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The Importance of Having Aligned Values in Your Closest Relationships

2021-09-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 6:11-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (NIV)
11  We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.
12  We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.
13  As a fair exchange–I speak as to my children–open wide your hearts also.

On verses 11-13:  Paul feels that he has been consistently open-hearted and loving toward the Christians in Corinth, whose church he helped to start, whereas the Christians in Corinth have gone from being hot to lukewarm and closed-hearted toward Paul.   That is why he says “As a fair exchange – I speak as to my children – open wide your hearts also.”  When you love someone deeply, you want them to be open hearted and transparent with you.  It distresses you when you feel that the person you love has closed their heart.  That’s the way Paul felt toward the church in Corinth.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV)
14  Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
15  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

God Never Wastes a Hurt or a Hardship

2021-09-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) 
1 As God’s co-workers…

On verse 1a:  Isn’t it cool that as ambassadors of Jesus, we are God’s co-workers?  That means we don’t just work for God but with God.  When Jesus commanded his disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, Jesus followed it up by saying, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). In other words, as we do God’s work, we can be assured that we’re not just working for Him, but with Him.  

Praise God!  As you seek to bring Jesus to your home, your workplace, your school and your city, remember that you’ve got the best Co-Worker on your side.  God, who is working in us and with us, will empower you with everything you need to accomplish the mission He has given you.  So serve with confidence and faith!  God is with you!

2 Corinthians 6:1 (NIV) 
1 …we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 

大衛王朝的體制

2021-09-16 in , /by

〈歷代志〉上 27:23  以色列人二十歲以內的，大衛沒有記其數目，因耶和華曾應許說必加增以色列人如天上的星那樣多。

閱讀經文：〈歷代志 〉上 27章

除了建立利未人和祭司的服侍編制外，大衛在管理整個國家上，也有很傑出的建樹，如在軍事和政府的編制和架構上也有建全的組織。現代中文譯本在本章第一節的譯文如下：“以下是以色列各家族族長、率領千人和百人隊伍的軍官，以及擔任國家行政工作的官長的名單。他們每年按月輪流值班，每一組由一位軍官指揮；每組人數是兩萬四千名。”我們對照一下就可以明白，千夫長就是率領千人隊伍的軍官，百夫長就是率領百人隊伍的軍官。大衛王設立的軍事編制，每個月都有武裝部隊可以輪流操練，一年一個月的服役制度，是比較合理，也可以接受的。

所以大衛把28萬8千人的軍隊分成十二班，每個月讓一班出來承擔保家衛國的責任，並且重新操練，這樣在需要時，都有軍隊可以出來應付緊急情況，對國家對百姓對軍人都是很好的安排。這十二班軍人週年按月輪流，替換出入服侍王，表示大衛王是全部軍隊的總指揮，雖然有軍長負責訓練，但真正調動軍隊的權柄則在大衛王的手中。憑著這個權柄，大衛才能成為以色列國真正的領袖。

其次是政府的架構，一是設立管理以色列各支派的首領。以色列有十二個支派，利未支派屬於負責宗教的支派，被劃分出來；其他支派都需要有人管理，免得像士師時代，以色列人好像散沙一樣，有事時叫大家出來作戰，有的支派不理不睬。現在有了首領，王若有什麼命令就可以直接向各支派的首領發佈，讓各支派確實收到命令，並且執行命令。這裡也提到大衛想數點以色列人，引起神的震怒，約押也沒有點數完。假如神曾應許以色列人要如天上的星那樣多，怎麼數算得了呢？因此以色列人若是增加，是出於神的祝福，而不是大衛的功勞。大衛若想數點百姓作為自己的功績之一，來榮耀自己，當然神會生氣。所以最後沒有一個完整的數目可以寫在《大衛王記》裡面，這本《大衛王記》目前已經找不著了。

What Jesus Became For You

2021-09-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 5:11a (NIV)
11  Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men…

On verse 11a:  In this case, to “know what it is to fear the Lord” (v11) probably has to do with knowing the fact that one day we will stand before God’s judgment throne and give an account to God for the way we lived our lives (v10).  Because of that, Paul makes it his mission “to persuade men” (v11), that is, to lead people to faith in Christ.  Likewise, since we know that we will give an account to God for how we lived our lives on earth, may we use the time we have on earth to lead others to Jesus.  For the only thing you can take with you to heaven eventually are those you led to Jesus; everything else stays here.

2 Corinthians 5:11b-12 (NIV)
11  …What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
12  We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

On verses 11b-12:  Paul is saying that God knows Paul’s heart (“what we are is plain to God”) and he hopes that the Corinthians also know his heart (v11).  Why is Paul saying this?  It’s because Paul has come under criticism as people in Corinth compare Paul, who encounters trial after trial, with so-called “super apostles” who seem to live much easier lives.

