God’s Values vs. The World’s Values

/in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 12:1-12.  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 12:1-11 (NIV)
1  He then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.
2  At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

On verses 1-11:  Being the master communicator, Jesus shares a simple, powerful, and arresting story that gives people a fresh understanding of a famous phrase in Scripture: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone” (from Psalm 118:22-23).  At the same time, he uses this story to hint strongly at the tremendous evil that the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders were wanting to do to him.

Read more

與祢有約

/in , /by

希伯來書13:20-21 但願賜平安的神，就是那憑永約之血、使群羊的大牧人─我主耶穌從死裡復活的神，在各樣善事上成全你們，叫你們遵行祂的旨意；又藉著耶穌基督在你們心裡行祂所喜悅的事。願榮耀歸給祂，直到永永遠遠。阿們！

人與人相處，結交朋友，可以意氣相投，也可以道不同不相為謀，分道揚鑣。然而，生命中的婚姻和受洗卻截然不同，婚姻是夫妻間的立約，受洗則是與主立約，兩者的生活及生命旅程建基於盟約關係，其實有著相似的成長軌跡。

第一步，是「得著」我喜歡的。婚姻的開始，源於彼此吸引，因為看見對方的可愛與美好。同樣地，人在決志受洗時，往往是被主的愛吸引，得著赦免、平安、喜樂、盼望，這些是我們「喜歡」並渴慕的。婚姻和受洗的第一步總是美好，但好景總是短暫，人稱其為「蜜月」，一個月或許會延續久些，就要面對現實。

第二步，是「面對」我不喜歡的。婚姻進入現實後，差異與衝突必然浮現，我們開始學習包容與接納。跟隨基督也意味著要面對挑戰，悔改、被管教、捨己、十字架，這些不一定「討喜」，甚至「不喜歡」，卻是成長與真實的印記。這個階段也不會太長，在衡量得失後，我們必須選擇「堅持」或「放棄」。

Read more

愛神、跟主、助人、盡己

/in , /by

路加福音22:42 說：「父啊！祢若願意，就把這杯撤去！然而，不要成就我的意思，只要成就祢的意思。」

哥林多後書1:24 我們並不是轄管你們的信心，乃是幫助你們的快樂，因為你們憑信才站立得住。

在生命與信仰的旅程中，我們常渴望愛神、跟隨主、幫助人，也願意盡己擺上。然而，稍不留心，這些美好的追求也可能失去焦點，落入自己的捆綁或驕傲中。

「愛神而不失神」：愛神是對焦於神，不僅是火熱的感動、虔誠的外表、實際的服事，也需要在生活中實質的「與神同在」。若愛神變成了「愛感覺多於愛真理」、「愛事工多於愛神」，忽略了禱告、聆聽、與神親近，就可能「失焦於神」。真正的愛神，是在每一個時刻與祂同在。

「跟主而不自主」：跟隨主是主權交託，跟隨主的引導，不是高喊主名，卻是堅持己意、偏行己路。若口裡說跟隨，內心仍抓緊自己的慾望與計畫，就變成「掛名跟隨，實則自主」。

Read more

Unbelief vs. Honest Questions

/in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 11:27-33.  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 11:27-33 (NIV)
27  They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
28  “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

On verses 27-33:  At one time Jesus’ critics claimed that it was by the prince of demons that Jesus drove out demons, basically attributing Jesus’ power to Satan.  But Jesus put that argument to rest (Mark 3:22-30).  Still, Jesus’ critics couldn’t figure out where Jesus’ power came from and they were also unwilling to acknowledge that God was behind Jesus’ ministry.  So they ask Jesus, “Who gave you the authority to do what you’re doing?” (v28)

Read more

祂留意

/in , /by

彼得前書1:7 叫你們的信心既被試驗，就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴，可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。

耶利米書31:28 我先前怎樣留意將他們拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆、苦害，也必照樣留意將他們建立、栽植。」這是耶和華說的。

