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将心比心

2021-02-01 in , /by

〈申命记〉 24:22 你也要记念你在埃及地做过奴仆，所以我吩咐你这样行。

在〈申命记〉 24:10-22里，神特别提到对穷人的看顾和帮助。神对穷人的眷顾，为何不赐给他们钱财或好运，让他们都能脱离窘境，反而是希望别人在他们有需要时去帮助他们呢？神不是没有能力，为何不让世界变成一个均富的世界呢？假如这个世界里，大家拥有的都一样多，那么会不会减少很多问题？

回想神起初造伊甸园时，祂的用意是想让人都能享受祂的创造，但是一旦罪进入世界，人的贪念和罪性就颠覆了神原先的理想。神没有立刻挪去人的贪念和罪性，但是祂却让人在这个充满贪念和私欲的世界里学习，让人看到自己的罪性、神的完美，让人明白自己的软弱，若不倚靠神，人终会自己灭了自己。

我想，神要我们明白，人若不彼此帮助，就没有希望。所以祂允许贫穷的存在。贫穷代表了人的软弱，人的有限；某些人的贫穷反映出某些人的贪婪和榨取。所以要使人回正常心，就必须让人学习付出，从别人的需要上去看到自己的责任；并且要使人懂得怎样活出神的形像。当我们来到神面前时，祂总是怜悯帮助；因此当有人需要我们的帮助时，我们也必须用神的爱去爱他们。

在上一章里，神说若是取人当头，不可拿人家的上下磨石，因为那是他们维生的工具。若是没了磨石，他们连吃饭的工具都没有了，从何有力气去赚钱来还你呢？因此怜悯别人，就是帮助自己。你想拿回人家借去的钱，那么你就帮助他们有赚钱谋生的机会，他们有钱不就可以还你了吗？

Jesus: Like No Other

2021-02-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 2:13-25.  Let’s go!

John 2:13-17 (NIV) 
13  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
14  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 
15  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 
16  To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” 
17  His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

On verses 13-17:  Here we read of Jesus going to Jerusalem, visiting the temple courts and driving out those who had turned the temple courts into a marketplace. 

Let Jesus Have His Way

2021-01-31 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 2:1-12.  Let’s go! 

John 2:1-2 (NIV) 
1  On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 
2  and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

On verses 1-2:  Who were the ones who experienced Jesus’ first miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding?  It was those who invited Jesus, as well as those closest to him.

What can we learn from this? If you want Jesus’ involvement in a situation, invite Jesus into the situation.   Whenever you sincerely invite Jesus, he will be there.   No invite, no involvement. 

Also, if you want Jesus’ involvement in a situation, you need to get close and intimate with him.  No intimacy with Jesus, and you’ll miss a lot of what Jesus is doing.

John 2:3-5 (NIV)
3  When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 
4  “Dear woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5  His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 

神的话不可加添删减

2021-01-31 in , /by

〈申命记〉 4:2 所吩咐你们的话，你们不可加添，也不可删减，好叫你们遵守我所吩咐的，就是耶和华─你们　神的命令。

〈申命记〉是摩西在摩押平原，以色列人进迦南地之前，摩西对出埃及后的第二代以色列人的提醒。因为神在西乃山下把律法赐给出埃及的第一代以色列人，但是他们让神很失望，他们失败了。在伴随各样神蹟的旅程中，他们无法信靠那带领他们出埃及的神。

但是神对第二代的以色列人仍抱着希望，希望他们能够成为遵行祂律法的子民。所以有人说，每一个婴儿的出生，都代表了神对人类仍然抱有希望。虽然看到今天的社会十分糜烂，撒旦的爪牙无处不在，以致很多人感叹，生孩子容易，教养孩走在正路上很难。有的人因而不想生孩子，或甚至不想结婚。但是神对人类仍抱着希望，因此撒旦虽然嚣张，圣灵依然在掌权。

当然我们也知道，凭着人的意志力，也不可能完全遵行所有613条律法，而一点也不犯错。这就是彼得说的：「现在为甚么试探神，要把我们祖宗和我们所不能负的轭放在门徒的颈项上呢？(徒15:10)」神也知道，所以祂说：「我也要赐给你们一个新心，将新灵放在你们里面，又从你们的肉体中除掉石心，赐给你们肉心。我必将我的灵放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章。(结36:26-27)」

