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What Does It Mean to Remain in Jesus’ Love?

2021-03-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 15:9-17.  Let’s go!

John 15:9-10 (NIV) 
9  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 
10  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

On verses 9-10:  What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love, as verse 9 says?  Remaining in Jesus’ love (or as some translations say, to “abide” in Jesus’ love) means to stay in tune with Jesus, to keep trusting in Jesus and to obey Jesus’ commands (v10). Just as Jesus kept in tune with his Father and did not stop obeying his Father’s commands, so Jesus tells us to do the same.  In doing this we will bear much fruit (v5). 

So what happens when we mess up and disobey?  Does it mean that we are cut off from Jesus?  Fortunately, it is Jesus’ obedience to the Father that keeps us connected to God, not our own effort.  So if you mess up and sin after a season of bearing fruit in Jesus, don’t condemn yourself or give up.  Remember that it is Jesus’ faithfulness in the end that keeps us connected to God.

Jesus’ Cleansing Word Makes You Fruitful

2021-03-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 15:1-8.  Let’s go!

John 15:1-2 (NIV) 
1  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 
2  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

On verses 1-2:  Here Jesus refers to himself as the true vine.  Why the “true” vine?  It’s because Jesus knew that soon his followers would be threatened by persecution and false teaching.  Thus in calling himself the true vine Jesus is reminding his followers that he is the way, the truth and the life they are looking for, not anything else or anyone else.

Here Jesus also refers to God the Father as the gardener, and people as branches on the vine.  As branches on the vine we are expected to bear much fruit (v8). What kind of fruit?  The fruit of believing in Jesus and becoming more like Jesus. When we are persistently fruitless – when we don’t believe in Jesus and don’t become more like Jesus – at some point we will be cut off.  But if we are fruitful, God takes steps to “prune us” – that is, cleanse us, brace us, and lift us up – so that we can be more fruitful.

你当刚强壮胆！

2021-03-24 in , /by

〈约书亚记〉 1:9  我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 1:1-9 

死亡，是一个何等令人难以接受的名词。刚才还在谈笑风生的人，忽然之间就不在了。再也不能看到他（她），不能与之交谈，没有反应，他（她）什么都不知道了。生死之间，令人难以接受这种残酷的事实。神对约书亚说：「我的仆人摩西死了」。意思就是，你不要再期望摩西可以指导你或帮你了。You are on your own.英文就是这样说的，你得自行负责了。约书亚的大半辈子都跟跟着摩西，摩西说什么，他就做什么，惟摩西是瞻。一下子，摩西走了。他情何以堪？

就像很多倚靠了老公大半辈子的女人，老公一去世，她不会开车，不会加油，不会处理帐目，因为丈夫在世时太能干了，所以她什么都不知道。所以在葬礼时，听到有女人哭：「你走了，我怎么办啊？」她担心的是自己如何走前面的路，不是老伴儿究竟去了何处。所罗门王说：「 活着的人知道必死，死了的人毫无所知（传9:5）」。人虽然有灵魂，但肉体归于尘土之后：「他们的爱、他们的恨、他们的嫉妒早都消灭了，在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有份了。（传9:6）」他们与世人无份了。摩西再厉害也帮不到约书亚了。

神知道约书亚心里的软弱。摩西交给约书亚的，不是一间两间工厂，不是一两个家庭，而是两三百万的以色列人。约书亚看过那些支派的首领们怎样悖逆，对付摩西和亚伦；想到两三百万人的需要和管理，约书亚明白自己的担子有多重。大卫王在〈诗篇〉144篇第二节说：「祂是我慈爱的主，我的山寨，我的高台，我的救主，我的盾牌，是我所投靠的，祂使我的百姓服在我以下。」唯有神可以使百姓服在一人之下，因为每个人都有个性，谁都不服谁，凭什么你可以做领袖，我就不能？

摩西登尼波山

2021-03-23 in , /by

〈申命记〉 34: 10 以后以色列中再没有兴起先知像摩西的，他是耶和华面对面所认识的。

阅读经文：〈申命记〉 34:1-12

读完了摩西五经，你觉得摩西的一生有哪些事最触动你的心？假如你想效法摩西，你会学习他的哪一方面？

摩西，一个本来注定要死的孩子，在神的恩典里，竟然成为当代最伟大的，一个不平凡的人。想通了，摩西也是一个平凡的人，但是因着神的拣选和磨炼，成了前无古人后无来者的一位先知。「以后以色列中再没有兴起先知像摩西的，他是耶和华面对面所认识的」，在摩西之前也没有一位先知如此蒙神重用。连被称为神的朋友的亚伯拉罕，也没有和耶和华「面对面所认识」。神说摩西：「他是在我全家尽忠的。我要与他面对面说话，乃是明说，不用谜语，并且他必见我的形象。」

