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Moses your accuser, Jesus your Saviour

2021-02-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 5:41-47.  Let’s go!

John 5:41-44 (NIV) 
41  “I do not accept praise from men,
42  but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts.
43  I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.
44  How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?

On verses 41-44:  Interesting.  Jesus seems to be saying that if you’re all about living for people’s praise and approval and are not interested in pleasing God, this will keep you from an effective, saving, fruitful faith in God.  In other words, faith is a heart issue. 

John 5:45-47 (NIV) 
45  “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.
46  If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.
47  But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”

遵守誡命必蒙福祉

2021-02-14 in , /by

〈申命記〉 11:11-12你們要過去得為業的那地乃是有山有谷、雨水滋潤之地，是耶和華─你　神所眷顧的；從歲首到年終，耶和華─你　神的眼目時常看顧那地。

在前一章摩西說以色列人曾是悖逆的百姓，但是他希望百姓進迦南之後，記念神的作為，效法神，好像蒙慈愛的兒女一樣。

今天是農曆新年初四，但是在疫情的管制下，大家都被限制不可群聚，所以聚餐及各樣活動都得取消。為了以後有更多的歡聚，大家都要忍耐，今年保持距離，以策安全。為了將來，眼前的忍耐是值得的。

對以色列人而言，也是如此。神所有的作為，包括使埃及人的車輛全軍覆沒，以色列可拉族反叛的人被地吞噬，都是為了讓以色列人知所依歸，知所事從。

所以摩西告誡以色列人：「所以，你們要守我今日所吩咐的一切誡命，使你們膽壯，能以進去，得你們所要得的那地，並使你們的日子在耶和華向你們列祖起誓、應許給他們和他們後裔的地上得以長久；那是流奶與蜜之地。」(申11:8-9)

以色列人守誡命，正如我們今天守政府條例。誡命裡的限制，都是為了使以色列人在神所賜的地上得以長久；政府的條例也是希望我們能安然而健康地活下去。

神給以色列人的地不是荒蕪的野地，摩西如此形容：「你要進去得為業的那地，本不像你出來的埃及地。你在那裡撒種，用腳澆灌，像澆灌菜園一樣。你們要過去得為業的那地乃是有山有谷、雨水滋潤之地，是耶和華─你　神所眷顧的；從歲首到年終，耶和華─你　神的眼目時常看顧那地。」(申11:10-12)

Four Witnesses

2021-02-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 5:31-40.  Let’s go!

John 5:31-34 (NIV) 
31  “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. 
32  There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. 
33  “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 
34  Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved.

On verses 31-34:  The Jewish law provided that claims that people in court should be established by two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15; Matthew 18:16).  Knowing this, to back up his claims about him being the Son of God, he cites John the Baptist as one of his witnesses.  He does this not because he personally feels any need for a human witness (“Not that I accept human testimony” – v34a) but to address questions people may have about Jesus’ credibility (“but I mention it that you may be saved” – v34b).  John the Baptist was one of Israel’s most respected leaders and thus his testimony about Jesus gave weight to Jesus’ claims.