利未人在聖殿內外之職份

2021-09-15 in , /by

〈歷代志〉上 26:20 利未子孫中有亞希雅掌管神殿的府庫和聖物的府庫。

閱讀經文：〈歷代志 〉上 26章

在溫哥華巿中心的第一浸信會聚會時，我發現他們和其他教會有個不同的地方。我以前去的教會都沒有設守衛（守門的），但是在第一浸信會裡有許多守衛和守門的。因為位處巿中心，有一些流浪者或吸毒者會進入教會騷擾去敬拜的人，影響敬拜，因此若看到有可疑的人，守門的或警衛就會跟蹤他們，查明意圖，再決定怎樣處理。所羅門聖殿是以色列當時唯一的聖殿，各處的人都到此來敬拜或獻祭，難免有一些不良份子，想乘機搗亂鬧事或偷東西，若沒有守門的，就很難保護聖殿和去敬拜的人群。

從這章裡，我們就可以看到，原來服侍的層面是如此之廣，範圍是如此之大。所以人若感受到從神來的呼召，便要弄清楚神究竟呼召你去做何事。不一定是在聖殿內服侍，也不一定是在聖殿外服侍。有許多人以為神呼召，就是去全職傳福音，但是現在我們發現在職場和生活中的服侍更為直接有效，等於每天在做個人佈道。當我們蒙召時，就是讓神進入我們的生活掌權，使我們過一個敬拜和工作合一的生活。所以不論我們在做何事，甚至和朋友喝咖啡聊天，也可以服侍主。因為聊天時會談到許多事情，有時候還可以藉機會講自己的見證。

在職場上工作或家庭裡的生活，我們若以敬拜主的心情去做，把它當作是為主而做，那就是侍奉主了。服侍不一定在講台上，不一定要在詩班裡，服侍可以是用車去載年老孤單的弟兄姐妹到教會或去買菜、去看病，服侍可以是傾聽軟弱的弟兄姐妹傾訴，服侍可以是提早到團契把桌椅排好，服侍可以有各個層面，神感動你哪個層面，你就去那個層面服侍，不用告訴別人你覺得哪裡需要人。神感動你，你就去做。當然，若是團隊的事，好像要輪班安排的服侍，就要把自己裝備好再申請加入。所羅門聖殿很大，有東西南北四個大門，還有走廊，都由可拉和米拉利的子孫負責。從他們的家譜圖裡，我們可以一目瞭然他們之間的關係。

大衛簡立謳歌者

2021-09-14 in , /by

〈歷代志〉上 25:1    大衛和眾首領分派亞薩、希幔並耶杜頓的子孫彈琴、鼓瑟、敲鈸、唱歌。

閱讀經文：〈歷代志 〉上 25章

從大衛王在以色列的作為，可以感受到當人敬畏神時，神就賜給他源源不絕的靈感。在掃羅作王時，除了作戰之外，就是追殺大衛，沒有任何建樹，甚至在他被殺之後，以色列的領土大多數都被非利士人佔領，掃羅家還要躲到約旦河西的老家基列地。但是大衛王不僅建立起強大的軍事力量，征服了外邦各國，對內建立起完善的祭司制度，也包括了聖樂的敬拜。他說在萬難之中為聖殿籌備了十萬他連得的金子，一百萬他連得的銀子，和無數的銅和鐵，以及建材及工人，為建聖殿之用。這個牧羊童子在神的調教之下，成為以色列最偉大的君王。大衛的例子讓我們看到，人若願意把自己交給神，敬畏神、信靠神，神就可以在這個人身上有極為奇妙的作為。

從本章的記載，可以看見當時的人才都是家庭的傳承。大衛設立了三個詩班，由亞薩、希幔、耶杜頓三人負責。〈詩篇〉當中有過半數的詩歌出自大衛，其他還有六位作者，其中寫得最多的就是亞薩，共有十二篇。亞薩之詩的第一篇，是〈詩篇〉第五十篇。亞薩很會歌唱，也是一個鈸手(代上15:19)。鈸不是很被人看重的打擊樂器，卻不容易敲得好。其他樂器會有偶發的高潮，也有休止的時候，但是鈸手卻不可以停頓，鈸手必須持續且穩定地敲下去。這種沒有停頓、沒有變化、穩定持久的節奏是一切頌讚音樂的基礎。現代的鈸通常由鼓手一起敲打。在〈列王記下〉裡，直到約西亞王，讚美時仍經常頌唱亞薩的詩。當年約櫃遷入耶路撒冷時，亞薩和他的樂師們前行奏樂，敲鈸吹號，鼓瑟彈琴，用詩歌頌揚讚美耶和華(代上16∶4-7)。

哥轄的子孫中有歌唱的希幔，希幔是約珥的兒子，約珥是撒母耳的兒子，這樣一直算上去，希幔原來是可拉的後裔。詩篇88篇是可拉後裔的詩歌，就是以斯拉人希幔的訓誨詩，此說他是以斯拉人可能是指其出生之地。可拉當年召集各支挀的首領陰謀叛變，想把摩西和亞倫趕下台，想要爭得祭司之位。後來神使地裂開，把他和其他叛變者吞下去，使他們活活地墜落陰間（民16）。在〈民數記〉26章11節告訴我們，可拉的眾子並沒有死亡。可拉當年想成為祭司的夢，在其後裔撒母耳身上成全了，卻不是藉著奪權，而是藉著奉獻成為拿細耳人。神也賜給可拉的後裔有吹角頌讚的恩賜，希幔更奉神之命做王的先見。

The Hope of Heaven

2021-09-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV)
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.

