Entries by

That Will Be Your Righteousness

2022-06-12 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 6:14-25.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 6:14-25 (NIV)
14  Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;
15  for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.
16  Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.
17  Be sure to keep the commands of the LORD your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you.
18  Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers,

On verses 14-25:  Whether it’s not following other gods (v14-15), not testing God (v16), keeping all of God’s stipulations and decrees (v17), always doing what is right in God’s sight (v18), or teaching the next generation about God (v20), it is clear here that God’s standards are absolutely perfect.  That’s why God demanded perfect obedience from the Israelites.  Moses sums it up in verse 25 when he says that “if we are careful to obey all of God’s laws, that will be “our righteousness”.  By “righteousness”, Moses means that God will see them as blameless and qualified to be in His presence.

脾气不好的原因

2022-06-12 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:30  心中安静是肉体的生命，嫉妒是骨中的朽烂。

阅读经文：箴言14:30-35

30心中安静是肉体的生命，嫉妒是骨中的朽烂。31欺压贫寒的是辱没造他的主，怜悯穷乏的乃是尊敬主。32恶人在所行的恶上必被推倒，义人临死有所投靠。33智慧存在聪明人心中，愚昧人心里所存的显而易见。34公义使邦国高举，罪恶是人民的羞辱。35智慧的臣子蒙王恩惠，贻羞的仆人遭其震怒。

脾气不好的原因

请不要一直这样想，你缺那么一点点，所以不喜乐。你缺某门课，所以装备不足。你会成了日夜鞭策自己，失去生命的喜乐与平安。

如同那个大儿子，对父亲说：「我服事你这多年，从来没有违背过你的命，你并没有给我一只山羊羔，叫我和朋友，一同快乐。」(路加福音15:29) 可怜的 人，他总是缺乏一只山羊羔。他很用功、很认真、很尽力，像是斯巴达的勇士，为了任务，每天苦待自己，锻炼再锻炼，到可以以一挡百。但是耶稣没有要我们那 样，祂说：「我们理当欢喜快乐。」(路加福音15:32)

「心中安静，是肉体的生命；嫉妒是骨中的朽烂。」(箴言14:30) 安静的人有满足的心，服事有力。妒嫉的人是不满足，不满足使他成为自虐的人，不断自己与别人比较，结果乏力，如同骨质朽烂。

我在美国的老友，在我返台前请我吃顿丰富的早餐，他对我说：「高中毕业后，四十多年来，我看你的优点是一直很认真，缺点是一直太认真。」啊，说的好。过去，我是斯巴达勇士；如今，我求主是装备。愿我们与主同乐，一起去吃肥牛犊。

雷纳德的父亲

2022-06-10 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:26  敬畏耶和华的大有倚靠，他的儿女也有避难所。

阅读经文：箴言14:25-29

25作真见证的救人性命，吐出谎言的施行诡诈。26敬畏耶和华的大有倚靠，他的儿女也有避难所。27敬畏耶和华就是生命的泉源，可以使人离开死亡的网罗。28帝王荣耀在乎民多，君王衰败在乎民少。29不轻易发怒的大有聪明，性情暴躁的大显愚妄。

在美国司法科学教科书的范本里记载了一个真实的事例。在1985年，由于某些查案手续的不完整，以致于才22岁的雷纳德‧卡腾（Ronald Cotton）被控诉性侵犯案成立。虽然他一再强调自己的无辜，并且真正的作案者也承认了罪行，却无助于翻案，反而被判更重的刑期。时间在无助和愤怒中缓缓地过去，有天雷纳德的母亲中风了，再也不能去探监，狱中的雷纳德想到自己被诬陷，以致连最亲爱的母亲需要他时，都不能前去照顾。他的愤怒和怨恨不停地上升。

他偷了一块铁器，悄俏把它磨成一把尖锐的利刃，打算为自己报仇，去杀掉那个真正犯案，却害他坐冤狱的家伙。他把自己的计划告来探监的父亲。他的父亲年轻时脾气很坏，十分风流，到处留种，雷纳德在监狱里还碰上了几个同父异母的兄弟。但是此时他父亲已经信主悔改，戒了酒，并且十分敬虔，甚至在教会做执事。

他父亲对他说：“雷纳德，你告诉我，你是无辜的。我相信你。然而，要是你杀了这个人，你就永远回不了家，一辈子属于这个地方。”探监时间结束，雷纳德思考着父亲的话，他想到自己若是谋杀普尔，那与其他犯罪的狱友差别又在哪里呢？隔天，他就把那把刀丢了。他开始参加监狱里的诗班和读圣经。他父亲和姊姊鼓励他，要祷告相信主。父亲告诉他：“儿子啊，当没人帮助你时，主会是你的帮助。当没人聆听你时，祂侧耳倾听你。”

Get It On Your Heart

2022-06-10 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 6:1-13.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 6:1-3 (NIV)
1  These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
2  so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
3  Hear, O Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.
 
