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我使他的心剛硬

2020-10-27 in /by

出埃及記十章1-2節     耶和華對摩西說：「你進去見法老。我使他和他臣僕的心剛硬，為要在他們中間顯我這些神蹟，並要叫你將我向埃及人所做的事，和在他們中間所行的神蹟，傳於你兒子和你孫子的耳中，好叫你們知道我是耶和華。」

在神呼召摩西時，神就再三告訴摩西，神要使法老的心剛硬，這樣神才能按著祂的計劃行許多神蹟，好叫他們知道祂是耶和華。我們經常會覺得神是不是太不公平，祂使法老的心剛硬，又不是法老自己剛硬的。事實上，法老只是一個世人的鏡子，法老代表世界上的人，寧可到處亂拜，拜偶像拜假神，信八卦找算命的，就是不懂得要拜真神。所以神使法老的心剛硬，其實是很大的憐憫，神用每一樣災來對應埃及的十個假神，為了喚醒他們的靈，來認識創造宇宙的真神，實在用心良苦。

因此我有時在想，神有時也會如此對待祂的兒女，如同祂也如此對待以色列人。當以色列人轉去拜假神時，神也是用災禍提醒他們，他們所拜的假神一點不能救他們，直到他們悔改，回轉歸向神，神就安慰他們，拯救他們。我們的心裡若有比神重要的偶像，有時我們不知道那就是偶像，但凡是我們看得比神還重要的人事物，那就是有可能被神擊打的部份，為了要換醒我們的靈，神會不惜讓我們忍受一些世界或身體上的損失，直到我們悔改，回轉，歸向祂。

God’s Return on Investment

2020-10-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 19:11-27. Let’s go!

Luke 19:11 (NIV) 
11  While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

On verse 11: Many people expected that when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem he would immediately establish himself as king over Israel and bring judgment upon those who oppose God. Little do they know that Jesus was entering Jerusalem to be betrayed, arrested and killed by his enemies, and that it would be a long time before Jesus would return as king and establish his kingdom. To help communicate the fact that Jesus would first have to go away for a while before returning as king, Jesus tells this famous parable in the verses that follow.

這是神的手段

2020-10-25 in /by

出埃及記8章18-19節     行法術的也用邪術要生出蝨子來，卻是不能。於是在人身上和牲畜身上都有了蝨子。行法術的就對法老說：「這是神的手段。」法老心裡剛硬，不肯聽摩西、亞倫，正如耶和華所說的。

對法老而言，摩西和亞倫所施的奇事，只是一場又一場的法術比賽，法老的術士們也做得到。但是妥拉坊的鍾鹽光老師對這些奇事，有一套很好的解說：「每一組災難都有一個耶和華神要向法老證明的命題。每個命題，在『每一組的第一災』要發生時就已先預告和佈達，並且，這命題的範圍會隨著法老的心理剛硬而不斷加大、其等級也會不斷上升。」這是法老所沒有想到或預料到的。

在第一組的第一災：水變血。首要證明的是耶和華神的「存在」。『因此，你必知道我是耶和華。』我耶和華神「是存在的」，你法老無法置之不理，坐視不管 (出7:17) 。接著，神要讓法老知道誰掌管生命。

當神吩咐摩西，摩西就告訴亞倫，亞倫就伸杖擊打地上的塵土，就在人身上和牲畜身上有了蝨子，埃及遍地的塵土都變成蝨子了。行法術的也用邪術要生出蝨子來，卻是不能。於是在人身上和牲畜身上都有了蝨子。行法術的就對法老說：「這是神的手段。」法老心裡剛硬，不肯聽摩西、亞倫，正如耶和華所說的 (出8:17-19) 。

行法術的明白他們的法術源頭，不是神，也不是生命的源頭，所以他們無法製造或產生生命。地神(撒拔)就好像華人拜的土地公，它也不是生命的源頭。只有耶和華神才能使塵土變出生命體。所以他們認輸：因為「這是神的手段。」原來他們拜的神明都是假的。行法術的明白了，法老卻不肯認輸，因為在埃及，法老也是被當作神來敬拜的。

Blessed are the Proactive

2020-10-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 19:1-10. Let’s go!