On verse 1: What is Paul talking about when he says, “Now we know if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed…”?  What earthly tent is Paul referring to?  The earthly tent Paul is talking about is our physical bodies, which, like a tent, are useful but susceptible to wear and tear.  Our earthly bodies are great temporary dwellings, but they are also subject to hunger, fatigue, disease and death.  Paul is saying that, as Christians, one day when we die, we can look forward to going to heaven where we will have “an eternal house”, a physical body that will never decay and cannot be destroyed.  Praise God!  The Bible describes heaven as a place where God “will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)  So if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, you have much to look forward to after you die.  For when you die, you don’t leave home; you go home!

2 Corinthians 5:2-5 (NIV)
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

Speak Out God’s Word and Overcome

2021-09-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:13-14 (NIV)
13  It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak,
14  because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence.

On verses 13-14:  Paul quotes this verse “I believed; therefore I have spoken” from Psalm 116:10 as a reminder to him and his team to keep speaking out what they believe, declaring God’s Word over their lives and reminding themselves of the truth that just as God raised Jesus from the dead, so God will raise Paul and his team up from the greatest hardships, even death itself.

When you’re going through great hardship the way Paul was, one of the best things you can is speak out your faith and speak out God’s Word.  Praise God!  There are thousands of promises from the Bible you can hang onto.  For example, verses 16 and 17 below are worth memorizing and declaring.  When you declare in faith what you know to be right and true, it keeps you from sinking into hopelessness or drifting into distraction.

祭司的一天

2021-09-13 in , /by

〈歷代志〉上 24:19  這就是他們的班次，要照耶和華以色列的神藉他們祖宗亞倫所吩咐的條例，進入耶和華的殿辦理事務。

閱讀經文：〈歷代志 〉上 24章

亞倫和子孫被神揀選去供祭司的職份。在西乃曠野時，亞倫和兒子們承接聖職，因為拿答和亞比戶沒有按著神的吩咐，擅自取用凡火獻給神，當場被從神那裡出來的火燒死（利10:2）。拿答和亞比戶那時還年輕，沒有兒子；因此亞倫只剩兩個兒子以利亞撒和以他瑪，及其後裔來服侍神。以利亞撒的子孫中有十六個族長，以他瑪的子孫中有八個族長，加起來共有廿四個族長，負責帶領各族在每週和安息日時，輪流進去聖殿中服侍。他們採用掣籤的方式來安排各班（族）的工作時間，因為用掣籤的方式可以避免紛爭和不滿。

在前一章（代上23章）裡有提到，大衛數點了卅歲以上的利未人共有三萬八千人，其中有二萬四千人管理耶和華殿的事，有六千人做官長和士師，有四千人做守門的，又有四千人用大衛所做的樂器頌讚耶和華。 聖殿究竟有多少工作，需要用這麼多人呢？今天我們要借用以色列聖殿學院的一些資料，和大家一起來看看祭司的工作內容。所以我們稱其為“祭司的一天”。祭司的一天從輪班前住進去開始。聖殿兩旁有祭司的宿舍供值班的祭司們住宿。

祭司起床後，要漱洗潔淨自己，然後彼此幫助，換上祭司服。我們來看看祭司們的工作有哪幾方面。昨天我們也談到為何有的經文說利未人廿歲就要去參與耶和華殿的事務，有的經文說卅歲。有的聖經學者指出，那是因為廿歲是開始當“學徒”，卅歲才能正式任職的原因。那麼他們要學哪些事情呢？從他們早上起床後就要掣籤分工開始，就曉得工作的分配十分公平，必須什麼都會做，不能只會一兩樣，抽到什麼工作都要去做。

Find The Big BUT In Every Problem

2021-09-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.  Let’s go!

2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV)
7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

On verse 7:   The Corinthians were aware to some degree of Paul’s trials, hardships and weaknesses and some Corinthians would even say that these trials, hardships and weaknesses are evidence that Paul is not a “super apostle”.  Paul responds by likening his faith and God’s Holy Spirit inside to a treasure that resides in a weak, brittle jar of clay – i.e. himself.  This is consistent with Paul’s point in verse 5 that he is not here to preach about how good and strong he is but about how great and strong God is.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NIV) 
8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 

On verses 8-9:  I love Paul’s attitude.  No matter how many problems Paul faced, Paul was found a big BUT in every problem. “We are hard pressed on every side, BUT not crushed; perplexed, BUT no in despair; persecuted, BUT not abandoned; struck down, BUT not destroyed.”