神让我们看到得胜的密诀，不在于赢在起跑点，不在于有高深的学历或丰厚的家产，而在于听从和遵行神的律例和典章。生活在以色列的犹太人，目前几乎天天都在枪林弹雨中度过，他们怎能有那样的活力来面对每天的挑战？便是因为他们回到了神的律例和典章里，他们大部份人尚未接受耶稣，但是终于抛弃了偶像，开始遵行神的话语，这就是他们能力和祝福的来源。

更丰盛的生命(4a)

2021-01-29 in , /by

〈约翰福音〉5章45节   耶稣说：「盗贼来，无非要偷窃，杀害，毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」

人从你身上看见什么？

　　耶稣说：「盗贼来，无非要偷窃，杀害，毁坏；我来了，是要叫羊（或作：人）得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」（约10:10）有生命的人是活的，没有生命的人是死的。当人得着属灵的新生命，就使人活在上帝面前。如果人没有领受上帝的新生命，就永远死在罪中。我们有新生命，我们属灵的生命活了，够了吗？耶稣说，不够，祂要叫我们得着更丰盛的生命。

　　同样活着的人，生命的层次是不一样的，有的活得很辛苦，有的活得很享受，有的活得很贫穷，有的活得很丰富。一个有更丰盛生命的人，是一个怎样的人呢？是一个感恩的人。有的基督徒天天咒骂、天天埋怨上帝，从早到晚看不见他有喜乐满足生命的流露，但是有一些人不是如此，他对每件事都感到是上帝的恩典，对每个痛苦都感到主会引导，对每个困难都往好的地方想，如同圣经所说，这样的人是凡事感恩的人。

　　一个有丰盛生命的人是分享自己的人，活在世上不是单单为自己，上帝给的恩典福气，都可以与人分享，像保罗说的：「叫别人与我们一同领受福音的好处」。弟兄姊妹，请问跟你生活在一起的人，从你身上看到什么？从你生命中分到什么？你有没有叫别人与你同得福音的好处？单单「福音的好处」这个题目，我们可以讲好几堂的道理。我活着一天，就是使别人从我身上得到恩典的一天。

　　我们对别人应当做一个心肠广大，对别人有包容、有体恤、有爱心。人人都有软弱，好像我们自己也充满软弱，我们对别人的软弱是挑剔、批评吗？或者我们是存著宽容、理解、赦免的态度对待别人呢？我们的心地是不是窄小，没有办法容纳别人的存在呢？或者我们的心地宽大，所有的人都在我们接纳的范围呢？

A Key to Growing Spiritually

2021-01-29 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

let’s get into today’s GAME passage, Joshua 24:22-33.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:22-28 (NIV) 
22  Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD.” “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied. 
23  “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” 
24  And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.” 
25  On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he drew up for them decrees and laws. 
26  And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of theLORD. 
27  “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.” 
28  Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

On verses 22-28:  Here Joshua leads the Israelites in making a covenant, a legally binding agreement, between the Israelites and God where the Israelites commit to serving God and obeying Him.  He uses a large stone as a witness (i.e. a reminder) of the commitment that the people have made.  After this Joshua sends the people home.

摩西的最后一程

2021-01-28 in , /by

〈申命记〉3:28 你却要嘱咐约书亚，勉励他，使他胆壮，因为他必在这百姓前面过去，使他们承受你所要观看之地。

这里记载的是摩西的最后一程，他带领以色列人出埃及，在旷野走了四十年。神终于要让以色列人进迦南了，但是摩西却被阻在迦南地之外。摩西祈求神让他进迦南，神不许，最后摩西顺服。就像主耶稣曾经祷告，祈求拿去祂的苦杯，但最后还是顺服，愿神的旨意成全。这就是我们必须学习的心态，在神面前，神的旨意大于我们的心愿，也唯有神的旨意成全，神的大计划才能完成。我们都是神的大计划中的一枚小螺丝钉，只要我们在自己的岗位上站好了，发挥了该有的功用，就是完成了神在我们身上的旨意。所以放下自己的渴望和野心，跟随神的带领，我们的一生就没有遗憾。若是强要让自己的野心得以实现，往往会很失望的。

耶和华对我说：「不要怕他，因我已将他和他的众民并他的地，都交在你手中。你要待他像从前待住希实本的亚摩利王西宏一样。」神如此交代，也如此成全。神没有叫摩西怎样攻取，神说祂己经把敌人交在摩西手中，所以只管上去拿就对了。假如是出于神的托付，我们就向前进取。因为争战的是耶和华。

