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Religion vs Relationship

2023-06-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:19-30.  Let’s go!

A big theme in the book of Philippians is humbly putting others before yourself for Christ’s sake.

In chapter 1 Paul talks about how he personally wished he could depart and go to heaven, but for the benefit of his church he is committed to staying.  Paul was putting the interests of his church ahead of his own.

In chapter 2:1-18 Paul talks about how Jesus put our interests ahead of his own.  Although he was in very nature God, he took on the nature of a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Now in these verses Paul cites two more men who exemplified this same attitude of humbly putting others before themselves.  They are Timothy and Epaphroditus.

Thank God For Christ-Like Messengers

2023-06-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:19-30.  Let’s go!

A big theme in the book of Philippians is humbly putting others before yourself for Christ’s sake.

In chapter 1 Paul talks about how he personally wished he could depart and go to heaven, but for the benefit of his church he is committed to staying.  Paul was putting the interests of his church ahead of his own.

In chapter 2:1-18 Paul talks about how Jesus put our interests ahead of his own.  Although he was in very nature God, he took on the nature of a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Now in these verses Paul cites two more men who exemplified this same attitude of humbly putting others before themselves.  They are Timothy and Epaphroditus.

窑匠弄泥

2023-06-15 in , /by

耶利米书 18:11b  你们各人当回头离开所行的恶道，改正你们的行动作为。。

阅读经文:  18:1-23

1耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「你起来，下到窑匠的家里去，我在那里要使你听我的话。」 3 我就下到窑匠的家里去，正遇他转轮做器皿。 4 窑匠用泥做的器皿在他手中做坏了，他又用这泥另做别的器皿。窑匠看怎样好，就怎样做。5 耶和华的话就临到我说： 6 「耶和华说：以色列家啊，我待你们，岂不能照这窑匠弄泥吗？以色列家啊，泥在窑匠的手中怎样，你们在我的手中也怎样。 7 我何时论到一邦或一国说要拔出、拆毁、毁坏， 8 我所说的那一邦，若是转意离开他们的恶，我就必后悔，不将我想要施行的灾祸降于他们。

在《耶利米书》第十八章第1节起，记载一段神要耶利米去窰匠家观察的经历。先知以自传的方式描述他往访窰匠的家之经过，神也透过窰匠制作器皿的方式，让他明白重要的神学信息，并将此信息向当时的选民传达出来。

耶利米到窰匠的家中，刚好遇到他正在制作器皿，也正好看见窰匠做坏器皿的情况，既然作不成，窰匠只能重新再造。这里窰匠所作的器皿，是指圆形深底作为容器用的陶土器皿，窰匠之所以会把瓦器作坏，是因为泥质不好，而不是窰匠的手艺不好。

由于他有精巧的技术，他可用同样的泥另作别的器皿，「」（他又回来，他又造它）在第4节的经文中有两个字，「回来」与「制作」，即有重新再造之意，表示他非达到目的不可，因为他看怎样好就怎样作，必须合乎他的心意。他决不因土质问题阻挠他原先的计画。

安息日不担担子

2023-06-14 in , /by

耶利米书  17:21  耶和华如此说：你们要谨慎，不要在安息日担什么担子进入耶路撒冷的各门。

阅读经文:  17:1-27

1「犹大的罪是用铁笔、用金钢钻记录的，铭刻在他们的心版上和坛角上。 2 他们的儿女记念他们高冈上、青翠树旁的坛和木偶。 3 我田野的山哪，我必因你在四境之内所犯的罪，把你的货物、财宝并丘坛当掠物交给仇敌。 4 并且你因自己的罪必失去我所赐给你的产业，我也必使你在你所不认识的地上服侍你的仇敌，因为你使我怒中起火，直烧到永远。」

有个新闻说，在台湾有一个佛教分支，名为佛教如来宗，其教主妙婵因为让信徒购置了两部劳斯莱斯供他使用，引起各地的回响，并有许多人透露被洗脑的经过。最有趣的是一位女士，她曾经在心情低落时被朋友邀请去参加他们的聚会，因为朋友说妙婵可以帮助她。她是新人，被安排坐在第一排。进去之后的过程，就是要让她慢慢相信妙禅，可以协助自己度过低潮、事业发达、人生一路顺遂，甚至生病也会痊愈。然后她回家后因为太累在客厅就睡着了，结果梦到已经去世的母亲，在梦里告诫她：“那是假的啦！”

在圣经里经常告诉我们，要倚靠神，不要倚靠人。倚靠神的人要像一棵树栽于溪水旁，炎热来到并不惧怕，叶子仍必青翠；在干旱之年毫无挂虑，而且结果不止。反之，倚靠人血肉的膀臂，必像沙漠的杜松，不见福乐来到，却要住旷野干旱之处，无人居住的碱地。有很多人因为看见某些人有一些“神力” 就去膜拜，把他当作神来拜。

Press on in Shining the Light

2023-06-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:1-11.  Let’s go!

Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

On verses 1-11:  It is one of the most beautiful and important passages in all of the New Testament, so much so that I encourage you to memorize this passage.

When you memorize this passage, the Holy Spirit will use it to remind you of some essential truths, including the following:

1. As Christians we are to be like Christ in our attitude and to put others’ interests (especially the interests of your brothers and sisters in Christ) ahead of our own (v3-5).

2. Jesus Christ is in very nature God (v6). He is fully God.

3. Jesus Christ also became a human being (v7).  He is both fully God and fully man.

平安的应许

2023-06-13 in , /by

耶利米书 34:4  犹大王西底家啊，你还要听耶和华的话。耶和华论到你如此说：你必不被刀剑杀死。

阅读经文:  334:1-7

1 巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领他的全军和地上属他的各国各邦，攻打耶路撒冷和属耶路撒冷所有的城邑，那时耶和华的话临到耶利米说： 2 「耶和华以色列的神说：你去告诉犹大王西底家：『耶和华如此说：我要将这城交付巴比伦王的手，他必用火焚烧。 3 你必不能逃脱他的手，定被拿住交在他的手中。

对神有信心，是一件很容易的事吗？有次在敬拜时，牧师引用亚伯兰和罗得选地分迁的故事，他问大家，觉得自己比较像亚伯兰或罗得？这个问题颇有重量，因为我觉得自己太像罗得了。谁不要水草肥沃的草地去放牧？谁不希望往容易找工作的地区迁移？谁不喜欢生气盎然的大都会？谁喜欢水草贫瘠的土地？当我们在选择时，谁会用神的眼光去衡量？谁能像亚伯兰那样大器，对神有全然的信心？

因此当神借着耶利米对西底家发话时，西底家会选择相信神吗？巴比伦王攻下了犹大所有的城邑，西底家自知即将成为亡国之君，犹如一只困兽在做最后的挣扎。他希望神出奇不意杀光敌军，他希望神像古时一样，派下天军火马为他争战，但是当神的作法和他的想法回异时，他能有信心相信神而顺服吗？

分别为圣的人生

2023-06-13 in , /by

耶利米书16:19a   耶和华啊，祢是我的力量，是我的保障，在苦难之日是我的避难所。

阅读经文:  16:1-21

1耶和华的话又临到我说： 2 「你在这地方不可娶妻，生儿养女。 3 因为论到在这地方所生的儿女，又论到在这国中生养他们的父母，耶和华如此说： 4 他们必死得甚苦，无人哀哭，必不得葬埋，必在地上像粪土，必被刀剑和饥荒灭绝。他们的尸首必给空中的飞鸟和地上的野兽做食物。

张文亮教授曾分享了一个不大愉快的经验。有一年，政府委托他担任地方工程执行的稽查。第一次去开会时，他和几个查验工程的委员一起搭车前往，没想到汽车开到海边，深入一条马路尽头一间酒家。主办人热情地招呼大家进去，张教授却独自一人到海边祷告，因为他知道那是个网罗。那些人醉醺醺地从酒家出来，预算也被吃掉、喝掉、玩掉、浪费掉了。虽然在这期间他很孤单，也被认为不合群，但是他知道主耶稣与他同在。他也学会了许多正确使用预算的方法。

被主使用，似乎注定了是一条孤单的道路。神叫耶利米不可娶妻，生儿养女。因为在那地所生的儿女必死得甚苦。神不许耶利米去丧家哀哭。因为神已夺去他们的平安、慈爱和怜悯，所以人的安慰是徒然的。神也不许耶利米进入宴乐之家，与人同坐吃喝。这样耶利米就和整个社会隔绝了。

One of the Most Beautiful Passages in All the Bible

2023-06-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Philippians 2:1-11.  Let’s go!

Philippians 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,
2  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
3  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

On verses 1-11:  It is one of the most beautiful and important passages in all of the New Testament, so much so that I encourage you to memorize this passage.

When you memorize this passage, the Holy Spirit will use it to remind you of some essential truths, including the following:

1. As Christians we are to be like Christ in our attitude and to put others’ interests (especially the interests of your brothers and sisters in Christ) ahead of our own (v3-5).

2. Jesus Christ is in very nature God (v6). He is fully God.

3. Jesus Christ also became a human being (v7).  He is both fully God and fully man.