耶利米書22:24 耶和華說：猶大王約雅敬的兒子哥尼雅，雖是我右手上帶印的戒指，我憑我的永生起誓，也必將你從其上摘下來。
閱讀經文: 22:24-30
24 『耶和華說：猶大王約雅敬的兒子哥尼雅，雖是我右手上帶印的戒指，我憑我的永生起誓，也必將你從其上摘下來。 25 並且我必將你交給尋索你命的人和你所懼怕的人手中，就是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒和迦勒底人的手中。 26 我也必將你和生你的母親趕到別國，並不是你們生的地方，你們必死在那裡。 27 但心中甚想歸回之地，必不得歸回。
約西亞的兒子約雅敬，約雅敬的兒子耶哥尼雅，簡稱哥尼雅，又名約雅斤。耶哥尼雅Jeconiah的意思是：耶和華堅立。在每個名字裡，我們都看到起名字的人都希望子孫得到耶和華的眷顧和厚愛，但是要怎樣才能得到耶和華神的恩寵？在你的名字裡，你可曾看到為你起名字的人對你的厚望，你讓他高興了，或失望了？
神說耶哥尼雅是祂右手上帶印的戒指，表明他在神所命定的計劃裡，原是有權柄，原是高貴的。可惜因為猶大列王和他自己的罪行，神要把這戒指摘下來，也就是說，把他從王位上趕下來。
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Colossians 1:15-23. Let’s go!
Colossians 1:15a (NIV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God…
On verse 15a: If you want to know what God, who is invisible, looks like, all you have to do is look at Jesus. He is the image of the invisible God.
Colossians 1:15b (NIV)
15 He is …the firstborn over all creation.
On verse 15b: Jehovah’s Witnesses and other cults teach that Jesus was created by God. They use this verse and in particular the word translated “firstborn” to support that teaching. However, by “firstborn” Paul does not mean that Jesus was created. Rather it’s talking about Jesus’ importance in relation to all of creation — how He is superior to, and has special rights and authority over, all of creation. As Pastor Jon Courson says, “[t]he Greek word prototokos, translated “firstborn,” doesn’t speak of chronology but of priority” (Courson, Jon. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary – Jon Courson’s Application Commentary New Testament. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book).
Hi GAMErs!
Today we begin the book of Colossians. Since I was a 15, Colossians has been a special book to me as it contains one of my “life verses”, which I’ll share with you in the days to come.
Here is some background on the book of Colossians to help us understand what’s going on in this letter:
1. Colossians is a letter written by Paul in approximately 60 AD to a church located in the ancient city of Colosse, located in the heart of what is modern day Turkey.
2. Paul had never met the church community at Colosse before (see Colossians 2:1). The one who started the church was probably Epaphras (1:7), a student and disciple of Paul and a native of that area (4:12). Although Paul had never met the church at Colosse, because of Epaphras his relationship to them was like that of a spiritual grandparent who had great concern for their well-being.
3. Colossians is one of Paul’s four “prison letters” in that Paul wrote the letter of while he was in prison for preaching the Gospel, probably in Rome. The other three prison letters are Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians.
耶利米書22:13 那行不義蓋房，行不公造樓，白白使用人的手工不給工價的，有禍了！
閱讀經文: 22:13-23
13 『那行不義蓋房，行不公造樓，白白使用人的手工不給工價的，有禍了！ 14 他說：「我要為自己蓋廣大的房、寬敞的樓，為自己開窗戶，這樓房的護牆板是香柏木的，樓房是丹色油漆的。」 15 難道你做王是在乎造香柏木樓房爭勝嗎？你的父親豈不是也吃也喝，也施行公平和公義嗎？那時他得了福樂。
約雅敬是約西亞王的第二個兒子，原名以利亞敬，意思是God rises耶和華興起。當約西亞為這個兒子起名時，他期望神興起這個兒子，在哪方面建立這個兒子呢？假如你有個兒子，你希望神怎樣建立他呢？使他茁壯？做大官？發大財？或是像宋朝蘇軾的〈洗兒戲作〉中說的：“人皆養子望聰明，我被聰明誤一生，惟願孩兒愚且魯，無災無難到公卿”。約西亞王希望神建立、興起他的兒子，會不會是希望他將來可以榮耀神呢？
耶利米書22:2 坐大衛寶座的猶大王啊，你和你的臣僕並進入城門的百姓，都當聽耶和華的話。
閱讀經文: 22:1-12
1耶和華如此說：「你下到猶大王的宮中，在那裡說這話， 2 說：『坐大衛寶座的猶大王啊，你和你的臣僕並進入城門的百姓，都當聽耶和華的話。 3 耶和華如此說：你們要施行公平和公義，拯救被搶奪的脫離欺壓人的手，不可虧負寄居的和孤兒寡婦，不可以強暴待他們，在這地方也不可流無辜人的血。
在這章裡，我們看到神很早就差派耶利米和其他先知出來警告猶大王室和百姓，有關巴比倫王要來滅猶大的信息。這信息不是一次兩次地講，而是三番四次地說，不僅用口傳，用比喻，還要先知親身示範。從約西亞王開始，他是個好王，敬虔的王，神希望百姓能明白約西亞之教導的重要性。可惜的是，約西亞的兒孫們竟都置若罔聞。
這是人之常情。有很多人說不知道神的旨意，有多人說想知道神的旨意，可惜他們都只是說說而已，應景，表示他們有心尋求。可是事實上他們根本不想知道，因為他們對神的話語沒有一點興趣。因為他們早知道神的話是反對他們的。他們只想利用神的一兩句話來支持自己的論點，而不是要遵從神的旨意。
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Philippians 4:10-23. Do you struggle with being content? In today’s passage Paul shares about the secret to contentment. Let’s go!
Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
On verses 10-13: What is the secret to “being content in any and every situation” (v12)? It’s a relationship with Jesus. Whether you’re living in plenty or in want, press into your relationship with Jesus. Draw close to Him and pour out your heart to Him. When you do, you’ll find, just like Paul did, that “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (v13).
If you struggle in the area of contentment or know someone who does, also be sure to check out my message called “The Secret of Contentment” from December 27, 2021, where I share 4 practical keys to finding contentment.
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Philippians 4:1-9, which is full of good verses to remember. Let’s go!
Philippians 4:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!
On verse 1: You can feel Paul’s affection for his church in Philippi by the tender words he uses to describe them: “you whom I love and long for”, “my joy and crown”. This tells me two things:
1. If Paul’s affection for his church in Philippi is a reflection of Christ’s affection for His Church (see 1:8), then to Jesus you are his joy and crown, one whom Jesus loves and longs for. You are the object of Christ’s affections.
2. To be an effective pastor, your heart has to be in it. That is probably the biggest reason why pastoring (or shepherding people) is a tough gig. It’s because from time to time your heart will be tested, challenged, stretched, and even broken, pierced and stepped on, both by the people around you and by the situations you face. Pastoring is certainly not for the faint of heart. But if you’re called to it, there’s also nothing more rewarding and nothing that brings more fulfillment and joy.
耶利米書 21:8b 耶和華如此說：看哪，我將生命的路和死亡的路擺在你們面前。
閱讀經文: 21:1-14
1耶和華的話臨到耶利米。那時西底家王打發瑪基雅的兒子巴施戶珥和瑪西雅的兒子祭司西番雅，去見耶利米，說： 2 「請你為我們求問耶和華，因為巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒來攻擊我們，或者耶和華照他一切奇妙的作為待我們，使巴比倫王離開我們上去。」
耶利米書的記錄顯然不是按照當時的時間和秩序，因為西底家是猶大最後一個王。再繼續的幾章，還會提到西底家之前的幾個王。約西亞之後，他的兒子約哈斯王（約雅敬的弟弟）；三個月後約哈斯被埃及法老廢掉，由約雅敬做王，他可能死在巴比倫王進攻的時期裡，因此由他的兒子約雅斤做王，出去向巴比倫投降，被尼布甲尼撒帶回巴比倫，這是猶大家第二次的被擄，以西結先知也在這次被擄到巴比倫。約雅斤王投降後，尼布甲尼撒王立約雅斤王的叔父西底家(約西亞王的弟弟)為猶大王。
本章所記載的是尼布甲尼撒第三次來攻擊猶大之時。神給西底家有11年做王的時間，11年讓他悔改的機會。但是他仍然行耶和華眼中看為惡的事，渺視神的預言和警告。現在大軍當前，他慌張了，急急地找耶利米尋求解決之道。他希望神用奇妙的作為拯救猶大，卻不想謙卑在神面前。只想解決問題，不要解決問題的神。
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Philippians 3:12-21. Let’s go!
Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
On verses 12-14: In verse 12 Paul says that Jesus took hold of him so that he could take hold of something. What is that thing Paul is pressing on to take hold of? It’s the full knowledge and experience of Jesus and His resurrection power (see v10-11). As much as Paul knew the Lord and experienced His power, Paul was not content with what he already knew and experienced. He wanted to know Christ and His resurrection power in all its fullness. That’s why Paul says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
耶利米書 20:13 你們要向耶和華唱歌，讚美耶和華！因祂救了窮人的性命脫離惡人的手。
閱讀經文: 20:1-18
1祭司音麥的兒子巴施戶珥做耶和華殿的總管，聽見耶利米預言這些事， 2 他就打先知耶利米，用耶和華殿裡便雅憫高門內的枷將他枷在那裡。3 次日，巴施戶珥將耶利米開枷釋放。於是耶利米對他說：「耶和華不是叫你的名為『巴施戶珥』，乃是叫你『瑪歌珥米撒畢』。 4 因耶和華如此說：我必使你自覺驚嚇，你也必使眾朋友驚嚇。他們必倒在仇敵的刀下，你也必親眼看見。我必將猶大人全交在巴比倫王的手中，他要將他們擄到巴比倫去，也要用刀將他們殺戮。 5 並且我要將這城中的一切貨財和勞碌得來的，並一切珍寶，以及猶大君王所有的寶物，都交在他們仇敵的手中，仇敵要當做掠物帶到巴比倫去。 6 你這巴施戶珥和一切住在你家中的人，都必被擄去。你和你的眾朋友，就是你向他們說假預言的，都必到巴比倫去，要死在那裡，葬在那裡。」
巴施戶珥是負責維持聖殿秩序的官員，同時也是一位祭司。他顯然沒有跟著耶利米去欣嫩子谷，但是有人把耶利米在欣嫩子谷所講的信息告訴他，令他勃然大怒。所以當耶利米離開欣嫩子谷，回到聖殿繼續傳講神的信息時，就被他抓起來了。他看到耶利米時，先打了耶利米一頓，或是刮他耳光，不管怎樣打他，都是為了表達他的憤怒及下馬威，並且在眾人面前羞辱耶利米。然後，他把耶利米用腳鐐手銬枷住，懸掛在聖殿的便雅憫高門的門框上示眾，第二天才把耶利米放下來。
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