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定睛等候,一句話也不說

創世記 24:21  那人定睛看她,一句話也不說,要曉得耶和華賜他通達的道路沒有。

管理亞伯拉罕全業的老僕人,學得亞伯拉罕的信心,他走遠路回鄉,求神施恩給他主人,讓他遇見好機會,定睛要曉得神賜他通達的道路,他終於找著以撒的妻子利百加,他就低頭下拜感謝神。

求告、等候、得著和感謝是信心的旅程,等候是最難的部分,聖經描述老僕人的等候:…那人定睛看她,一句話也不說,要曉得耶和華賜他通達的道路沒有。

亞伯拉罕對管理他全業最老的僕人說:…你要往我本地本族去,為我的兒子以撒娶一個妻子。…那僕人…起身往美索不達米亞去,到了拿鶴的城。…他說:耶和華─我主人亞伯拉罕的神啊,求你施恩給我主人亞伯拉罕,使我今日遇見好機會。…話還沒有說完,不料,利百加肩頭上扛著水瓶出來。

God’s Power and Purposes for Your Life

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of Acts.  Written by a Christian physician called Luke in approximately 60-70 A.D. as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, Acts is such an important book in that: (1) it gives us a detailed account of what happened to Jesus’ followers after Jesus ascended to heaven; (2) it gives us a historical backdrop for understanding the letters of Paul, which would make up much of the New Testament; (3) it shows us what the early church looked like and the incredible faith, courage and perseverance they displayed in the face of great uncertainty and persecution; and (4) it takes us on a tour from Jerusalem to the various nations where the church spread.  Even more, the book of Acts is filled with powerful lessons for us today. 

Today’s passage is Acts 1:1-11.  As usual, I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Acts 1:1 (NIV)
1  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
 

我們等候,為了看見和聽見神

創世記 45:7-8

神差我在你們以先來,為要給你們存留餘種在世上,又要大施拯救,保全你們的生命。 8 這樣看來,差我到這裡來的不是你們,乃是神。祂又使我如法老的父,做他全家的主,並埃及全地的宰相。

我們等候神的目的,不僅在於困難的突破、阻礙的挪開、事情的成就…,更重要的是在我們等候過程中,看見我們的教師,聽見祂的聲音。

約瑟17歲被賣,30歲被法老拔擢治理埃及全地,經過7個豐年,約瑟得兩子;他給長子取名叫瑪拿西,說:「神使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。」他給次子取名叫以法蓮,說:「神使我在受苦的地方昌盛。」

受苦、等候20多年,當荒年時約瑟與兄弟相認時,他終於明白:「神差我在你們以先來,為要給你們存留餘種在世上,又要大施拯救,保全你們的生命。這樣看來,差我到這裡來的不是你們,乃是神。他又使我如法老的父,作他全家的主,並埃及全地的宰相。」(創45:7-8)

The Power of Loving and Being Loved

Hi GAMErs,

A NOTE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS:  Given the nature of today’s topic, we would advise parents to review this GAME sharing first before your kids do and then decide whether your kids should see it.  Kids, if you are reading this, please ask your parent or guardian to review this GAME sharing first before you read it and ask your parent or guardian if they think you should read it now or wait until you’re older.

Today’s passage is Song of Songs 8:1-14.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Song of Songs 8:1 (NIV) 
1  If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
2  I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house– she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.
 
On verses 1-2:  Why does the wife wish that her husband was her brother so that “if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me” (v1)?   Keep in mind in the ancient middle east where Song of Songs was written, public displays of affection were frowned upon. 

Growing in Intimacy, Freedom and Security

Hi GAMErs,

A NOTE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS:  Given the nature of today’s topic, we would advise parents to review this GAME sharing first before your kids do and then decide whether your kids should see it.  Kids, if you are reading this, please ask your parent or guardian to review this GAME sharing first before you read it and ask your parent or guardian if they think you should read it now or wait until you’re older.
Today’s passage is Song of Songs 7:1-13.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!
 
Song of Songs 7:1-8 (NIV) 
1  How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince’s daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman’s hands. 
2  Your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine. Your waist is a mound of wheat encircled by lilies. 
3  Your breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. 

On verses 1-9:  As you read verses 1-8 you may think that they sound just like the guy’s praise of his wife’s beauty in previous chapters.  However, the difference here is that the guy’s words in verses 1-8 are now even more intimate and direct than his previous praises of his wife.  When the guy says to his wife in verse 2 “your navel is a rounded goblet that never lacks blended wine” and calls her waist “a mount of wheat”, he is basically telling his wife that she is like the most delicious food to him.

