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In Your Anguish Go to Your Heavenly Father

2020-11-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:39-53. Let’s go!

Luke 22:39-40 (NIV) 
39  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40  On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 

On verses 39-40: Previously, when his disciples asked Jesus how to pray, one of the lines Jesus taught them to pray was “lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:4). Now is when the rubber meets the road, when the disciples are in a situation where they need to pray more than ever the way Jesus teaches them to pray.

How often do you pray, “Lord, lead me not into temptation”? It may be a prayer we ought to pray more often.

Luke 22:41-42 (NIV) 
41  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
42  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

On verses 41-42: Jesus is the Son of God, the most powerful man to ever live.  Yet notice the way Jesus approaches his Father in prayer:

拜金牛犊的后果

2020-11-10 in /by

出埃及记32章34节     现在你去领这百姓，往我所告诉你的地方去，我的使者必在你前面引路，只是到我追讨的日子，我必追讨他们的罪。

耶和华神在山上告诉摩西，以色列人在山下造了一只金牛犊，向它下拜献祭。摩西求神不要降祸于祂的百姓，神应允了他。当摩西手里拿着两块神亲手写的法版下山时，就看见牛犊，又看见人跳舞，便发烈怒，把两块版扔在山下摔碎了，又将他们所铸的牛犊用火焚烧，磨得粉碎，撒在水面上，叫以色列人喝。

摩西责备亚伦，亚伦却把责任都推给百姓。摩西就站在营门中，说：「凡属耶和华的，都要到我这里来！」于是利未的子孙都到他那里聚集。他对他们说：「耶和华以色列的神这样说：『你们各人把刀跨在腰间，在营中往来，从这门到那门，各人杀他的弟兄与同伴并邻舍。』」利未的子孙照摩西的话行了。那一天百姓中被杀的约有三千。摩西说：「今天你们要自洁，归耶和华为圣，各人攻击他的儿子和弟兄，使耶和华赐福于你们。」(出32:26-29)

这段经文让我们看了不解，摩西为何要叫他们杀自己人呢？只为了拜偶像吗？拜偶像是这么严重的死罪吗？你认为呢？

假如我们把主耶稣的话放在这里，可能可以有更深一层的理解。耶稣说：「人到我这里来，若不爱我胜过爱自己的父母、妻子、儿女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命，就不能做我的门徒。 (路14:26) 」不能做主的门徒，意思就是与祂无份了，与耶稣无份的人有什么样的结局呢？

When You’re Disappointed In Someone You Love

2020-11-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:25-38. Let’s go!

Luke 22:25-27 (NIV) 
25  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
26  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

On verses 25-27: Back in Jesus’ time, the highest profile leaders were very much about titles and throwing their weight around (v25). In contrast, Jesus calls his disciples to a revolutionary kind of leadership, one that is about service. In God’s economy, the greatest and most valuable leaders are those who serve.

以色列人拜金牛犊

2020-11-09 in /by

出埃及记32章13节    「求祢记念祢的仆人亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列，祢曾指著自己起誓说：『我必使你们的后裔像天上的星那样多，并且我所应许的这全地，必给你们的后裔，他们要永远承受为业。』」

当以色列人出埃及后，聚集在西乃山下时，摩西教导他们耶和华的律例典章，又和他们立约，他们说：「耶和华所吩咐的，我们都必遵行。 (出24:3/7) 」但是这样的美好关系能持续多久呢？是什么原因使他们背弃自己的约呢？

耶和华对摩西说：「你上山到我这里来，住在这里，我要将石版并我所写的律法和诫命赐给你，使你可以教训百姓。」摩西和他的帮手约书亚起来，上了神的山。摩西对长老说：「你们在这里等著，等到我们再回来。有亚伦、户珥与你们同在，凡有争讼的，都可以就近他们去。」摩西上山，有云彩把山遮盖。耶和华的荣耀停于西奈山，云彩遮盖山六天，第七天他从云中召摩西。耶和华的荣耀在山顶上，在以色列人眼前，形状如烈火。摩西进入云中上山，在山上四十昼夜。(出24:12-18)

摩西在众人眼前上山，四十昼夜，专心领受神的律法和诫命。他把照顾百姓的责任交给亚伦，其他的长老也上山和神亲近过。百姓也见过神在山上颢的大荣耀，这些，能不能使百姓持守对神的敬畏呢？

