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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.

在耶和华面前欢乐

2021-02-15 in , /by

〈申命记〉 12:18 要在耶和华─你的　神面前吃，在耶和华─你　神所要选择的地方，你和儿女、仆婢，并住在你城里的利未人，都可以吃；也要因你手所办的，在耶和华─你　神面前欢乐。

读了这段经文，你有什么感想吗？我读了这段经文之后，心里有一种很深的感动。摩西在前面几章讲到神为以色列人做的事情，神给他们的律法，神为他们预备的美地，但是都不如这里的信息那么令人感动。神为了和以色列人建立关系，的确做出了许多无可伦比的神蹟奇事，又给他们最完备的建国方略（律法等），但是都不如这里的信息来得直接，神要选民在神的面前欢乐度日。

神不是包青天，准备了龙头铡、虎头铡和狗头铡，专门等那些犯法的人上前来，就给他铡一下。祂是希望以色列人，祂的子民都因为手所办的一切事蒙神祝福，因而在神面前欢乐。你可曾想过，神不要你忧愁，祂希望你欢乐？倘若你在神的面前活得很忧愁，祂看了会很难过。以前孩子小的时候，有时早上动作慢，被我斥责了几句，小脸蛋扯得长长地去上学。等他一出门，我心里就开始难过了，就开始祷告，求天父让他开心起来，不要再难过。往往要等他放学时，看到他那飞扬的笑容，我的心才会再度开朗起来。

天父也希望我们喜乐地活在祂面前。主耶稣在最后的晚餐时，为门徒祷告，其中有一句：「我还在世上说这话，是叫他们心里充满我的喜乐。(约17:13b)」即使在面对酷刑和死亡之际，主仍然有喜乐在心里，祂也不想门徒们失去喜乐，祂求神使门徒的心里充满祂的喜乐。当以色列人从巴比伦回去耶路撒冷建殿筑城时，尼希米鼓励他们：「你们不要忧愁，因靠耶和华而得的喜乐是你们的力量。(尼8:10)」不是因为环境很美好，不是因为生活舒服，而是在任何景况之下，神都希望我们有祂的喜乐在心里，因为靠耶和华而得的喜乐是我们的力量。

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?”

遵守诫命必蒙福祉

2021-02-14 in , /by

〈申命记〉 11:11-12你们要过去得为业的那地乃是有山有谷、雨水滋润之地，是耶和华─你　神所眷顾的；从岁首到年终，耶和华─你　神的眼目时常看顾那地。

在前一章摩西说以色列人曾是悖逆的百姓，但是他希望百姓进迦南之后，记念神的作为，效法神，好像蒙慈爱的儿女一样。

今天是农历新年初四，但是在疫情的管制下，大家都被限制不可群聚，所以聚餐及各样活动都得取消。为了以后有更多的欢聚，大家都要忍耐，今年保持距离，以策安全。为了将来，眼前的忍耐是值得的。

对以色列人而言，也是如此。神所有的作为，包括使埃及人的车辆全军覆没，以色列可拉族反叛的人被地吞噬，都是为了让以色列人知所依归，知所事从。

所以摩西告诫以色列人：「所以，你们要守我今日所吩咐的一切诫命，使你们胆壮，能以进去，得你们所要得的那地，并使你们的日子在耶和华向你们列祖起誓、应许给他们和他们后裔的地上得以长久；那是流奶与蜜之地。」(申11:8-9)

以色列人守诫命，正如我们今天守政府条例。诫命里的限制，都是为了使以色列人在神所赐的地上得以长久；政府的条例也是希望我们能安然而健康地活下去。

神给以色列人的地不是荒芜的野地，摩西如此形容：「你要进去得为业的那地，本不像你出来的埃及地。你在那里撒种，用脚浇灌，像浇灌菜园一样。你们要过去得为业的那地乃是有山有谷、雨水滋润之地，是耶和华─你　神所眷顾的；从岁首到年终，耶和华─你　神的眼目时常看顾那地。」(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.