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It’s Time to Lawyer Up!

2022-05-15 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 24:1-16.  Let’s go!

Acts 24:1-9  

1  Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 
2  When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 
3  Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 
4  But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly. 
5  “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 
6  and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. 
7   
8  By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.” 
9  The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true. 

 Acts 24:1-9:  “It’s Time to Lawyer Up!”

The trial of the apostle Paul in Governor Felix’s court is about to get under way.  The high priest and the Jewish elders decide to lawyer up and retain the attorney Tertullus to bring their case against Paul.  But Paul had an even better lawyer on his side to defend him against these false charges: the Lord Jesus.  His judge and his accusers couldn’t see him, but Jesus was there.

善待自己

2022-05-13 in , /by

〈箴言〉11: 14   无智谋，民就败落；谋士多，人便安居。

阅读经文：箴言11:14-17

14无智谋，民就败落；谋士多，人便安居。15为外人作保的必受亏损，恨恶击掌的却得安稳。16恩德的妇女得尊荣，强暴的男子得资财。17仁慈的人善待自己，残忍的人扰害己身。

14节：无智谋，民就败落；谋士多，人便安居。

《现代中文译本》译为：缺少领导，国必衰败；谋士众多，国便安全。
《TheMessage》译为：Withoutgooddirection,peoplelosetheirway;themorewisecounselyoufollow,thebetteryourchances.

民主国家都有选举领导人的制度，让我们看到一个国家要有怎样的领导何等重要。因为一个国家的领袖若没有好的道德，人民的质素也会相应低落。在〈列王纪〉里，一个敬畏神的王就会带领百姓去除偶像，回到神的面前；神就会祝福他们；反之，不敬畏神的王以身作则去拜偶像时，往往民不聊生，经济萧条，外侮内患，国力大伤。虽然世上没有完全人，但是敬畏神却能把人的软弱转为在神里的刚强。

谋士众多，表示会听取多人的意见；集思可以广益，知道自己有限，愿意听取他人的意见和看法，便是谦逊。但是要听取智慧人的意见，不是随便什么人的意见都听，免得被小人所害。

You Are God’s Love Letter

2022-05-13 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 23:23-35.  Let’s go!

Acts 23:23-35 (NIV)
23  Then he called two of his centurions and ordered them, “Get ready a detachment of two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go to Caesarea at nine tonight.
24  Provide mounts for Paul so that he may be taken safely to Governor Felix.”
25  He wrote a letter as follows:
26  Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings…….

On verses 23-35:  Claudius Lysius is the name of the Roman commander was has been in custody of Paul.  With a huge detachment of soldiers, horsemen and spearmen to protect Paul and a formal letter explaining the situation, the Roman commander Lysius sends Paul to Felix, the governor of Judea, located in Caesarea, so that Paul can be tried in court there.  Governor Felix reads Lysius’ letter and decides that since Paul is from Cilicia, which was within Felix’s jurisdiction, Felix would hear Paul’s case.

做诚实人

2022-05-12 in , /by

〈箴言〉11: 11 城因正直人祝福便高举，却因邪恶人的口就倾覆。

阅读经文：箴言11:10-13

10 义人享福，合城喜乐；恶人灭亡，人都欢呼。 11 城因正直人祝福便高举，却因邪恶人的口就倾覆。 12 藐视邻舍的毫无智慧，明哲人却静默不言。 13 往来传舌的泄漏密事，心中诚实的遮隐事情。

10节：义人享福，合城喜乐；恶人灭亡，人都欢呼。

《现代中文译本》译为：诚实人发达，合城喜乐； 邪恶人丧亡，大众欢呼。
《思高译本》译为：几时义人幸运，全城欢腾；几时恶人灭亡，欢声四起。

11节：城因正直人祝福便高举，却因邪恶人的口就倾覆。

《现代中文译本》译为：城邑因义人居住而兴隆；市镇因邪恶人的言语而倾覆。
《思高译本》译为：义人的祝福，使城市兴隆；恶人的口舌，使城市倾覆。
这两节经文让我们看到，一个城巿的兴旺和衰微和其中的居民有极大的关系，而大部份的人都依赖他人的作为，成为沉默的大多数。在2016年八月12日的《举目》官网天下事专栏里，作者渔夫要大家注意，因为从该年的秋季开始，在美国有一群人将在有基督教“好消息俱乐部”（Good News Clubs）的小学里申办“课后撒但俱乐部”，他们计划用怪异的音乐，鬼吼以及撒但的形象来宣传撒旦的活动。

Lucky You

2022-05-12 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 23:12-22.  Let’s go!

Acts 23:12-22 (NIV)
12  The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
13  More than forty men were involved in this plot.
14  They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.
15  Now then, you and the Sanhedrin petition the commander to bring him before you on the pretext of wanting more accurate information about his case. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.”……

On verses 12-22:  Growing up I loved watching James Bond movies.  Not only did James Bond show tremendous skill, heart, and suave as he went about his mission, but he was also extremely lucky.  In every James Bond movie, there would be some crucial moment when his life would be in grave danger and he would be spared not because of his skill, his heart or his suave, but simply because he happened to be in the right place at the right time or because someone else happened to lend him a hand.

The God Who Stands Near You

2022-05-11 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 23:1-11.  Let’s go!

