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耶和華所造的各適其用

2022-06-21 in , /by

〈箴言〉16:4  耶和華所造的各適其用，就是惡人也為禍患的日子所造。

閱讀經文：箴言16:4-9

4耶和華所造的各適其用，就是惡人也為禍患的日子所造。5凡心裡驕傲的，為耶和華所憎惡，雖然連手，他必不免受罰。6因憐憫、誠實，罪孽得贖；敬畏耶和華的，遠離惡事。7人所行的若蒙耶和華喜悅，耶和華也使他的仇敵與他和好。8多有財利行事不義，不如少有財利行事公義。9人心籌算自己的道路，唯耶和華指引他的腳步。

從《聖經》來看神的創造：各從其類，各按其時，各適其用。所以不管在人眼中有沒有用處，在神都有其安排和定意。惡人為禍患的日子所造，並不是說神故意去造惡人，來搞出一些禍患，而是說萬事互相效力，即使人要使壞，神也可以利用其惡心成就神的美意。就好像連加恩在非洲時，為了使當地整潔，發動了舊衣換垃圾的運動。他鼓勵當地人去收集到處都是的垃圾袋，替換他從台灣募捐到的一批批的衣服。那麼那些黑垃圾袋怎麼辦呢？

原本是人們到處亂丟的垃圾袋，在一些有才藝的老師們的指導下，變成了精美的工藝品。原本是不好的，影響了環境衛生和美觀的垃圾袋，竟然成了可以推銷賺錢糊口的工藝品。在神手中，不斷地進行著化腐朽為神奇的作為。在古時的以色列，當他們離開神去拜偶像時，外邦人就成了神管教他們的工具。表面上看來，那些迦南人、亞捫人、以東人、摩押人，等等，好像都要把以色列人致於死地，搶他們的東西，踐踏他們的農作物，抓人去當奴隸；因著這些苦難，以色列人就回轉歸向神。

The Picture I Show Others

2022-06-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 11:1-7.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 11:1-7 (NIV)
1  Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
2  Remember today that your children were not the ones who saw and experienced the discipline of the LORD your God: his majesty, his mighty hand, his outstretched arm;
3  the signs he performed and the things he did in the heart of Egypt, both to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his whole country;
4  what he did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and chariots, how he overwhelmed them with the waters of the Red Sea as they were pursuing you, and how the LORD brought lasting ruin on them.

On verses 1-11:  In Deuteronomy 11:2, Moses reminds the current generation of Israelites that there were miracles, blessings and lessons that God had shown them which their kids had not seen.  He emphasizes it again in verses 5-7: “It was not your children who saw what he did for you… But it was your own eyes that saw all these great things the LORD has done.”

What is Moses getting at?  He’s implying that the current generation of Israelites have a responsibility to tell the next generation about the incredible miracles, blessings and lessons God had shown them.

The Persistent Love of God

2022-06-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 10:1-11.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 10:1-11 (NIV)
1  At that time the LORD said to me, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain. Also make a wooden chest.
2  I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Then you are to put them in the chest.”
3  So I made the ark out of acacia wood and chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hands.
4  The LORD wrote on these tablets what he had written before, the Ten Commandments he had proclaimed to you on the mountain, out of the fire, on the day of the assembly. And the LORD gave them to me.

On verses 1-11:  When I read these verses what strikes me is God’s persistence.  When the Israelites (spiritually) and Moses (literally/physically) broke God’s ten commandments, God didn’t give up.  Instead God persisted and gave Moses and the Israelites two new tablets containing those same ten commandments.  It’s like God was giving them a fresh start.

When the Israelites angered God with their sin such that God did not want to bring them into promised land anymore, God still persisted and decided to lead them there anyway.

失控時的保守

2022-06-20 in , /by

〈箴言〉16:1    心中的謀算在乎人，舌頭的應對由於耶和華。

閱讀經文：箴言16:1-3

1心中的謀算在乎人，舌頭的應對由於耶和華。2人一切所行的在自己眼中看為清潔，唯有耶和華衡量人心。3你所做的要交託耶和華，你所謀的就必成立。

失控時的保守

「心中的謀算在乎人，舌頭的應對，由於耶和華。」(箴言16:1)這是我非常喜歡的聖經節，因為在教書、輔導、演講、分享，與人應對前，我總是想很多，準備很多，考慮很多，但是講出去的那一刻，經常不完全是事先的籌算，有另外的亮光、感動介入，瞬間組成字句，讓我說出去。很多學生告訴我：「聽老師的課，最享受的事，是得到許多啟發，是我們事先沒有想過的。」其實，我事先也沒有想到。

