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The Wonder That Is Jesus

2023-09-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 3:8-16.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 3:8-9 (NIV) 
8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 
9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.

On verses 8-9:  In these verses Paul describes the qualifications that deacons must meet.  Deacons were special helpers to the overseer/pastor.  They would assist the overseer/pastor in caring for the flock and possibly also leading certain ministries in the church.

The qualifications of a deacon are similar to those expected of overseers:

– “worthy of respect”:   This is a general term that means carrying yourself in a way that others can admire and look up to.

– “sincere”: To be more specific, it means don’t be a person of “double talk”; that is, don’t be someone who cares for people to their face but then gossips about them behind their back.

– “not indulging in much wine”: This means being someone who is in control of his passions and appetites.

Leadership Begins with Character

2023-09-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 3:1 (NIV) 
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 

On verse 1:   Paul is about to list the qualifications that a person must meet in order to be an “overseer” or, as other translations put it, a pastor, elder, or bishop in the church.  But before listing those qualifications, Paul first affirms that the work of a overseer/pastor is a noble work.  If you dream of being a leader in God’s kingdom because you want to serve others and use your life for God’s glory, that is definitely a noble dream and a good work.

1 Timothy 3:2-3 (NIV) 
2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 
3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 

母狮子和小狮子之喻

2023-09-10 in , /by

以西结书19:1-2 你当为以色列的王作起哀歌，  说：你的母亲是什么呢？是个母狮子，蹲伏在狮子中间，在少壮狮子中养育小狮子。

阅读经文：以西结书19:1-14

1「你当为以色列的王作起哀歌， 2 说：『你的母亲是什么呢？是个母狮子，蹲伏在狮子中间，在少壮狮子中养育小狮子。 3 在牠小狮子中养大一个，成了少壮狮子，学会抓食而吃人。 4 列国听见了，就把牠捉在他们的坑中，用钩子拉到埃及地去。 5 母狮见自己等候失了指望，就从牠小狮子中又将一个养为少壮狮子。

最近读到以色列的总理，内塔尼亚胡先生的一段话，在此节录一些给大家欣赏。他说：“就在70年前！犹太人像羊一样被带到屠杀之中。60年前！我们没有国家。没有军队。在建国的几个小时之后，七个阿拉伯国家向我们这个渺小的犹太国宣战！黎巴嫩，叙利亚，伊拉克，约旦，埃及，利比亚，沙特阿拉伯全都同一时间攻击我们。我们只有650个犹太人，没有IDF(以色列国防军)，对抗整个阿拉伯世界！35年前！我们与中东三个最强大的军队作战，我们在六天之内横扫他们……是的，是六日内。

联合国给我们的国家的是65％沙漠。今天我们有：一个国家，一队军队，一支强大的空军，出口数百万美元的最先进的经济体，英特尔 – 微软 – IBM在国内开发产品，我们的医生获得医学研究奖项，我们让沙漠盛产，向世界各地销售水果，花卉和蔬菜。以色列已经把自己的卫星送入太空！在同一时间三颗卫星！

主道至公

2023-09-08 in , /by

以西结书18:32   主耶和华说：我不喜悦那死人之死，所以你们当回头而存活。

阅读经文：以西结书18:1-32

1耶和华的话又临到我说： 2 「你们在以色列地怎么用这俗语说『父亲吃了酸葡萄，儿子的牙酸倒了』呢？ 3 主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，你们在以色列中，必不再有用这俗语的因由。 4 看哪，世人都是属我的，为父的怎样属我，为子的也照样属我。犯罪的，他必死亡。

5 「人若是公义，且行正直与合理的事， 6 未曾在山上吃过祭偶像之物，未曾仰望以色列家的偶像，未曾玷污邻舍的妻，未曾在妇人的经期内亲近她， 7 未曾亏负人，乃将欠债之人的当头还给他，未曾抢夺人的物件，却将食物给饥饿的人吃，将衣服给赤身的人穿， 8 未曾向借钱的弟兄取利，也未曾向借粮的弟兄多要，缩手不做罪孽，在两人之间按至理判断， 9 遵行我的律例，谨守我的典章，按诚实行事，这人是公义的，必定存活。这是主耶和华说的。

「责任」是18-21这四章的一个共同主题之一。犹太人被掳至巴比伦，怪罪是神对祖先作恶的审判，后果却临到他们。为了回应被掳的百姓经常抱怨的问题─认为上帝对待他们不公平(18:25)，以西结必须指出个人和国家的责任。因此，以西结向他们解释，神按各人所行的报应各人，而不是因别人的犯罪(18章)。又指出犹大的首领要因他们愚蠢的决定负责任(19章)，而且整个国家民族有一段很长而不负责任的历史(20章)。最后，先知提醒百姓，耶和华必须对自己和对犹太人的盟约负责，这是为什么他们必须被管教的原因(21章)。

Be a Humble Servant, Not a Distraction

2023-09-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 2:8-15.  Let’s go!
 
