Entries by

Everything We Need Is In Jesus

2023-09-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:1-13.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) 
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

On verse 1:  No matter how difficult your situation is today, praise God that there is grace in Jesus Christ so that you can be strong.  Regardless of the trial you’re facing, God’s grace is always sufficient for you.

2 Timothy 2:2 (NIV) 
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 

On verse 2:  Paul had spent so much of his life preaching and teaching others.  Now that his life was nearing an end, he tells Timothy to entrust what he has previously preached and taught to trustworthy men who can teach others.   Paul was concerned about the next generation. 

Guard What God Has Given You in Christ

2023-09-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

There are so many lessons we can learn from today’s passage, 2 Timothy 1:8-18.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV) 
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 

Verse 8:  In Paul’s time it was politically incorrect to be a Christian, so much so that identifying yourself as a Christian was to invite serious persecution, even execution.  Under these circumstances, a much more worldly father would tell his son, “Take the easy way out.  Don’t identify yourself as a Christian if it will risk your security and safety.”   But Paul does not do that.  Rather, Paul tells Timothy, his dear son in the faith, not to be ashamed of his faith in Jesus, to live for Jesus whatever the cost.

What can we learn from this?  

錯誤的倚靠

2023-09-21 in , /by

以西結書  29:13  主耶和華如此說：滿了四十年，我必招聚分散在各國民中的埃及人。

閱讀經文：以西結書29:1-21

1第十年十月十二日，耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你要向埃及王法老預言攻擊他和埃及全地， 3 說：『主耶和華如此說：埃及王法老啊，我與你這臥在自己河中的大魚為敵，你曾說：「這河是我的，是我為自己造的。」 4 我耶和華必用鉤子鉤住你的腮頰，又使江河中的魚貼住你的鱗甲。我必將你和所有貼住你鱗甲的魚，從江河中拉上來， 5 把你並江河中的魚都拋在曠野。你必倒在田間，不被收殮，不被掩埋。我已將你給地上野獸、空中飛鳥做食物。 6 埃及一切的居民，因向以色列家成了蘆葦的杖，就知道我是耶和華。 7 他們用手持住你，你就斷折，傷了他們的肩；他們倚靠你，你就斷折，閃了他們的腰。

主前八至六世紀，以色列位於兩個強國中間，東北有亞述和巴比倫，西南側有埃及，夾在兩強中間的以色列有時必須與埃及結盟來對抗亞述和巴比倫。本章針對以色列所倚靠的埃及說預言。

埃及對以色列而言，像是她所手中倚賴的一根杖，但這根杖卻是一根蘆葦的杖(V.6)，表明埃及在耶和華神的手中也是自身難保，是軟弱的。雖然埃及本身自比為尼羅河中的大魚(是近東神話中的水中怪物)，法老猖狂自大、不可一世，但仍然逃不過審判的命運，將遭遇四十年長久的荒廢(V.12)。

When You’re Facing Death’s Door

2023-09-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of 2 Timothy, a letter written by Paul to his disciple and fellow pastor Timothy.  2 Timothy is very likely the last letter that Paul wrote before he was executed (beheaded by Caesar Nero).  When you read 2 Timothy, you’ll notice clues that Paul himself knew that his days on earth were coming to a close.  As such, this letter is very tender and heartfelt, like a last letter from a father to his son.

2 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

On verse 1:  Paul would often begin his letters by identifying himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”.  But this time he adds an extra phrase: “according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus”.   It’s because Paul knows that his days on earth are nearing an end.  Rather than complaining or feeling sorry for himself, he focuses on the promise of eternal life that is in Christ Jesus.

你是人，不是神

2023-09-20 in , /by

以西結書  28:2b  你雖然居心自比神，也不過是人，並不是神。

閱讀經文：以西結書28:1-26

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，你對推羅君王說：『主耶和華如此說：因你心裡高傲，說「我是神，我在海中坐神之位」，你雖然居心自比神，也不過是人，並不是神。 3 （看哪，你比但以理更有智慧，什麼祕事都不能向你隱藏。 4 你靠自己的智慧、聰明得了金銀財寶，收入庫中。 5 你靠自己的大智慧和貿易增添資財，又因資財心裡高傲。） 6 所以主耶和華如此說：因你居心自比神， 7 我必使外邦人，就是列國中的強暴人，臨到你這裡。他們必拔刀砍壞你用智慧得來的美物，褻瀆你的榮光。 8 他們必使你下坑，你必死在海中，與被殺的人一樣。 9 在殺你的人面前，你還能說「我是神」嗎？其實你在殺害你的人手中，不過是人，並不是神。 10 你必死在外邦人手中，與未受割禮的人一樣，因為這是主耶和華說的。』」

以西結書26-27 章，已特別預言了腓尼基海港推羅的下場，指出尼布甲尼撒將陸上的推羅毀掉（26:6-11），而亞歷山大將摧毀海島推羅（26:3-5、12-14）。26:15-21， 以及27 全章，提及那些與推羅有貿易的國家及城市，都因推羅潰敗而在商業及 經濟上受到嚴重影響。哀悼推羅傾覆，及痛哭世界貿易受損，就成爲上述兩段經 文的高潮。在啟示錄18 章以更感人的筆觸再帶出這兩個主題。啟示錄十八章栩 栩如生地描繪了末日的巴比倫傾毀於一旦，而世界上所有的商業城都爲此痛哭不已。

The Quality of Your Life Will Be Determined By THIS

2023-09-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 6:11-21. Let’s go!

