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造物之奥妙

2022-04-04 in , /by

〈约伯记〉38:19   光明的居所从何而至？黑暗的本位在于何处？。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉38章19-41节

有很多人质疑神的存在，却不曾质疑过自己的存在。若是没有神，万物的一切岂不空穴来风？有何物可以不经创造而存在呢？英国著名天文学家哈雷，因推算出一颗彗星的轨道而出名，这颗彗星因而起名叫哈雷彗星。哈雷是牛顿的朋友，他不肯相信上帝创造宇宙万物。有一天，哈雷到牛顿 家，看到牛顿所造的太阳系模型，中央是一个镀金的太阳，四围各大行星各按各的位置排列整齐，一拉曲柄，各行星立刻照自己的轨道和谐转动，非常形象和美妙。 哈雷见到这模型，玩弄了好久，惊叹叫好，问牛顿是谁设计制造的。牛顿回答说，这个模型没有人设计和制造，是由各种材料偶然凑巧碰在一起而形成的。哈雷当然不信，并说设计和制造的人是位天才。

牛顿高兴地说：「这个模型虽然精巧，但比真正的太阳系，实在算不得甚么，你尚且相信一定有人制造；难道比这个模型精巧 亿万倍的太阳系，岂不是应该有一位全能的上帝，用高度智慧创造出来的？」哈雷恍然大悟，也信了上帝。这是一个许多人都知道的故事。但是不等到神诘问约伯，我们还不知道自己是何等有限，何等没有聪明，何等缺乏智慧。所以也无法顺服神。

有人说光明和黑暗只是一种对比，因为只要有一丝光射进黑暗里，黑暗就不再是黑暗。但是神指出，有光明的居所，也有黑暗的本位。你知道在哪里吗？神问科学家：“你总知道，因为你早已生在世上，你日子的数目也多。”神问各种专家，包括老人家，活得越长久，就能知道这些答案吗？神的作为对人而言何等深奥，神若不向人彰显其奥密，有谁能明白万物的来龙去脉？因此人必须知道自己有限，有限得很，才能谦卑在神面前，寻求指引。

Obey Without Delay

2022-04-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 10:17-33.  Let’s go!

Acts 10:17-19 (NIV)
17  While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.
18  They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19  While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
 
On verses 17-19:  In verse 3 the Holy Spirit called Cornelius by name.  A number of times in Acts 10 the Holy Spirit calls Peter by name.  (In fact, the Holy Spirit calls him by his new name “Peter” in verse 13 and then calls him by his old name “Simon” in verse 19.)  What can we learn from this?  God is a personal loving Father who knows us and calls by name.   

Acts 10:20-24 (NIV)
20  So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21  Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22  The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

God’s Heart for Every Person on the Planet

2022-04-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 10:1-16.  Let’s go!

Acts 10:1-4 (NIV)
1  At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
2  He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
3  One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4  Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
 
On verse 4:  God heard the sincere prayers and took note of the generous donations Cornelius made to the poor, though Cornelius at this point had not yet put his trust in Jesus Christ.  Regardless of your faith position, God sees the good that you do and the sincerity with which you pray.  But if all the good you do was good enough to save you, God wouldn’t have sent Jesus Christ for you.  Likewise despite all the good that Cornelius had done in his lifetime, God still connected Cornelius to Peter so that Cornelius could hear the saving news about Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:5-8 (NIV)
5  Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
6  He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7  When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants.
8  He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

神诘问约伯

2022-04-03 in , /by

〈约伯记〉38:4  我立大地根基的时候，你在哪里呢？你若有聪明，只管说吧。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉38章1-18节

听完了约伯和朋友们的辩论，神从从旋风中回答约伯。神只回答约伯。因为「谁用无知的言语，使神的旨意暗昧不明？」当约伯的朋友侃侃而谈，自以为是时，神却认为那些都是无知的言语，使神的旨意暗昧不明！当约伯的朋友们以为自己理解神的心意，当神的代言人指责约伯时，神却指出他们的言语是无知的，他们使神的旨意暗昧不明。我们可曾碰到如此尴尬，被打脸的时候？

神问了几个基本的问题，没有人可以回答。当我们觉得自己很聪明，理直气壮时，若能把这些问题拿来问问自己：「神立大地根基的时候，我在哪里？我知道谁定地的尺度吗？地的根基安置在何处？地的角石是谁安放的？」自然就可以谦卑下来了。

