耶利米书22:24 耶和华说：犹大王约雅敬的儿子哥尼雅，虽是我右手上带印的戒指，我凭我的永生起誓，也必将你从其上摘下来。
阅读经文: 22:24-30
24 『耶和华说：犹大王约雅敬的儿子哥尼雅，虽是我右手上带印的戒指，我凭我的永生起誓，也必将你从其上摘下来。 25 并且我必将你交给寻索你命的人和你所惧怕的人手中，就是巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒和迦勒底人的手中。 26 我也必将你和生你的母亲赶到别国，并不是你们生的地方，你们必死在那里。 27 但心中甚想归回之地，必不得归回。
约西亚的儿子约雅敬，约雅敬的儿子耶哥尼雅，简称哥尼雅，又名约雅斤。耶哥尼雅Jeconiah的意思是：耶和华坚立。在每个名字里，我们都看到起名字的人都希望子孙得到耶和华的眷顾和厚爱，但是要怎样才能得到耶和华神的恩宠？在你的名字里，你可曾看到为你起名字的人对你的厚望，你让他高兴了，或失望了？
神说耶哥尼雅是祂右手上带印的戒指，表明他在神所命定的计划里，原是有权柄，原是高贵的。可惜因为犹大列王和他自己的罪行，神要把这戒指摘下来，也就是说，把他从王位上赶下来。
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.
耶利米书22:13 那行不义盖房，行不公造楼，白白使用人的手工不给工价的，有祸了！
阅读经文: 22:13-23
13 『那行不义盖房，行不公造楼，白白使用人的手工不给工价的，有祸了！ 14 他说：「我要为自己盖广大的房、宽敞的楼，为自己开窗户，这楼房的护墙板是香柏木的，楼房是丹色油漆的。」 15 难道你做王是在乎造香柏木楼房争胜吗？你的父亲岂不是也吃也喝，也施行公平和公义吗？那时他得了福乐。
约雅敬是约西亚王的第二个儿子，原名以利亚敬，意思是God rises耶和华兴起。当约西亚为这个儿子起名时，他期望神兴起这个儿子，在哪方面建立这个儿子呢？假如你有个儿子，你希望神怎样建立他呢？使他茁壮？做大官？发大财？或是像宋朝苏轼的〈洗儿戏作〉中说的：“人皆养子望聪明，我被聪明误一生，惟愿孩儿愚且鲁，无灾无难到公卿”。约西亚王希望神建立、兴起他的儿子，会不会是希望他将来可以荣耀神呢？
耶利米书22:2 坐大卫宝座的犹大王啊，你和你的臣仆并进入城门的百姓，都当听耶和华的话。
阅读经文: 22:1-12
1耶和华如此说：「你下到犹大王的宫中，在那里说这话， 2 说：『坐大卫宝座的犹大王啊，你和你的臣仆并进入城门的百姓，都当听耶和华的话。 3 耶和华如此说：你们要施行公平和公义，拯救被抢夺的脱离欺压人的手，不可亏负寄居的和孤儿寡妇，不可以强暴待他们，在这地方也不可流无辜人的血。
在这章里，我们看到神很早就差派耶利米和其他先知出来警告犹大王室和百姓，有关巴比伦王要来灭犹大的信息。这信息不是一次两次地讲，而是三番四次地说，不仅用口传，用比喻，还要先知亲身示范。从约西亚王开始，他是个好王，敬虔的王，神希望百姓能明白约西亚之教导的重要性。可惜的是，约西亚的儿孙们竟都置若罔闻。
这是人之常情。有很多人说不知道神的旨意，有多人说想知道神的旨意，可惜他们都只是说说而已，应景，表示他们有心寻求。可是事实上他们根本不想知道，因为他们对神的话语没有一点兴趣。因为他们早知道神的话是反对他们的。他们只想利用神的一两句话来支持自己的论点，而不是要遵从神的旨意。
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.
耶利米书 21:8b 耶和华如此说：看哪，我将生命的路和死亡的路摆在你们面前。
阅读经文: 21:1-14
1耶和华的话临到耶利米。那时西底家王打发玛基雅的儿子巴施户珥和玛西雅的儿子祭司西番雅，去见耶利米，说： 2 「请你为我们求问耶和华，因为巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来攻击我们，或者耶和华照他一切奇妙的作为待我们，使巴比伦王离开我们上去。」
耶利米书的记录显然不是按照当时的时间和秩序，因为西底家是犹大最后一个王。再继续的几章，还会提到西底家之前的几个王。约西亚之后，他的儿子约哈斯王（约雅敬的弟弟）；三个月后约哈斯被埃及法老废掉，由约雅敬做王，他可能死在巴比伦王进攻的时期里，因此由他的儿子约雅斤做王，出去向巴比伦投降，被尼布甲尼撒带回巴比伦，这是犹大家第二次的被掳，以西结先知也在这次被掳到巴比伦。约雅斤王投降后，尼布甲尼撒王立约雅斤王的叔父西底家(约西亚王的弟弟)为犹大王。
本章所记载的是尼布甲尼撒第三次来攻击犹大之时。神给西底家有11年做王的时间，11年让他悔改的机会。但是他仍然行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，渺视神的预言和警告。现在大军当前，他慌张了，急急地找耶利米寻求解决之道。他希望神用奇妙的作为拯救犹大，却不想谦卑在神面前。只想解决问题，不要解决问题的神。
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.”
耶利米书 20:13 你们要向耶和华唱歌，赞美耶和华！因祂救了穷人的性命脱离恶人的手。
阅读经文: 20:1-18
1祭司音麦的儿子巴施户珥做耶和华殿的总管，听见耶利米预言这些事， 2 他就打先知耶利米，用耶和华殿里便雅悯高门内的枷将他枷在那里。3 次日，巴施户珥将耶利米开枷释放。于是耶利米对他说：「耶和华不是叫你的名为『巴施户珥』，乃是叫你『玛歌珥米撒毕』。 4 因耶和华如此说：我必使你自觉惊吓，你也必使众朋友惊吓。他们必倒在仇敌的刀下，你也必亲眼看见。我必将犹大人全交在巴比伦王的手中，他要将他们掳到巴比伦去，也要用刀将他们杀戮。 5 并且我要将这城中的一切货财和劳碌得来的，并一切珍宝，以及犹大君王所有的宝物，都交在他们仇敌的手中，仇敌要当做掠物带到巴比伦去。 6 你这巴施户珥和一切住在你家中的人，都必被掳去。你和你的众朋友，就是你向他们说假预言的，都必到巴比伦去，要死在那里，葬在那里。」
巴施户珥是负责维持圣殿秩序的官员，同时也是一位祭司。他显然没有跟着耶利米去欣嫩子谷，但是有人把耶利米在欣嫩子谷所讲的信息告诉他，令他勃然大怒。所以当耶利米离开欣嫩子谷，回到圣殿继续传讲神的信息时，就被他抓起来了。他看到耶利米时，先打了耶利米一顿，或是刮他耳光，不管怎样打他，都是为了表达他的愤怒及下马威，并且在众人面前羞辱耶利米。然后，他把耶利米用脚镣手铐枷住，悬挂在圣殿的便雅悯高门的门框上示众，第二天才把耶利米放下来。
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