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柔和能免大過

2023-01-12 in , /by

傳道書10:4  掌權者的心若向你發怒，不要離開你的本位，因為柔和能免大過。

閱讀經文：傳道書10:4-7

4掌權者的心若向你發怒，不要離開你的本位，因為柔和能免大過。5我見日光之下有一件禍患，似乎出於掌權的錯誤，6就是愚昧人立在高位，富足人坐在低位。7我見過僕人騎馬，王子像僕人在地上步行。

讀了第十章的第二節之後，不知有沒有人刻意檢查一下，自己的心臟長在左邊，還是右邊？很不幸，雖然醫學史上也有一兩個人的心臟是長在右邊，但大多數人的心臟都長在左邊。可見我們都很需要從神來的智慧。若沒有從神來的智慧，我們所選擇的道路往往通向滅亡，或關係的破裂，而不是關係的重建。因為人的心都很剛硬，不柔和。今天的圖片是2020年5月30日在美國佛州拍的。因為46歲非裔美國男子佛洛伊德（George Floyd）在明尼蘇達州遭白人警察壓頸在地，期間曾多次求救，仍不幸身亡. 此事在全美掀起一陣暴力示威，全美有26個城市實施宵禁、13州部署國民兵協助執法。但佛州珊瑚牆市的抗議場面大不相同，來自不同警局的員警單膝跪地，與抗議群眾一同祈禱。他們沒有選擇以暴制暴，而是用最柔和謙卑的方法來安撫民眾。

掌權者代表的就是有權力管理我們的人。他們的決定和作法不一定有智慧，但他們的話，我們卻不能不聽。因而很多人經常處在憤怒的情緒中，覺得一個比我蠢的人，怎麼會坐在比我高的位置上。就好像巧婦常伴拙夫眠，很多妻子覺得她比丈夫靈巧聰明，但是神卻把丈夫立為妻子的頭，讓妻子很受不了。

Barabbas

2023-01-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 15:1-15.  Let’s go!

Mark 15:1-5 (NIV)
1  Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2  “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
3  The chief priests accused him of many things.
4  So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5  But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

On verses 1-5:  “As a lamb before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).  That’s Jesus for you.  In the face of so many accusations, Jesus remained silent.  Why?  It’s not because Jesus was guilty of any sin or crime.  This was Jesus submitting to God’s will, and in so doing fulfilling the prophecy about him in Isaiah 53:7.

死蒼蠅與膏油

2023-01-11 in , /by

傳道書10:1  死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣，這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。

閱讀經文：傳道書10:1–3

1死蒼蠅使做香的膏油發出臭氣，這樣，一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。2智慧人的心居右，愚昧人的心居左。3並且愚昧人行路顯出無知，對眾人說他是愚昧人。

想起「膏油」，便想起祭司用的膏油，這膏油可使物件成聖（利8:10），特別能啟動會幕，把它變為聖潔，因而有聖化的功能。然而，這節經文卻提到死蒼蠅使膏油發出臭氣，似乎指出膏油未能聖化死蒼蠅，反而讓死蒼蠅的不潔污穢了名貴的膏油。

幸好，經文清楚地說出這比喻的意思，指出死蒼蠅代表愚昧，膏油象徵智慧和尊榮，而原文直譯是：「一點的愚昧勝過智慧和尊榮」，這並非代表智慧和尊榮變了質，而是代表一點的愚昧所帶來的破壞力遠遠掩蓋了智慧和尊榮所帶來的正能量。當一個愚昧人出現在一班智慧人當中，這一點的愚昧能足以讓整個群體發臭。好名聲需要年日建立，但只需要一次的跌倒便化為烏有。

這便是〈傳道書〉所提及的虛空。

A Friend Called Failure

2023-01-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 14:66-72.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:66-72 (NIV)
66  While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.
67  When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.
68  But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.
69  When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.”
70  Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”
71  He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”
72  Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
 
On verses 66-72: Earlier that day, Peter said to Jesus in front of the other disciples, “Even if all fall away, I will not…Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mark 14:29, 31)  Yet hours later, that very night, Peter finds himself disowning Jesus three times. 

智慧和勇力

2023-01-10 in , /by

傳道書9:17 寧可在安靜之中聽智慧人的言語，不聽掌管愚昧人的喊聲。

閱讀經文：傳道書9:13-18

13我見日光之下有一樣智慧，據我看乃是廣大。14就是有一小城，其中的人數稀少，有大君王來攻擊，修築營壘，將城圍困。15城中有一個貧窮的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，卻沒有人記念那窮人。16我就說：「智慧勝過勇力。」然而那貧窮人的智慧被人藐視，他的話也無人聽從。17寧可在安靜之中聽智慧人的言語，不聽掌管愚昧人的喊聲。18智慧勝過打仗的兵器，但一個罪人能敗壞許多善事。

在台灣放連假時，若是天氣晴朗，很多民眾會攜家帶眷出遊。有次在連假結束後，高鐵各站擠滿北返的乘客。因為人潮擁擠，有些乘客幾度爆發口角，局面十分混亂。正當惡劣的情緒快要把人弄得失去理性時，有一位高鐵女列車長站出來講了一句話，瞬間讓整節車廂乘客都安靜下來。你猜猜看她說了什麼？換了你是列車長，你會說什麼？

她說：“你們放4天假，我上4天班”。這句話讓吵鬧和發怨言的人都不好意思了。自己玩了四天，難道連這一點辛苦都不能忍嗎？我想，這算是很智慧地解決了當時混亂局面的問題。因為假如大家都心煩氣燥地抱怨個不停，不僅吵架，到最後失去控制，可能會打架，甚至鬧出人命。所以一句話能讓大家都冷靜下來，實在了不起。

What You Think About Jesus

2023-01-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 14:53-65.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:53-59 (NIV)
53  They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.
54  Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
55  The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.
56  Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.
57  Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:
58  “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'”
59  Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
 
On verses 53-59:  As much as the chief priests and the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) tried, they could not find any dirt on Jesus that would justify putting him to death. 
 
