Entries by

The Gifts of the Cross

2026-03-02 in /by

Have you ever wondered why God gives us so much? We could exist on far less. God could have left the world flat and gray—we wouldn’t have known the difference—but he didn’t. Why give the flower a fragrance? Why give food its taste? Jesus asked, “If you hardhearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?” (Matthew 7:11).

Every gift reveals God’s love, but no gift reveals his love more than the gifts of the cross. They came, not wrapped in paper, but in passion. Not covered with ribbons, but sprinkled with blood. The gifts of the cross! Have you taken time to open these gifts? If you do, perhaps you will hear him whisper, “I did it just for you.”

迦南受咒诅

2026-03-02 in , /by

创世记 9:20-29

20 挪亚做起农夫来，栽了一个葡萄园。 21 他喝了园中的酒便醉了，在帐篷里赤著身子。 22 迦南的父亲含看见他父亲赤身，就到外边告诉他两个弟兄。 23 于是闪和雅弗拿件衣服搭在肩上，倒退著进去，给他父亲盖上，他们背着脸就看不见父亲的赤身。

有人说挪亚在五百岁生儿育女之后，就开始做起方舟的总工程师；六百岁时变成方舟游轮的船长；约601岁时，挪亚全家离开方舟，他转行作农夫，而且做得很好，不仅栽了一个葡萄园，而且还能用葡萄酿酒。可能太兴奋了，他一下喝太多，醉了。还好，他是在自己的帐篷里喝的；不幸的是，他那时没穿衣服。

本来，在自己的睡房里有没有穿衣服，实在跟别人没关系。国外也有很多人睡觉时不穿衣服。偏偏小儿子不知为何事闯进父亲的帐篷，看到了父亲的祼体，觉得很好笑，便跑出去告诉两个哥哥。哥哥们比较懂事，他们拿件衣服搭在肩上，倒退著进去，给父亲盖上，他们背着脸就看不见父亲的赤身。这里就是一个心态上尊重和不尊重的分别，尤其是对长辈。

Afraid of What’s Next?

2026-03-02 in /by

Life comes with surprises. On our list of fears, the fear of what’s next demands a prominent position.

In John 14:27, on the eve of his death, Jesus promised his followers, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Heaven’s message is clear. When everything else changes, God’s presence never does. As Jesus sends you into new seasons, you journey in the company of the Holy Spirit. So make friends with whatever’s next. Embrace it. Change is not only a part of life; change is a necessary part of God’s strategy. To use us to change the world, God makes reassignments.

立虹为记

2026-03-01 in , /by

创世记 9:1-19

神赐福给挪亚和他的儿子，对他们说：「你们要生养众多，遍满了地。 2 凡地上的走兽和空中的飞鸟，都必惊恐，惧怕你们，连地上一切的昆虫并海里一切的鱼，都交付你们的手。 3 凡活着的动物，都可以做你们的食物，这一切我都赐给你们，如同菜蔬一样。 4 唯独肉带着血，那就是牠的生命，你们不可吃。 5 流你们血，害你们命的，无论是兽是人，我必讨他的罪，就是向各人的弟兄也是如此。 6 凡流人血的，他的血也必被人所流，因为神造人是照自己的形象造的。 7 你们要生养众多，在地上昌盛繁茂。」

灭世的洪水退后，这个世界开始有变化了，以前的天气可能四季如春，没有四季，只有一季。在挪亚为耶和华筑了一座坛，拿各类洁净的牲畜、飞鸟献在坛上为燔祭后，神说：「我不再因人的缘故咒诅地，也不再按着我才行的灭各种的活物了。地还存留的时候，稼穑、寒暑、冬夏、昼夜就永不停息了。(创8:21-22)」神一宣告，稼穑、寒暑、冬夏、昼夜就永不停息了。神不再咒诅地，地才会为人生产作物。这世界上开始有了四季，神不管做什么都是那么美好，四季带给人不同的感受，不同的水果菜肴，人类的生活更丰富了。

与人比较

2026-02-27 in , /by

创世记 4:6

耶和华对该隐说：「你为什么发怒呢？你为什么变了脸色呢？ 7 你若行得好，岂不蒙悦纳？你若行得不好，罪就伏在门前。它必恋慕你，你却要制伏它。」

回顾……

伊甸园之后，第一个被记录的罪，不是说谎、偷窃，而是杀人，起因于「比较」！

该隐与亚伯一同向神献祭，神看中了亚伯和他的供物，只是看不中该隐和他的供物（创世记4:1-16）。经文没有详细交代差异的细节，没有评论「看中或看不中」（虽然我们多所揣测、分析），却清楚描写「比较」带出罪的晕染，该隐就大大地发怒，变了脸色。