在〈箴言〉第八章里所罗门王形容 “智慧”：「祂立高天，我在那里，祂在渊面的周围划出圆圈， 上使穹苍坚硬，下使渊源稳固， 为沧海定出界限，使水不越过祂的命令，立定大地的根基。(箴8:27-29)」这句话点明，世界上能回答神这几个问题的人，只有“智慧”，因为「在耶和华造化的起头，在太初创造万物之先，就有了我。从亘古，从太初，未有世界以前，我已被立。(箴8:22-24) 」这“智慧”是指谁呢？所罗门王说：「寻得『我』的就寻得生命，恨恶『我』的都喜爱死亡。(箴8:35/36)」《圣经》里的神子是谁呢？岂不是主耶稣，神的独生子吗？只有主耶稣宣告：「复活在我，生命也在我。信我的人，虽然死了，也必复活； 凡活着信我的人必永远不死。(约11:25)」“智慧”就是主耶稣，祂在造化的起头就已经存在，祂也见证了耶和华神的创造。

这段经文提升了我们看大自然的眼界，我们会为了大自然的神奇和美丽而惊叹不己，但是不会想到：「海水冲出，如出胎胞，那时谁将它关闭呢？」海水需要神用云彩当海的衣服，用幽暗当包裹它的布，为它定界限，又安门和闩，被限制：『你只可到这里，不可越过，你狂傲的浪要到此止住。』。何等奇妙，原来有一位造物主在管理这个世界，使万物不越过本位。

The Greatest Measure of Your Life

2022-04-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

There are lots of great lessons we can learn from today’s passage, Acts 9:23-43.  Let’s go!

Acts 9:23-28 (NIV)
23  After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,
24  but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.
25  But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26  When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.
27  But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
28  So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
 
On verses 23-28:  Here we see different groups of people responding to Saul differently.  Some (his former allies) want to kill him (v23-24).  Others (his new converts) want to protect him (v25).  Some were afraid of him and doubt his intentions (v26).  Barnabas believes in him and advocates for him (v27).  Just as Barnabas advocated for Saul and spoke on his behalf so that he could join the apostles’ team, so Jesus Christ stood in the gap for us and spoke on our behalf so that we could join His team.

述神之威能奇妙

2022-04-01 in , /by

〈约伯记〉37:21    现在有云遮蔽，人不得见穹苍的光亮；但风吹过，天又发晴。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉37章

想到38章里神跟约伯讲的第一句话：“谁用无知的言语，使我的旨意暗昧不明？”就觉得神有点着急了。好像若让以利户再说下去，不知道他会把祂形容成什么。以利户说：“神轰轰的声音，是祂口中所发的响声。”以利户把神的声音形容成狮子吼似的，“祂发响声震遍天下，发电光闪到地极。随后人听见有雷声轰轰，大发威严，雷电接连不断。”这可能和古人的迷信有点关系。古时候的人不知道雷电怎样形成，所以听见雷声就以为天神发怒了。其实在《圣经》里，神都是用微细的声音跟人讲话。

当神呼召摩西时，神在燃烧的荆棘中对他说话，雅各在梦中时神对他说话，以利亚躲到山洞中时，神也是用细微的声音跟他说话。神跟人说话，是用人能够理解的语言，不是用轰轰的声音来展示祂的威严。神的口中会发如雷的响声吗？祂应该可以，但是神并不选择如此来吓我们。大自然里的雨和风雪都在神的权势之下，但是神何时封住人的手，来晓得祂的作为呢？笔者反而觉得，神利用各种方式去向人启示大自然的规律，使人懂得雷电的法则，从而可以使用电力、风力，甚至太阳能来让生活更加方便，做事更有效率。

以利户观察大自然，看到“百兽进入穴中，卧在洞内。” 百兽有神所赐的本能，懂得在天气不好时进入穴中，卧在洞内保护自己。至于大自然界里的各种现象，不管是冰天雪地或是密云满布，都为神所用。“暴风出于南宫，寒冷出于北方”，这南宫也可译为库房。在以利户的形容里，有不少是出于民俗的传言，例如：“神嘘气成冰” ，“金光出于北方，在神那里有可怕的威严。

Was Blind But Now I See

2022-03-31 in /by

Hi GAMErs!
 
Today’s passage is Acts 9:1-22.  Let’s go!

Acts 9:1-22 (NIV)
1  Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest
2  and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
3  As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
5  “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
6  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
7  The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus…….

On verses 1-22:  As we read about Saul’s amazing conversion to Christianity, we see that God is full of grace and mercy. He does not treat His enemies as they deserve. Instead of destroying His enemies for their sins, His first choice is to woo them to His side. That’s what Jesus did with Saul. God could have easily destroyed Saul for masterminding the arrest, persecution and murder of His children. But instead He reached out to Saul with incredible grace and mercy, and won Saul over to His side.

