Entries by

Without THIS Moment We Wouldn’t Be Here Today

2022-03-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 2:1-13.  Let’s go! 

Acts 2:1-11 (NIV)
1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
7  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
8  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
9  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
11  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

On verses 1-11:  Pentecost, also known as the Feast of Weeks, was one of the big three festivals in the Jewish calendar (the other two being the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles – see Leviticus 23).  Happening on the 50th day after the Passover Feast (Pentecost in ancient Greek means “Fiftieth”), Pentecost was a time to thank God for the harvest.  It is fitting that God chose Pentecost to be the day when He would fill His church with the Holy Spirit.  

人生如花似影

2022-03-07 in , /by

〈約伯記〉14:7 樹若被砍下，還可指望發芽，嫩枝生長不息。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉14 章

約伯感嘆人生日子之短少，以及人出生於污穢的世界裡，怎可能完全無罪？既然如此，約伯求神不要對他要求太高，寧可轉眼不看他的罪，讓他得以歇息，直到人生的盡頭。所以約伯雖然覺得自己有理，沒有做什麼壞事，但是當他想到自己年幼之時可能有的過犯，以及可能附合過與社會中一些作法或思想，他知道自己在神面前無法完全。神若數點人的過犯，誰能完全？但是約伯屢屢提及，人生有限，神若不住手加苦害於他，以後神要再找他就找不到了；等神的憤怒過去再要找約伯時，他已經躺下不再起來，不得復醒了。頗有“你到時不要後悔”的意思在裡面。這就是約伯和神的關係，深到一個地步，約伯知道神很愛他，也必然想念他。

約伯想到人若沒有指望，連兒女的升尊或降卑都無所謂了；“但知身上疼痛，心中悲哀”。身外的人事物都不像肉體的攻擊那樣使人感到挫折。因為人有自尊心，有獨立的需求，很多事我們可以自己做時，不願假他人之手，不然就會很沮喪。例如吃飯、洗澡、走路、梳頭，等等的日常生活瑣事，若還需要人家來餵你，幫你洗澡，會讓人覺得很沒用，一無是處，只是個負擔。疼痛雖是個美好的禮物，可以讓我們知道危險而採取應對，但是有的疼痛會使人使去自理的能力，使人覺得像條蟲，不再有人的尊嚴，而感到十分悲哀。

張文亮教授針對這第十四章寫下了〈上帝之斧〉一文，對植物有精闢之解，會讓大家對本章有更多的理解：我對植物學的認識，大都是來自我在加州大學戴維斯分校（University of California-Davis）的學習。我不知道約伯是在哪裡上過課，他怎麼知道這麼多植物的知識？聽啊！他說：「樹若被砍下，還可以指望發芽，嫩枝生長不息。其根雖然衰老在地裡，樹也死在土中，及到得了水氣，還要發芽，又長枝條，像新栽的樹一樣。」（約伯記14:7-9），距今三仟年多前的約伯，怎麼有這麼精確敘述？

驚動被風吹的葉子

2022-03-06 in , /by

〈約伯記〉13:25 你要驚動被風吹的葉子嗎？要追趕枯乾的碎秸嗎？

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉13 章

約伯在說完世人的成功是由神來決定之後，來了一個高潮：“我真要對全能者說話，我願與神理論”。因為他的眼都見過，耳都聽過。現在有幾個人敢這樣說，我不曉得，但是由於資訊的泛濫及廣濶，實在很難什麼都見過，什麼都聽過。因為人生有限，面對浩瀚的宇宙和地球悠久的歷史，我們所見所聞都只是冰山一角，都只是傳媒送到我們眼前的資料而已。約伯是在跟他的朋友們做比較，免得朋友以為他什麼都不知道。有這個前題，所以他知道他們的建議對他而言都像是無用的醫生。他的問題只有神才能解決。

所以他不管三七廿一，即使神要殺他，他也要和神把話講清楚，才能死得明白。他相信，只有跟神把話說清楚了，他才有得到拯救的可能，因為神是掌管他生命的神。假如朋友要再和他辯論，像是為神遮掩、為神說好話，他就寧願緘默不言，氣絕而亡。所以他要弄清楚，他究竟犯了何罪，以致於落到這樣的境地。所以在約伯心中，也是有同樣的思路，災難是出於神的審判而來。但是他究竟有多少罪孽和罪過，是否連幼年的罪孽也都被數算了？

在苦難中，約伯依然求神不要縮回祂的手，也就是不要不與約伯同在，不要遠離約伯，但不要驚他。約伯說神使他有如被風驚動的葉子，葉子不是一天到晚被風吹著嗎？讓我們來看看張文亮教授寫的，一片葉子寫給約伯的信。

When Making Tough Decisions

2022-03-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Acts 1:12-26.  Let’s go! 

