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What Kept Jesus on the Cross

2020-11-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 23:27-43. Let’s go!

Luke 23:27-31 (NIV) 
27  A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. 
28  Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. 
29  For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 
30  Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”‘ 
31  For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

On verses 27-31: I am amazed by the compassion of Jesus. Even as Jesus is going through the most painful humiliation and torture that anyone would ever have to go through, Jesus still goes out of his way to speak his heart for the women of Jerusalem and their children. You can tell what is truly in a person’s heart when they are under pressure. In Jesus’ case, when under the most pressure anyone would ever face, Jesus looked past his own immediate suffering and focused on the suffering that others were slated to face years later. I believe Jesus did this not because he was in denial about his own suffering or because he was trying to look spiritual in front of others, but simply because Jesus is love and compassion personified. 

登山寶訓：「論禱告」

2020-11-13 in /by

為何先論「施捨」，後論「禱告」？　

     《馬太福音》第六章一開頭將「施捨」與「禱告」連在一起談。這兩件事看似無關，實際上，這兩件事有一個很重要的關聯，就是：在恩典的事情上，我們先領受了上帝的恩典，然後再把恩典施予別人，所以這兩件事其實是一件事。上帝是恩典的源頭。當我們蒙恩的時候，我們是被動的；當我們施恩的時候，我們是主動的。耶穌把基督徒怎樣蒙恩、基督徒怎樣施恩這兩件事連起來，上帝怎樣把恩典賜給我們，我們要學習怎樣把恩典分享與人。但從一到八節，我們看見次序好像是倒過來的——人先施恩，再向上帝求恩。

　　為什麼這個次序是倒過來的呢？世人施捨時常以為自己是恩典的源頭，耶穌在這裡就是要糾正我們錯誤的態度。人永遠不是恩典的源頭，如果我們能夠幫助別人，是上帝藉著我們來幫助別人，上帝永遠是恩典的源頭，上帝永遠是主動的，但我們記不記得上帝是主動施恩的源頭呢？我們常常忘記這個次序，常以為自己是別人的施恩者，在施捨的事情上不夠敬畏上帝，好像我們自己有能力幫助世人，把自己當作救世主，奪取上帝的榮耀。這是為什麼耶穌先論「施捨」，後論「禱告」。

Don’t Let A Fear of People Enslave You

2020-11-13 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 23:13-26. Let’s go!

Luke 23:13-15 (NIV) 
13  Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, 
14  and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 
15  Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

On verses 13-15: As both Pilate and Herod confirmed, Jesus had done nothing to deserve death. Jesus was innocent, and yet like a lamb led to the slaughter, Jesus was being condemned to death. 

神的帳幕在人間

2020-11-12 in /by

出埃及記40章 17-19節     第二年正月初一日，帳幕就立起來。摩西立起帳幕，安上帶卯的座，立上板，穿上閂，立起柱子， 在帳幕以上搭罩篷，把罩篷的頂蓋蓋在其上，是照耶和華所吩咐他的。

摩西用五章經文來描述神所要建立的帳幕，從百姓的奉獻到帳幕建成，其中還包括了祭司和大祭司的制服。〈出埃及記〉35-40章，形容以色列人在出埃及後的第二年月初一日，建立了神所要的帳幕，神在以色列人中間終於有了自己的家。原來神是如此盼望和他們住在一起，神所盼望的就是成為以色列人當中的一份子。你能夠想像，神也希望成為你家的一份子嗎？神盼望成為我們生活中的一份子。耶和華不只是高高在上的神，祂更要成為我們生命中最要好的朋友。

「以馬內利」不只是一個說詞，那是神最深切的心願，神要與我們同在，與我們同行。只有當你對某人愛得刻骨銘心，你才會渴望朝朝暮暮和對方在一起，這就是神對我們的愛。有個父親寫信給他的女兒，他說：「女兒，你要記住，天下不會再有男人像我那樣愛你。我是天下第一個最愛你的男人，也是最後一個。」當然，他的意思不是要女兒一輩子和他在一起，而是提醒她，不管發生何事，父親永遠等著要幫助她，成為她的力量。父神也是如此，期望我們永遠明白祂愛我們，祂對我們的愛永遠不會改變。

神的帳幕在人間，摩西記下了神吩咐的每個細節，邀請凡是自覺心裡有智慧的，心裡受感和甘心樂意的人一起來建造神的帳幕。這三個條件都很重要，因為神給每個人不同的智慧，有的人會紡紗織布，有的人會砍樹造型，有的人有手藝做盤子或雕塑，有的人會調香料，神需要不同的人合作，才能製造一個完美的家。也不要外行管內行，越管越淒涼。

其次是要心有所感，心裡有感動，明白是出於神的呼召，做事才會有使命感。同樣一件事，有使命感的人一定會做到最好才罷休，沒有使命感的人可能會覺得，只要做得差不多就可以了。第三，要甘心樂意，不管是奉獻或事奉，神都希望我們不是被強迫的。做得不高興就寧可別做了，免得影響其他人的情緒。

When to Keep Silent vs. When to Speak Up

2020-11-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 23:1-12. Let’s go!

