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This Makes Me Wanna Shout

2023-05-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 2:1-10.  Let’s go!

In Ephesus 2:1-10 we find one of the best summaries of the Gospel anywhere in the Bible.  Here Paul summarizes the core message of Christianity.  When I read Ephesians 2:1-10 with an open heart, it makes me want to shout and cheer because of how incredibly good and undeservingly kind God has been to us.  Praise God!

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)
1  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.

On verses 1-5:  These verses show us the “before” and “after” pictures of what happens when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

BEFORE:  We were dead in our sins (v1).
AFTER:    God made us alive with Christ (v5).

There is Resurrection Power in You

2023-05-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 1:11-23.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 1:11 (NIV) 
11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will

On verse 11:  Here Paul tells us that God works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.  Everything.  That includes the biggest mistakes, failures, hurts, disappointments, accidents, tragedies, and heartbreaks we will ever experience.  Nothing is a surprise to God.  As Pastor Rick Warren says, “God never wastes a hurt.”  He uses it all to accomplish His purpose in this world and in our lives.

背道的病

2023-05-22 in , /by

耶利米书3:18  当那些日子，犹大家要和以色列家同行，从北方之地一同来到我赐给你们列祖为业之地。

阅读经文：3:11-25

11 耶和华对我说：「背道的以色列比奸诈的犹大还显为义。 12 你去向北方宣告说：『耶和华说：背道的以色列啊，回来吧！我必不怒目看你们，因为我是慈爱的，我必不永远存怒。这是耶和华说的。 13 只要承认你的罪孽，就是你违背耶和华你的神，在各青翠树下向别神东奔西跑，没有听从我的话。这是耶和华说的。 14 耶和华说：背道的儿女啊，回来吧！因为我做你们的丈夫，并且我必将你们从一城取一人，从一族取两人，带到锡安。

假如你对以色列和犹大南北国有一个基本的理解，可能会奇怪为何神说背道的以色列比奸诈的犹大还显为义？因为以色列北国从耶罗波安执政开始，没有一个王，一个也没有，愿意敬畏神的。耶罗波安造了两个金牛犊取代了对耶和华神的敬拜，从此北国的王和百姓都拜偶像和假神。到了亚哈的时候，他的妻子耶洗别更引进亚斯他录、巴力等等异邦的神，公然地取代对耶和华神的敬拜。耶罗波安还自定节期，自设祭司。真是一个比一个坏，罄竹难书。

虚情假意

2023-05-21 in , /by

耶利米书3:9   因以色列轻忽了她的淫乱，和石头木头行淫，地就被玷污了。

阅读经文：3:1-10

1「有话说，人若休妻，妻离他而去，做了别人的妻，前夫岂能再收回她来？若收回她来，那地岂不是大大玷污了吗？但你和许多亲爱的行邪淫，还可以归向我。」这是耶和华说的。 2 「你向净光的高处举目观看，你在何处没有淫行呢？你坐在道旁等候，好像阿拉伯人在旷野埋伏一样，并且你的淫行、邪恶玷污了全地。 3 因此甘霖停止，春雨不降，你还是有娼妓之脸，不顾羞耻。 4 从今以后，你岂不向我呼叫说：『我父啊，你是我幼年的恩主！ 5 耶和华岂永远怀怒，存留到底吗？』看哪，你又发恶言又行坏事，随自己的私意而行。」

你是否会觉得奇怪，为什么神用淫乱来形容以色列人的背道？淫乱对我们而言，是指性生活的不洁净，在婚姻之外的性生活，这和拜偶像有何关系呢？拜偶像不是属于信仰，也就是灵性生活的部份吗？有时我们无法把性生活淫乱和信仰的不同联想在一起。这是有原因的。

其一，因为在古时候的迦南地，那些外邦人拜的假神巴力、亚斯他勒、摩洛等等，都掺杂着很多淫乱的仪式。人们盼望农作物的收成丰盛，就以为是靠假神的活力去祝福他们。所以他们要在庙里举行淫乱的仪式，为了刺激他们想像中的假神醒过来帮助他们。所以他们的庙里都有很多庙妓和娈童。

8 Parts to Your Identity

2023-05-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin Ephesians, one of the most important letters in the New Testament.  Written around 60 AD, Ephesians is a letter by Paul to the church he started in the city of Ephesus.

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

Ephesians 1:1-10 (NIV)
1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

On verses 1-10:  After identifying himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ and greeting his church (v1-2), Paul begins by giving praise to God (v3).  Then in verses 4-10, Paul describes some of the spiritual blessings we have received in Christ: how He chose us (v4), predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters (v5), redeemed us (bought us back) with His precious blood (v7), forgave our sins (v7), lavished His grace on us (v7-8), and is making His will known to us (v9).

The Difference Between Christianity and Other Faiths

2023-05-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Galatians 6:11-18.  Let’s go!

Galatians 6:11-18 (NIV)
11  See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12  Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.
13  Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh.
14  May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15  Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
16  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.
17  Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

On verses 11-18:  As a final word to the churches in Galatia, Paul sums up the main message of his letter: It’s not circumcision or uncircumcision that justifies me (v13, 15).  It is not my own efforts to obey God’s laws that save me.  It’s only the cross of Jesus Christ that gives me right standing before God (v14) – “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”.