神提醒亚伯说：「…你若行得好，岂不蒙悦纳？你若行得不好，罪就伏在门前。…」神没有把亚伯拿来与该隐比较，「比较」并不是神的评量方式，而是人自己在心中设立的法庭。当该隐把亚伯从「弟弟」变成「对手」，世界第一次流血。

「人的比较」往往出现在没有真理的标准、模糊的表象当中，我们不经意的陷入财富、名位、成就、容貌…，甚至教会服事、领人归主的「比较」陷阱；接着，罪就悄然进入我们的内心，衍生出不平、愤怒、贪婪、忌妒、争竞…。

Fear of Life’s Final Moment

2026-02-27 in /by

Maybe you share this deep desire: a desire to face death unafraid. To die without fright or a fight, perhaps even with a smile.

Some say that’s impossible. But Christ promises in John 14:1-3, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (TLB).

Jesus experienced a physical and factual resurrection. And—here it is— because he did, we will too! If Jesus’ tomb is empty, then his promise is not. So let’s die with faith. Jesus grants courage for the final passage, death. No need to dread it or ignore it. Because of Jesus Christ, you can face it.

洪水消落

2026-02-26 in , /by

创世记 8:1-14

 1神记念挪亚和挪亚方舟里的一切走兽牲畜。神叫风吹地，水势渐落。 2 渊源和天上的窗户都闭塞了，天上的大雨也止住了。 3 水从地上渐退，过了一百五十天，水就渐消。 4 七月十七日，方舟停在亚拉腊山上。 5 水又渐消，到十月初一日，山顶都现出来了。

6 过了四十天，挪亚开了方舟的窗户， 7 放出一只乌鸦去。那乌鸦飞来飞去，直到地上的水都干了。 8 他又放出一只鸽子去，要看看水从地上退了没有。 9 但遍地上都是水，鸽子找不着落脚之地，就回到方舟挪亚那里，挪亚伸手把鸽子接进方舟来。 10 他又等了七天，再把鸽子从方舟放出去。 11 到了晚上，鸽子回到他那里，嘴里叼著一个新拧下来的橄榄叶子，挪亚就知道地上的水退了。 12 他又等了七天，放出鸽子去，鸽子就不再回来了。

当挪亚六百岁，二月十七日那一天，大渊的泉源都裂开了，天上的窗户也敞开了， 四十昼夜降大雨在地上。水势浩大，在地上共一百五十天。水从地上渐退，过了一百五十天，水就渐消。七月十七日，方舟停在亚拉腊山上。水又渐消，到十月初一日，山顶都现出来了。

How to Survive Prosperity

2026-02-26 in /by

Are you “rich in this present age?” Almost half the world lives on less than $2.50 a day. So, if your income is higher, then you are rich, and your affluence demands double vigilance.

How can a person survive prosperity? Well first, do not be haughty. Do not think for a moment that you had anything to do with your accumulation. Money is an untrustworthy foundation. The United States economy endured ten recessions between 1948 and 2001.

Don’t trust money. Trust God. He owns everything and gives us all things to enjoy. Move from the fear of scarcity to the comfort of provision. “Do good … be rich in good works, ready to give, and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:18 NKJV).

Trust God, the Provider

2026-02-25 in /by

In Luke 12:19-20, the rich man said to himself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you” (NCV).

The rich fool went to the wrong person— himself. And he asked the wrong question— What shall I do? His error was that his plans did not include God. Jesus did not criticize the man’s affluence. He criticized his arrogance.

Accumulation of wealth is a popular defense against fear. We think the more we have, the safer we are. God does not want his children to trust money. God is the great provider. The great giver. Absolutely generous and utterly dependable. Trust him, not stuff!

挪亚进方舟

2026-02-25 in , /by

创世记 7:1-24

耶和华对挪亚说：「你和你的全家都要进入方舟，因为在这世代中，我见你在我面前是义人。 2 凡洁净的畜类，你要带七公七母，不洁净的畜类，你要带一公一母， 3 空中的飞鸟也要带七公七母，可以留种，活在全地上。 4 因为再过七天，我要降雨在地上四十昼夜，把我所造的各种活物都从地上除灭。」 5 挪亚就遵著耶和华所吩咐的行了。

当我们读这段圣经时，很多人都很好奇，挪亚用什么方法可以找到那么多一对一对不洁净的畜类，甚至是七对七对洁净的畜类，连空中的飞鸟也要带七公七母，一对对的昆虫，何等不易! 但是当我们再仔细读时，就会发现当洪水泛滥在地上的时候，那些活物是自行到挪亚那里进入方舟。是神把牠们带到挪亚那里，是神引导牠们进入方舟。这些畜类是出于神的拣选，不是挪亚去抓来的。因为祂是创造万物的神。