Luke 23:1-7 (NIV) 
1  Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 
2  And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.” 
3  So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. 
4  Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 
5  But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” 
6  On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. 
7  When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. 

On verses 1-7: Being under Roman rule, the chief priests and teachers of the law did not have the authority to order capital punishment. So they go to someone with that authority, namely, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. The chief priests and teachers of the law try to convince Pilate that Jesus is deserving of death. Despite the assembly falsely accusing Jesus of subverting the Jewish nation and opposing payment of taxes (v2), and despite Jesus acknowledging that he is the king of the Jews (v3), Pilate finds no basis for a charge against Jesus (v4).

復造法版

2020-11-12 in /by

出埃及記34章1-3節    耶和華吩咐摩西說：「你要鑿出兩塊石版，和先前你摔碎的那版一樣，其上的字我要寫在這版上。明日早晨，你要預備好了，上西奈山，在山頂上站在我面前。誰也不可和你一同上去，遍山都不可有人，在山根也不可叫羊群牛群吃草。」

摩西又要上山了，這一次也是四十晝夜。沒飯吃，沒水喝的四十晝夜(出34:28)。〈阿摩司書〉4章11節，主耶和華說：「人飢餓非因無餅，乾渴非因無水，乃因不聽耶和華的話。」摩西的經歷很可以印證神的話，他兩個四十天在山上見神，都是這樣過來的，雖然無餅無水，但是他的身體十分健朗，上下山一點無礙。

他的健康不僅沒有受到影響，他的臉反而因為親近神而有了神的光輝。他自己不知道，但是亞倫和以色列眾人看見摩西的面皮發光，就怕挨近他。因此，摩西跟他們講話時，就用帕子蒙上臉；但摩西進到耶和華面前與祂說話就揭去帕子，及至出來的時候，便用帕子蒙上臉，再將耶和華所吩咐的告訴以色列人。

因為親近神而有了神的榮光，摩西卻沒有一點屬靈的驕傲，自覺高人一等；反而，一旦發現眾人因而害怕接近他時，他便用帕子蒙上臉，好讓眾人可以放心地親近他。摩西這樣的做法很可以幫助我們，教導我們不要有屬靈的驕傲。

有的人因為聖靈賜給他(她)講方言的恩賜，就自覺高人一等，覺得別的信徒都不如他(她):有的信徒得了神某方面的醫治，也自覺高人一等，批評起人事，信口開河。這些都是不成熟的表現。不管我們從神領受了什麼，都不表示我們高過其他信徒。神恩待你，也恩待別的信徒，為何要表現得有如鶴立雞群？摩西的謙和很足以讓我們學習。

神叫摩西鑿了兩塊石版，祂還是自己親自在石版上寫下十誡和其他的律例。有神親手寫的石版，實在寶貴，本來放在約櫃裡保存，可惜不知何時弄丟，就再也沒有了。摩西帶著石版上山後，耶和華在雲中降臨。

Weakness and Fear Led Peter to Deny Jesus

2020-11-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:54-71. Let’s go!

Luke 22:54-71 (NIV) 
54  Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.
55  But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.
56  A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57  But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said……

Peter’s denial was based on weakness and fear. After the Last Supper, Jesus took the disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to await His arrest. There Jesus told them to be alert and prayerfully while He went off to pray by Himself. When Jesus returned to them, He found the disciples sleeping. Jesus warned Peter to stay awake and pray because the spirit was willing, and the flesh was weak.

Peter, despite this warning, fell asleep, and by the time the soldiers had come to arrest Jesus, it was too late to pray for the strength to endure the trial ahead. Later, after Peter was restored, he urged Christians to be alert in 1 Peter 5:8. Peter’s weakness caused him to be devoured temporarily as he denied the Lord three times because he wasn’t prepared in prayer and underestimated the extent of his weakness.