摩西，一个在众人面前被当作神的代表之人。当日神呼召摩西时，答应摩西可以亚伦当做口，亚伦则要以摩西当做神（出4:16）。没有其他人享有如此的殊荣，可以得到神如此的应许，让另一个人把他当作神。神是如此爱摩西，以致于容不得摩西有一时的软弱，在气令智昏之下违背了神的命令，击打磐石出水，神因而拒绝了摩西进迦南的请求。在摩西的一百廿年之间，这是唯一的一次，神拒绝了摩西。摩西会有气令智昏的时候，神却绝不昏头，话出就不再收回。即使如此，摩西也活到了满寿120岁，是该交棒的时候了。

神曾经叫摩西把自己从神得的荣耀给约书亚一些，摩西照做了，约书亚便成了摩西的继位者。这就是人要面对的，每一代的传承。我们不是神，不可能希望自己所开创的事业或工作一直流传下去，我们可以在自己的大半生内，做好自己的本份；但是当我们的时候到了，我们便得把棒子交下去。不要留恋人间的地位，不要贪恋权势和虚荣，该放手时就放手。

Your Heavenly Father’s Greater Plan

2021-03-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 14:22-31.  Let’s go!

John 14:22-24 (NIV) 
22  Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23  Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

On verses 22-24:  One of Jesus’ disciples called Judas (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot who would soon betray Jesus) asks Jesus a question I sometimes hear from people today, “If Jesus is truly the Messiah, why doesn’t Jesus just show himself directly to the whole world instead of communicating to and through his disciples?”  (v22)

At first it might not seem like Jesus answers Judas’ question.  But upon further reflection notice that in response to Judas’ question, Jesus emphasizes again that to love Jesus is to obey his teaching and that when a person chooses to love Jesus, God (both the Father and Jesus in this case) come to that person and make their home with that person (v23).  In other words, when a person chooses in faith to do what Jesus tells that person to do, they will discover for themselves all the evidence they need to believe in Jesus.

摩西祝福以色列人

2021-03-22 in , /by

〈申命记〉 33:27   永生的　神是你的居所；祂永久的膀臂在你以下。祂在你前面撵出仇敌，说：毁灭吧。

阅读经文：〈申命记〉 33:1-29

这是《圣经》第一次称摩西为「神人」，英文是the man of God, 可以说是属神的人，也可以说是奉神差遣的人，或有圣灵的人。他形容神在西奈山与百姓的初见，「西奈山」又译为何烈山，神的山。因为神在那里赐下律法。「西珥」的原意是多毛，或长满粗毛，是以东地的山脉。「巴兰山」是旷野地的一座山。「万万圣者」有的人说可能是指众多的天使。在这里唯一的一次，把律法形容为烈火的律法，烈火可以烧尽渣滓，使万物洁净；神的律法也有洁净人心的作用。摩西指出，神把律法传给百姓，是因为神疼爱他们。

摩西的祝福首先提到耶和华神是以色列人的神，祂疼爱以色列人，赐下律法，并且要在以色列人当中为王。这是一个极大的祝福。因为没有好的领袖，百姓就会很辛苦。所以为何每个国家在竞选总统或总理时，竞争都非常激烈。即使选举巿长也是很激烈，因为选民都明白领导者对自己所住地区的影响，他的为人、作风、思想和信仰都会影响到整个地区。因此有耶和华神作王，是一个最大的祝福。一个真正爱以色列百姓的王。

摩西接着讲到以色列十二支派的前途，他的看法和雅各的有些不一样，我们会稍微比较一下。雅各的祝福是从父亲对儿子的观点出发，但是摩西则不再是看个人，而是以支派而言。

老大流便因为和父亲雅各的妾辟拉同寝，他放纵情欲，以至失去长子的名份。但在这里，摩西祝福流便的支派，不致死亡，人数不致稀少。但是他还是得不回长子的尊荣和权力。

犹大本是老四，却升到西缅和利未之上了。雅各对犹大的祝福是出于神，因为他预言君王和弥赛亚都要出于犹大支派。摩西则祝福他，求神帮助他攻击敌人。很简单，但是很实际，哪个君王不需要神帮助他攻击敌人呢？

Enter The Holy Spirit (Plus, To Love Jesus Is To Obey Jesus)

2021-03-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 14:15-21.  Let’s go!

John 14:15 (NIV) 
15  “If you love me, you will obey what I command.

On verse 15:  Loving Jesus is not simply feeling a certain way toward Jesus or having a favourable opinion about Jesus.  It’s doing what Jesus commands.  To love Jesus is to obey Jesus.  If you want to know how well you love Jesus, ask yourself, “How much am I obeying what Jesus is commanding me to do?”

