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From Not Enough to More Than Enough

2021-02-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 6:1-15.  Let’s go!

John 6:1-5 (NIV) 
1  Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 
2  and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick. 
3  Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 
4  The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 
5  When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

On verses 1-5:  Notice that when Jesus sees the crowd, his heart goes out to them and he wants to serve them.  When he sees the crowd, he probably envisions fields ripe for harvest. What do you see when you see crowds in your city? Like Jesus may you have a heart for the people around you.  Like Jesus, may you desire for God to work powerfully in their lives. As we will see in this passage, multitudes will be blessed when the hearts of a few willing and courageous individuals match the heart of God.

在耶和華面前歡樂

2021-02-15 in , /by

〈申命記〉 12:18 要在耶和華─你的　神面前吃，在耶和華─你　神所要選擇的地方，你和兒女、僕婢，並住在你城裡的利未人，都可以吃；也要因你手所辦的，在耶和華─你　神面前歡樂。

讀了這段經文，你有什麼感想嗎？我讀了這段經文之後，心裡有一種很深的感動。摩西在前面幾章講到神為以色列人做的事情，神給他們的律法，神為他們預備的美地，但是都不如這裡的信息那麼令人感動。神為了和以色列人建立關係，的確做出了許多無可倫比的神蹟奇事，又給他們最完備的建國方略（律法等），但是都不如這裡的信息來得直接，神要選民在神的面前歡樂度日。

神不是包青天，準備了龍頭鍘、虎頭鍘和狗頭鍘，專門等那些犯法的人上前來，就給他鍘一下。祂是希望以色列人，祂的子民都因為手所辦的一切事蒙神祝福，因而在神面前歡樂。你可曾想過，神不要你憂愁，祂希望你歡樂？倘若你在神的面前活得很憂愁，祂看了會很難過。以前孩子小的時候，有時早上動作慢，被我斥責了幾句，小臉蛋扯得長長地去上學。等他一出門，我心裡就開始難過了，就開始禱告，求天父讓他開心起來，不要再難過。往往要等他放學時，看到他那飛揚的笑容，我的心才會再度開朗起來。

天父也希望我們喜樂地活在祂面前。主耶穌在最後的晚餐時，為門徒禱告，其中有一句：「我還在世上說這話，是叫他們心裡充滿我的喜樂。(約17:13b)」即使在面對酷刑和死亡之際，主仍然有喜樂在心裡，祂也不想門徒們失去喜樂，祂求神使門徒的心裡充滿祂的喜樂。當以色列人從巴比倫回去耶路撒冷建殿築城時，尼希米鼓勵他們：「你們不要憂愁，因靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量。(尼8:10)」不是因為環境很美好，不是因為生活舒服，而是在任何景況之下，神都希望我們有祂的喜樂在心裡，因為靠耶和華而得的喜樂是我們的力量。

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.