1 Timothy 6:11 (NIV) 
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

On verse 11:  Paul had just finished telling Timothy to beware being swept up by false teaching (v3-5) and a love of money (v9-10).  He tells Timothy to flee from all that and instead to chase righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness (v11).  What can we learn from this?  The quality of your life and the legacy you leave will be determined by what you chase.  Chase money and false teaching; come up empty.  Chase Jesus; come up full.

美麗的商船

2023-09-19 in , /by

以西結書  27:4  你的境界在海中，造你的使你全然美麗。

閱讀經文：以西結書27:1-36

1耶和華的話又臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，要為推羅作起哀歌， 3 說：『你居住海口，是眾民的商埠，你的交易通到許多的海島。主耶和華如此說：推羅啊，你曾說：「我是全然美麗的。」 4 你的境界在海中，造你的使你全然美麗。 5 他們用示尼珥的松樹做你的一切板，用黎巴嫩的香柏樹做桅杆， 6 用巴珊的橡樹做你的槳，用象牙鑲嵌基提海島的黃楊木為坐板。 7 你的篷帆是用埃及繡花細麻布做的，可以做你的大旗，你的涼篷是用以利沙島的藍色、紫色布做的。

神要人子為推羅作哀歌，在第二十六章裡面講到推羅要成為荒場，因為他們在貿易上不公，他們為了自己的利益去傷害別人。神要審判他們，「我必叫你令人驚恐，不再存留於世」(26:21a)；「你令人驚恐，不再存留於世，直到永遠。」(27:36b) 藉這首哀歌，神要我們反省，究竟在我們的生命有沒有推羅的影子？她被創造全然美麗，團隊質素良好，貿易發達，但最後卻沉在海中，不再被人記念。問題不在美麗，人犯罪後，美好的事物常常會讓我們忘記了神我們擁有美好的事物，自以為很了不起。

譬如，我很喜歡香港的國際機場，效率非常快。我去過世界很多不同的機場，沒有一個比香港的更好，效率更快。因此，就會引以為傲，然後用手指頭指著別人，說別人怎樣怎樣。這樣，便叫做忘記神，就是驕傲。

The Dangers of Loving Money

2023-09-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 6:1-10.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 6:1-2 (NIV) 
1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 
2 Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

On verses 1-2:  These verses apply to working relationships, how employees should treat their employers.  Earlier in 1 Timothy we learned that how you treat your own family is a measure of your spiritual maturity.  In these verses we learn that how you treat people at work is also a measure of your spiritual maturity.

When you as a Christian treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client, as flawed and imperfect as he/she may be, with “full respect” (v1), you make the Gospel attractive.  On the other hand, if you’re a Christian and you treat your unbelieving boss/co-worker/client disrespectfully, you only give them one more reason to slander Christians and to not believe (v1).

淨光的磐石

2023-09-18 in , /by

以西結書 26:4  他們必破壞推羅的牆垣，拆毀她的城樓。我也要刮淨塵土，使她成為淨光的磐石。

閱讀經文：以西結書26:1-21

1第十一年十一月初一日，耶和華的話臨到我說： 2 「人子啊，因推羅向耶路撒冷說『啊哈！那做眾民之門的已經破壞，向我開放。她既變為荒場，我必豐盛』， 3 所以主耶和華如此說：推羅啊，我必與你為敵，使許多國民上來攻擊你，如同海使波浪湧上來一樣。 4 他們必破壞推羅的牆垣，拆毀她的城樓。我也要刮淨塵土，使她成為淨光的磐石。 5 她必在海中做曬網的地方，也必成為列國的擄物。這是主耶和華說的。 6 屬推羅城邑的居民必被刀劍殺滅，他們就知道我是耶和華。

公元前一千年，推羅港是腓尼基帝國最大的城市，亦是地中海最發達的通商口岸。正如以西結先知所稱：“你這有名之城，素為航海之人居住，在海上為最堅固”（以西結書廿六章17節）。在推羅的極盛時期，推羅人過著奢華的生活，因他們的驕傲和罪惡，並且多次攻擊神的子民，以及常用初生嬰兒作慘無人道的獻祭給假神摩洛。神在公元前587年藉著先知預言推羅城將被滅絕成為荒場。

果然，一年之後，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領大軍圍困推羅城，他滿以為三個星期便可征服推羅城。但古推羅城在地形上分為兩區，一區建築在陸地上，當地居民稱它為“老推羅”。從老推羅港向地中海前行一千九百多尺，便有另一座建築在小島上的推羅城。許多世紀以來，每逢敵軍攻打，推羅居民便轉移到島上的懸崖絕壁避難。

How to Treat and Choose Leaders

2023-09-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 5:17-25.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (NIV) 
17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 
18 For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 

On verses 17-18:  Here Paul gives instructions on how the senior leaders of the church (also sometimes called “overseers” and “elders” elsewhere in the New Testament) should be treated.  He says that those who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those who preach and teach the congregation.  What kind of “double honour” did Paul expect the church to give their most senior leaders?  Of course part of that “double honour” includes speaking to them with love and respect and treating them well.  From verse 18 we learn it also includes making sure that they are adequately compensated financially for their ministry.