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設立逃城的愛

2021-02-25 in , /by

〈申命記〉 19:2-3 要在耶和華─你　神所賜你為業的地上分定三座城。要將耶和華─你　神使你承受為業的地分為三段；又要預備道路，使誤殺人的，都可以逃到那裡去。

從該隱殺亞伯開始，人類就不斷地自相殘殺。在挪亞生了三個兒子之後，神看到世界敗壞，地上滿了強暴。就像該隱的子孫拉麥，對他妻子說：「壯年人傷我，我把他殺了；少年人損我，我把他害了。」因為人屬乎血氣，終日思想的盡都是惡，因此神說：「我的靈就不永遠住在他裡面，然而他的日子還可到一百二十年。（創6:3）」從那時開始，人類的壽命就越來越短了。神的靈雖然不要永遠住在人的裡面，但是神的靈依然要住在人的裡面一百廿年。假如你討厭一個人時，就會想盡辦法不要和他在一起；但是即始年日縮短，神的靈依然要和祂所賜予生命氣息的人在一起一百廿年。當然，為了某些原因，我們不能活到一百廿歲，那也沒有辦法。

神的愛是如此堅定。即使看到人心裡思想的盡都是惡，也要想辦法幫助他。猶太人的拉比認為，逃城的用意不是為了庇護，而是為了贖罪。因為在〈出埃及記〉廿一章13節說：「人若不是埋伏著殺人，乃是神交在他手中，我就設下一個地方，他可以往那裡逃跑。」拉比Philo認為，神不會挑選一個無罪的人去執行奪取他人性命的任務，因此在神把某人的性命交在肇事者手中時，肇事者之前很可能已犯了某些罪，所以神才會挑選他成為取他人性命的「工具」。例子：「就如人與鄰舍同入樹林砍伐樹木，手拿斧子一砍，本想砍下樹木，不料，斧頭脫了把，飛落在鄰舍身上，以至於死。」因此，肇事者的流亡就是他的贖罪祭。

倘若肇事者在未到逃城之前就死掉，他們的屍體還是要送到逃城，埋在那裡。倘若肇事者比大祭司早死，那麼他的屍身也必須葬在城，直到大祭司死掉才可搬走。即使肇事者能活到當時的大祭司死去，得到自由，此後也不可以作官。

Not Afraid to Identify with Jesus

2021-02-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 9:13-23.  Let’s go!

John 9:13-16 (NIV) 
13  They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 
14  Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 
15  Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 
16  Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner do such miraculous signs?” So they were divided.

On verses 13-16:  In response to Jesus giving sight to a blind man on the Sabbath day, some Pharisees fixate on their little rules – how Jesus healing on the Sabbath was a violation of their Sabbath day rules – all the while missing what really matters to God.  May we not make the same mistake.  May I not be so focused on my own little man-made system being challenged that I miss the big things that God is doing. 

像摩西的先知

2021-02-24 in , /by

〈申命記〉 18:15 　耶和華你的神要從你們弟兄中間給你興起一位先知像我，你們要聽從他。

在《聖經》裡，這是一句很重要的預言。因為這句預言，伊斯蘭教(回教)認定穆罕默德就是摩西預言的那位先知，但事實上是否如此？

在以色列人要進迦南之前，摩西有太多話要交待。他帶領以色列人四十年，有時生氣，有時憤怒，有時委屈，有時焦急。但是他最害怕的還是以色列人進迦南後忘記神的話，得罪神。因為他明白神的心意，也明白百姓的反覆無常。人對神的信心不足，往往是因為自己的短視，以及不相信神對他們的愛。其實從神的教導裡，就可以明白耶和華是一位怎樣的神，從而產生信心。在這章裡摩西講到三方面的事，第一方面是照顧利未人。

在舊約裡，神要求利未人服侍祂，也要求以色列人供應利未人的需要；在新約裡，神呼召人事奉祂，也要求信徒供應那些蒙召之人的生活需要。因為他們都是放下了地上的工作，不再為自己積存產業，都是在世界上無份無業之人。現在有一些教會也注意到傳道人退休之後的問題，因為教會沒有退休金的作法，有些傳道人退休之後，生活十分困苦。在舊約裡，當猶大王離開神去拜偶像時，往往神的祭司就會缺乏供應；要等到有敬畏神的王重修聖殿後，祭司的生活才又得到供應。

