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我使他的心刚硬

2020-10-27 in /by

出埃及记十章1-2节     耶和华对摩西说：「你进去见法老。我使他和他臣仆的心刚硬，为要在他们中间显我这些神蹟，并要叫你将我向埃及人所做的事，和在他们中间所行的神蹟，传于你儿子和你孙子的耳中，好叫你们知道我是耶和华。」

在神呼召摩西时，神就再三告诉摩西，神要使法老的心刚硬，这样神才能按着祂的计划行许多神蹟，好叫他们知道祂是耶和华。我们经常会觉得神是不是太不公平，祂使法老的心刚硬，又不是法老自己刚硬的。事实上，法老只是一个世人的镜子，法老代表世界上的人，宁可到处乱拜，拜偶像拜假神，信八卦找算命的，就是不懂得要拜真神。所以神使法老的心刚硬，其实是很大的怜悯，神用每一样灾来对应埃及的十个假神，为了唤醒他们的灵，来认识创造宇宙的真神，实在用心良苦。

因此我有时在想，神有时也会如此对待祂的儿女，如同祂也如此对待以色列人。当以色列人转去拜假神时，神也是用灾祸提醒他们，他们所拜的假神一点不能救他们，直到他们悔改，回转归向神，神就安慰他们，拯救他们。我们的心里若有比神重要的偶像，有时我们不知道那就是偶像，但凡是我们看得比神还重要的人事物，那就是有可能被神击打的部份，为了要换醒我们的灵，神会不惜让我们忍受一些世界或身体上的损失，直到我们悔改，回转，归向祂。

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.

这是神的手段

2020-10-25 in /by

出埃及记8章18-19节     行法术的也用邪术要生出蝨子来，却是不能。于是在人身上和牲畜身上都有了蝨子。行法术的就对法老说：「这是神的手段。」法老心里刚硬，不肯听摩西、亚伦，正如耶和华所说的。

对法老而言，摩西和亚伦所施的奇事，只是一场又一场的法术比赛，法老的术士们也做得到。但是妥拉坊的钟盐光老师对这些奇事，有一套很好的解说：「每一组灾难都有一个耶和华神要向法老证明的命题。每个命题，在『每一组的第一灾』要发生时就已先预告和布达，并且，这命题的范围会随着法老的心理刚硬而不断加大、其等级也会不断上升。」这是法老所没有想到或预料到的。

在第一组的第一灾：水变血。首要证明的是耶和华神的「存在」。『因此，你必知道我是耶和华。』我耶和华神「是存在的」，你法老无法置之不理，坐视不管 (出7:17) 。接着，神要让法老知道谁掌管生命。

当神吩咐摩西，摩西就告诉亚伦，亚伦就伸杖击打地上的尘土，就在人身上和牲畜身上有了蝨子，埃及遍地的尘土都变成蝨子了。行法术的也用邪术要生出蝨子来，却是不能。于是在人身上和牲畜身上都有了蝨子。行法术的就对法老说：「这是神的手段。」法老心里刚硬，不肯听摩西、亚伦，正如耶和华所说的 (出8:17-19) 。

行法术的明白他们的法术源头，不是神，也不是生命的源头，所以他们无法制造或产生生命。地神(撒拔)就好像华人拜的土地公，它也不是生命的源头。只有耶和华神才能使尘土变出生命体。所以他们认输：因为「这是神的手段。」原来他们拜的神明都是假的。行法术的明白了，法老却不肯认输，因为在埃及，法老也是被当作神来敬拜的。

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.”

上帝的道与世上的小学

2020-10-23 in /by

上帝的道与世上的小学

在第一天，我提到上帝所创造的浩瀚宇宙有一个中心点，就是渺小的地球；在地球千万的事物中还有一个中心点，就是人；在成千上万的人之中还有一个中心点，就是领受上帝的道、建立信仰的人。第二天，我们思想到另一个题目，就是在人类历史中有上帝的灯台随着上帝子民转移。昔日史上的帝国已经一一被淘汰，唯独遵行上帝旨意的人才能永远常存。启示录告诉我们：「世上的国（将）成了我主和主基督的国；他要作王，直到永永远远。」（启11:15）今天，我要提到上帝的道与世上的小学。

三种知识的层次

对于世上的小学，保罗用一个非常坚定的信仰来看世界最高的哲学思想，特别是希腊的思想，他认为比起上帝永恒的道，希腊的思想没有多高深的学问在其中。上帝的道与世上的小学，一个是永恒的，一个是暂时的，一个是由上帝而来，一个是由人而来。知识分为三大层次：一、上帝启示给人的永生之道；二、人类思想家想出的智慧；三、撒但参杂在其中，用牠邪恶的意念来改变上帝的话，搅乱人类思想的假知识。从这三个层次，你就知道应当持守的是什么——我们应当持守上帝一次交付圣徒的真道（参：犹1:3）。

两种知识的源头

人超越所有被造之物，因为人有永恒的灵。语言是灵的声音。上帝是灵，上帝向人说话；天使是灵，天使有言语；人有灵，就用言语彰显意义。撒但是天使堕落后所成的，牠照样有牠意见的表达。上帝说话、天使说话、人类说话、撒但说话，除此之外，没有任何存在可以说话。

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.