人不能全知

2022-03-31 in , /by

〈约伯记〉36:25   他所行的，万人都看见，世人也从远处观看。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉36章

你可曾有过冲动，想为神解释，为神开脱？以利户在此就有这样的冲动，因为他觉得约伯对神的看法不对。但是人是如此有限，我们所看到的所明白的，都居于自己的背景、教育和经历，我们怎能描述出神的真面目呢？让我们一起来看以利户眼中的神有哪些特点：第一，“这位神有大能，并不藐视人，祂的智慧甚广。”这点我想大多数人都会同意，因为这些都是《圣经》里的启示。

其二，“他不保护恶人的性命，却为困苦人申冤。”这点可能有些人像约伯一样，有所保留。约伯说，“在多民的城内有人唉哼，受伤的人哀号，神却不理会那恶人的愚妄。（伯24:12）”他举了很多例子，恶人行恶，神却容忍恶人，没有即刻审判刑罚。我们也看到不少这样的例子，也看到不少恶人在神的恩典里悔改，成为神的仆人。所以人看为恶人，神不一定看其为恶人。事实上，这世上一个义人也没有，我们看别人是恶人，我们在神的眼中也有可能是恶人，因为神知道每个人暗地里的心思意念。神实在是饶了我们这些恶人的性命，并让我们有回转的机会。

其三，神看顾义人，使他们被高举；若被苦难困住，就把他们的作为和过犯指示他们。这正是约伯的祈求，他希望知道自己错在哪里。这世界上曾经有的义人，并不像以利户所言，时时被高举，相反地，他们经常遭受迫。如施洗约翰和主耶稣，还有使徒，哪一个不是被迫害至死？度日亨通，历年福乐的义人不是没有，但是许多为神而活的义人，都遭到不义之手的杀害。

人的作为与神何干

2022-03-30 in , /by

〈约伯记〉35:5    你要向天观看，瞻望那高于你的穹苍。

阅读经文：〈约伯记〉35章

我有时候很佩服这种可以抓住一句话就大肆发挥的人，我一和人吵架，往往吵到第三句就忘了人家说过什么话了。因为当你看着对方意兴横飞，口沬四喷的样子，就不自觉要退后几步，想找个借口去擦拭脸。尤其春夏秋冬换季之时最容易有流行性感冒，最好不要被人家的唾液喷到为妙。可怜的约伯坐在那里，被喷得心火冒升，却毫无逃逸之法。我常在思考，假如约伯的朋友们说的都不怎么对，还要约伯为他们的错误献祭，才得神的赦免。那么让那么多废话遗臭万年，又有何意义，岂不枉费我们的功夫？

可是真的读了，才明白为何神要这些讨论留下来的原因。因为大多数人的思路都和约伯的朋友们一样，他们说过的话，我们可能也说过，而且还沾沾自喜，不以为过。想到华理克师母在爱子马太自杀后，被一会友质问，是否有犯过什么罪时，真是情何以堪？在有位师母患了长年头痛无法痊愈，却被教会的执事叫她要悔改时，使她更痛哭不已，病情加重。这种例子不少，而且都发生在我们的身边，有很多没有生病就自以为是的信徒，不懂得克制自己的口舌，以致不自觉中犯罪，还以为自己代神出征了。

神要我们读〈约伯记〉，而且要我们好好地去读约伯的朋友所说的废话，免得重蹈覆辙，在自大中伤害到需要帮助的人或软弱的人。可见骄傲的情绪何等执著地依附着我们，随时要发动它不义的攻击。约伯从来没有说他的公义胜于神的公义。“我不犯罪比犯罪有什么好处呢？”那是他在苦难中的感叹，而不是真的以为犯不犯罪无区别。

Start With Where They’re At

2022-03-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 8:26-40.  Let’s go!

Acts 8:26-28 (NIV)
26  Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road–the desert road–that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”
27  So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship,
28  and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet.

On verses 26-28:  God tells Philip to go south to the desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza.  God doesn’t tell Philip why.  On his way Philip meets the treasurer of the Egyptian government.  According to the New American Commentary, eunuchs in the ancient Near East were men who had been castrated at a young age and were put in charge of the royal harem and the treasury.   Not only was this eunuch therefore carrying great responsibility and authority, but also this eunuch was spiritually hungry.  In fact this Ethiopian eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship God and was reading the book of Isaiah on his way home.

What can we learn from this?