使我得見祢的面

2020-11-11 in /by

出埃及記33章13節 我如今若在祢眼前蒙恩，求祢將祢的道指示我，使我可以認識祢，好在祢眼前蒙恩。求祢想到這民是祢的民。

從山上下來，摩西就好像被捲入了一個巨大的漩渦裡。一邊是百姓的悖逆，一邊是神的憤怒。他處理了百姓中那些不順服，不願屬神的人，也拒絕了神給他的建議，他不要神滅絕這些百姓，也謝絕神要為他建立的王國。處理這些事，使摩西筋疲力竭。

然後，神跟摩西說：「我曾起誓應許亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各說：『要將迦南地賜給你的後裔。』現在你和你從埃及地所領出來的百姓，要從這裡往那地去。我要差遣使者在你前面，攆出迦南人、亞摩利人、赫人、比利洗人、希未人、耶布斯人，領你到那流奶與蜜之地。我自己不同你們上去，因為你們是硬著頸項的百姓，恐怕我在路上把你們滅絕。」(出33:1-3)

神說祂不要與以色列人同行了，祂要派使者領以色列人去迦南。神也不滿意以色列人，發生了這樣得罪神的事，還在身上掛一堆裝飾。因此以色列人從住何烈山以後，就把身上的裝飾摘得乾淨。

那時以色列人還沒有正式的會幕，因此摩西將他的帳篷支搭在營外，離營甚遠，他稱這帳篷為會幕。凡求問耶和華的，就到營外的會幕那裡去。當摩西出營到會幕去的時候，百姓就都起來，各人站在自己帳篷的門口，望著摩西，直等到他進了會幕。摩西進會幕的時候，雲柱降下來，立在會幕的門前，耶和華便與摩西說話。眾百姓看見雲柱立在會幕門前，就都起來，各人在自己帳篷的門口下拜。摩西轉到營裡去，唯有他的幫手，一個少年人嫩的兒子約書亞，不離開會幕。(出33:7-11)

摩西進會幕的時候，雲柱降下來，立在會幕的門前，耶和華便與摩西說話。

耶和華與摩西面對面說話，好像人與朋友說話一般。

In Your Anguish Go to Your Heavenly Father

2020-11-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:39-53. Let’s go!

Luke 22:39-40 (NIV) 
39  Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
40  On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 

On verses 39-40: Previously, when his disciples asked Jesus how to pray, one of the lines Jesus taught them to pray was “lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:4). Now is when the rubber meets the road, when the disciples are in a situation where they need to pray more than ever the way Jesus teaches them to pray.

How often do you pray, “Lord, lead me not into temptation”? It may be a prayer we ought to pray more often.

Luke 22:41-42 (NIV) 
41  He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
42  “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

On verses 41-42: Jesus is the Son of God, the most powerful man to ever live.  Yet notice the way Jesus approaches his Father in prayer:

拜金牛犢的後果

2020-11-10 in /by

出埃及記32章34節     現在你去領這百姓，往我所告訴你的地方去，我的使者必在你前面引路，只是到我追討的日子，我必追討他們的罪。

耶和華神在山上告訴摩西，以色列人在山下造了一隻金牛犢，向它下拜獻祭。摩西求神不要降禍於祂的百姓，神應允了他。當摩西手裡拿著兩塊神親手寫的法版下山時，就看見牛犢，又看見人跳舞，便發烈怒，把兩塊版扔在山下摔碎了，又將他們所鑄的牛犢用火焚燒，磨得粉碎，撒在水面上，叫以色列人喝。

摩西責備亞倫，亞倫卻把責任都推給百姓。摩西就站在營門中，說：「凡屬耶和華的，都要到我這裡來！」於是利未的子孫都到他那裡聚集。他對他們說：「耶和華以色列的神這樣說：『你們各人把刀跨在腰間，在營中往來，從這門到那門，各人殺他的弟兄與同伴並鄰舍。』」利未的子孫照摩西的話行了。那一天百姓中被殺的約有三千。摩西說：「今天你們要自潔，歸耶和華為聖，各人攻擊他的兒子和弟兄，使耶和華賜福於你們。」(出32:26-29)

這段經文讓我們看了不解，摩西為何要叫他們殺自己人呢？只為了拜偶像嗎？拜偶像是這麼嚴重的死罪嗎？你認為呢？

假如我們把主耶穌的話放在這裡，可能可以有更深一層的理解。耶穌說：「人到我這裡來，若不愛我勝過愛自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命，就不能做我的門徒。 (路14:26) 」不能做主的門徒，意思就是與祂無份了，與耶穌無份的人有什麼樣的結局呢？