Acts 23:1-5 (NIV)
1  Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”
2  At this the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth.
3  Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”
4  Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5  Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'” 

On verses 1-5:  Paul appears before the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin.  He tells them that with a clear conscience he can say that he has fulfilled his duty to God, suggesting that those in the Sanhedrin who are upset with him are upset for no good reason.  In response, the high priest Ananias, whom historians describe as a hot-tempered and corrupt leader, orders Paul to be struck on the mouth.  Paul reacts strongly. 

正直和诡诈

2022-05-11 in , /by

〈箴言〉11:5  完全人的义必指引他的路，但恶人必因自己的恶跌倒。

阅读经文：箴言11:5-9

5完全人的义必指引他的路，但恶人必因自己的恶跌倒。6正直人的义必拯救自己，奸诈人必陷在自己的罪孽中。7恶人一死，他的指望必灭绝，罪人的盼望也必灭没。8义人得脱离患难，有恶人来代替他。9不虔敬的人用口败坏邻舍，义人却因知识得救。

5-6节：完全人的义必指引他的路；但恶人必因自己的恶跌倒。正直人的义必拯救自己；奸诈人必陷在自己的罪孽中。

《现代中文译本》译为：诚实使正直人走平坦的路；邪恶人自取败亡。正义救援忠诚人；奸诈人陷落在自己的贪婪里。
《思高译本》译为：完人的正义，为他修平道路；恶人必因自己的邪恶而颠仆。正直的人，将因自己的正义而获救；奸诈的人，反为自己的恶计所连累。

世界上有完全人吗？除了耶稣，有谁是完全的呢？有谁是正直的？因此我们在人的中间找不到真正的义。　只有在耶稣里的义可以指引人的路，并且拯救我们脱离撒旦所设的网罗。

「罪孽」有贪婪、恶欲的意思。在贪婪和恶欲之中所思所为，又岂能不引人至灭亡？只有在耶稣的义里，人可以更新，有一个正确的价值观，不再被贪婪和恶欲所迷惑及控

诡诈和公平

2022-05-10 in , /by

〈箴言〉11:1   诡诈的天平为耶和华所憎恶，公平的法码为祂所喜悦。

阅读经文：箴言11:1-4

1诡诈的天平为耶和华所憎恶，公平的法码为他所喜悦。2骄傲来，羞耻也来，谦逊人却有智慧。3正直人的纯正必引导自己，奸诈人的乖僻必毁灭自己。4发怒的日子，资财无益，唯有公义能救人脱离死亡。

1节：诡诈的天平为耶和华所憎恶；公平的法码为祂所喜悦。

《现代中文译本》译为：上主厌恶不准的天平；他喜爱公平的法码。 

在圣经里的律法书、先知书和智慧书都一致定罪不诚实、不公义的作为，因为耶和华神是一个公义的神，所以祂要祂的子民也和祂一样行公义，有公平，不要用两标准去行事为人。

「诡诈的天平」对于商店或银行的东主来说是个诱惑。古巴比伦第六代国王汉摩拉比所制的巴比伦法典，在政府的司法权力范围之内，将不 诚实之银行家的资产充公为刑罚，试图杜绝这种非法行径。智慧劝诫则鼓励人力求行为端正。在埃及智慧文学中，有位被称为「善辩之农夫」告诉君王和大臣说，「有权给足分量的人却亏欠百姓」是个危险的状况。因为他希望王会认为消除这种有害作法是明智之举。

阿摩司先知曾形容当时以色列的奸商作法──5 你们说：「月朔几时过去，我们好卖粮；安息日几时过去，我们好摆开麦子。卖出用小升斗，收银用大戥子，用诡诈的天平欺哄人， 6 好用银子买贫寒人，用一双鞋换穷乏人，将坏了的麦子卖给人。」

他们的作法惹动神的怒气。神虽在高天，却能鉴察人的各样作为，甚至心里的意念。明白神是怎样的神，可以帮助我们行在祂的道中，讨祂的喜悦。

When Your Citizenship Can Save You

2022-05-10 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 22:17-30.  Let’s go!

Acts 22:17-21 (NIV)
17  “When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
18  and saw the Lord speaking. ‘Quick!’ he said to me. ‘Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
19  “‘Lord,’ I replied, ‘these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
20  And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
21  “Then the Lord said to me, ‘Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'”

On verses 17-21:  In Paul’s mind, it seemed to make so much sense for him, when he first became a Christian, to stay in Jerusalem, since he was well known in Jerusalem as the most zealous persecutor of Christians and now had become a Christian himself.  But God had different plans for Paul. God knew that people were bent on killing Paul in Jerusalem, so God sends Paul far away to the Gentiles.  It turns out that there was wisdom in God’s plan after all.

When Was The Last Time You Shared THIS with Others?

2022-05-09 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 22:1-16.  Let’s go!

Acts 22:1-15 (NIV)
1  “Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”
2  When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said:
3  “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
4  I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,……

On verse 15:  Paul had spent years in Jewish synagogues throughout the Roman Empire defending the Christian faith and showing from the Hebrew Scriptures how Jesus Christ is the Messiah who was destined to die for our sins, rise from death and live forever as Lord.  Yet notice that Paul doesn’t go into the Scriptures when defending himself in front of this Jewish audience, many of whom were bent on killing him.  Instead, he shares his story, his testimony of how he encountered Jesus.  It goes to show that your testimony about the way you encountered God is a powerful tool that you can use as part of defending your faith.