Acts 1:12-14 (NIV)
12  Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
13  When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
14  They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

On verses 12-14:  After spending time with Jesus post-resurrection and witnessing His ascension into heaven, the disciples, including Jesus’ female followers, Jesus’ mother Mary and Jesus’ brothers, would return to the place where they were staying and join together constantly in prayer.  It was their closest, most natural and most direct way of keeping in contact with their Lord Jesus.  They would pray together, knowing that Jesus heard them.  It was all coming together for them that Jesus truly is all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful God.  What can we learn from this?

1.     According to Mark 6:3, while Jesus lived on this earth Jesus had four brothers called James, Joseph, Judas and Simon.  They were his half-brothers in that they were the natural sons of Jesus’ parents Joseph and Mary.  These brothers did not believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be: the Son of God.  That is, until the resurrection.  Jesus’ resurrection was that pivotal moment when his half-brothers who doubted Him started to believe in Him.  James would even become the leader of the church in Jerusalem.   Again, if you want to know if Christianity is valid and worth believing in, start with the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.

約伯自言己智不亞於友

2022-03-04 in , /by

〈約伯記〉12:5 安逸的人心裡藐視災禍，這災禍常常等待滑腳的人。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉12 章

當瑣法講得如此精彩，約伯大概無法可說吧。不！約伯回答的更多，並且更精彩。這種高潮迭起的應對，使約伯記像是章回體裁，在每段的末了，總留伏筆，要知後果如何，請看下回分解，瑣法的伏筆，在第三段有著美好的安慰以後，以「但惡人的眼目必要失明。他們無路可逃，他們的指望就是氣絕。」（約伯記11:20），彷彿是一首交響曲，到了終了戰鼓聲又再催揚。

人性的關懷

老將，約伯，只好上場再度應戰，他也將對方來將痛罵一陣：「你們真是子民哪，你們死亡，智慧也就滅沒了。」（約伯記12:2），又說：「但我也有聰明，與你們一樣，並非不及你們。你們所說的，誰不知道呢？」（約伯記12:3），聖經記錄這麼多人在苦難不得安慰時的情緒之言，證明上帝看重「人性」的軟弱，而且上帝的恩惠與救贖是能透過人性的軟弱來彰顯。軟弱的竹子與堅強的鋼結構可以合搭一座橋嗎？偉大的上帝，正在這裡搭建一個極巧妙的藝術工作。

罵了之後，約伯就迅速地切入他的第一個論點，他提出上帝的智慧與人的智慧不同，上帝的知識與人的知識有很大的差距。約伯的朋友都提出災禍是上帝給惡人的審判，富裕是上帝給人的祝福，約伯提出上帝可以用災禍，也可以用富裕來審判人，災禍與富裕都可以使人離開上帝，他用一個極具啟發性的例子，「上帝……，祂把水留住，水便枯乾；祂再發出水來，水就翻地。」（約伯記12:15），這兩種極端不同的狀況，皆是上帝的審判。水的枯乾，如同人逢到苦境，四周遭困；水的發出，如同人的順利發達，卻帶來翻地的後果。

God’s Power and Purposes for Your Life

2022-03-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin the book of Acts.  Written by Luke in approximately 60 A.D. as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, Acts is such an important book in that: (1) it gives us a detailed account of what happened to Jesus’ followers after Jesus ascended to heaven; (2) it gives us a historical backdrop for understanding the letters of Paul, which would make up much of the New Testament; (3) it shows us what the early church looked like and the incredible faith, courage and perseverance they displayed in the face of great uncertainty and persecution; and (4) it takes us on a tour from Jerusalem to the various nations where the church spread.  Even more, the book of Acts is filled with powerful lessons for us today. 

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

Acts 1:1 (NIV)
1  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
 
On verse 1:  The “former book” Luke is referring to is the Gospel of Luke, which Luke also wrote to Theophilus.  Little is known about Theophilus.  The fact that Luke refers to Theophilus as “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3) suggests to many scholars that Theophilus may have been a person of wealth and high social status.  The name “Theophilus” literally means “lover of God”, which has led some to believe that “Theophilus” may also have been a code name for addressing Christians or people interested in Jesus generally. 
 
Acts 1:2-4a (NIV)
2  until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
3  After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
4  On one occasion, while he was eating with them…

Depending on the Presence of God

2022-03-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 40:17-38, the final passage of Exodus.  Let’s go! 

Exodus 40:17-35 (NIV)
17  So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year.
18  When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts.
19  Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the LORD commanded him.
20  He took the Testimony and placed it in the ark, attached the poles to the ark and put the atonement cover over it…….