Luke 19:1-3 (NIV) 
1  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 
2  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
3  He wanted to see who Jesus was…

On verses 1-3: In Jesus’ day, tax collectors had a reputation for being greedy and dishonest. Tax collectors were notorious for trying to collect more taxes from the Jews than they actually owed, pocketing the difference for themselves. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was wealthy and unpopular. Ironically, Zacchaeus’ name means “righteous” or “pure one”, though Zacchaeus probably felt like he was anything but righteous and pure. Despite having much wealth, Zacchaeus’ relationships were a mess. One of the big lessons from Zacchaeus’ story is that you can have great material wealth, but if your relationships with God and with people are broken, you will feel empty, poor and stressed with life. It’s no wonder Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. Zacchaeus probably thought: “Maybe this guy has something that I’m missing.”

上帝的道與世上的小學

2020-10-23 in /by

上帝的道與世上的小學

在第一天，我提到上帝所創造的浩瀚宇宙有一個中心點，就是渺小的地球；在地球千萬的事物中還有一個中心點，就是人；在成千上萬的人之中還有一個中心點，就是領受上帝的道、建立信仰的人。第二天，我們思想到另一個題目，就是在人類歷史中有上帝的燈台隨著上帝子民轉移。昔日史上的帝國已經一一被淘汰，唯獨遵行上帝旨意的人才能永遠常存。啟示錄告訴我們：「世上的國（將）成了我主和主基督的國；他要作王，直到永永遠遠。」（啟11:15）今天，我要提到上帝的道與世上的小學。

三種知識的層次

對於世上的小學，保羅用一個非常堅定的信仰來看世界最高的哲學思想，特別是希臘的思想，他認為比起上帝永恆的道，希臘的思想沒有多高深的學問在其中。上帝的道與世上的小學，一個是永恆的，一個是暫時的，一個是由上帝而來，一個是由人而來。知識分為三大層次：一、上帝啟示給人的永生之道；二、人類思想家想出的智慧；三、撒但參雜在其中，用牠邪惡的意念來改變上帝的話，攪亂人類思想的假知識。從這三個層次，你就知道應當持守的是什麼——我們應當持守上帝一次交付聖徒的真道（參：猶1:3）。

兩種知識的源頭

人超越所有被造之物，因為人有永恆的靈。語言是靈的聲音。上帝是靈，上帝向人說話；天使是靈，天使有言語；人有靈，就用言語彰顯意義。撒但是天使墮落後所成的，牠照樣有牠意見的表達。上帝說話、天使說話、人類說話、撒但說話，除此之外，沒有任何存在可以說話。

3 Traits That Help You Experience God’s Power

2020-10-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 18:31-43. Let’s go!

Luke 18:31-34 (NIV) 
31  Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
32  He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.
33  On the third day he will rise again.”
34  The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

On verses 31-34: According to Jesus himself, the Old Testament (i.e. “the prophets” – v31) predicts that the Messiah (“the Son of Man”) would be handed over to be mocked and killed, but afterwards would rise again.

Notice that Jesus specifically says in verse 32 that he will be handed over to the Gentiles. One of Luke’s big themes is that Jesus came not just to save the Jews but to save the Gentiles (all non-Jewish people) as well. Other places in Scripture focus on how it was the Jews who handed Jesus over to be crucified (e.g. Acts 2:22-23). But here Luke emphasizes that Jesus would be given into the custody of Gentiles who would mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. It is not just Jews but Gentiles too – indeed all of humanity – that is ultimately responsible for Jesus’ death.

神的計劃開始進行了

2020-10-22 in /by

出埃及記7章1-5節     耶和華對摩西說：「我使你在法老面前代替神，你的哥哥亞倫是替你說話的。凡我所吩咐你的，你都要說。你的哥哥亞倫要對法老說，容以色列人出他的地。我要使法老的心剛硬，也要在埃及地多行神蹟奇事。但法老必不聽你們，我要伸手重重地刑罰埃及，將我的軍隊以色列民從埃及地領出來。我伸手攻擊埃及，將以色列人從他們中間領出來的時候，埃及人就要知道我是耶和華。」

從神對摩西的呼召，我們看到神把每一步都想好了，祂有全盤的計劃，只要摩西跟著計劃走就可以了。因此聯想到，神在我們每個人身上是否也都有全盤的計劃，只等著我們信靠順服，就能走在神的旨意中了？