John 14:16-17 (NIV) 
16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–
17  the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

On verses 16-17:   To help us love and obey Jesus, Jesus and the Father together give us access to the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Trinity.  Here Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of truth” (v17).  He also calls the Holy Spirit a “Counselor” (v16), in Greek “parakletos”, which in other English translations has also been translated “comforter”, “advocate”, and “helper”.  Indeed the Holy Spirit is all of those things to Christians. The Holy Spirit counsels Christians to understand and do God’s will.  The Holy Spirit comforts Christians with the presence of God.  The Holy Spirit is our advocate who speaks to the Father on our behalf.  And the Holy Spirit is our helper, who empowers us to do what God wants us to do.

摩西之歌

2021-03-21 in , /by

〈申命记〉 32:29   唯愿他们有智慧，能明白这事，肯思念他们的结局！

阅读经文：〈申命记〉 32:1-52

这一章是摩西之歌，摩西奉神的命令所写的预言歌。预言以色列人将在神的祝福里，越行越远。「耶书仑渐渐肥胖，粗壮，光润，踢跳奔跑，便离弃造他的神，轻看救他的磐石。 敬拜别神，触动神的愤恨；行可憎恶的事，惹了他的怒气。」耶书仑是指神所爱的正直之人，是神为以色列人取的亲蜜之名。

有很多人都很喜欢唱诗歌。在每一首歌的背后大多有一个动人的故事，因为感动，而流露出来的心思。特别是经历过苦难而写下的诗歌，经常成为多人的帮助。例如：哈瑞修..斯彼福在他的妻女都死于海难，他的财产又付诸大火时，他写下了〈我心灵得安宁〉。他说，人生「有时享平安，如江河又平稳，有时忧伤来似浪滚，不论何环境，我已蒙主引领，我心灵得安宁，得安宁。」让我们想起约伯在失去所有的儿女和财产之后，说：「赏赐的是耶和华，收取的也是耶和华。耶和华的名是应当称颂的！」他们认识的神是宇宙的掌权者，因此在失去世上的一切时，仍然充满盼望，有极深的平安。神巴不得以色列人也有如此的信念，知道神是他们的磐石。

The Place Jesus Has Prepared for You

2021-03-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 14:1-14.  Let’s go!

John 14:1-3 (NIV) 
1  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

On verses 1-3:  These words from Jesus to his disciples can also be taken as his words to us today.  Jesus has prepared a place for you in heaven, in his Father’s house.  The question is: do you trust Jesus (v1) to take you to his Father’s house when you die, or are you trusting in something else, trying to build your own place in heaven?  Praise God that if you have placed your trust in Jesus, on the day you die you don’t leave home; you go home.  For the Christian, home is where Jesus and the Father are.

进窄门、走小路 (下)

2021-03-19 in , /by

〈马太福音〉7章13-14节 你们要进窄门。因为引到灭亡，那门是宽的，路是大的，进去的人也多；引到永生，那门是窄的，路是小的，找著的人也少。

祈求、寻找与寻见

　　门是要进入的，路是要行走的。如果要进宽门、走大路，不用寻找就可进入；但如果要进窄门、走小路，一定要寻找才能进入。进宽门、走大路的人很多，进窄门、走小路的人很少。耶稣的意思是，要进入永生的人，就要寻找那永生的门，走那永生的路，用心追求、辨别，找到之后要走进去。这扇通往永生的窄门要殷切寻找，才能寻到。耶稣说：「你们祈求，就给你们；寻找，就寻见；叩门，就给你们开门」，这祈求与耶稣要人进窄门有关。

耶稣基督：「我就是门，我就是路。」

　　除了耶稣基督，未曾有人说过：「我就是门」这句话。《约翰福音》第十章提到耶稣说：「我就是门」（约10:9），接着《约翰福音》第十四章提到耶稣说：「我就是路」（约14:6）。大凡孔子、释迦摩尼、穆罕默德、大小先知皆未曾说过「我就是门」这句话，这句话唯有耶稣基督说过，「我就是门；凡从我进来的，必然得救，并且出入得草吃」（约10:9）。耶稣是那独一的门，人唯有透过基督才能来到上帝面前，从这门找到真正的路。「我是」（I am who I am），这是上帝的自称，这一位从永恒到永恒的「我是」，就是你所要找的那扇门。耶稣说：「我就『是』道路、真理、生命」，这个「是」是永恒的「是」，这个「是」也是现今的「是」。摩西问上帝：「祢名叫什么？」上帝回答：「我是自有永有的。」（参：出3:13-14）「我是」是上帝的自称，没有任何位格像上帝一样把自己的存在与自己是谁连在一起讲。