我們的想法，想得再多，只是一部份。現場所講，才是全部。舌頭的應對，要對當時的環境、臨時的啟發、聽者的氛圍、別人的需求，與許多自己不知道的因子等，所以我們對自己所講，事先要交給主，講時要交託主，講後要感謝主，不管講得好與不好，我們只是僕人，定奪在乎主。

我的弱點是，很容易被人激動，或在別人的勉強下回應，或在控告下的詰問，講出不該講的話。我為此難過，就學習被人激動時便離開。但是有時離不開，我會被激動到言語失控，結果成為我極度的憂傷，這是情緒的失控。甚至出現不是原有的念頭，這是想法的失控。上帝的話切入，帶來心靈的平安，與思想的平靜，重新的交託。應對是在乎上帝，不在乎我，結果在乎愛我的主耶穌，不在乎我。（張文亮教授）

Jesus Is Praying For You

2022-06-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 9:13-29.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 9:13-29 (NIV)
13  And the LORD said to me, “I have seen this people, and they are a stiff-necked people indeed!
14  Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make you into a nation stronger and more numerous than they.”
15  So I turned and went down from the mountain while it was ablaze with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my hands.
16  When I looked, I saw that you had sinned against the LORD your God; you had made for yourselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the LORD had commanded you…….

On verses 13-29:  In Deuteronomy 9:13-29, Moses describes two recurring patterns in Israel’s history so far.  First, the Israelites kept rebelling against God.  As Moses says in verse 24: “You have been rebellious against the Lord ever since I have known you.”

But second, each time the Israelites rebelled against God, Moses was there to stand in the gap, to intercede and pray for his fellow Israelites.  God responded to Moses’ prayers and showed mercy to the Israelites.

尊榮與謙卑

2022-06-19 in , /by

〈箴言〉15:33 敬畏耶和華是智慧的訓誨，尊榮以前必有謙卑。

閱讀經文：箴言15:24-33

24 智慧人從生命的道上升，使他遠離在下的陰間。 25 耶和華必拆毀驕傲人的家，卻要立定寡婦的地界。 26 惡謀為耶和華所憎惡，良言乃為純淨。 27 貪戀財利的擾害己家，恨惡賄賂的必得存活。 28 義人的心思量如何回答，惡人的口吐出惡言。 29 耶和華遠離惡人，卻聽義人的禱告。 30 眼有光使心喜樂，好信息使骨滋潤。 31 聽從生命責備的，必常在智慧人中。 32 棄絕管教的，輕看自己的生命；聽從責備的，卻得智慧。 33 敬畏耶和華是智慧的訓誨，尊榮以前必有謙卑。

誰是智慧人，可以從生命的道上升，遠離在下的陰間呢？我有一些朋友，不相信自己有靈魂，也不思想身後事，認為人死一了百了。假如人死了一了百了，又何來那麼多的靈異故事呢？讀者文摘曾經登過一些故事，有的人在親人死後，感覺到親人留下的痕跡和信號。也有一些人在瀕臨死亡時，靈魂出竅，看到醫護人員在手術房裡的急救，看見親友在不同地方為他（她）禱告，醒來之後，細細道來，彷彿歷歷在目，令人驚訝不已。

寧可相信自己有靈魂，為靈魂預備去的地方，也好過不相信自己有靈魂，以後惶惶然下陰間。你相信，有預備，那麼你死了對你不會有損失；但是你若沒有預備，而確實有靈魂，你的損失可就慘重了。所以接受在人的一生中，最大的成就便是找到生命之道，脫離死亡的轄制，便是智慧了。所羅門王說：“神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡”（傳3:11）。人若是正視自己的需要，便會發現自己的靈魂無時無刻不在尋找永生的家，也就是靈魂的歸宿，一旦找到，心裡便有平安和喜樂，因為回家了，回到那賜給我們靈魂和生命的神那裡。

