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The Key to Loving Jesus A Lot

2020-09-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is Luke 7:24-35.  Let’s go!

Luke 7:36-50 (NIV) 
36  Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 
37  When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 
38  and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 
39  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is–that she is a sinner.” 
40  Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. ……

On verses 36-50:  Here we see one of the most beautiful and intimate acts of worship that anyone would show Jesus during his time on earth.  While Jesus is having dinner at the home of a Pharisee called Simon, a woman shows up having come from a notoriously sinful past and brings with her an alabaster jar of expensive perfume.  She wets Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes them with her hair, kisses them and pours perfume on them.  Simon the Pharisee is appalled by this woman and also by the way Jesus receives her offering.  In response, Jesus tells Simon a parable about forgiving debts and how the more we realize just how much God has forgiven us, the more we will respond to God with humble service and great affection.

都死了？

2020-09-07 in /by

创世记五章28-29节 拉麦活到一百八十二岁，生了一个儿子，给他起名叫挪亚，说：「这个儿子必为我们的操作和手中的劳苦安慰我们，这操作劳苦是因为耶和华咒诅地。」

〈创世记〉第五章的前几节是很有盼望的：「当神造人的日子，是照着自己的样式造的，并且造男造女。在他们被造的日子，神赐福给他们，称他们为人。(创5:2-3)」所以人可以肯定，自己的形象来自神，而不是猿猴。

但是接下去的经文让人看了就很沮丧：亚当共活了930岁就死了。塞特共活了912岁就死了。以挪士共活了905就死了。该南共活了910岁就死了。玛勒列共活了895岁就死了。雅列共活了962岁就死了。以诺共活了365岁。 以诺与神同行，神将他取去，他就不在世了。玛土撒拉共活了969岁就死了。拉麦共活了777岁就死了。

记得在新冠肺炎流行以前，在媒体或网路上经常看到有某人因为长寿而被采访的新闻，那时有一种感觉，只要我们也照着做，说不定可以活得更长。 巿面上也流行养生长寿之道，大家都希望能够一直活下去。目前宣称最长寿的，是一名居于印尼爪哇的老人说自己146岁，是世上最长寿的人。但是他也死了。

但是新冠肺炎一来，再长寿的也死了。有很多经历过第一次和第二次世界大战的老人，也静静地走了。因为一开始最多染病的多在老人院，美国有些老人院的尸体堆到无处可放，那情形十分恐怖。许多地方连尸袋都不够用，焚化炉也日夜不停地烧。那一个时期的新闻真的是惨不忍读。

我们开始明白，生命的主权不在我们手里。吃再多灵芝也会死，经常运动也会死，饮食节制吃七分饱会死，不节制吃十二分饱也会死；放纵会死，不放纵也会死。

Living for Heaven’s Praise

2020-09-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 7:24-35.  Let’s go!

Luke 7:24-27 (NIV) 
24  After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
25  If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.
26  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
27  This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 

On verses 24-27:  Jesus’ friendship with John was one typified by mutual honour and respect.  Despite both of them being the most prolific preachers Israel had ever seen, there was seemingly no competition between Jesus and John.  Whether in private or in public, Jesus and John honoured one another. We see an example of this here as Jesus backs up his cousin John at a time when John was imprisoned for speaking out against King Herod’s incestuous relationship with Herodias.  Many in the crowd listening to Jesus were likely followers of John who were now following Jesus, just as John encouraged them to do (John 1:35-37).  Listen to what Jesus says of John.

该隐和亚伯

2020-09-07 in /by

创世记四章1-2节    有一日，那人和他妻子夏娃同房，夏娃就怀孕，生了该隐，便说：「耶和华使我得了一个男子。」又生了该隐的兄弟亚伯。亚伯是牧羊的，该隐是种地的。

离开了伊甸园，亚当和夏娃开始用自己的劳力换取食物。他们或许生了很多孩子，只是没有一一记载；在这章里该隐所说的其他人，也有可能是他们的后裔。亚当活了930岁，不可能只生下三个孩子，那时还没有生育计划。其他的孩子可能陆续长大后就出外独立了。在第五章都只用一个儿子作为代表，所以该隐和亚伯算是代表作吧。

该隐是种地的，亚伯是牧羊的。当时神给人类的食物还是以蔬菜水果为主，该隐的工作是为了民生；亚伯牧羊是为了有羊皮给人作衣服，并不是拿来吃的。神看中亚伯的献祭，不看中该隐的献祭，并不是神爱吃荤或素，因为在〈利未记〉里，不管是燔祭，赎罪祭或是素祭都是神圣的祭。

当然，献祭给神不是为了要给神吃，而是为了解决人的罪的问题，好让人依然有机会可以和神沟通。所以〈希伯来书〉九章22 节说：「按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血洁净的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。」

〈希伯来书〉11章4 节说：「亚伯因着信献祭于神，比该隐所献的更美，因此便得了称义的见证，就是神指他礼物作的见证。」亚伯为何蒙称赞呢？因为亚伯将他羊群中头生的和羊的脂油献上。他所献的合乎神的教导和神的心意，他特地选了羊群中头生的，还有羊的脂油。

Jesus > Death (Also, How to Handle Your Doubts)

2020-09-06 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 7:11-23.  Let’s go!

Luke 7:11-16 (NIV) 
11  Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.
12  As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out–the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
13  When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14  Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”
15  The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16  They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”

On verses 11-16:  So far in Luke’s gospel we have seen Jesus’ supremacy over evil spirits, over sickness, over nature, and over the Sabbath.  Now here we see Jesus’ supremacy over death.

