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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。

When Jesus Comes Again

2020-11-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 21:20-28. Let’s go!

Luke 21:20-28 (NIV) 
20  “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 
21  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 
22  For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 
23  How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ……

On verses 20-28: Here Jesus warns his disciples that chaotic and frightening times lay ahead of them before Jesus returns. In terms of specifics, however, as in the case of verses 8-19, it is not 100% clear exactly at what point in these verses Jesus transitions from talking about the impending fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. to talking about his return in verse 27-28, which is certainly an end time event. One could argue that verses 25-26 are most likely talking about the end times, but how much of verses 20-24 is talking about the end times and how much is referring to the already past destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.?

朝见神的时候

2020-11-04 in /by

出埃及记19章16-20节     到了第三天早晨，在山上有雷轰、闪电和密云，并且角声甚大，营中的百姓尽都发颤。摩西率领百姓出营迎接神，都站在山下。西奈全山冒烟，因为耶和华在火中降于山上。山的烟气上腾，如烧窑一般，遍山大大地震动。角声渐渐地高而又高，摩西就说话，神有声音答应他。耶和华降临在西奈山顶上，耶和华召摩西上山顶，摩西就上去。

这是第一次，以色列全会众一起朝见神的奇妙时刻。那天早晨，在西乃山上有雷轰、闪电和密云，山下的百姓听到雷轰，看到闪电和密云，换了是你，会有怎样的感觉？我在家里听到雷轰，都会想躲到棉被里，亲身在那种场合，一定是种很震撼的感觉。神在山上，那是神的家吗？神的圣地是不可因为起好奇心而去偷窥的，那是死罪。因此神叫摩西下山去警诫百姓。

耶和华对摩西说：「你下去嘱咐百姓，不可闯过来到我面前观看，恐怕他们有多人死亡。 又叫亲近我的祭司自洁，恐怕我忽然出来击杀他们。」摩西对耶和华说：「百姓不能上西奈山，因为你已经嘱咐我们说：『要在山的四围定界限，叫山成圣。』」耶和华对他说：「下去吧，你要和亚伦一同上来，只是祭司和百姓不可闯过来上到我面前，恐怕我忽然出来击杀他们。」于是摩西下到百姓那里告诉他们。(出19:20-25)

There’s Grace Under Pressure

2020-11-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 21:5-19. Let’s go!

Luke 21:5-6 (NIV) 
5  Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 
6  “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

On verses 5-6: As his disciples fawn over how beautiful and expensive the temple in Jerusalem is, once again Jesus predicts the coming destruction of the temple, which would happen a few decades later in 70 A.D.

On verses 7-12a: The disciples ask Jesus when the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed and what signs would hint that this event was coming soon (v7). In reply, Jesus warns his disciples not to follow other individuals who come claiming that they are the Messiah (“claiming, ‘I am he’”) and that the time has almost come (v8).

我如鹰将你们背在翅膀上

2020-11-02 in /by

出埃及记19章4-6节    我向埃及人所行的事，你们都看见了；且看见我如鹰将你们背在翅膀上，带来归我。如今你们若实在听从我的话，遵守我的约，就要在万民中做属我的子民，因为全地都是我的。你们要归我做祭司的国度，为圣洁的国民。

在利非订时，摩西的岳父叶忒罗带着摩西的家小来和他团聚。原来摩西己经有两个儿子了，可能在埃及时，摩西觉得太凶险了，万一法老拿他家人做人质，他就很为难了，因此把他们送回岳父家里。叶忒罗可能听闻以色列人己经出埃及，不用再顾忌，所以就带了他们来见摩西。

当年约瑟离开迦南地，在埃及生了两个儿子，一个叫玛拿西，一个叫以法莲；前者之意是「神使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。」，后者之意是「神使我在受苦的地方昌盛。」

摩西的两个儿子，一个名叫革舜，因为摩西说：「我在外邦做了寄居的」；一个名叫以利以谢，因为他说：「我父亲的神帮助了我，救我脱离法老的刀」。

当你为自己的孩子取名时，会不会跟自己的经历有关系？跟神有没有关系？约瑟和摩西都把神的恩典记在儿子的名字里，所以我们每次读到这些名字时，就知道他们记得神的恩典，因着仰望神，神也祝福他们。

Son of David, Son of God

2020-11-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 20:41-21:4. Let’s go!

Luke 20:41-44 (NIV) 
41  Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? 
42  David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 
43  until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”‘ 
44  David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” 

On verses 41-44: After being asked different questions by the chief priests, teachers of the law and the Sadducees, Jesus asks a question of his own. He first points out what seems like a contradiction in the Old Testament Scriptures. On one hand, the Scriptures teach that the Messiah is “the Son of David” (v41), that is, a descendant of David. On the other hand, in one of David’s most famous written prayers (Psalm 110:1, which Jesus quotes in verse 42-43), David calls the Messiah his “Lord” (v42). It would be strange for an older person to call one of their distant descendants (i.e. their great-great-great-great-great-great… grand child) “Lord”. So why does David call his own distant descendant, the Messiah, “Lord”? That is Jesus’ question.