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What a Great Team Looks Like

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 1:10-18.  Let’s go!

Joshua 1:10-15 (NIV) 
10  So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 
11  “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'” 
12  But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 
13  “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: ‘The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.’ ……

On verses 10-15:  Joshua is leading the Israelites toward Canaan, also known as the promised land.  To get there, Joshua and the Israelites would need to go west and cross the Jordan River.  However, the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh, though they were part of the Israelites, had an agreement with Moses, Joshua’s predecessor, that instead of settling in the promised land west of the Jordan River, they could settle in the land just east of the Jordan.  Joshua respects and upholds this agreement, telling the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh that their wives, children and livestock may stay in the land just east of the Jordan, but that the men from Reuben, Gad and Manasseh must still cross the Jordan River with the rest of the Israelites and help the rest of the Israelites fight and take over the promised land. 

The Key to Finding Courage

Hi GAMErs,

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

Joshua 1:1-5 (NIV) 
1  After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 
2  “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them–to the Israelites. 
3  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 
4  Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates–all the Hittite country–to the Great Sea on the west. 
5  No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

On verses 1-5:  The book of Joshua begins with God giving Joshua the charge to get ready to cross the Jordan with his people into the land of Canaan. God gives Joshua an encouraging vision of what the future would be for him and his nation (v3-4).  God also gives Joshua His promise that He will always be with Joshua (v5) and will give Joshua success (v3).

不潔的源頭

利未記 12:6滿了潔淨的日子,無論是為男孩是為女孩,她要把一歲的羊羔為燔祭,一隻雛鴿或是一隻斑鳩為贖罪祭,帶到會幕門口交給祭司。

當我們思考潔淨不潔淨的動物時,有的人會從實際的情況去理解神的條例。例如,有人研究分蹄的動物不潔,是因為蹄一旦分開比較容易有病毒或病菌進去動物的身體;也有人認為因為某些動物專吃死屍或腐肉,人若沒有把牠的肉煮熟,就會被那些病毒或寄生蟲所害。但是從猶太人的眼光來看,這不潔還不止是指作為食物,即使連婦人懷孕時也要避免看不潔淨的動物,免得胎兒受到影響。猶太人認為人的靈魂是潔淨的,因為是神賜下的靈,所以每個人出生時都是純潔的。

〈利未記〉12:1-8耶和華對摩西說:「你曉諭以色列人說:若有婦人懷孕生男孩,她就不潔淨七天,像在月經污穢的日子不潔淨一樣。第八天,要給嬰孩行割禮。婦人在產血不潔之中,要家居三十三天。她潔淨的日子未滿,不可摸聖物,也不可進入聖所。她若生女孩,就不潔淨兩個七天,像污穢的時候一樣。要在產血不潔之中,家居六十六天。」

但是從這段經文裡,我們看到《聖經》指出人類生命源頭的不潔。根據猶太人的說法,產婦不潔的日數是從生產時見到第一滴血,或是感到即將分娩時開始算起,直到潔淨,這稱為niddah的階段。女人產後流血需要一段時間才會潔淨,所以在這不潔淨的日子裡,她需要休息,使身體各方面都能恢復。

根據猶太拉比的解釋,男孩子生下來第八天受了割禮,就可以正式成為以色列人,神的選民;在割禮之前,他不能算是以色列人。受了割禮,他就是從原來的罪中之民,因著神的恩典,跨過罪的横溝,成為神的選民,所以他和母親的原罪沒有相連,因此母親只需要潔淨40天(7+33)。但是女孩不必受割禮,她和母親的原罪沒有割禮的洗濯,各需要(7+33) 40天的潔淨,因此加起來要(14+66) 80天的潔淨。

你心靈的眼睛看見什麼?

馬太福音6章22-23節  「眼睛就是身上的燈。你的眼睛若瞭亮,全身就光明;你的眼睛若昏花,全身就黑暗。你裡頭的光若黑暗了,那黑暗是何等大呢!」

一個人意念的趨向,在於他受什麼價值觀影響

  我們要把這兩段串聯起來,耶穌先提到錢財與我們的心的關係,接著看外面的光與裡面的光的關係。一個人注重什麼,與他裡面的看法無法分開;一個人心裡所注重的,他就在外竭力追求。我們有一個生命的方向是無法與裡面的意念分開的。一個人意念的方向決定於我們看重什麼,這個趨向受你的價值觀影響。