神的大計劃如下：1.讓摩西在法老面前代表神，亞倫則替摩西說話。2.神要摩西說什麼，摩西都要告訴亞倫，亞倫再告訴法老。3.神要讓法老的心剛硬，所以祂可以多行奇事。4.因為法老不聽他們，所以神要懲罰埃及，將以色列人領出埃及。

神的這個計劃好奇怪，祂不是要行神蹟讓法老心軟，而是要法老心硬，祂才能多行奇事。最終的目的，是要領以色列人出埃及，二是要埃及人認識祂是耶和華，自有永有的神。

我們都明白，以色列人在外地寄居的時間夠了，神要領他們回迦南地去建國；但是何必還要埃及人認識祂是誰呢？〈以賽亞書〉19章25節，神說：當那日，以色列必與埃及、亞述三國一律，使地上的人得福。 因為萬軍之耶和華賜福給他們，說：「埃及我的百姓，亞述我手的工作，以色列我的產業，都有福了！」

神也屢次告訴亞伯拉罕：「地上的萬族都要因你得福。」所以從一開始，神就沒有種族歧視，世上萬族都是祂造的，祂是所有生命的起源；但是拒絕神的生命，到最後就沒有意義了。神為何要埃及人認識祂呢？因為埃及是個多神教的國家，從蒼蠅到法老，什麼都拜，看在神的眼裡很心痛，所以神希望埃及人開眼，好好認識這位創造宇宙和賜生命給人的耶和華神。這不是一件容易的事，因為人心愚頑。

The Jesus Way to View Money and Possessions

2020-10-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 18:18-30. Let’s go!

Luke 18:18-27 (NIV) 
18  A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
19  “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good–except God alone.
20  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'”
21  “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
22  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23  When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
24  Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
25  Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26  Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
27  Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 

On verses 18-27: Is it necessary that a person must sell all their assets and give every material good they own to the poor in order to inherit eternal life? No.

摩西回到埃及

2020-10-21 in /by

出埃及記四章29-31節   摩西、亞倫就去招聚以色列的眾長老。亞倫將耶和華對摩西所說的一切話述說了一遍，又在百姓眼前行了那些神蹟。百姓就信了。以色列人聽見耶和華眷顧他們，鑒察他們的困苦，就低頭下拜。

雅各和神的使者摔跤，直到他的大腿窩被摸了一把，他的腳扭了；他還是不放神的使者走，直到神的使者祝福他，才放他走。摩西也有這個較勁的性情。耶和華神把祂的計劃全盤告訴摩西，卻換來摩西的推三阻四。

摩西回答說：「他們必不信我，也不聽我的話，必說：『耶和華並沒有向你顯現。』」

耶和華對摩西說：「你手裡是什麼？」他說：「是杖。」

耶和華說：「丟在地上。」

他一丟下去，就變做蛇，摩西便跑開。

耶和華對摩西說：「伸出手來，拿住牠的尾巴，牠必在你手中仍變為杖。如此好叫他們信耶和華他們祖宗的神，就是亞伯拉罕的神、以撒的神、雅各的神，是向你顯現了。」

耶和華又對他說：「把手放在懷裡。」他就把手放在懷裡，及至抽出來，不料，手長了大痲瘋，有雪那樣白。

耶和華說：「再把手放在懷裡。」

他就再把手放在懷裡，及至從懷裡抽出來，不料，手已經復原，與周身的肉一樣。

又說：「倘或他們不聽你的話，也不信頭一個神蹟，他們必信第二個神蹟。這兩個神蹟若都不信，也不聽你的話，你就從河裡取些水，倒在旱地上，你從河裡取的水必在旱地上變做血。」(出4:1-9)

神給摩西三個特異功能，為了向百姓證明他是奉耶和華神的差遣來救他們。平常人有了這三個特異功能應該欣喜若狂，摩西卻不然。

How to Approach God like a Child

2020-10-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 18:9-16, but we’ll add verse 17 in there too, since it fits the context. Let’s go!

Luke 18:9-14 (NIV) 
9  To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 
10  “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 
11  The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. 
12  I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 
13  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 
14  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

On verses 9-14: Through this parable Jesus shows us the difference between those who justify themselves before God and those who look to God for justification. On one hand, those who try to justify themselves, like the Pharisee, take a position of pride and boasting before God. They list their resume of good deeds to show God how good they think they are and why they deserve God’s approval.