百姓见摩西迟延不下山，就大家聚集到亚伦那里，对他说：「起来，为我们做神像，可以在我们前面引路，因为领我们出埃及地的那个摩西，我们不知道他遭了什么事。」亚伦对他们说：「你们去摘下你们妻子、儿女耳上的金环，拿来给我。」百姓就都摘下他们耳上的金环，拿来给亚伦。亚伦从他们手里接过来，铸了一只牛犊，用雕刻的器具做成。他们就说：「以色列啊，这是领你出埃及地的神！」亚伦看见，就在牛犊面前筑坛，且宣告说：「明日要向耶和华守节。」次日清早，百姓起来献燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。(出32:1-6)

百姓想要做神像，为他们领路。因为他们看不到摩西。百姓想做神像，因为在埃及都学埃及人拜神像。他们的心只是暂时被神的威荣所震撼，例如雷轰、闪电和密云，当一切都平静下来之后，神就与他们没关系了。眼见为凭，摩西也不见了，他们的信心就找不到地方挂了。我们的信心挂在谁的身上呢？

Focus on Jesus’ Greatness, Not Your Own

2020-11-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:14-24. Let’s go!

Luke 22:14-24 (NIV)
14  When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
15  And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17  After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you…….

On verses 14-24: This scene, one of the most famous scenes from Jesus’ life, is the basis for why and how we do communion. The bread we break represents the body Jesus broke for us on the cross. The cup we drink represents the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross.

At first, when I read a passage like this, I’m struck by how petty the disciples are in this scene. Their leader Jesus has just shared his heart about how much he desires to eat this final supper with them before he suffers. The disciples, however, upon hearing that one of them will betray Jesus, turn this last supper with Jesus into a quarrel among themselves about who would be the one to betray Jesus. This would lead to various disciples getting defensive and starting to talk about which of them was the greatest disciple. Yet in quarreling this way, the disciples were missing the point of the last supper. They had turned an occasion that was supposed to be about Jesus into an occasion that was more about themselves.

普遍启示与特殊启示

2020-11-06 in /by

普遍启示与特殊启示

我们自小开始不断看书，完全不知疲倦，得到的知识多的不得了。我这一生买的书有二万多本，因为有太多知识使我深受吸引。我们把世界的知识与《圣经》的真理做一比较，不违背《圣经》的，我们接受；违背《圣经》的，我们要谨慎，不要受引诱。《圣经》把一切属灵、属世重要的原则都告诉我们，我们就要谨慎自己的知识有怎样的来源与内容。

一、普遍启示

世上的学问有些很高超，不一定有罪恶的成分，虽然世上的书都是人写的，人都有犯罪的成分，但上帝把普遍启示给了人，上帝是真理与启示的源头，人可以观察、探讨自然，然后找到一些原理，有些人所找到的原理并没有错，因为是上帝把创造的智慧放在其中，使人发现。有些希腊的思想家专研究自然，因为自然有太多奥秘，太使人好奇，吸引人来观察与思想。这世界上有一个特别的民族，就是希腊人，希腊人一看到什么就思想，一思想就研究原理，一研究原理就写下原则，成为自然科学方面的研究。

我们现在用「逻辑」（logy）这个字，就是与「道」（logos）有相同意义的字。我们应当把logy翻译成「道」，但很多人把logy翻译成「学」，比如生理学、物理学，其实应该改成生理道、物理道，因为万有有一个大道，叫作logos，人心里有一个小道，叫做logigos，人用心里的小道探知宇宙的大道，结果发现真理的道是知识的总源头。上帝用祂的道创造万有，祂的道就隐含在各种知识范围内。我们透过观察与研究明白宇宙的自然之道，透过圣灵的启示明白上帝的超然之道。

Whose Agenda Are You Serving?

2020-11-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:1-13. Let’s go!

Luke 22:1 (NIV) 
1  Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching…

On verse 1: The Feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover, was one of the most important festivals in the Jewish calendar. It was an annual event to commemorate the time described in the book of Exodus when the Israelites were still slaves in Egypt and were getting ready to leave Egypt under Moses’ leadership. God warned that every firstborn son living in Egypt would be struck down and killed unless his family sacrificed a lamb without defect and painted the doorframes of their homes with the lamb’s blood. When God saw the blood painted on the doorframes, God’s wrath would “pass over” that family and that house. God also instructed the Israelite families back then to bake bread without leaven (yeast) in it, so as to have a quick meal before being led out of Egypt. As a reminder of the mercy God showed to the Israelites back then, every year the Israelites would commemorate this event through the Feast of Unleavened Bread, or Passover, by eating a similar meal together consisting of unleavened bread and lamb.  