狂奔乱走的独峰驼

2023-05-19 in , /by

耶利米书2:21  然而我栽你是上等的葡萄树，全然是真种子，你怎么向我变为外邦葡萄树的坏枝子呢？

阅读经文：2:4-19

20 「我在古时折断你的轭，解开你的绳索，你说：『我必不侍奉耶和华！』因为你在各高冈上、各青翠树下屈身行淫。21 然而我栽你是上等的葡萄树，全然是真种子，你怎么向我变为外邦葡萄树的坏枝子呢？ 22 你虽用碱，多用肥皂洗濯，你罪孽的痕迹仍然在我面前显出。」这是主耶和华说的。 23 「你怎能说『我没有玷污，没有随从众巴力』？你看你谷中的路，就知道你所行的如何。你是快行的独峰驼，狂奔乱走。

2017年8月21日，在北美，大家争相观看百年一遇的日全蚀；在8月12日附近几天，也相传是流星雨最多的日子。许多人拍到了天象奇观，争着传给朋友观看。在赞叹自然界的奇妙之际，我也正好灵修到〈启示录〉第六章：“揭开第六印的时候，我又看见地大震动，日头变黑像毛布，满月变红像血， 天上的星辰坠落于地，如同无花果树被大风摇动，落下未熟的果子一样。 天就挪移，好像书卷被卷起来；山岭海岛都被挪移离开本位。 地上的君王、臣宰、将军、富户、壮士，和一切为奴的、自主的，都藏在山洞和岩石穴里， 向山和岩石说：倒在我们身上吧！把我们藏起来，躲避坐宝座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒； 因为他们忿怒的大日到了，谁能站得住呢？（12-17节）”何等巧合！

因此在欣赏流星雨和日蚀的现象时，我不知该和他人一样兴奋，或是有警觉性的悲哀？这只是天道循环的一例，或是上天有意的警告？若是后者，谁能把我们藏起来，躲避坐宝座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒？在耶利米书第二章，神把祂子民的恶行恶性显露无遗。我们有时以为自己可以不理会创造者的心意，但是当我们看到神所揭露的，人之原形时，还能为自己辩解什么？

活水的泉源

2023-05-18 in , /by

耶利米书2:13  因为我的百姓做了两件恶事，就是离弃我这活水的泉源，为自己凿出池子，是破裂不能存水的池子。

阅读经文：2:4-19

4 雅各家，以色列家的各族啊，你们当听耶和华的话！ 5 耶和华如此说：「你们的列祖见我有什么不义，竟远离我，随从虚无的神，自己成为虚妄的呢？ 6 他们也不说：『那领我们从埃及地上来，引导我们经过旷野，沙漠有深坑之地，和干旱死荫，无人经过、无人居住之地的耶和华，在哪里呢？』 7 我领你们进入肥美之地，使你们得吃其中的果子和美物，但你们进入的时候就玷污我的地，使我的产业成为可憎的。 8 祭司都不说：『耶和华在哪里呢？』传讲律法的都不认识我，官长违背我，先知藉巴力说预言，随从无益的神。」

著名的基督教作家杨腓力，曾在他的部落格上放了一篇文章：两个家庭的故事。这个家庭非常注重圣经旧约的教导：例如：孝顺父母、敬畏神、不要抱怨，诸如此类的教导，他们的父母很少提到新约的恩典和爱。当他们的孩子到了婚嫁之期时，父母唯一的告诫就是：“假如你的婚姻失败了，就不要回来。你已经在神面前起誓，就要守约到底。”这个家庭里有两个女儿，一名茱莉，一名安莲。

茱莉有了孩子之后，也按著父母的方法去教导她的孩子们。果然各个孩子长大后都循规蹈矩，都选择了以助人为本的行业里，颇有成就。但是他们都有自我形象的问题，觉得自己永远做得不够好。

Be Good to Your Spiritual Family

2023-05-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

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

Galatians 6:1-10 (NIV)
1  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
2  Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3  If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4  Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
5  for each one should carry his own load.

On verses 1-10:   Sometimes we can take our church family, like our own immediate family, for granted.  Here Paul reminds us that, for as long as we live, we should do good to all people, but especially our spiritual family (v10).  That includes:

– if someone sins and is genuinely repentant, restoring that person gently by showing them the grace, mercy and forgiveness that God showed you and me (v1)

– carrying each other’s burdens (v2)

– looking at yourself with humility and sober judgment (v3)

– not playing the comparison game, always measuring how you match up with others (v4)

– taking responsibility for one’s own life rather than burdening others unnecessarily (v5)

Which One Will You Be Full Of ?

2023-05-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Galatians 5:19-26.  Let’s go!

Galatians 5:19-21 (NIV)
19  The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
20  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
21  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

On verses 19-21:  Paul lists a number of examples of what it looks like when people live according to their sinful nature.  These examples can possibly be broadly categorized as sexual sins (“sexual immorality, impurity [referring likely to an impure thought life] and debauchery”), sins of the spirit (“idolatry and witchcraft”), sins related to poor management of our emotions and relationships (“hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions”) and other sins (“drunkenness, orgies and the like”).  When Paul says that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God” (v21), he doesn’t mean that if you engage in sin after being saved that such sin will automatically disqualify you from God’s kingdom.  Rather, Paul is likely saying that those who live without any regard for holiness, who treat God’s grace as an excuse to sin even more, have misunderstood the Gospel and were probably never saved in the first place.