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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?  

错误的倚靠

2023-09-21 in , /by

以西结书  29:13  主耶和华如此说：满了四十年，我必招聚分散在各国民中的埃及人。

阅读经文：以西结书29:1-21

1第十年十月十二日，耶和华的话临到我说： 2 「人子啊，你要向埃及王法老预言攻击他和埃及全地， 3 说：『主耶和华如此说：埃及王法老啊，我与你这卧在自己河中的大鱼为敌，你曾说：「这河是我的，是我为自己造的。」 4 我耶和华必用钩子钩住你的腮颊，又使江河中的鱼贴住你的鳞甲。我必将你和所有贴住你鳞甲的鱼，从江河中拉上来， 5 把你并江河中的鱼都抛在旷野。你必倒在田间，不被收殓，不被掩埋。我已将你给地上野兽、空中飞鸟做食物。 6 埃及一切的居民，因向以色列家成了芦苇的杖，就知道我是耶和华。 7 他们用手持住你，你就断折，伤了他们的肩；他们倚靠你，你就断折，闪了他们的腰。

主前八至六世纪，以色列位于两个强国中间，东北有亚述和巴比伦，西南侧有埃及，夹在两强中间的以色列有时必须与埃及结盟来对抗亚述和巴比伦。本章针对以色列所倚靠的埃及说预言。

埃及对以色列而言，像是她所手中倚赖的一根杖，但这根杖却是一根芦苇的杖(V.6)，表明埃及在耶和华神的手中也是自身难保，是软弱的。虽然埃及本身自比为尼罗河中的大鱼(是近东神话中的水中怪物)，法老猖狂自大、不可一世，但仍然逃不过审判的命运，将遭遇四十年长久的荒废(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

以西结书  28:2b  你虽然居心自比神，也不过是人，并不是神。

阅读经文：以西结书28:1-26

1耶和华的话又临到我说： 2 「人子啊，你对推罗君王说：『主耶和华如此说：因你心里高傲，说「我是神，我在海中坐神之位」，你虽然居心自比神，也不过是人，并不是神。 3 （看哪，你比但以理更有智慧，什么祕事都不能向你隐藏。 4 你靠自己的智慧、聪明得了金银财宝，收入库中。 5 你靠自己的大智慧和贸易增添资财，又因资财心里高傲。） 6 所以主耶和华如此说：因你居心自比神， 7 我必使外邦人，就是列国中的强暴人，临到你这里。他们必拔刀砍坏你用智慧得来的美物，亵渎你的荣光。 8 他们必使你下坑，你必死在海中，与被杀的人一样。 9 在杀你的人面前，你还能说「我是神」吗？其实你在杀害你的人手中，不过是人，并不是神。 10 你必死在外邦人手中，与未受割礼的人一样，因为这是主耶和华说的。』」

以西结书26-27 章，已特别预言了腓尼基海港推罗的下场，指出尼布甲尼撒将陆上的推罗毁掉（26:6-11），而亚历山大将摧毁海岛推罗（26:3-5、12-14）。26:15-21， 以及27 全章，提及那些与推罗有贸易的国家及城市，都因推罗溃败而在商业及 经济上受到严重影响。哀悼推罗倾覆，及痛哭世界贸易受损，就成为上述两段经 文的高潮。在启示录18 章以更感人的笔触再带出这两个主题。启示录十八章栩 栩如生地描绘了末日的巴比伦倾毁于一旦，而世界上所有的商业城都为此痛哭不已。

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.

美丽的商船

2023-09-19 in , /by

以西结书  27:4  你的境界在海中，造你的使你全然美丽。

阅读经文：以西结书27:1-36

1耶和华的话又临到我说： 2 「人子啊，要为推罗作起哀歌， 3 说：『你居住海口，是众民的商埠，你的交易通到许多的海岛。主耶和华如此说：推罗啊，你曾说：「我是全然美丽的。」 4 你的境界在海中，造你的使你全然美丽。 5 他们用示尼珥的松树做你的一切板，用黎巴嫩的香柏树做桅杆， 6 用巴珊的橡树做你的桨，用象牙镶嵌基提海岛的黄杨木为坐板。 7 你的篷帆是用埃及绣花细麻布做的，可以做你的大旗，你的凉篷是用以利沙岛的蓝色、紫色布做的。

神要人子为推罗作哀歌，在第二十六章里面讲到推罗要成为荒场，因为他们在贸易上不公，他们为了自己的利益去伤害别人。神要审判他们，「我必叫你令人惊恐，不再存留于世」(26:21a)；「你令人惊恐，不再存留于世，直到永远。」(27:36b) 藉这首哀歌，神要我们反省，究竟在我们的生命有没有推罗的影子？她被创造全然美丽，团队质素良好，贸易发达，但最后却沉在海中，不再被人记念。问题不在美丽，人犯罪后，美好的事物常常会让我们忘记了神我们拥有美好的事物，自以为很了不起。

譬如，我很喜欢香港的国际机场，效率非常快。我去过世界很多不同的机场，没有一个比香港的更好，效率更快。因此，就会引以为傲，然后用手指头指著别人，说别人怎样怎样。这样，便叫做忘记神，就是骄傲。

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).

净光的磐石

2023-09-18 in , /by

以西结书 26:4  他们必破坏推罗的墙垣，拆毁她的城楼。我也要刮净尘土，使她成为净光的磐石。

阅读经文：以西结书26:1-21

1第十一年十一月初一日，耶和华的话临到我说： 2 「人子啊，因推罗向耶路撒冷说『啊哈！那做众民之门的已经破坏，向我开放。她既变为荒场，我必丰盛』， 3 所以主耶和华如此说：推罗啊，我必与你为敌，使许多国民上来攻击你，如同海使波浪涌上来一样。 4 他们必破坏推罗的墙垣，拆毁她的城楼。我也要刮净尘土，使她成为净光的磐石。 5 她必在海中做晒网的地方，也必成为列国的掳物。这是主耶和华说的。 6 属推罗城邑的居民必被刀剑杀灭，他们就知道我是耶和华。

公元前一千年，推罗港是腓尼基帝国最大的城市，亦是地中海最发达的通商口岸。正如以西结先知所称：“你这有名之城，素为航海之人居住，在海上为最坚固”（以西结书廿六章17节）。在推罗的极盛时期，推罗人过著奢华的生活，因他们的骄傲和罪恶，并且多次攻击神的子民，以及常用初生婴儿作惨无人道的献祭给假神摩洛。神在公元前587年借着先知预言推罗城将被灭绝成为荒场。

果然，一年之后，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领大军围困推罗城，他满以为三个星期便可征服推罗城。但古推罗城在地形上分为两区，一区建筑在陆地上，当地居民称它为“老推罗”。从老推罗港向地中海前行一千九百多尺，便有另一座建筑在小岛上的推罗城。许多世纪以来，每逢敌军攻打，推罗居民便转移到岛上的悬崖绝壁避难。

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.