神的计划开始进行了

2020-10-22 in /by

出埃及记7章1-5节     耶和华对摩西说：「我使你在法老面前代替神，你的哥哥亚伦是替你说话的。凡我所吩咐你的，你都要说。你的哥哥亚伦要对法老说，容以色列人出他的地。我要使法老的心刚硬，也要在埃及地多行神蹟奇事。但法老必不听你们，我要伸手重重地刑罚埃及，将我的军队以色列民从埃及地领出来。我伸手攻击埃及，将以色列人从他们中间领出来的时候，埃及人就要知道我是耶和华。」

从神对摩西的呼召，我们看到神把每一步都想好了，祂有全盘的计划，只要摩西跟着计划走就可以了。因此联想到，神在我们每个人身上是否也都有全盘的计划，只等着我们信靠顺服，就能走在神的旨意中了？

神的大计划如下：1.让摩西在法老面前代表神，亚伦则替摩西说话。2.神要摩西说什么，摩西都要告诉亚伦，亚伦再告诉法老。3.神要让法老的心刚硬，所以祂可以多行奇事。4.因为法老不听他们，所以神要惩罚埃及，将以色列人领出埃及。

神的这个计划好奇怪，祂不是要行神蹟让法老心软，而是要法老心硬，祂才能多行奇事。最终的目的，是要领以色列人出埃及，二是要埃及人认识祂是耶和华，自有永有的神。

我们都明白，以色列人在外地寄居的时间够了，神要领他们回迦南地去建国；但是何必还要埃及人认识祂是谁呢？〈以赛亚书〉19章25节，神说：当那日，以色列必与埃及、亚述三国一律，使地上的人得福。 因为万军之耶和华赐福给他们，说：「埃及我的百姓，亚述我手的工作，以色列我的产业，都有福了！」

神也屡次告诉亚伯拉罕：「地上的万族都要因你得福。」所以从一开始，神就没有种族歧视，世上万族都是祂造的，祂是所有生命的起源；但是拒绝神的生命，到最后就没有意义了。神为何要埃及人认识祂呢？因为埃及是个多神教的国家，从苍蝇到法老，什么都拜，看在神的眼里很心痛，所以神希望埃及人开眼，好好认识这位创造宇宙和赐生命给人的耶和华神。这不是一件容易的事，因为人心愚顽。

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

出埃及记四章29-31节   摩西、亚伦就去招聚以色列的众长老。亚伦将耶和华对摩西所说的一切话述说了一遍，又在百姓眼前行了那些神蹟。百姓就信了。以色列人听见耶和华眷顾他们，鉴察他们的困苦，就低头下拜。

雅各和神的使者摔跤，直到他的大腿窝被摸了一把，他的脚扭了；他还是不放神的使者走，直到神的使者祝福他，才放他走。摩西也有这个较劲的性情。耶和华神把祂的计划全盘告诉摩西，却换来摩西的推三阻四。

摩西回答说：「他们必不信我，也不听我的话，必说：『耶和华并没有向你显现。』」

耶和华对摩西说：「你手里是什么？」他说：「是杖。」

耶和华说：「丢在地上。」

他一丢下去，就变做蛇，摩西便跑开。

耶和华对摩西说：「伸出手来，拿住牠的尾巴，牠必在你手中仍变为杖。如此好叫他们信耶和华他们祖宗的神，就是亚伯拉罕的神、以撒的神、雅各的神，是向你显现了。」

耶和华又对他说：「把手放在怀里。」他就把手放在怀里，及至抽出来，不料，手长了大痲疯，有雪那样白。

耶和华说：「再把手放在怀里。」

他就再把手放在怀里，及至从怀里抽出来，不料，手已经复原，与周身的肉一样。

又说：「倘或他们不听你的话，也不信头一个神蹟，他们必信第二个神蹟。这两个神蹟若都不信，也不听你的话，你就从河里取些水，倒在旱地上，你从河里取的水必在旱地上变做血。」(出4:1-9)

神给摩西三个特异功能，为了向百姓证明他是奉耶和华神的差遣来救他们。平常人有了这三个特异功能应该欣喜若狂，摩西却不然。

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.