從神對祭司的預備，我們可以看到神對服侍祂之人的關懷。「凡獻牛或羊為祭的，要把前腿和兩腮並脾胃給祭司； 初收的五穀、新酒和油，並初剪的羊毛，也要給他。」倘若每個百姓都這樣做，祭司們的生活何用愁呢？神並沒有向我們要求很多，祂只要我們「將當納的十分之一全然送入倉庫，使我家有糧，以此試試我，是否為你們敞開天上的窗戶傾福於你們，甚至無處可容。（瑪3:10）」

A Big Reason Why God Allows Suffering

2021-02-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

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

John 9:1-3 (NIV) 
1  As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 
2  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 
3  “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.

On verses 1-3:  When the disciples saw a man blind from birth, the disciples immediately assumed that the man’s blindness was somebody’s fault.  The only question for them was “Who is to blame?”  But Jesus didn’t play the blame game.  Instead, Jesus explains that the reason why this man was born blind was not due to this man’s sins or his parents’ sins, but so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.  What can we learn from this?  When God allows pain in your life, it is not because God is not there or He doesn’t care, and it’s not necessarily because you have sinned.  Rather God allows pain and hardship ultimately because He has plans to display His power and glory through your life in ways that neither you nor others could have foreseen.  Pain is a canvas on which God loves to paint His glory.

耶和華所憎惡之事

2021-02-23 in , /by

〈申命記〉 17:15 你總要立耶和華─你　神所揀選的人為王。必從你弟兄中立一人；不可立你弟兄以外的人為王。

在〈申命記〉 17章裡，摩西談到了一些神所憎惡的事。今年的四旬節從2月17日開始。四旬節的意思是從聖灰日星期三開始算40天，共六個星期，到復活節的前一天的一段時間，一同來思想和記念耶穌受難的意義。在這段時間內思考耶穌為何要受難，以及我們當如何遠離神所憎惡之事，實在很合適。

神最憎惡的事就是祂的子民或兒女遠離神去敬拜事奉別神，以及審判中要按神的律法，並聽從神的判語。比較特別的一點，便是教導以色列人要怎樣立他們的王。

有位在查經班學習了一段時期的慕道友問過一個問題：「假如神設定了一夫一妻制，那為什麼以色列人的王都娶了那麼多老婆？」他從大衛開始到所羅門，如數家珍。可見有很多慕道友對《聖經》的知識並不差。

在這章經文裡，神提到以色列人立王和做王的規矩。

1. 立王的時候，要立神所揀選的人為王，這人必定是以色列人，他們的弟兄，而不是外邦人。在美國想競選總統也要在美國本地出生才行。不曉得有沒有哪個國家選領袖時，會去找一個外國人來當？除非是被壓迫，否則大概都不會這樣做吧。
2.神說，這個王不可以為自己加添馬匹；也不可以為要添馬匹而帶百姓回埃及。馬匹只是君王想要的財富之一。有了馬匹可以增強作戰的能力，但是即使為了增強戰鬥力，也不可回埃及。因為馬雖然是為作戰之日預備的，得勝乃在乎耶和華。因此，大衛說：「有人靠車，有人靠馬，但我們要提到耶和華──我們神的名。（詩20:7）」 神所要求的便是王對神要有信心。

The Most Important Question You Will Ever Answer

2021-02-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:48-59.  Let’s go!

John 8:48-59 (NIV) 
48  The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 
49  “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 
50  I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 
51  I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 
52  At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 
53  Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 
54  Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 
55  Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 
56  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 
57  “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 
58  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 
59  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

On verses 48-59:  Here in these verses Jesus makes some incredible claims:

–        Jesus claims that if you obey his word, you will never die (v51)

–        Jesus claims that he has special knowledge of who God is (v55)

以色列的三個大節日

2021-02-22 in , /by

〈申命記〉 16:15在耶和華所選擇的地方，你當向耶和華─你的　神守節七日；因為耶和華─你　神在你一切的土產上和你手裡所辦的事上要賜福與你，你就非常地歡樂。

我們剛過完春節，再來就過元宵，華人過節和以色列人過節有何不同呢？為何我們必須認識這些節日，這些節日對華人信徒有何意義？

華人過節，除了吃，還是吃，主題就是：吃，聚在一起，吃! 可能有時候小朋友會問過春節的意義，吃元宵，吃粽子的意義，對於那些故事和傳說，很可能每個人都有不同的故事，也都是當成故事。