On verses 17-35:  Notice how over and over the words “as the LORD commanded Moses” get repeated when describing how Moses set up the tabernacle.  When Moses had finished the work, a cloud representing the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.  For me it’s a powerful reminder of two things:

First, full obedience ushers in the presence of God.  Moses carefully set up the tabernacle just as the LORD had commanded, and in a similar way Jesus carefully obeyed His Father completely and it is through His perfect obedience that we now have God’s presence in our lives.  Jesus’ perfect obedience ushered the presence of God into our world.

瑣法責約伯自義

2022-03-03 in , /by

〈約伯記〉11:12 空虛的人卻毫無知識，人生在世好像野驢的駒子。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉11 章

有一餐廳，開始擺出來的菜並不好吃，

但是，如果嫌菜難吃，轉身離開，就可惜了，

後來端上來的菜，較為可口，原來好吃的在後頭。

「嘿，夥計，你們這家餐廳怎麼如此上菜？

難吃的擺前面，好吃的放後頭。」

「噢，客倌，請不要生氣，

我們店裡的大廚脾氣不好的時候，上菜差，脾氣好的時候，上菜好。」

「那他什麼時刻，脾氣會由不好變成好？」

「當他想到上帝時。」夥計如此答道。

瑣法在提到人時，口舌犀利的很，罵人罵的凶。到了第二段，他提到上帝，口氣就緩和下來，所講的內容就很有深度，他說：「你考察就能測透上帝嗎？你豈能盡情 測透全能者嗎？祂的智慧高於天，你還能做甚麼？深於陰間，你還能知道甚麼？其量比地長，比海寬。」（約伯記十一：7-9）。瑣法這個大廚子，開始在上好菜 了。上帝所在的天有多高？陰間是全然黑暗，毫不透光的所在，那有多深啊？瑣法在問「量度」的問題。

約伯求神示以譴責之故

2022-03-02 in , /by

〈約伯記〉10:2 (約伯)對神說：不要定我有罪，要指示我，祢為何與我爭辯。

閱讀經文：〈約伯記〉10 章

約伯覺得神在欺負他，並且以欺負他為美。他認為他沒有罪惡，只是因為他是被造者，所以受苦也沒有辦法。他在控訴神不公。但最後還是哀求神，至少在他死前，可以寬容他，使他稍得暢快。約伯的子女死了，財產沒了，那些都是身外物，但是他的肉體之煎熬，使他厭煩他的性命。你可曾聽朋友說：“煩死了，天天吵，不如死了算了，來得清靜”。有的說：“活著有什麼意思呢？不如死了算了！”這些話都有個前題：只要不吵，我不煩，就可以活得開心；只要活得有意思，還是要活下去。但有的什麼都不說，就自殺了，那是真的想不開，而不想活的人。

所以口說煩死了，想要死的人，一般都還要活，只是對目前活的狀況不滿意；若是環境有改善，他還是要活的。所以約伯對神說，反正我終歸要死，你就不能讓我在死前快活一下嗎？這是他話裡的意思。“求祢停手寬容我，叫我在往而不返之先，可以稍得暢快”。因為“那地甚是幽暗，是死蔭混沌之地，那裡的光好像幽暗”，所以只要神改善一下，他就要繼續活，因為死蔭混沌之地想起來還挺可怕的。

當我們讀著〈約伯記〉時，你會覺得約伯對神沒有不敢說的話，這是一種何等信賴的關係。他相信神聽得到，他相信他可以控訴神而不得罪神。因為他要求的是公義的審判：“不要定我有罪，要指示我，祢為何與我爭辯”。I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me. Contend在這裡用“爭辯”似乎有點怪，若是用“鬥”，好像比較能表示它的意思。好像神的使者終夜與雅各摔跤，要把雅各打敗一樣。從約伯的感覺來看，一樣接著一樣的打擊，就彷彿神用各樣的方法來打敗他這個人似的。當然，我們知道是撒旦，但是約伯那時不知道。就好像有人患上絕症時，會覺得為何神要這樣對他？他究竟犯了什麼大罪？現在我們曉得，苦難有時不一定是罪的緣故。

It’s All About Jesus

2022-03-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Exodus 40:1-16.  Let’s go! 

Exodus 40:1-9 (NIV)
1  Then the LORD said to Moses:
2  “Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the first month.
3  Place the ark of the Testimony in it and shield the ark with the curtain.
4  Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps.
5  Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the Testimony and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
6  “Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;
7  place the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it.
8  Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.
9  “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy.
10  Then anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils; consecrate the altar, and it will be most holy.
11  Anoint the basin and its stand and consecrate them.

On verses 1-11:  This past Sunday at THRIVE Church Online we looked at this passage together.  In a message called “He’s There For You: Finding Jesus in Exodus”, I tried to show you that the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John are reflected in Exodus 40:4-9 in the exact order that they appear in the Gospel of John.