定,能使愚人有智慧。
耶和华的训词(行为的准则)正直,能快活人的心。
耶和华的命令(命令或诫命)清洁,能明亮人的眼目。
耶和华的道理洁净(人对神的单纯敬畏),存到永远。
耶和华的典章真实(神对人的真实判断),全然公义。

前四个层面带给人的影响,包含:让人的心被导正、得智慧、人心快活且眼目明亮,充分描述神的儿女必然经历的导引,以及确实拥有的祝福。后两个层面则强调人对神的单纯敬畏存到永远,而神对人的真实判断全然公义。

If Jesus Squeezes You Today, What Will Come Out?

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 7:24-30.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Mark 7:24-30 (NIV)
24  Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.
 
On verse 24:  Jesus goes into Gentile (non-Jewish) territory, visiting the city of Tyre.  Whereas the Pharisees and teachers of the law would be concerned about becoming ceremonially by getting close to Gentiles, Jesus had no such concern.  The fact that Mark places this passage right after the passage where Jesus declares all foods clean suggests that just as there was no food that could not be eaten, so people of all cultures are loved by God and God does not discriminate based on culture or race. 

父亲的心转向儿女

玛拉基书4:5-6 「看哪,耶和华大而可畏之日未到以前,我必差遣先知以利亚到你们那里去。 6 他必使父亲的心转向儿女,儿女的心转向父亲,免得我来咒诅遍地。」

李‧史特博(Lee Strobel)是《铁证待判》(The Case for Christ)一书的作者,过去曾任《芝加哥论坛报》(Chicago Tribune)的法律记者,是一位逻辑严谨、个性坚毅的坚定无神论者。年轻时,他一心投入事业,对信仰不屑一顾,常对家庭中的情感与属灵氛围表现出冷漠与不耐。

他早年与父亲的关系极度疏离。高中毕业前夕,父亲曾冷冷地对他说:「我没有足够的爱,连我最小的手指都无法填满你。」这句话深深烙印在李的心中,成为他日后质疑天父是否真爱自己的情绪根源之一。

后来,妻子Leslie成为基督徒,李不但极力反对,甚至嘲讽她的信仰。然而,他察觉到妻子的言行有了转变,变得温柔、有耐性、充满爱心。他虽心存抗拒,却也好奇:「究竟是什么让她有如此改变?」

To Be Truly Clean Before God

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 7:14-23.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

 
Mark 7:14-23 (NIV)
14  Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.
15  Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’
17  After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable.

On verses 14-23:  The Pharisees and teachers of the law focused so much on physical cleanliness, washing their hands, cups and dishes, all under the belief that those who washed were clean before God whereas those who didn’t were unclean. 

Don’t Put Tradition Over God’s Word

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 7:1-13.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 7:1-13 (NIV)
1  The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and
2  saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.
3  (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.

On verses 1-13:  Jesus had no problem with washing your hands before eating per se.  Rather Jesus’ problem was with the Pharisees and teachers and how they put more focus on following their man-made traditions (like “wash your hands before you eat”) than obeying God’s commands.