但是以色列人的節日很特別，是神定的，不是人訂的。所以每一個節日都有不同的歷史意義，使以色列人記得他們和神的關係。

逾越節、七七節(五旬節)、住棚節，是耶和華神指定以色列成年男子要上耶路撒冷的三大重要節日之一。

逾越節，本是神定的以色列的新年，一年之首，因為神在這個月帶領以色列人出埃及，脫離為奴的生涯。後來因為以色列國和猶大國都被滅亡，被擄到巴比倫的猶太人回到耶路撒冷後，加上好幾個原因，逐漸把新年和吹角節放在一起了。

逾越節的隔天便是除酵節的開始，除酵節一共有七天。以色列人進入應許之地後，除酵節的第二天定為初熟節。初熟節便是耶穌復活的日子，所以復活的主耶穌成為睡了之人初熟的果子 (林前 15:20)，第一個從死裡復活、不再死的人。在《聖經》裡，從舊約到新約都有人從死裡復活，包括先知以利亞、以利沙救活的童子，耶穌救活的拉撒路，這些人的肉體都從死裡活過來，但後來又都死了。唯有耶穌是從死裡復活，不再死亡的第一個。耶穌的復活使我們明白了永生的真實，也使人脫離死亡的轄制，所以這些節期都表明神和人相互的關係，不只是和以色列人的關係。

Jesus, God’s Perfect Offering

2021-02-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:12-20.  Let’s go!

John 8:12-20 (NIV) 
12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 
13  The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 
14  Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 
15  You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 
16  But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 
17  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 
18  I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 
19  Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 
20  He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

On verses 12-20:  I find it powerful and interesting to think that when Jesus said these things about him being the light of the world (v12), giving people the light of life (v12), passing judgment on no one (v15), and standing with the Father (v16), Jesus said all these things “in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put” (v20).  In other words, even as people were giving their imperfect offerings for God, Jesus was right there, being given as God’s perfect offering for people. 

耶和華的豁免年

2021-02-21 in , /by

〈申命記〉 15:10   你總要給他，給他的時候心裡不可愁煩；因耶和華─你的　神必在你這一切所行的，並你手裡所辦的事上，賜福與你。

在〈申命記〉第15章裡，摩西一共用了五次的「賜福與你」，來強調神要我們「鬆開手」的重要性。

每逢七年末一年的意思就是安息年，安息年又叫做「耶和華的豁免年」；安息年的條例，主要是指著土地的休耕，此處則是債務的免除。

神說，我們若遵行祂的命令，在我們中間就沒有窮人了(申15:4)。這是一句很嚴厲的話，轉過來說，就是：因為我們沒有遵行神的命令，所以在我們當中才會有窮人。

所以人的貧窮不是因為神不公平，而是人不肯遵行神的命令而造成的差距。

因為人的自私和沒有安全感，對神缺乏信心，因此我們把錢抓得緊緊的，不敢鬆手。

所以摩西說：「在耶和華─你　神所賜你的地上，無論哪一座城裡，你弟兄中若有一個窮人，你不可忍著心、揝著手不幫補你窮乏的弟兄。總要向他鬆開手，照他所缺乏的借給他，補他的不足。(申15:7-8)」

「總要向他鬆開手」。對需要幫助的人鬆開手，表達的是一種對神的信心，相信神己經供應，並且會繼續供應。

在安息年，也就是第七年，以色列人要考慮四方面的事：一是債務的豁免，二是幫補窮人，三是怎樣對待賣身為奴的人，四是怎樣對待牛羊群中頭生的牛羊。

Not Condemned Because of Jesus

2021-02-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:1-11.  We’ll also take up John 7:53 as part of it.  Let’s go!

John 7:53-8:1 (NIV) 
53  Then each went to his own home.
1  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

On 7:53-8:1:   Why did Jesus go to the Mount of Olives?  To pray.  See, for example, Luke 22:39-41.  This was an important secret to Jesus’ success: Jesus prioritized time praying to the Father.  He would go out of his way to do so, and in so doing he experienced a peace, a power and a wisdom that the world could not give.  As we like to say at Thrive, much prayer, much power.  Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power.  Be a person of prayer and you will experience God’s power.

John 8:2-6a (NIV) 
2  At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
3  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
4  and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6  They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him…