神在第七天歇了一切创造的工

2020-09-04 in /by

创世记二章1-3 节   天地万物都造齐了。 到第七日，神造物的工已经完毕，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。神赐福给第七日，定为圣日，因为在这日神歇了祂一切创造的工，就安息了。

守安息日乃是记念上帝创造之奇工，所当永矢咸遵的永远的责任-守安息日的命令，乃远在十诫之先，乃为上帝道德律的一部分。因为六日之内，耶和华造天，地，海，和其中的万物，于此可见安息日之重要与价值。此乃记念并庆祝上帝创造之工及其位格，必然与超越性。所以在十诫的第四诫规定：「当记念安息日，守为圣日。六日要劳碌作你一切的工。」

「七」乃是一个神圣的字，乃是从亚加底亚（Accadian）先祖传给闪族的，病人要在每周第七日用洗罪油在自身膏抹，以求早日痊愈。考古学家在米所波大米发现石版上的日历，写的是每周七日，证明安息日在古巴比伦早已风行。在石版上，第七日，第十四日，第二十一日，第二十八日，都称安息日，并且加写：「歇工的日子」，而其所用的字句，乃与摩西相同。这种限制，也和摩西法典一样严格。这些制度乃远在亚加底亚时代即已制定，还在亚伯拉罕之前。考古学家又发现一块石版，上面写的是乃是「心灵歇息的日子」。这乃是因为上帝里面有一个永远安息，以及永不止息的创造力的「活水的泉源」（耶二13），所以神命告我们要遵守祂安息的律法，又要守工作的律法。我们的安息，只是上帝安息的「缩型」之表征而已。况且上帝的创作和安息，乃是神圣的，我们的工作和安息，乃是世俗的，称为模仿上帝。

在新约时代，主耶稣和门徒都未废除安息日。摩西律法时代以后，虽已废除守安息日的法令和规律，但同时却又宣告因为人性的需要，不可忘记安息日神圣的渊源，仍应谨守勿渝。在主耶稣基督里面，并没有废除摩西法典的任何一点。我们虽不拘泥死的字句，但为了我们的灵命与圣洁，仍应虔诚与敬拜。

The Blessing That Comes From Respecting Authority

2020-09-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 7:1-10.  Let’s go!

Luke 7:1-10 (NIV) 
1  When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 
2  There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 
3  The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 
4  When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 
5  because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 
6  So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. …

On verses 1-10:  I find interesting the words of the elders who spoke on the Roman centurion’s behalf.  They said to Jesus, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” (v4-5)  It raises the question: can we be so good and do so much good that we actually deserve for God to do something for us?  The answer is no.  We don’t deserve anything from God.  Every good thing God does is a gift of His grace that we didn’t deserve.

蛇引诱我

2020-09-03 in /by

创世记二章16-17节  耶和华神吩咐他说：「园中各样树上的果子，你可以随意吃；只是分别善恶树上的果子，你不可吃，因为你吃的日子必定死。」

这是一个耳熟能详的故事，蛇引诱夏娃吃善恶果，夏娃虽然记得神说不可吃，也不可摸，不然必死；但是当蛇说：「你们不一定死！因为神知道你们吃的日子眼睛就明亮了，你们便如神能知道善恶。」不一定会死，不一定会被发现，说不定吃了就会变得更聪明，如神一般，能知善恶。当夏娃想到「不一定」时，她就想试试神的底线，她把神说的「必定死」换成「不一定」，很显然的，这就是罪的开始。

当我们把人的话取代神的话时，那就是罪了。因为不信神的话就是渺视神了。神对祂的话是非常看重的，创造宇宙的神所说的每一句话，都不徒然返回，总要成就(赛55:11)。当我们经历天道循环，四季轮换，昼夜不息时，就可以体会祂是一个非常信实，从不误时的神。祂不容许人对祂的怀疑，因为天地要废去，祂的话却绝不废去(太24:35)。伟大如摩西，与神如此贴近的摩西，也只因为一次没有完全听神的话，以击打代替吩咐磐石出水，便得罪神，而不得进迦南地。一次! 所以假如你说你相信神，那就最好相信到底，不要脚踏两条船，又要信又要怀疑，这两者本不相容。

你还记得在神创造的六天里，哪一天没有说「神看是好的」？就是第二天，当神把深渊的水分开，穹苍出现时。因为那时被囚禁在水中的恶魔也被释放出来，成为空中掌权者的首领，就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵(弗2:2)。而伊甸园里引诱夏娃的古蛇是谁呢？就是〈启示录〉20章2节说的：「他(天使)捉住那龙，就是古蛇，又叫魔鬼，也叫撒旦」。为何神容许牠的存在，而且让牠当空中掌权者？

Are You “Judgment-Happy”?

2020-09-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 6:37-49.  Let’s go!

Luke 6:37-42 (NIV) 
37  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
39  He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
40  A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
41  “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

On verses 37-42:  These verses warn us against being “judgment-happy” people (i.e. people who are quick to judge others without giving it much thought).  Notice how Jesus connects being judgment-happy with lacking vision.  Judgment-happy people tend not to have a clear or accurate view of others or themselves. 

Pray Through Your People Decisions Copy

2020-09-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 6:12-26.  Let’s go!

Luke 6:12-16 (NIV) 
12  One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
13  When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
14  Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,
15  Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,
16  Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

On verses 12-16:  Notice that Jesus spent quality time in prayer before he chose his disciples and called them his authorized representatives (“apostles”).  What can we learn from this?  Before you ask someone to be in a significant relationship with you (whether it’s business-wise, romantically or otherwise), make sure you pray about it and seek God’s guidance.  Like Jesus, pray through your most important people decisions.