  中國人用「耳聰目明」(編按:形容腦筋靈敏,聽覺既好,視力也強),形容一個人聽得明白、看得準確。一個聰明的人是否照著自然本能發展下去?不一定,有的人小時候耳聰目明,大了卻怎麼聽也聽不懂,看也看不明白。聖經說有一群婦女終久學道,卻不明白(參:提後3:6-7)。

  教會有些人終久聽道,卻不明白,耳不聰、目不明,這種人很難被改正,因為他自以為懂。保羅不斷追求卻不認為他已經得著了,這是一種謙卑的態度——學無止盡,虛懷若谷。驕傲的人則反之。同樣做基督徒,你看一些基督徒永遠停在那個階段,沒有進一步的靈性,他所知道的、所禱告的,與幾十年前一樣。永不止息追求認識真理,會使我們明白這真理是超越人所想、超越人所知的。

成功的佈道,在於使對方產生正向的心理變化

  有一次我在美國對碩博士講道,一位姊妹把物理學博士帶來聚會,你一看就知道他很不願意來,看起來他是為了陪太太不得不參加聚會的,我很敏感發現這應該是一個很聰明,卻不一定對基督教有好感的人。

A Luke at Jesus (Finale)

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 24:44-53. Let’s go!

Luke 24:44-48 (NIV) 
44  He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 
45  Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 
46  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 
47  and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 
48  You are witnesses of these things.

On verses 44-48: Here Jesus once again affirms to his disciples that the Old Testament (“the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms”) speak about him.  In verses 46-47 Jesus is providing his summary of the message of the Old Testament, that “the Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”. The disciples not only got to read about Jesus in their Old Testament scriptures. Even more they got to see Jesus and what is written about him actually unfold in real life – “You are witnesses of these things” (v48).

Jesus Is Risen!

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 24:30-43. Let’s go!

Luke 24:30-35 (NIV) 
30  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
32  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together
34  and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
35  Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

On verses 30-35: These two disciples recognized it was Jesus not when he was teaching Scripture but rather when they saw Jesus breaking bread and giving thanks (v30-31, 35). I believe there is a lesson for us as followers of Jesus: we help people see who Jesus is not just by teaching the Scriptures, but by the way we do life and give thanks.

潔淨和不潔淨之動物(下)

利未記11章44節   我是耶和華─你們的 神;所以你們要成為聖潔,因為我是聖潔的。

神的聖潔和以色列人吃東西有關係嗎?神的聖潔和基督徒的飲食有關係嗎?很想說怎麼會有關係,主耶穌不是說:「入口的不能污穢人,出口的乃能污穢人。(太15:11)」又說:「豈不知凡入口的,是運到肚子裡,又落在茅廁裡嗎?惟獨出口的,是從心裡發出來的,這才污穢人。因為從心裡發出來的,有惡念、凶殺、姦淫、苟合、偷盜、妄證、謗讟。這都是污穢人的。(太15:18-20)」

但是入口的真的不能污穢人嗎?這裡的污穢代表什麼呢?我相信舊約和新約的污穢有一字之別。主耶穌的意思是凡入口的不能污穢「別」人,出口的才會污穢「別」人;和舊約的意思是相似的,入口的會污穢「自己」。假如你吃壞了東西,就會拉肚子;假如你長期喝酒,就會傷肝;痛風、糖尿病、高血壓、膽固醇,過敏,等等,有許多病多是吃出來的,不是嗎?

神造人原是好的,就是不穿衣服也很好看;人犯罪以後,還是同一個肉體,可是因為心靈的眼光不同了,同樣的肉體看起來也不一樣了,看到的不再是起初的榮光,取代的是情慾和羞恥,因此需要不停地包裝。

神要的聖潔,就是不被玷污的本相;用淺白的話說,神希望我們保有祂給人的健康。所以祂希望我們遠離對人體有害的東西。潔淨和不潔淨的動物,就含有合適和不合適食用的意思在內。

潔淨和不潔淨之動物(上)

利未記11章44節   我是耶和華─你們的 神;所以你們要成為聖潔,因為我是聖潔的。

曾經有位做餐飲業的從業人員,為了要研究知名人物的用餐習性,特別花精神去了解個別人物的愛好。她發現當年的國務卿,猶太裔的季辛吉的習性:「不喝酒,愛喝沛綠雅﹝Perrier﹞ 礦泉水,不吃有殼的海鮮,不吃豬肉。」因而若季辛吉到她服務的餐廳,她總是特別為季辛吉準備沛綠雅礦泉水,並且避免向他介紹有殼的海鮮或豬肉方面的菜單。這就是猶太人在飲食方面的堅持,因為這是神給他們的規定。