神必然等候,為了施恩給我們

以賽亞書 30:15-19

主耶和華以色列的聖者曾如此說:「你們得救在乎歸回安息,你們得力在乎平靜安穩。」你們竟自不肯! 16 你們卻說:「不然,我們要騎馬奔走。」所以你們必然奔走。又說:「我們要騎飛快的牲口。」所以追趕你們的也必飛快。 17 一人叱喝必令千人逃跑,五人叱喝你們都必逃跑,以致剩下的好像山頂的旗杆,岡上的大旗。

18 耶和華必然等候,要施恩給你們,必然興起,好憐憫你們,因為耶和華是公平的神。凡等候他的,都是有福的! 19 百姓必在錫安,在耶路撒冷居住,你不再哭泣。主必因你哀求的聲音施恩給你,祂聽見的時候,就必應允你。

我們等候神,是因為我們確信我們等候的對象,祂有憐憫、恩慈,且大有能力,更重要的是祂已經且必然等候我們,為了施恩給我們。

當我們獨自奔走、惶恐掙扎時,我們切切尋求神的拯救,渴慕等候神的帶領;我們要看見,就像回轉歸家、尋求赦免的浪子,他看見的是相離還遠、跑來抱他頸項、連連與他親嘴的慈父。

於是起來,往他父親那裡去。相離還遠,他父親看見,就動了慈心,跑去抱著他的頸項,連連與他親嘴。(路15:20)

主耶和華─以色列的聖者曾如此說:你們得救在乎歸回安息;你們得力在乎平靜安穩;你們竟自不肯。

Sweeter and Stronger Over Time

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Song of Songs 6:1-13.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Song of Songs 6:1-3 (NIV) 
1 Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn, that we may look for him with you?  
2  My lover has gone down to his garden, to the beds of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies. 
3  I am my lover’s and my lover is mine; he browses among the lilies.
 
On verses 1-3:  Earlier in chapter 5 (see verses 6-8), the girl could not find her lover, whether that means not knowing his physical whereabouts or, perhaps more likely, feeling emotionally distant from him.   But here in verse 1 when the girl’s friends ask her again where her lover has gone, the girl responds by saying, “My lover has gone down to his garden, to the bed of spices, to browse in the gardens and to gather lilies.  I am my lover’s and my lover is mine” (v2-3).  The girl’s response shows that whatever conflict she and her husband had experienced in chapter 5 has now been resolved.

親近神,神就必親近你

詩篇 65:4    祢所揀選使他親近祢,住在祢院中的,這人便為有福!我們必因祢居所,祢聖殿的美福知足了。

詩篇 73:28   但我親近神是與我有益!我以主耶和華為我的避難所,好叫我述說祢一切的作為。

以賽亞書 58:2  他們天天尋求我,樂意明白我的道,好像行義的國民,不離棄他們神的典章,向我求問公義的判語,喜悅親近神。

感謝神!因著耶穌寶血,我們得以親近神;我們當潔淨我們的手,清潔我們的心,親近神,祂就必親近我們!

祢所揀選、使他親近祢、住在祢院中的,這人便為有福!我們必因祢居所、祢聖殿的美福知足了。(詩65:4)

但我親近神是與我有益;我以主耶和華為我的避難所,好叫我述說祢一切的作為。(詩73:28)

他們天天尋求我,樂意明白我的道,好像行義的國民,不離棄他們神的典章,向我求問公義的判語,喜悅親近神。(賽58:2)

When You’re Out of Sync with Your Spouse

Hi GAMErs,

A NOTE FOR PARENTS AND KIDS:  Given the nature of today’s topic, we would advise parents to review this GAME sharing first before your kids do and then decide whether your kids should see it.  Kids, if you are reading this, please ask your parent or guardian to review this GAME sharing first before you read it and ask your parent or guardian if they think you should read it now or wait until you’re older.

Today’s passage is Song of Songs 5:1-16.  I encourage you to read the passage yourself first and see what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help, then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Song of Songs 5:1 (NIV) 
1  I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Eat, O friends, and drink; drink your fill, O lovers.

On verse 1:  Here’s what seems to be happening: the groom is confirming with great satisfaction that he and his bride have consummated their marriage in a most satisfying fashion (at least as far as the groom is concerned). 

泉源湧流的生命

箴言 10:11  義人的口是生命的泉源,強暴蒙蔽惡人的口。

箴言 13:14    智慧人的法則是生命的泉源,可以使人離開死亡的網羅。

箴言 14:27  敬畏耶和華就是生命的泉源,可以使人離開死亡的網羅。

敬畏耶和華就是生命的泉源,從義人的口湧流而出,帶出智慧的法則,使人離開強暴、愚昧、死亡…。

求主將活水充滿我們,且能源源流出,不求磅薄江河,盼成絹絹細流;在這疫情紛擾、烽火蔓延、物價波動的震盪時刻,讓我們將從神而來的平安、智慧和盼望,分享給四周圍充滿焦慮、徬徨和絕望的朋友們。是的,主!祢是我們現今時刻的唯一盼望!

義人的口是生命的泉源;強暴蒙蔽惡人的口。(箴10:11)