Entries by

Do You Have a Life Verse?

2023-06-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 3:12-17. Some passages don’t need much explanation, just memorization!  Colossians 3:12-17 is one of those passages.  An excellent passage to memorize, I challenge you to memorize it!  You’ll be glad that you did.

Colossians 3:12-17 (NIV)
12  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

On verses 12-17:  Each of these verses is beautiful and could be a sermon on its own in terms of learning how to do each one.   If you’re wondering how to clothe yourself with virtues like kindness, humility, and gentleness (v12), check out our Sweeter Than Honey relationship series from 2017.  If you’re wondering how to do what verses 13-16 tell us to do, sign up for the next term of Thrive Discipleship School Level 2: Growing in Your Relationship with God.

一杯憤怒的酒

2023-06-28 in , /by

耶利米書  25:36  聽啊，有牧人呼喊，有群眾頭目哀號的聲音，因為耶和華使他們的草場變為荒場。

閱讀經文:  25:15-38

15 耶和華以色列的神對我如此說：「你從我手中接這杯憤怒的酒，使我所差遣你去的各國的民喝。 16 他們喝了就要東倒西歪，並要發狂，因我使刀劍臨到他們中間。」 17 我就從耶和華的手中接了這杯，給耶和華所差遣我去的各國的民喝， 18 就是耶路撒冷和猶大的城邑並耶路撒冷的君王與首領，使這城邑荒涼，令人驚駭、嗤笑、咒詛，正如今日一樣。

這一段文裡談到神對列邦的審判，原來神不是只審判以色列家，因為神的權柄遍及全地。這不禁使我想到神第一次審判全世界時，讓挪亞在眾人眼前建方舟。那時候挪亞雖然盡力勸眾人悔改，卻只有他一家得救。耶利米極力地傳達神的信息，但是耶路撒冷和猶大全地還是因為不肯悔改而滅亡了。其他的列邦列國，有誰會把神的話語聽進耳裡，像約拿時代的尼尼微城那樣悔改？所以我們努力傳福音是盡本分，但是別人能不能聽進去，我們不要太在意。人的心頑梗至極，若非聖靈動工，誰能得救？

猶大不是唯一喝到神的這杯憤怒之酒的國家，神預言有許多國家相繼會遭到巴比倫的攻擊和蹂躪，到最後巴比倫也要喝這杯來自神的憤怒之酒。示沙克是巴比倫的另一個名字。神掌權，神命定。所以他們應當順服，向巴比倫王投降，等日子滿足，神自然會向巴比倫討罪。這些國和民若肯聽從神的話，便可免於戰爭帶來的殺戳。這樣的信息，自然沒人肯領受，誰肯在沒有反抗，戰至最後一兵一卒之前就投降呢？神看眾人的性命為寶貴，眾人看自己的性命為草稭。

How to Put a Bad Habit to Death

2023-06-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 3:1-11.  Let’s go!

Colossians 3:1-10 (NIV)
1  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5  Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

On verses 1-10:  Yesterday we learned from Colossians 2:16-23 that our focus needs to be on Jesus, not on our own effort.  If that’s the case, should we still bother trying to become more holy, or trying to have a GAME time, or trying to go to church or small group? Yes, absolutely.  Paul is not saying “don’t work at all on your relationship with God” or “don’t try to grow spiritually”. He’s saying spend your effort and time on what really matters, which is becoming more like Christ. 

七十年的預言

2023-06-27 in , /by

耶利米書24:2  一筐是極好的無花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。

閱讀經文:  24:1-10

1巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將猶大王約雅敬的兒子耶哥尼雅和猶大的首領，並工匠、鐵匠從耶路撒冷擄去，帶到巴比倫。這事以後，耶和華指給我看，有兩筐無花果放在耶和華的殿前： 2 一筐是極好的無花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。 3 於是耶和華問我說：「耶利米你看見什麼？」我說：「我看見無花果，好的極好，壞的極壞，壞得不可吃。」

