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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).

建造耶和华的殿

2024-01-18 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 6:11 取这金银做冠冕，戴在约萨答的儿子大祭司约书亚的头上。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 6:1-15

1 我又举目观看，见有四辆车从两山中间出来，那山是铜山。 2 第一辆车套著红马，第二辆车套著黑马， 3 第三辆车套着白马，第四辆车套著有斑点的壮马。 4 我就问与我说话的天使说：「主啊，这是什么意思？」 5 天使回答我说：「这是天的四风，是从普天下的主面前出来的。 6 套著黑马的车往北方去，白马跟随在后，有斑点的马往南方去。」 7 壮马出来，要在遍地走来走去。天使说：「你们只管在遍地走来走去。」牠们就照样行了。 8 他又呼叫我说：「看哪，往北方去的已在北方安慰我的心。」

本章1-8节是先知撒迦利亚所见的第八个异象，9-15节是一个先知性行动，这个行动的内容包括了前面的八个异象，从四马、四角和四个匠人的异象，到四车的异象。

「我又举目观看，见有四辆车从两山中间出来，那山是铜山。」(6:1) 这里有四辆战车，由四匹马套著，分别是红马、黑马、白马和有斑点的马，都是壮马。这四辆战车是代表神的大能，也是天的四风，代表圣灵的能力，是圣灵的使者。铜山，代表神的能力和审判。四辆战车从普天下的主面前出来，去到四方，黑马往北方，白的跟在后面，有斑点的马往南方去。「壮马出来，要在遍地走来走去。」(6:7a)

飞行书卷和量器中之妇

2024-01-17 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 5:1  我又举目观看，见有一飞行的书卷。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 5:1-11

1 我又举目观看，见有一飞行的书卷。 2 他问我说：「你看见什么？」我回答说：「我看见一飞行的书卷，长二十肘，宽十肘。」 3 他对我说：「这是发出行在遍地上的咒诅，凡偷窃的必按卷上这面的话除灭，凡起假誓的必按卷上那面的话除灭。 4 万军之耶和华说：我必使这书卷出去，进入偷窃人的家和指我名起假誓人的家，必常在他家里，连房屋带木石都毁灭了。」

一、飞行书卷的异象(5:1-4)

这飞行书卷长二十肘，宽十肘 (即10×5码)，很大的一卷会飞行的羊皮书卷。以色列人被掳，经过七十年，他们的罪已经被对付，神的忿怒已经止息，然后神让他们归回。他们虽然已归回了十几年，但是他们没有安全感，当钱用得差不多，就开始犯罪，偷窃和起假誓，所以神不单要恩膏所罗巴伯和约书亚，更要洁净祂的百姓，对付他们的罪。飞行书卷遍地飞行，飞到每一个偷窃和起假誓的人家里，在那里发出咒诅，带来毁灭，将罪的惩罚释放出来，除去罪孽。百姓的罪必须要被对付，否则神不能同在。神要做洁净的工作，目的是要预备新的百姓。当然神的咒诅是可怕的，并且带来毁灭性，但是这是一个炼净的过程。

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).

金灯台和橄榄树

2024-01-16 in , /by

撒迦利亚书4:6b  万军之耶和华说：不是倚靠势力，不是倚靠才能，乃是倚靠我的灵方能成事。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书 4:1-14

1 那与我说话的天使又来叫醒我，好像人睡觉被唤醒一样。 2 他问我说：「你看见了什么？」我说：「我看见了一个纯金的灯台，顶上有灯盏，灯台上有七盏灯，每盏有七个管子。 3 旁边有两棵橄榄树，一棵在灯盏的右边，一棵在灯盏的左边。」

先知在异象中也会睡着，可见人的灵多么容易疲倦。就好像主耶稣带门徒到客西马尼园时，主耶稣祷告到汗珠如大血点滴在地上，但是门徒通通睡着了。主把他们叫醒，再去祷告，他们又睡着了。直到犹大领兵丁前来捉耶稣，他们才大梦初醒。神怜悯我们，我们的灵常常会睡着，但是圣灵会叫醒我们。