在希实本的那场战役已经震惊了它北边的邻邦，巴珊的统治者噩，噩决心要和以色列人作战。巴珊是另一个亚摩利人的王国，因此，而且无疑地认为以色列敌视所有的亚摩利人。无论如何，以色列在这场战役里也得了胜利，仇敌不仅被打败，更被完全消灭。

第二场胜利明显是特别值得记念的，原因有两个。主要的原因是它使得整个外约但河都落入以色列人手中；基列和巴珊的名称包括了从亚扪北边直到黑门山的整个地区，这一带至今还是一个主要的地理分界线。另一个原因是被打败的巴珊王噩，他异常高大的身躯所留给人的回忆。这个异常巨大的身躯可从一件骇人的博物馆陈列品中看出，这件珍品后来于亚扪人的首都拉巴出现，拉巴就是现代的安曼。这件遗物，约四米长，一般都认为它不是一个「铁床架」，而是玄武岩石棺（basalt sarcophagus）──一种「石头制的棺材」。

The Right Reason to Serve God

2021-01-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,                   

Today’s passage is Joshua 24:11-21.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:11-18 (NIV) 
11  “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 
12  I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you–also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 
13  So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’ 
14  “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. ……

On verses 11-18:  Here Joshua continues his final address to the Israelites.  He recalls events that are well known to the Israelites, because most of these Israelites would have experienced these events personally: how God helped them to cross the Jordan, gave different cities and peoples into their hands, drove out enemy nations before them, and gave them land that they did not work for and cities they did not build.  On this basis Joshua commands the Israelites to serve the Lord and not any other god (v14), and personally commits his own household to serving the Lord (v15).  The people respond similarly, saying that they will serve the Lord because it was He who rescued them from slavery, protected them in the wilderness, and drove out the nations so that they could have the promised land (v16-18).

Understanding Your Place in God’s Story

2021-01-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,                   

Today’s passage is Joshua 24:1-10.  Let’s go!

Joshua 24:1-10 (NIV) 
1  Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. 
2  Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods. 
3  But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 
4  and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt. ……

On verses 1-10:  Here is Joshua’s final address to the entire nation of Israel.  Here in these verses Joshua recounts the history of the nation of Israel, beginning with their forefathers Terah (v2), Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v3-4), whose lives preceded Joshua’s time.  Then Joshua recounts how Moses and Aaron led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt with incredible miracles such as parting the Red Sea (v5-7) and into the desert where the Israelites wandered for a long time (v7b).  

一无所缺的四十年

2021-01-27 in , /by

〈申命记〉 2:7「因为耶和华你的神在你手里所办的一切事上已赐福于你。你走这大旷野，祂都知道了。这四十年，耶和华你的神常与你同在，故此你一无所缺。」

一无所缺的四十年旷野之旅，想起来真是不可思议。以色列人虽月大火 屡次得罪神，神却依然眷顾他们；即使是在惩罚之中，依然一无所缺。神的爱是如此深濶，不可测量。当我们思想自己的大半生时，是否也有如此的体会，神给我们的恩典，是否也让我们一无所缺？2020虽然过得辛苦一点，我们还是一无所缺地走过来了，所以让我们同心仰望，不管2021将如何，神都知道，也必带领。

耶和华吩咐我说：「不可扰害摩押人，也不可与他们争战。他们的地，我不赐给你为业，因我已将亚珥赐给罗得的子孙为业。」(申2:9)

耶和华吩咐我说：「你今天要从摩押的境界亚珥经过，走近亚扪人之地，不可扰害他们，也不可与他们争战。亚扪人的地，我不赐给你们为业，因我已将那地赐给罗得的子孙为业。」(申2:19)

摩西的这段话是指在出埃及后的第四十年，回到摩押平原后的遭遇。受过了卅八年走旷野地的惩罚，以色列人终于得到神的许可，要准备进迦南地了。但是在迦南地的周围有一些人住着，不经过他们的地，以色列人就得绕道走远路。在这一章里，神提到有三族人的地是神赐给他们，以色列人不可去扰害的。那就是以东人，是以扫的后裔；摩押人和亚扪人，是罗得的后裔。以扫是雅各（以色列）的哥哥，罗得是亚伯拉罕的侄子。他们原本都是一家人。