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The God of Second Chances

2024-03-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Jonah 3:1-10.  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!

Jonah 3:1-3 (NIV) 
1  Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 
2  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” 
3  Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh…
 
On verses 1-3:  The first time the word of the Lord came to Jonah, Jonah ran away.  But praise God that in His mercy God decided to let His Word come to Jonah a second time (v1).  Likewise, you and I may not have always responded with obedience the first time God called us, but thank God for those times when, even after we have rejected Him, God calls us a second time, or a hundredth time.  I’m so glad that in His mercy God has decided that “God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29).  Thank You Lord for being the God of second chances.  Thank You for Your patience with me.

耶稣爱我们到底

2024-03-29 in , /by

约翰福音19:30

30 耶稣尝了那醋，就说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵魂交付神了。

主耶稣受难的时候，在十字架上说了一句很重要的话，我们一定要谨记，「耶稣尝了那醋，说：『成了！』便低下头，将灵魂交付神了」（约19:30）

主耶稣在十字架上是说「成了」，而不是说「完了」。我们从这两句说话的语意中看到主的心意。如果是完了，意思是过去所做的都付诸流水。主耶稣说「成了」，意思就刚好相反，祂过往所受一切的苦，并且死在十架上成为你我的代罪羔羊，向上帝付清我们的罪债，所有跟从祂的人就可以白白的凭信称义了，这件事完成了。

成了，救恩成了，原来祂在之前所受的苦、被遗弃，只是使命的一部份，现在死于十字架上，这一刻祂完成了上帝交托给祂的使命，之前所有的苦难就不再计较，耶稣基督上帝儿子的使命完成了，祂将祂的灵魂交托给天父了。

基督徒的人生从这句「成了」给我们很大的启迪。原来卑微的死在十字架上，代表着不计较自己的权利，放下自己的身分，死在十字架上，死在罪人的刑具上，不再计较了。

God’s Grace Is Greater Than Your Troubles

2024-03-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Jonah 2:1-10.  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!

Jonah 2:1 (NIV) 
1  From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God.
2  He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.
3  You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me.
4  I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
5  The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6  To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God.
7  “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

On verses 1-7:  Here Jonah recounts how he cried out to God for help when he was drowning in the sea and how God rescued him.  Similarly, when we were drowning in the sea of our sin, Jesus came and rescued us from sure death.  No matter what kind of trouble you may be in, like Jonah, cry out to God and believe that God’s grace is greater and He can deliver you.

被钉十架，成了!

2024-03-28 in , /by

约翰福音19:30

30 耶稣尝了那醋，就说：「成了！」便低下头，将灵魂交付神了。

主耶稣受难的时候，在十字架上说了一句很重要的话，我们一定要谨记，「耶稣尝了那醋，说：『成了！』便低下头，将灵魂交付神了」（约19:30）

主耶稣在十字架上是说「成了」，而不是说「完了」。我们从这两句说话的语意中看到主的心意。如果是完了，意思是过去所做的都付诸流水。主耶稣说「成了」，意思就刚好相反，祂过往所受一切的苦，并且死在十架上成为你我的代罪羔羊，向上帝付清我们的罪债，所有跟从祂的人就可以白白的凭信称义了，这件事完成了。

成了，救恩成了，原来祂在之前所受的苦、被遗弃，只是使命的一部份，现在死于十字架上，这一刻祂完成了上帝交托给祂的使命，之前所有的苦难就不再计较，耶稣基督上帝儿子的使命完成了，祂将祂的灵魂交托给天父了。

基督徒的人生从这句「成了」给我们很大的启迪。原来卑微的死在十字架上，代表着不计较自己的权利，放下自己的身分，死在十字架上，死在罪人的刑具上，不再计较了。

最后晚餐–耶稣不改变

2024-03-27 in , /by

路加福音22:14-20

14 时候到了，耶稣坐席，使徒也和他同坐。 15 耶稣对他们说：「我很愿意在受害以先和你们吃这逾越节的筵席。 16 我告诉你们，我不再吃这筵席，直到成就在神的国里。」 17 耶稣接过杯来，祝谢了，说：「你们拿这个，大家分著喝。 18 我告诉你们，从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直等神的国来到。」 19 又拿起饼来，祝谢了，就掰开，递给他们，说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的。你们也应当如此行，为的是记念我。」 20 饭后也照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我血所立的新约，是为你们流出来的。

今天我们看到主耶稣设立圣餐，在当晚设立圣餐时，主耶稣宣布祂来这世界的目的就是为我们受死。「这是我的身体，为你们舍的，你们要如此行，为的是记念我。」饭后祂照样拿起杯来，说：「这杯是用我的血所立的新约，为你们流出来的。」（路22:19-20）「为你们舍的」和「为你们流出来的」就是圣餐核心的意义。主耶稣的一生是为我们而来到这世界，为我们而生，经历人间百般的苦难，更重要的是祂也为我们舍命，流出祂的宝血。

耶稣设立圣餐时，祂完全明白这是祂的使命，也在实际行动上表现出来。祂在圣餐时为门徒洗脚，祂擘开饼、举起杯，宣告自己将要受死；祂在客西马尼园知道全部门徒睡着了，并且全部门徒都将会离祂而去，祂只是叫他们警醒一点。祂自己很辛苦，汗如血滴在地上，祂却坚持下去。当我们每次参加圣餐时，就看到主耶稣的坚持和舍己；这样，我们有甚么苦挨不下去呢？有甚么是不能舍去的？为主的缘故，有甚么不可以放下？为主的异象，为了主交托给我们的使命，又有甚么不可以继续走下去？

Run After God, Not Away From Him

2024-03-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Jonah 1:1-17.  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!