On verses 1-3:  Why did God direct Moses to teach this current generation of Israelites his commands?  It’s so that they and the generations after them would fear (i.e. reverence, trust, and honour) the Lord (v2) and so that they would enjoy long (i.e. a full) life.  In other words, God’s purpose for teaching His Word is not for entertainment or expanding one’s knowledge.  Rather, God’s purpose for teaching us His Word is to effect life change, that we would know God better and love Him more.

Stay Here With Me

2022-06-09 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 5:23-33.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 5:23-27 (NIV)
23  When you heard the voice out of the darkness, while the mountain was ablaze with fire, all the leading men of your tribes and your elders came to me.
24  And you said, “The LORD our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a man can live even if God speaks with him.
25  But now, why should we die? This great fire will consume us, and we will die if we hear the voice of the LORD our God any longer.
26  For what mortal man has ever heard the voice of the living God speaking out of fire, as we have, and survived?
27  Go near and listen to all that the LORD our God says. Then tell us whatever the LORD our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”
 
On verses 23-27:  Moses reminds the current generation of Israelites that when their parents first heard God’s voice speaking to them all, their parents were afraid of God, believing they would die if they heard the voice of God any longer.  So that previous generation of Israelites asked Moses to go and listen to God on their behalf, so that they would not have to hear God’s voice directly. 
 

自己的冠冕

2022-06-09 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:24  智慧人的财为自己的冠冕，愚妄人的愚昧终是愚昧。

阅读经文：箴言14:17-24

17轻易发怒的行事愚妄，设立诡计的被人恨恶。18愚蒙人得愚昧为产业，通达人得知识为冠冕。19坏人俯伏在善人面前，恶人俯伏在义人门口。20贫穷人连邻舍也恨他，富足人朋友最多。21藐视邻舍的，这人有罪；怜悯贫穷的，这人有福。22谋恶的，岂非走入迷途吗？谋善的，必得慈爱和诚实。23诸般勤劳都有益处，嘴上多言乃致穷乏。24智慧人的财为自己的冠冕，愚妄人的愚昧终是愚昧。

你有没有发现，作者在表达他的教导时，一定有正反两面，好让读者可以思考。例如：轻易发怒有何后果呢？轻易发怒就是动不动就生气，换句话说，这是很不成熟的个性，这样的人做起事来像小孩子，谁喜欢与他合作呢？发怒时做的决定，往往会令人后悔不已。因为发怒时所做的事都但凭情绪主宰，无法有周详的考虑，这就是所谓的愚妄。设立诡计的人会有怎样的后果呢？世界上没有不透风的墙，他的诡计和恶心一定会被众人知道，那时何等羞耻，这就是害人损己的作法。

第18节：“愚蒙人得愚昧为产业，通达人得知识为冠冕”，中文的翻译很抽象；但是毕德生牧师的翻译很精采：Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion; wise realists plant their feet on the ground.一个愚昧人活在自己用幻想建立起来的世界，所以什么也得不到；有智慧的人脚踏实地。这节和23节有异曲同工之妙：“诸般勤劳都有益处，嘴上多言乃致穷乏。”脚踏实地的人才有可能尽诸般的勤劳，只会空口说白话，做白日梦的人，必然一事无成，什么也得不到。

有一条路人以为正

2022-06-08 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:12    有一条路人以为正，至终成为死亡之路。

阅读经文：箴言14:5-11

12有一条路人以为正，至终成为死亡之路。13人在喜笑中心也忧愁，快乐至极就生愁苦。14心中背道的必满得自己的结果，善人必从自己的行为得以知足。15愚蒙人是话都信，通达人步步谨慎。16智慧人惧怕，就远离恶事，愚妄人却狂傲自恃。

