Entries by

Verses Worth Memorizing

2024-01-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 5:1-14.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.
 
1 Peter 5:1-4 (NIV) 
1  To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 
2  Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 
3  not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 
4  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

On verses 1-4:  I encourage every parent, pastor, small group leader, team leader and anyone else who has the responsibility, passion or gift of shepherding others to meditate on these verses.  May they inform and transform the way you lead those in your care – with willingness (v2), an eagerness to serve (v2) and exemplary character (v3).  A crown of glory is waiting for you (v4).

建造耶和華的殿

2024-01-18 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 6:11 取這金銀做冠冕，戴在約薩答的兒子大祭司約書亞的頭上。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 6:1-15

1 我又舉目觀看，見有四輛車從兩山中間出來，那山是銅山。 2 第一輛車套著紅馬，第二輛車套著黑馬， 3 第三輛車套著白馬，第四輛車套著有斑點的壯馬。 4 我就問與我說話的天使說：「主啊，這是什麼意思？」 5 天使回答我說：「這是天的四風，是從普天下的主面前出來的。 6 套著黑馬的車往北方去，白馬跟隨在後，有斑點的馬往南方去。」 7 壯馬出來，要在遍地走來走去。天使說：「你們只管在遍地走來走去。」牠們就照樣行了。 8 他又呼叫我說：「看哪，往北方去的已在北方安慰我的心。」

本章1-8節是先知撒迦利亞所見的第八個異象，9-15節是一個先知性行動，這個行動的內容包括了前面的八個異象，從四馬、四角和四個匠人的異象，到四車的異象。

「我又舉目觀看，見有四輛車從兩山中間出來，那山是銅山。」(6:1) 這裡有四輛戰車，由四匹馬套著，分別是紅馬、黑馬、白馬和有斑點的馬，都是壯馬。這四輛戰車是代表神的大能，也是天的四風，代表聖靈的能力，是聖靈的使者。銅山，代表神的能力和審判。四輛戰車從普天下的主面前出來，去到四方，黑馬往北方，白的跟在後面，有斑點的馬往南方去。「壯馬出來，要在遍地走來走去。」(6:7a)

飛行書卷和量器中之婦

2024-01-17 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 5:1  我又舉目觀看，見有一飛行的書卷。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 5:1-11

1 我又舉目觀看，見有一飛行的書卷。 2 他問我說：「你看見什麼？」我回答說：「我看見一飛行的書卷，長二十肘，寬十肘。」 3 他對我說：「這是發出行在遍地上的咒詛，凡偷竊的必按卷上這面的話除滅，凡起假誓的必按卷上那面的話除滅。 4 萬軍之耶和華說：我必使這書卷出去，進入偷竊人的家和指我名起假誓人的家，必常在他家裡，連房屋帶木石都毀滅了。」

一、飛行書卷的異象(5:1-4)

這飛行書卷長二十肘，寬十肘 (即10×5碼)，很大的一卷會飛行的羊皮書卷。以色列人被擄，經過七十年，他們的罪已經被對付，神的忿怒已經止息，然後神讓他們歸回。他們雖然已歸回了十幾年，但是他們沒有安全感，當錢用得差不多，就開始犯罪，偷竊和起假誓，所以神不單要恩膏所羅巴伯和約書亞，更要潔淨祂的百姓，對付他們的罪。飛行書卷遍地飛行，飛到每一個偷竊和起假誓的人家裡，在那裡發出咒詛，帶來毁滅，將罪的懲罰釋放出來，除去罪孽。百姓的罪必須要被對付，否則神不能同在。神要做潔淨的工作，目的是要預備新的百姓。當然神的咒詛是可怕的，並且帶來毁滅性，但是這是一個煉淨的過程。

The Sweetness in Suffering for Jesus

2024-01-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 4:12-19.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.
 