以色列的夏天相當炎熱，五月份的氣溫都可能超過攝氏40度！走在日頭曝曬的曠野，在腦袋發昏之前，若找到能遮蔭的樹，是何等美好的事！在神為以色列人預備的迦南地，就有不少挺適合乘涼的樹，無花果樹就是其中的一種。無花果是神賜給以色列地的，極有營養又好吃的一種水果，但是若變壞了，就只能做肥料或丟掉。神以常見的好的無花果和壞的無花果來比喻猶大人的選擇會帶來的後果。

對猶大人而言，跟著約雅斤王被擄去巴比倫實在很不得已，並不是出於他們的選擇。但是在這樣的苦難中，神卻以好的無花果來安慰他們，必得好處。戰敗被擄，實在淒涼，但是神要他們不看表面，反而要在苦難中看見神的恩典。

無花果的比喻

2023-06-26 in , /by

耶利米書24:2  一筐是極好的無花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。

閱讀經文:  24:1-10

1巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將猶大王約雅敬的兒子耶哥尼雅和猶大的首領，並工匠、鐵匠從耶路撒冷擄去，帶到巴比倫。這事以後，耶和華指給我看，有兩筐無花果放在耶和華的殿前： 2 一筐是極好的無花果，好像是初熟的；一筐是極壞的無花果，壞得不可吃。 3 於是耶和華問我說：「耶利米你看見什麼？」我說：「我看見無花果，好的極好，壞的極壞，壞得不可吃。」

以色列的夏天相當炎熱，五月份的氣溫都可能超過攝氏40度！走在日頭曝曬的曠野，在腦袋發昏之前，若找到能遮蔭的樹，是何等美好的事！在神為以色列人預備的迦南地，就有不少挺適合乘涼的樹，無花果樹就是其中的一種。無花果是神賜給以色列地的，極有營養又好吃的一種水果，但是若變壞了，就只能做肥料或丟掉。神以常見的好的無花果和壞的無花果來比喻猶大人的選擇會帶來的後果。

對猶大人而言，跟著約雅斤王被擄去巴比倫實在很不得已，並不是出於他們的選擇。但是在這樣的苦難中，神卻以好的無花果來安慰他們，必得好處。戰敗被擄，實在淒涼，但是神要他們不看表面，反而要在苦難中看見神的恩典。

Trust in Jesus, Not in Your Own Effort or Experience

2023-06-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

The passage for today should be Colossians 2:16-23.  Let’s go!

Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV) 
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.

On verses 16-17:  Apparently some members of the church in Colosse were teaching others in the church that they needed to:

– practice the dietary regulations found in the Old Testament and/or refrain from eating food sacrificed to idols; and

– observe the Jewish holidays, whether prescribed by the Jewish law or by tradition.
These “Judaizers” were judging and condemning those in the church who failed to follow those rules.  Paul tells the church not to give in to these legalistic practices, which God had already repudiated earlier.  He says that such legalistic practices were at best “a shadow of the things that were to come” (v17), pointing us toward a greater reality.  Now that that greater reality – Jesus – has come, let our focus be on Him.

耶和華的默示

2023-06-25 in , /by

耶利米書 23:24   耶和華說：「人豈能在隱密處藏身，使我看不見他呢？」耶和華說：「我豈不充滿天地嗎？」

閱讀經文:  23:9-40

9 論到那些先知，我心在我裡面憂傷，我骨頭都發顫。因耶和華和他的聖言，我像醉酒的人，像被酒所勝的人。 10 地滿了行淫的人。因妄自賭咒，地就悲哀，曠野的草場都枯乾了。他們所行的道乃是惡的，他們的勇力使得不正。 11 「連先知帶祭司都是褻瀆的，就是在我殿中我也看見他們的惡。」這是耶和華說的。 12 「因此，他們的道路必像黑暗中的滑地，他們必被追趕在這路中仆倒。因為當追討之年，我必使災禍臨到他們。」這是耶和華說的。