Today we start the book of Jonah, a book written probably the prophet Jonah himself.  Since Jonah is described in 2 Kings as being connected to King Jeroboam II of Israel (see 2 Kings 14:25), scholars estimate that the book of Jonah was written around the time of Jeroboam II’s reign (793 to 753 B.C.).

Today’s passage is Jonah 1:1-17.  There are so many powerful lessons we can learn.  Let’s go!

Jonah 1:1-2 (NIV) 
1  The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 
2  “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

On verses 1-2:  Who is this man Jonah?  Is he a deeply spiritual man with a close and honest relationship with God?  Or is he a superficial man who lacks love for God and love for people?  Is he a bit of both?  As you read the book of Jonah, make it your aim to find out who Jonah is, besides the famous fact of him running away from God and getting swallowed up by a big fish.

认真爱耶稣

2024-03-26 in , /by

马太福音 26:6-13

6 耶稣在伯大尼长大痲疯的西门家里， 7 有一个女人拿着一玉瓶极贵的香膏来，趁耶稣坐席的时候，浇在他的头上。 8 门徒看见就很不喜悦，说：「何用这样的枉费呢？ 9 这香膏可以卖许多钱赒济穷人。」 10 耶稣看出他们的意思，就说：「为什么难为这女人呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。 11 因为常有穷人和你们同在，只是你们不常有我。 12 她将这香膏浇在我身上，是为我安葬做的。 13 我实在告诉你们：普天之下，无论在什么地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所行的，做个纪念。」

圣经四卷福音书都记载女人用香膏抹耶稣的事蹟，马太、马可和约翰福音（太26:6-13，可14:3-9，约12:1-8）记载同一件事，发生于耶稣受难前一周，女人用香膏浇在主身上是为安葬的事；路加福音（路7:36-50）的记载则发生于较早期，耶稣用欠债的比喻来说明女人因罪得赦免所表现出来的爱。

法利赛人西门请耶稣吃饭，在坐席时，一个有罪的女人用香膏抹耶稣；在旁的西门看见这事，心里说：「这人若是先知，必知道摸他的是谁，是个怎样的女人；乃是个罪人。」（路7:39）很显然的，经文突显出法利赛人西门「自以为义」的心态。

You Are God’s Treasured Possession

2024-03-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Malachi 3:16-4:6.  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!

Malachi 3:16 (NIV)
16 Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.

On verse 16:  Here Malachi describes how those who feared God – that is, worshiped, revered, and honoured God – talked to each other, and God not only heard them but also took notes about them.  What can we learn from this?  God not only listens to how we talk to Him.  He also listens to how we talk to each other.  When we talk to each other in ways that honour His name – when we encourage one another in the Lord – God takes notice.   Just as it pleases a parent to see his or her children getting along and encouraging one another, so it pleases and honours God when we speak in ways that encourage one another and lift up His name.

用主的眼光而活

2024-03-25 in , /by

马可福音12:41-44

41 耶稣对银库坐着，看众人怎样投钱入库。有好些财主往里投了若干的钱。 42 有一个穷寡妇来，往里投了两个小钱，就是一个大钱。 43 耶稣叫门徒来，说：「我实在告诉你们：这穷寡妇投入库里的比众人所投的更多， 44 因为他们都是自己有余，拿出来投在里头，但这寡妇是自己不足，把她一切养生的都投上了。」

主耶稣进入了耶路撒冷后，祂赞赏了三个人，一位是文士，一位是穷寡妇、一位是用香膏膏抹祂的女人。这三件事有很多地方值得我们学习。

主耶稣赞赏一位文士（可12:28-34）。这位文士回应主耶稣说：「夫子说，神是一位，实在不错；除了祂以外，再没有别的神；并且尽心、尽智、尽力爱他，又爱人如己，就比一切燔祭和各样祭祀好的多。」这位文士领会到真正的善行比虚伪的礼仪好得多。主耶稣听到这位文士所说之后，就说：「你离上帝的国不远了。」

第二个记载是主耶稣坐在圣殿里看人们怎样奉献（可12:41-44，路 21:1-4）。主耶稣说明穷寡妇所投的是很多，因为这差不多是他的所有财产，他将自己的生活所需的全数也交给上帝，主耶稣赞赏的重点不是那两个小钱，而是有些人能够无私地将自己的生命和生活的一切都奉献给上帝。

Jesus is Your Soap

2024-03-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Malachi 3:1-15.  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!

What a rich passage this is.  I believe there are at least 7 powerful lessons that the Holy Spirit would have us learn from today’s passage.  I summarize them in bold below.  

Malachi 3:1 (NIV) 
1 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. 

On verse 1: Scholars sometimes debate whether verse 1 is describing one or two messengers.  I submit that the best interpretation is to see verse 1 as referring to two messengers.  The first messenger is described at the beginning of verse 1: “See I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.”  In Matthew 11:7-10, Jesus seems to quote this verse when talking about John the Baptist as a messenger that God would send who will prepare the way before the Lord.