Be Ready for Jesus and Guard Your Mountain Times with God

2020-11-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 21:29-38.  Let’s go!

Luke 21:29-36 (NIV) 
29  He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 
30  When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 
31  Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 
32  “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 
33  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ……

On verses 29-36: Though we don’t know when exactly Jesus is returning, we know that he is returning soon (v29-31), that it will be an event no one will miss (v35) and that we want to be ready at all times. Assuming that “this generation” in verse 32 means not just Jesus’ disciples 2000 years ago but also includes us and future believers as well, how do we get ready for Jesus’ return? We do so by hanging on to Jesus’ words, which “will never pass away” (v33). We also do so by being careful not to let worry and wasteful living weigh down our hearts (v34). Instead, we will focus on loving God, loving people, and living out His purposes for our lives.

人际关系之二

2020-11-05 in /by

出埃及记20章15-17节     「不可偷盗。16 「不可作假见证陷害人。17 「不可贪恋人的房屋，也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴并他一切所有的。」

在十诫中的第五诫到十诫里，耶稣用一句话就把它们概括了：「你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人(路6:31)。」

你希望儿女孝敬你吗？那你就要有好榜样，先孝敬你和配偶的父母。你不想被杀吗？或是被人蔑视或看轻，那你就不要恨人，也不要随便骂人。你不想配偶背叛你，那么你就要做个忠实的配偶，做一个手洁心清的人，给对方有安全感。

第八诫：「不可偷盗」。你喜欢人家偷你的东西吗？若是不喜欢自己的东西被偷，那么自己就不要去偷别人的东西。因为：「你们愿意人怎样待你们，你们也要怎样待人。」

第九诫：「不可作假见证陷害人」。假见证除了说谎，还包括你知道却不说事实，或是把事情说一半，留一半不说，都是假见证，因为会误导人，间接陷害他人。所以不要以为沉默是金，在该说话时保持沉默，那就是犯了此诫。

第十诫：「不可贪恋人的房屋，也不可贪恋人的妻子、仆婢、牛驴并他一切所有的。」现在还可以加上，不可贪恋人的车子，手机，电动玩具，名牌皮包……等等。别人的就是别人的，不要放在自己的心里。有一次有位朋友告诉我：「你不要以为那些开名车的人都很有钱，大多数是租的或是分期贷款买的。」当然也不要羡慕别人的华屋，除非你有钱请人来打扫，不然住在里面就变成房子的奴仆了。其他的也是如此，别人用好东西背后的责任和代价，不一定是你要的。

人际关系之一

2020-11-05 in /by

出埃及记20章12-14节「当孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐你的地上得以长久。13 「不可杀人。14 「不可奸淫。」

在十诫中，5-10诫是神教导人与人之间应当守的法则。我相信这几诫也是一个和平社会必须有的法则。假如人人在社会里可以遵守这几诫，那么人人都可以道不拾遗，夜不闭户了。当然，许多人在表面上都可以达到这些要求，好像我没杀过人，你一定也没杀过人，他也没杀过人，要找出杀过人的人并不是随手可以指出。因为想杀人的，不会在脸上写：「我要去杀人了。」或是，「我杀过人。」小偷也不会告诉你，他是小偷，要偷你的东西了。做假见证的更是口口声声说他说的都是真的，等到对质时，才笑你是大傻瓜。所以我们来看看这六诫里的内容。

第五诫：「当孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和华你神所赐你的地上得以长久。」孝敬有时很引起争议，因为不信耶稣的父母最不想孩子信耶稣，害怕死后没人烧香或烧纸钱，或是用一些鸡鸭水果拜他们，以致他们在阴间没得吃，他们觉得这就是不孝。但是基督徒强调孝敬父母是要在父母还在人间时，好好地服侍他们，使他们快乐。

因为所罗门王说：「活着的人知道必死，死了的人毫无所知，也不再得赏赐，他们的名无人记念。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9:5-6)」所以与其在父母死后大张旗鼓，倒不如趁著父母还在时对他们好一点。