『耶和華的默示』原是神聖的，但是在一群有心人的操作之中，變成了荒唐的話語。耶利米因假先知利用耶和華的聖言的情況而痛苦得不能自己，像醉酒的人一樣無法控制自己。先知的憂傷，是因遍地的罪行，因人不認識正版的『耶和華的默示』，被盜版的『耶和華的默示』害得走向滅亡之路。耶利米嘆息那些人的勇力使得不正，正好像我們嘆息那些做假物，想以假亂真來取利的人一樣，他們有聰明以假亂真，為何不用在正路上，做些有益眾人的事物？

耶和華的審判臨到那些假先知和離棄神道的祭司，連耶利米都無法為他們脫罪，只能為他們憂傷難過，看他們就好像得了絕症，卻一無所知的人，不知道他們正走向滅亡的明天。因為耶和華是近處的神，也是遠處的神，神都看到了他們的所作所為，所言所論，有誰能為他們申辯？

Life and Freedom through the Cross

2023-06-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Colossians 2:6-15.  Let’s go!

These verses show us the powerful and unique difference Christ makes in our lives.  Let’s go!

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) 
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 
7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 

On verses 6-7:  It’s not enough just to receive Christ into our lives.  If you really want to experience the benefit of a relationship with Christ, we are to “continue to live in Him” (v6).  What does it mean to continue to live in Christ?  According to verse 7, it means to:
– keep growing in Christ (“rooted and built up in him”).  Like a plant, deepen your roots in Jesus. Like a new construction project, be built up with Jesus as your foundation.  
– get stronger in the faith (“strengthened in the faith”).  That means letting the truth of God’s Word fill, fuel and fortify your thinking more and more.  
– overflow with thankfulness.  For Paul, thankfulness is one of the big indicators of a person’s maturity and stability in Christ.  Every day be thanking God often, both publicly and privately.

Glorious Hope Lives in You

2023-06-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

There are so many good truths and practical lessons for us in today’s passage, Colossians 1:24-2:5.  Just one of these lessons could be enough for me to chew on today, but God’s Word here is like a bountiful buffet. Let’s go!
 
Colossians 1:24 (NIV) 
24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 

On verse 24:  What is Paul saying here?  Is he saying that what Jesus Christ endured on the cross was not enough to pay for our sins?  No.  The afflictions Christ endured on earth, especially dying on the cross, was sufficient to pay for our sins and to reconcile us to God.  But here Paul is saying that he has more suffering to endure as he follows God’s calling on his life.  And for whose sake is Paul suffering?  Christ’s body, the church.   From this we can learn two important lessons:
 

公義的苗裔

2023-06-23 in , /by

耶利米書23:6   在祂的日子，猶大必得救，以色列也安然居住，祂的名必稱為『耶和華我們的義』。

閱讀經文:  23:1-8

1耶和華說：「那些殘害、趕散我草場之羊的牧人有禍了！」 2 耶和華以色列的神斥責那些牧養他百姓的牧人，如此說：「你們趕散我的羊群，並沒有看顧他們，我必討你們這行惡的罪。」這是耶和華說的。 3 「我要將我羊群中所餘剩的，從我趕他們到的各國內招聚出來，領他們歸回本圈，他們也必生養眾多。 4 我必設立照管他們的牧人牧養他們，他們不再懼怕，不再驚惶，也不缺少一個。」這是耶和華說的。

在2017年的8月29日，美國哈佛大學校長德魯・吉爾平・福斯特（Drew Gilpin Faust）於開學禮進行了一場例行的致辭，她的談話公開上網之後，引起了很多人的分享和轉載。她所認為的高等教育最重要目標就是：「確保畢業的學生能分辨有人在胡說八道」。她這一句話引起了許多的迴響，因為在現今這種資訊爆炸的時代，若沒有分辨的能力，很容易上當受騙，還沾沾自喜，到處散佈不實的消息。

做牧人，也就是帶領者。在當時的猶大指的是君王和眾首領；在現代，指的是教會的領導者。因為牧者是用來帶領保護神的羊群，是在神的家裡服侍的。為何要說“確保畢業的學生能分辨有人在胡說八道”，就是因為有太多的牧者所講的信息不是來自神的話語，那就是胡說八道。就好像耶利米指責假先知編造神所沒有說的平安，以致百姓不知滅亡將臨，而來不及悔改。