在人类的历史上，有一些人成为世人的拯救者，其中一位是苏联海军军官瓦西里·亚历山德罗维奇·阿尔希波夫，在1962年古巴导弹危机期间，因为他所在的潜艇携带核武器要送去古巴，被美国发现而拦止。他的艇长以为被美国攻击，意欲发射核鱼雷。幸亏阿尔希波夫极力反对，终于说服其他军官让潜艇浮出水面，避免了一场核战。

还有一位是斯坦尼斯拉夫·耶夫格拉弗维奇·彼得罗夫。在1983年，他成功地阻止美苏核战的爆发。因为在那年的某一天，苏联指挥中心的核预警系统突然发出警报：美国向苏联发射了一枚核弹。大多数人接到这样的警报会有怎样的反应呢？若不是躲起来，就是立刻反击吧，来个鱼死网破，两败俱伤。但是彼得罗夫认为预警系统很有可能属于误报，冷静地向上司陈述，终于避免了一场核战争。

倘若有任何一次的核战争爆发，你和我今天就不能活得如此自在了。在争执之中，双方都会认为自己的看法是正确的，即使知道是通往死亡之路，也以为非如此不可。这便是人被恐惧和愤怒所控制而产生的执著。另外一种情形，是人以为对自己有好处的，明知最后也通往死亡，却还是要走。这就是人的盲点，不选生选死，不肯接受自己会犯错的迷思。

2 Reasons God Gives Us the 10 Commandments

2022-06-08 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 5:1-22.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 5:1-3 (NIV)
1  Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them.
2  The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb.
3  It was not with our fathers that the LORD made this covenant, but with us, with all of us who are alive here today.
 
On verses 1-3:  Moses reminds this current generation of Israelites that God’s commandments were not just for their ancestors or for an older generation that is long gone.  Rather, they are relevant for them as well (v3).  Likewise, God’s Word is not a relic of the past, or something that belongs in a museum.  Rather, God’s Word is relevant for us, for “all of us who are alive here today”. 

兴盛的帐篷

2022-06-07 in , /by

〈箴言〉14:11    奸恶人的房屋必倾倒，正直人的帐篷必兴盛。

阅读经文：箴言14:5-11

5诚实见证人不说谎话，假见证人吐出谎言。6亵慢人寻智慧却寻不著，聪明人易得知识。7到愚昧人面前，不见他嘴中有知识。8通达人的智慧在乎明白己道，愚昧人的愚妄乃是诡诈。9愚妄人犯罪以为戏耍，正直人互相喜悦。10心中的苦楚自己知道，心里的喜乐外人无干。11 奸恶人的房屋必倾倒，正直人的帐篷必兴盛。

人的一生都在寻求智慧，因为希望自己能成功，成为人上人；不然可以解决生活上碰到的难题也可以。犹太人亦然，但是他们有一个很特出的教育方法，使他们的孩子在世界上可以走出自己的路。

有个故事讲到犹太人如何注重从孩子年幼时就进行传统的文化教育。但是有一位以色列的学者却无法使他的孩子对学习产生兴趣，老师对他的孩子也放弃努力，他只好在家里教他读〈创世记〉。

有一次战争中，罗马军攻打他们居住的城巿，把小男孩俘虏了，关到监狱里。有一天，正好凯撒来视察，无意中看到一本他不知道名字的书。他问有没有人会读这本书？监狱官就把小男孩带去见凯撒，让小男孩把这本书读给凯撒听。那本书正是小男孩学过的〈创世记〉。

凯撒听后说：“这显然是上帝的旨意，上帝向我打开祂的世界，让我把这小孩子送回他父亲身边。”于是叫人准备了一些金银珠宝，又派士兵把小男孩送回去。此后人们都说：“这孩子的父亲只教他读了一卷书，上帝就赐福给他了。想想看，如果勤于学习神的话语，把整本《圣经》读完。那么他得到的奖赏会有多大啊！”

The Reason God Blesses You

2022-06-07 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 4:32-49.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 4:32-40 (NIV)
32  Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?
33  Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?
34  Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35  You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other.

On verses 32-40:  When you think about the biggest blessings you have received in life, were they things you worked hard for and planned for yourself?  Or rather were they things that God did and planned long before you ever asked for them or thought about them?  I don’t know about you, but for me, the greatest blessings I’ve ever known were things that I didn’t plan for myself or work hard to achieve.  Rather, they were gifts of God’s grace.