在这章里，撒迦利亚看到了第五个异象，而这个异象是给所罗巴伯的。异象里的金灯台和圣殿里的金灯台有点不一样。异象中的金灯台多了三种东西：1.顶上有盛油的贮器（灯盏）;2.有管子盛灯芯；3.有两个金嘴输送灯油，每金嘴旁有一棵橄榄树。灯可以发亮是因为有油，使灯发亮的油是清橄榄油。在以色列，圣殿的金灯台也是使用清橄榄油。当时的清橄榄油要把橄榄压榨再炼净，杂质越少，油就越纯净，灯就可以更明亮。但是在撒迦利亚的异象中，金灯台可以直接用管子连在橄榄树上，源源不绝地吸收橄榄树里的油。这是什么意思呢？

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.  

恢复圣殿的事奉

2024-01-15 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 3:7  万军之耶和华如此说：你若遵行我的道，谨守我的命令，你就可以管理我的家，看守我的院宇。我也要使你在这些站立的人中间来往。

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书3:1-10

1 天使又指给我看，大祭司约书亚站在耶和华的使者面前，撒旦也站在约书亚的右边，与他作对。 2 耶和华向撒旦说：「撒旦哪，耶和华责备你，就是拣选耶路撒冷的耶和华责备你！这不是从火中抽出来的一根柴吗？」 3 约书亚穿着污秽的衣服，站在使者面前。

撒迦利亚书第3章的异象是复兴的异象，也是全书的第四个异象，大祭司的职份将要被恢复过来，耶路撒冷恢复敬拜事奉。

一、大祭司职事恢复 (3:1-5)

当耶路撒的复兴工程一切预备好了，人和牲畜都繁盛起来，城墙和边界都被量度了，然而祭司在哪？祭司必须侍立在神面前，在圣殿里事奉。

「天使（原文是他）又指给我看：大祭司约书亚站在耶和华的使者面前；撒但也站在约书亚的右边，与他作对。（3:1）」

那时的巴比伦城遍地是行邪术污秽的地方。大祭司约书亚「穿着污秽衣服」站在使者的面前，没有能力为神事奉。撒但仇敌站在他的右边与他作对。一人都是右手拿剑，左手拿盾牌。倘若你到以色列地古城参观，在进城右边有刺枪从你右边刺出；当敌人要攻进城的时候，一不小心，往往就会倒在枪下。撒但站在你的右边，意思说你是「输家」。当撒但在大祭司约书亚的右边，不住地控告他，让他自我责备，感到羞愧，没有能力事奉。

准绳的异象

2024-01-14 in , /by

撒迦利亚书 2: 13  凡有血气的，都当在耶和华面前静默无声！因为祂兴起，从圣所出来了！

阅读经文: 撒迦利亚书2:1-13

1 我又举目观看，见一人手拿准绳。 2 我说：「你往哪里去？」他对我说：「要去量耶路撒冷，看有多宽多长。」 3 与我说话的天使去的时候，又有一位天使迎着他来， 4 对他说：「你跑去告诉那少年人说：『耶路撒冷必有人居住，好像无城墙的乡村，因为人民和牲畜甚多。 5 耶和华说：我要做耶路撒冷四围的火城(a wall of fire)，并要做其中的荣耀。

这一章记载先知所见的第三个异象，就是一个人手拿准绳的异象。这异象不单给当时的人，也给今天的犹太人，与我们也息息相关。这个异象传递了三个信息，所以全章分为三段，第一段是1-5节，其中1-3节是异象，4-5节是第一个信息；6-9节是第二个信息；10-12节是第三个信息，13节是总结，也回应第一个异象的最后一句话，即1章17节的「耶和华必再安慰锡安，拣选耶路撒冷」。

第1-3节是异象。我们一般以为第1节的「一人」是天使，也以为他就是与先知说话的天使；又以为第4节的「那少年人」就是撒迦利亚先知。今天我不再这样以为，因为这样以为，就会失去很多异象里的意义。所以，「我又举目观看」的「我」就是先知撒迦利亚，「一人」就是那少年人；「与我说话的天使去的时候」(2:3a) 的「天使」就是第1章里「与我说话的天使」(参1:9,13,14,19)，就是向先知解释四马、四角、四匠人的异象的天使；「又有一位天使迎着他来」(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.