止息紛爭

2022-06-17 in , /by

〈箴言〉15:18    暴怒的人挑起爭端，忍怒的人止息紛爭。 

閱讀經文：箴言15:18-23

18 暴怒的人挑起爭端，忍怒的人止息紛爭。 19 懶惰人的道像荊棘的籬笆，正直人的路是平坦的大道。 20 智慧子使父親喜樂，愚昧人藐視母親。 21 無知的人以愚妄為樂，聰明的人按正直而行。 22 不先商議，所謀無效；謀士眾多，所謀乃成。 23 口善應對，自覺喜樂；話合其時，何等美好。

18節 ：暴怒的人挑起爭端，忍怒的人止息紛爭。

我相信許多人對這節經文一定是深有同感，只是苦於無法控制自己的脾氣。就因為吞不下一口氣，為了爭一口氣：表示我比你正確，我懂得比你多，我比較厲害，所以無法忍怒。事實上，吃虧就是佔便宜也就是針對這種情形而說的。

有一位脫口秀演員談到他曾被邀請去參加一些辯論的節目，在節目裡他滔滔不絕的口才折服不少人。沒想到回家後也把這氣勢運用到和妻子的談話裡。妻子提醒他，在家裡是講情的，不是講理的。他卻不以為然。他說，他終於辯贏了，但是他的婚姻也宣告結束。妻子堅決跟他離婚。真是退一步海濶天空，忍一口天長地久。

挑起爭端，都是遍體鱗傷。

God’s Grace and Faithfulness Toward You

2022-06-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs! 

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 9:1-12.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 9:1-3 (NIV)
1  Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky.
2  The people are strong and tall–Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: “Who can stand up against the Anakites?”
3  But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you.
 
On verses 1-3:  Moses acknowledged that as part of conquering the promised land the Israelites would need to face a strong and tall people called the Anakites.  Yet Moses reminds the Israelites that the Lord will go ahead of them like a devouring fire and help the Israelites to overcome them quickly.
 
Here we see that recurring theme in Deuteronomy again:  with God there may be seemingly gigantic challenges in front of you, but God goes ahead of you so you don’t need to be afraid.  With God, you can conquer the giants in front of you.

Keys to a Happy Heart

2022-06-16 in /by

Hi  GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Deuteronomy 8:10-20, in which we learn a number of keys to a happy heart.  Let’s go!

Deuteronomy 8:10 (NIV)
10  When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.
 
On verse 10:  A lot of us out of habit pray before we eat, which is good.  How about try praying after we eat!  That is, when you’ve received something good, even what might seem ordinary or small, praise the Lord for it, for every good gift comes from God.  What is something “ordinary” or “small” you received today that you can thank God for?

Deuteronomy 8:11-14 (NIV)
11  Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.
12  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,
13  and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,
14  then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

喜樂之源

2022-06-16 in , /by

〈箴言〉15:13  心中喜樂，面帶笑容；心裡憂愁，靈被損傷。

閱讀經文：箴言15:13-17

13心中喜樂，面帶笑容；心裡憂愁，靈被損傷。14聰明人心求知識，愚昧人口吃愚昧。15困苦人的日子都是愁苦，心中歡暢的常享豐筵。16少有財寶敬畏耶和華，強如多有財寶煩亂不安。17吃素菜彼此相愛，強如吃肥牛彼此相恨。

著名的文學家托爾斯泰(Tolstoy)在人生困難時，有一次在森林中遇到一個農夫。他坐在樹下吃黑麵包，那是窮人的食物，但他吃得津津有味，看起來很喜樂。托爾斯泰問他從哪裡得著喜樂？農夫回答說：“神！”從那天開始，托爾斯泰就告訴自己要信靠神。即使只有黑麵包，只要有從神來的喜樂，就像在享受豐盛的筵席。

有一個信耶穌的工人，工作很辛苦，但時常面帶笑容。他的主人不解，以為給工人的工作太輕鬆，於是就加給他更多的工作，但是工人依然十分喜樂，常常一邊工作，一邊唱歌。主人忍不住問他：“你為什麼這樣快樂呢？你難道不覺得辛苦嗎？”他回答：“我是信耶穌的，耶穌已經拯救我，祂時常與我同在，讓我滿心喜樂。”主人說：“假如我破產了，你沒有工作，怎麼辦？你有三個孩子，假如沒有錢供他們去讀大學，怎麼辦？假如你工作時發生意外，沒有人焄顧你的家人，怎麼辦？”工人說：“主人啊，我看你是個好人，就是心裡有太多的假如了。假如你先信耶穌，就明白在祂的愛裡沒有假如，你只要全心倚靠祂就好了。”