七月颱風暴雨肆虐過後，走過校園，望著榕園東南角的老榕樹，驚喜發現光禿枝幹上長出無數的嫩樹芽。

早在2015年8月8日，這棵老榕樹經歷強烈颱風摧殘而嚴重受損，榕樹東南側枝完全斷裂，西北側部分斷裂，只剩南側枝大致良好，老榕樹呈現目前的倒伏抓地姿態。新聞報導中稱老榕樹「腹裂腸爆」，景況至為悽慘。十年來，我經常造訪倒伏抓地的老榕樹，透過幾株倒插天空的禿樹幹望向天空，對照旁邊枝葉茂盛的巨大百年榕樹，畫面顯得滄桑淒涼。然而，今天禿樹幹長滿了無數的嫩樹芽，生意盎然！

多數人認為災難帶來毀滅，讓人失去盼望，甚至於絕望。然而，從森林大火這種毀滅性的災難中，我們可以看見神在祂創造裡的「毀壞與更新」。北美的森林大火清除了積累的枯枝落葉，驅逐了病蟲害，讓土地重獲陽光與空間，為新生的草本植物與灌木創造養分與棲地。

Read more

How Should You Dream

/in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 11:20-26.  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 11:20-24 (NIV)
20  In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.
21  Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22  “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered.

On verses 20-24:  Here Jesus shows the power of having faith in God.  As part of this, Jesus here is encouraging his followers to dream big dreams that involve God.  As missionary William Carey is famous for saying, when you’re serving God, expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God.

Read more

Jesus’ Heart for His House

/in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 11:12-19.  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 11:12-14 (NIV)
12  The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.
13  Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs.
14  Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

On verses 12-14:  We will see the fallout of this in verse 20.  In the meantime, we can learn a few things from these verses:

Read more

恩典才是根源

/in , /by

以弗所書2:8-9   你們得救是本乎恩，也因著信；這並不是出於自己，乃是神所賜的；也不是出於行為，免得有人自誇。

在人生的信仰旅程中，我們常常以為必須竭盡全力，才能換得神的祝福或獎賞。然而，聖經提醒我們：救恩與恩賜，並不是因為我們多麼努力或完美，而是因為神永不改變的恩典與慈愛。

努力並非毫無價值，因為它是我們對恩典的回應；但努力不是根源，恩典才是。保羅曾這樣見證：「然而，我今日成了何等人，是蒙神的恩才成的，並且他所賜我的恩不是徒然的。我比眾使徒格外勞苦；這原不是我，乃是神的恩與我同在。」（哥林多前書15:10）

這提醒我們，即使有所付出與奔跑，最終的果效仍是出於神。

Read more

親自體驗 (Taste and See)

/in , /by

詩篇34:8  你們要嘗嘗主恩的滋味，便知道祂是美善；投靠祂的人有福了！

經文中的「嘗嘗」在原文是兩個字，「טָעַם（品嚐、感知）」和「רָאָה（觀察、學習）」，英文聖經(KJV, NIV)翻譯為「taste and see」，而新譯本和現代中文譯本皆翻譯為「親自體驗」。

人類取得生活所需的方式不斷演變，從依賴自然、親手採集、市集交易，轉變為超市與便利商店，一直到現在的線上購物與宅配，隨手點擊、坐等送達。我們的生活越來越便利，卻也離供應我們需要的起始源頭，越來越遠。

細心呵護孫子的阿嬤準備西瓜切片，總會剔除西瓜內的小黑籽，避免孫子吞食西瓜籽粒。有一天，孫子到朋友家作客吃西瓜，驚訝發問：你們家西瓜有小黑石？

盤子上切片的去芯蘋果、超市買回來的洗選蘋果、或剛從枝椏採下的帶蒂蘋果，品嚐它們的味道是不一樣的；「品嚐」不僅是舌頭味蕾的感受，也包含著眼的視覺、鼻的嗅覺、手的觸覺，甚至是心裡的感動。當然，吃一片去芯或去皮蘋果，跟咬一口帶蒂蘋果的感受是截然不同的。

Read more

God Knows The Plans He Has For You

/in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 11:1-11.  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 11:1-6 (NIV)
1  As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,
2  saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

On verses 1-6:  Jesus could have chosen a much more experienced animal as his vehicle into Jerusalem.  Instead, Jesus chose a colt that had never been ridden on.  While this is in part a prophetic fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9, I believe it teaches us another lesson about Jesus:  you don’t need to be old and experienced to be used of God in a great way. 

Read more