You’ll never find anything to incriminate Jesus.  Through and through Jesus is blameless and holy.  We, on the other hand, are guilty of so much sin.  As Psalm 130:3-4 says, “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.”
 

快跑的未必能贏

2023-01-09 in , /by

傳道書9:11  我又轉念，見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏，力戰的未必得勝，智慧的未必得糧食，明哲的未必得資財，靈巧的未必得喜悅，所臨到眾人的，是在乎當時的機會。。

閱讀經文：傳道書9:11-12

11我又轉念，見日光之下，快跑的未必能贏，力戰的未必得勝，智慧的未必得糧食，明哲的未必得資財，靈巧的未必得喜悅，所臨到眾人的，是在乎當時的機會。12原來人也不知道自己的定期：魚被惡網圈住，鳥被網羅捉住，禍患忽然臨到的時候，世人陷在其中，也是如此。

許多人說人定勝天，但是往往努力了一輩子，才發現自己的奮鬥枉然。因為不管人怎樣努力，當我們面臨人生的盡頭時，你都會問自己：我這一生的努力是為了什麼？為什麼我盡力了，卻要撒手而歸了？“撒手而歸”這句話裡的“歸”，提醒人要回到他永遠的家，所以假如在人的努力當中沒有找到歸家的路，那麼他就是迷路了，他的一生就是白白度過了。所以所羅門王寫下了他觀察到的一些例子。

“快跑的未必能贏”，最出名的例子便是龜兔賽跑。兔子雖然佔有先天的優勢，卻因為驕傲疏懶，以致輸給了烏龜。所以贏在起跑點的，未必能先到達終點。“力戰的未必得勝”，想想看自以色列在1948年建國以來，她周圍的阿拉伯國家有多少次想把她趕進地中海，超過十個以上的國家與她為敵，不能說他們不奮力而戰，實在是傾巢而出，但是不但未能打下以色列，反而次次被以色列打回去，敗得一塌糊塗。

It Happened in the Dark

2023-01-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 14:43-52.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:43-46 (NIV)
43  Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.
44  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”
45  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him.
46  The men seized Jesus and arrested him.
 
On verses 43-46:  Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss.  It’s ironic how something so intimate could be used to signal something so evil.  That’s what Satan loves to do: take good things that God always meant to unite, give life, set free and express love, and pervert them into tools that divide, destroy, oppress and hate.
 

Gethsemane

2023-01-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Mark 14:32-42.  Let’s go!

Mark 14:32-42 (NIV)
32  They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
33  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
34  “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35  Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
36  “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

On verses 32-42: Gethsemane is a transliteration of two words in Hebrew that mean “olive press”.  It’s also the name of a garden at the foot of Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.  Scholars say that in Gethsemane there was an olive grove as well as an olive press where olives would be pressed and the oil would be collected.  On this most difficult night of Jesus’ life, Jesus is in Gethsemane.  He knows that incomparable suffering and death await him in just hours.  Thus far in Mark, it is Jesus who has been getting his followers ready for his suffering and death, assuring them that this is the way it has to be.  But now, on the eve of this suffering taking place, Jesus faces his own stress and difficult emotions.  Like an olive being pressed till the oil comes out, Jesus is in Gethsemane, feeling tremendous pressure from knowing that very soon he would be handed over to his enemies, tortured and killed.  In Gethsemane Jesus’ suffering has already begun.

享受人生

2023-01-08 in , /by

傳道書9:7 你只管去歡歡喜喜吃你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為神已經悅納你的作為。

閱讀經文：傳道書9:7-10

7你只管去歡歡喜喜吃你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒，因為神已經悅納你的作為。8你的衣服當時常潔白，你頭上也不要缺少膏油。9在你一生虛空的年日，就是神賜你在日光之下虛空的年日，當同你所愛的妻快活度日，因為那是你生前，在日光之下勞碌的事上所得的份。10凡你手所當做的事，要盡力去做，因為在你所必去的陰間，沒有工作，沒有謀算，沒有知識，也沒有智慧。

假如你知道死了的人毫無所知，他們的愛、他們的恨、他們的嫉妒早都消滅了，在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有份了。這樣的認識會不會讓你改變現有的一些心態或作法？想想看，從以前到現在的人，有幾個是你認識或記得的，你就明白，自己也會列在被遺忘的人之中。有的人以為子孫會記得自己，但是你想想看，你記得哪一個先祖？你就明白，被遺忘是遲早的事。那麼，現在還需要和人競爭嗎？爭來的不管是名譽或金錢或地位，終將成為過去。所以所羅門王給我們一點提示，想要不虛度人生，便是把握人生。

不必跟別人比較，不用羨慕或嫉妒別人擁有的，只要你把和神的關係弄好了，在神面前存著無虧的良心，那就歡歡喜喜吃你的飯，心中快樂喝你的酒。吃你的飯，不要去吃別人的飯心中快樂亮無擔憂；喝自己的酒，不用去喝別人的酒，享受神賜給你的一切福份。吃你的飯時，不要去看別人吃什麼；喝你的酒時，也不要去看別人喝什麼牌子的；因為你的胃口和別人的不一樣，吃適合你健康、你口味的食物，你才能真正地享受食物的美味和好處。