1 Peter 4:12-16 (NIV) 
12  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 
13  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 
14  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 
15  If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 
16  However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
 
On verses 12-16:  It shouldn’t surprise us or seem strange to us whenever we go through painful trials.  Jesus Himself said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)  Since suffering and trouble are part of living life on earth, you might as well suffer trouble for the right reasons, says Peter, instead of for the wrong reasons (v15).  If you have to suffer, suffer because of your faith in Jesus. 

Can People Still Receive Salvation After They Die?

2024-01-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 4:1-11.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.

1 Peter 4:1-3 (NIV) 
1  Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
2  As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
3  For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do–living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 

On verses 1-3:  What does Peter mean in verse 1 when he writes, “because whoever suffers in his body is done with sin”?  For us Christians, the moment we die physically is the moment we go to heaven and are done with sin and its ill effects.  Here Peter is saying: live that way now.  Think of your old life – the life you lived in the past before coming to Christ (v3) – as having died already.  Now you are living a new life that is controlled by Christ, not by sin, a life lived for the will of God, not for our own selfish desires (v2).

金燈臺和橄欖樹

2024-01-16 in , /by

撒迦利亞書4:6b  萬軍之耶和華說：不是倚靠勢力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的靈方能成事。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書 4:1-14

1 那與我說話的天使又來叫醒我，好像人睡覺被喚醒一樣。 2 他問我說：「你看見了什麼？」我說：「我看見了一個純金的燈臺，頂上有燈盞，燈臺上有七盞燈，每盞有七個管子。 3 旁邊有兩棵橄欖樹，一棵在燈盞的右邊，一棵在燈盞的左邊。」

先知在異象中也會睡著，可見人的靈多麼容易疲倦。就好像主耶穌帶門徒到客西馬尼園時，主耶穌禱告到汗珠如大血點滴在地上，但是門徒通通睡著了。主把他們叫醒，再去禱告，他們又睡著了。直到猶大領兵丁前來捉耶穌，他們才大夢初醒。神憐憫我們，我們的靈常常會睡著，但是聖靈會叫醒我們。

在這章裡，撒迦利亞看到了第五個異象，而這個異象是給所羅巴伯的。異象裡的金燈台和聖殿裡的金燈台有點不一樣。異象中的金燈台多了三種東西：1.頂上有盛油的貯器（燈盞）;2.有管子盛燈芯；3.有兩個金嘴輸送燈油，每金嘴旁有一棵橄欖樹。燈可以發亮是因為有油，使燈發亮的油是清橄欖油。在以色列，聖殿的金燈台也是使用清橄欖油。當時的清橄欖油要把橄欖壓榨再煉淨，雜質越少，油就越純淨，燈就可以更明亮。但是在撒迦利亞的異象中，金燈台可以直接用管子連在橄欖樹上，源源不絕地吸收橄欖樹裡的油。這是什麼意思呢？

How To Always Be Ready To Share Jesus With Others

2024-01-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 3:13-22.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.

1 Peter 3:13-15 (NIV)
13  Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
14  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.”
15  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

On verses 13-15a:  Don’t misunderstand Peter in verse 13.  Peter is not naively saying that no one will want to harm you if you are eager to do good.  Peter himself witnessed the greatest doer of good in history, Jesus Christ, being repeatedly criticized and ultimately crucified by people intent on harming him. But what Peter is saying to his Christian readers is: remember that the Greatest One is on your side.  He will be there to protect you and to keep you from any ultimate harm.  So do not be afraid of those who want to harm you while you live out your faith and calling.  