在〈利未記〉11章裡,神教導以色列人怎樣分別潔淨和不潔淨的動物,潔淨的可以食用,不潔淨的就不可以食用。其中大部份是為了食用的安全和人體的健康。例如:死了的爬物,掉在甚麼東西上,這東西就不潔淨,無論是木器、衣服、皮子、口袋,不拘是做甚麼工用的器皿,須要放在水中,必不潔淨到晚上,到晚上才潔淨了。若有死了掉在瓦器裡的,其中不拘有甚麼,就不潔淨,你們要把這瓦器打破了。其中一切可吃的食物,沾水的就不潔淨,並且那樣器皿中一切可喝的,也必不潔淨。(利11:31-34)

現在我們知道因為那些死了的爬物,很可能身上有致病的菌或毒,若沾上了我們使用的器皿,沒有洗乾淨,就會使人生病或死亡。

但是動物倒嚼或分不分蹄,對我們食用真的有影響嗎?凡在海裡、河裡,並一切水裡游動的活物,無翅無鱗的,為什麼都不可以吃呢?為什麼有翅膀用四足爬行的物中,有足有腿,在地上蹦跳的,都可以吃;有翅膀有四足的爬物,卻當以為可憎?

Becoming More Aware of Jesus’ Presence

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 24:13-29. Let’s go!

Luke 24:13-16 (NIV) 
13  Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 
14  They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 
15  As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 
16  but they were kept from recognizing him.

On verses 13-16: How many times have we been in conversations with others, failing to recognize that Jesus is present, listening and watching? Remember what Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matthew 18:20) Whenever we’re having conversations with one another, may we speak and act knowing that Jesus is in our midst..

大喜大悲的一天

利未記10章3節    於是摩西對亞倫說:「這就是耶和華所說:『我在親近我的人中要顯為聖;在眾民面前,我要得榮耀。』」亞倫就默默不言。

那是非常喜樂的一天,萬里晴空。在西乃山剛造好不久的會幕前,摩西按著神的吩咐,揀選亞倫和他的四個兒子供祭司的職份。

在〈出埃及記〉28章裡,神己經安排一切心中有智慧的人為亞做衣服,胸牌、以弗得、外袍、雜色的內袍、冠冕、腰帶。這祭司和大祭司的衣服所用的材料是:金線和藍色、紫色、朱紅色線,並撚的細麻。再用巧匠的手工做以弗得,以弗得就是大祭司胸前的那塊布袋,它有兩條肩帶可以相連,又取兩塊紅瑪瑙,在上面刻以色列兒子的名字,六個名字在這塊寶石上,六個名字在那塊寶石上,都照他們生來的次序;

又用刻寶石的手工,彷彿刻圖書,按著以色列兒子的名字,刻這兩塊寶石,要鑲在金槽上。再把寶石安在以弗得的兩條肩帶上,為以色列人做紀念石。亞倫要在兩肩上擔他們的名字,在耶和華面前作為紀念。

然後,用金子做二槽;拿精金,用擰工彷彿擰繩子,做兩條鍊子,把這擰成的鍊子搭在二槽上;再做一個決斷的四方型胸牌,分兩層。在上面鑲寶石四行:第一行是紅寶石、紅璧璽、紅玉;第二行是綠寶石、藍寶石、金鋼石;第三行是紫瑪瑙、白瑪瑙、紫晶;第四行是水蒼玉、紅瑪瑙、碧玉。這都要鑲在金槽中。這些寶石都要按著以色列十二個兒子的名字,彷彿刻圖書,刻十二個支派的名字。

以弗得的外袍,顏色全是藍的。袍上要為頭留一領口,口的周圍織出領邊來,彷彿鎧甲的領口,免得破裂。袍子周圍底邊上要用藍色、紫色、朱紅色線做石榴。在袍子周圍的石榴中間要有金鈴鐺:一個金鈴鐺一個石榴,一個金鈴鐺一個石榴,在袍子周圍的底邊上。亞倫供職的時候要穿這袍子。他進聖所到耶和華面前,以及出來的時候,袍上的響聲必被聽見,使他不至於死亡。

還要用精金做一面牌,在上面按刻圖書之法刻著『歸耶和華為聖』。用一條藍細帶子將牌繫在冠冕的前面。這就是神為大祭司所預備的一切榮華。