1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV)
8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

On verse 8:  Some people stereotypically think, “It’s the man’s job to work/watch football and the woman’s job to pray”.  But here Paul affirms that one of the most important things a man can do is to devote himself to prayer.  When a man devotes himself to prayer, he is much better able to lead in his home, to see things from God’s perspective, to bring God’s wisdom to situations and to model Christ to those in his care (especially his own family).

So men, don’t neglect your prayer life.  Prayer is actually one of the most important types of work we can do, and one of the highest callings we have to fulfill.

二鹰与葡萄树之喻

2023-09-07 in , /by

以西结书17:18   他轻看誓言，背弃盟约，已经投降却又做这一切的事，他必不能逃脱。

阅读经文：以西结书17:1-24

1耶和华的话临到我说： 2 「人子啊，你要向以色列家出谜语，设比喻， 3 说：『主耶和华如此说：有一大鹰，翅膀大，翎毛长，羽毛丰满，彩色俱备，来到黎巴嫩，将香柏树梢拧去， 4 就是折去香柏树尽尖的嫩枝，叼到贸易之地，放在买卖城中。 5 又将以色列地的枝子栽于肥田里，插在大水旁，如插柳树。 6 就渐渐生长，成为蔓延矮小的葡萄树，其枝转向那鹰，其根在鹰以下。于是成了葡萄树，生出枝子，发出小枝。

大鹰eagle，从古代就有许多国家喜欢用牠作为力量的标志。在圣经里也经常提到鹰，牠不仅代表速度，永远的青春，也代表超越。在这一章经文里，神用两只大鹰来代表当时的两个强大的国家，一个是巴比伦，一个是埃及。

第一只大鹰“翅膀大，翎毛长，羽毛丰满，彩色俱备，来到黎巴嫩，将香柏树梢拧去，就是折去香柏树尽尖的嫩枝，叼到贸易之地，放在买卖城中。”这里比喻的是巴比伦尼布甲尼撒王，掳走了约雅斤王。约雅斤王就是“香柏树尽尖的嫩枝”，他被掳到巴比伦。因为约雅斤的父亲约雅敬刚过世，约雅敬背叛巴比伦王，所以巴比伦王带领大军来攻打犹大。约雅斤那时才十八岁，才刚刚坐上王位的约雅斤，就这样万不得已地打开大门，交递降书。所以神用“香柏树尽尖的嫩枝”来形容他。

Want More Peace and Quiet?

2023-09-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 2:1-7.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) 
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

On verses 1-3:  It is good and pleasing to God when we devote ourselves to prayer. In fact, when you read Paul’s letters, a running theme is his devotion to prayer (see for example Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; and Philemon 1:4-6).  These verses are a reminder that we ought to devote ourselves to prayer for everyone including for those in authority.

Notice what Paul describes in verse 2 as the result of praying: “that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (v2).  In other words, when we bring our requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving before God (v1), the result is that we’re more able to live a peaceful, quiet, godly and holy lives (v2).  Ever wished for more peace and quiet in your life?  Pray.  A life of prayer pleases God (v3).

How to Protect Your Faith and Keep a Good Conscience

2023-09-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 1:12-20.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 1:12-15 (NIV)
12  I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
13  Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.
14  The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15  Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.

On verses 12-15:  No matter how far Paul advanced as a leader in God’s kingdom, Paul never forgot where he came from, how he once was a persecutor of God’s church, “the worst of sinners” he calls himself.  Likewise, may you never forget the depths from which God saved you, so that you will never take for granted His forgiveness, His acceptance, and the opportunities He has given you to serve Him since.

追念与坚定所立之约

2023-09-06 in , /by

以西结书16:5   然而我要追念在你幼年时与你所立的约，也要与你立定永约。

阅读经文：今天因为经文很长，请大家自行上网取读。以西结书16章

当你完整章后，对于其中所用的字汇是否觉得很不习惯？因为神把整件事描绘得很“露骨”。我们习惯了包装、修饰过的形容，尽量让我们的文字显得高雅，但是这里的文字显露的是一片污俗不堪的情景，就是神的爱和人的悖逆和庸俗。从神的眼光来看以色列人的光景，原来人是如此忘恩负义，不知羞耻，丑陋不堪；也因而当我读到神还要追念并坚定和以色列人所立的永约时，我的心深受感动。

那是人的本相，不只是以色列人。全世界的人都亏欠了神的荣耀。神把祂的荣耀给了人类，没有给其他动物；但是有许多人活得比禽兽不如。不仅不记念神的恩典，荒淫无度，放纵自己，彼此欺凌，漠视神所订的规律，还美其名为人权。

神知道在我们当中所行的那些可耻的事，神知道我们不喜欢跟随祂的公义度日。神知道人不可爱，但是祂还要爱。神知道人悖逆，但祂还要守约。不仅追念，还要坚定。“我要坚定与你所立的约，你就知道我是耶和华”。这句话倒过来说就是：你们不知道我是耶和华，所以我要继续坚定与你所立的约，你才会知道我是信实的神。然后呢？神希望我们被祂的信实所吸引。因为这世上多的是背约不守信之人，但是神要让人看到希望，有一个信实的神，以永远不变的爱爱我们。所以无论我们落在怎样的景况里，都可以回转归向祂。