恢復聖殿的事奉

2024-01-15 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 3:7  萬軍之耶和華如此說：你若遵行我的道，謹守我的命令，你就可以管理我的家，看守我的院宇。我也要使你在這些站立的人中間來往。

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書3:1-10

1 天使又指給我看，大祭司約書亞站在耶和華的使者面前，撒旦也站在約書亞的右邊，與他作對。 2 耶和華向撒旦說：「撒旦哪，耶和華責備你，就是揀選耶路撒冷的耶和華責備你！這不是從火中抽出來的一根柴嗎？」 3 約書亞穿著污穢的衣服，站在使者面前。

撒迦利亞書第3章的異象是復興的異象，也是全書的第四個異象，大祭司的職份將要被恢復過來，耶路撒冷恢復敬拜事奉。

一、大祭司職事恢復 (3:1-5)

當耶路撒的復興工程一切預備好了，人和牲畜都繁盛起來，城牆和邊界都被量度了，然而祭司在哪？祭司必須侍立在神面前，在聖殿裡事奉。

「天使（原文是他）又指給我看：大祭司約書亞站在耶和華的使者面前；撒但也站在約書亞的右邊，與他作對。（3:1）」

那時的巴比倫城遍地是行邪術污穢的地方。大祭司約書亞「穿著污穢衣服」站在使者的面前，沒有能力為神事奉。撒但仇敵站在他的右邊與他作對。一人都是右手拿劍，左手拿盾牌。倘若你到以色列地古城參觀，在進城右邊有刺槍從你右邊刺出；當敵人要攻進城的時候，一不小心，往往就會倒在槍下。撒但站在你的右邊，意思說你是「輸家」。當撒但在大祭司約書亞的右邊，不住地控告他，讓他自我責備，感到羞愧，沒有能力事奉。

準繩的異象

2024-01-14 in , /by

撒迦利亞書 2: 13  凡有血氣的，都當在耶和華面前靜默無聲！因為祂興起，從聖所出來了！

閱讀經文: 撒迦利亞書2:1-13

1 我又舉目觀看，見一人手拿準繩。 2 我說：「你往哪裡去？」他對我說：「要去量耶路撒冷，看有多寬多長。」 3 與我說話的天使去的時候，又有一位天使迎著他來， 4 對他說：「你跑去告訴那少年人說：『耶路撒冷必有人居住，好像無城牆的鄉村，因為人民和牲畜甚多。 5 耶和華說：我要做耶路撒冷四圍的火城(a wall of fire)，並要做其中的榮耀。

這一章記載先知所見的第三個異象，就是一個人手拿準繩的異象。這異象不單給當時的人，也給今天的猶太人，與我們也息息相關。這個異象傳遞了三個信息，所以全章分為三段，第一段是1-5節，其中1-3節是異象，4-5節是第一個信息；6-9節是第二個信息；10-12節是第三個信息，13節是總結，也回應第一個異象的最後一句話，即1章17節的「耶和華必再安慰錫安，揀選耶路撒冷」。

第1-3節是異象。我們一般以為第1節的「一人」是天使，也以為他就是與先知說話的天使；又以為第4節的「那少年人」就是撒迦利亞先知。今天我不再這樣以為，因為這樣以為，就會失去很多異象裡的意義。所以，「我又舉目觀看」的「我」就是先知撒迦利亞，「一人」就是那少年人；「與我說話的天使去的時候」(2:3a) 的「天使」就是第1章裡「與我說話的天使」(參1:9,13,14,19)，就是向先知解釋四馬、四角、四匠人的異象的天使；「又有一位天使迎著他來」(2:3b) 是另一位天使。

How Wives and Husbands Ought to Treat One Another

2024-01-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Peter 3:1-12.  Let’s go!  As usual, I recommend that you read the whole passage by yourself first and see what you can glean on your own.  Then take a look at this GAME sharing below.

1 Peter 3:1-2 (NIV) 
1  Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 
2  when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

On verses 1-2:  Continuing his theme of submission, a theme which Peter introduced in chapter 2, Peter addresses married women and tells them to be submissive to their husbands.  What is the reason Peter gives for why married women should submit to their husbands?  For Peter it’s about evangelism.  It’s about leading the husband to Jesus – “so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behaviour of their wives when they see the purity and reverence of your lives”.    Here again we see Peter’s ongoing emphasis on how a Christian’s actions should speak well of Jesus.