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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？

When You’re Disappointed In Someone You Love

2020-11-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:25-38. Let’s go!

Luke 22:25-27 (NIV) 
25  Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
26  But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

On verses 25-27: Back in Jesus’ time, the highest profile leaders were very much about titles and throwing their weight around (v25). In contrast, Jesus calls his disciples to a revolutionary kind of leadership, one that is about service. In God’s economy, the greatest and most valuable leaders are those who serve.

以色列人拜金牛犢

2020-11-09 in /by

出埃及記32章13節    「求祢記念祢的僕人亞伯拉罕、以撒、以色列，祢曾指著自己起誓說：『我必使你們的後裔像天上的星那樣多，並且我所應許的這全地，必給你們的後裔，他們要永遠承受為業。』」

當以色列人出埃及後，聚集在西乃山下時，摩西教導他們耶和華的律例典章，又和他們立約，他們說：「耶和華所吩咐的，我們都必遵行。 (出24:3/7) 」但是這樣的美好關係能持續多久呢？是什麼原因使他們背棄自己的約呢？

耶和華對摩西說：「你上山到我這裡來，住在這裡，我要將石版並我所寫的律法和誡命賜給你，使你可以教訓百姓。」摩西和他的幫手約書亞起來，上了神的山。摩西對長老說：「你們在這裡等著，等到我們再回來。有亞倫、戶珥與你們同在，凡有爭訟的，都可以就近他們去。」摩西上山，有雲彩把山遮蓋。耶和華的榮耀停於西奈山，雲彩遮蓋山六天，第七天他從雲中召摩西。耶和華的榮耀在山頂上，在以色列人眼前，形狀如烈火。摩西進入雲中上山，在山上四十晝夜。(出24:12-18)

摩西在眾人眼前上山，四十晝夜，專心領受神的律法和誡命。他把照顧百姓的責任交給亞倫，其他的長老也上山和神親近過。百姓也見過神在山上顥的大榮耀，這些，能不能使百姓持守對神的敬畏呢？

百姓見摩西遲延不下山，就大家聚集到亞倫那裡，對他說：「起來，為我們做神像，可以在我們前面引路，因為領我們出埃及地的那個摩西，我們不知道他遭了什麼事。」亞倫對他們說：「你們去摘下你們妻子、兒女耳上的金環，拿來給我。」百姓就都摘下他們耳上的金環，拿來給亞倫。亞倫從他們手裡接過來，鑄了一隻牛犢，用雕刻的器具做成。他們就說：「以色列啊，這是領你出埃及地的神！」亞倫看見，就在牛犢面前築壇，且宣告說：「明日要向耶和華守節。」次日清早，百姓起來獻燔祭和平安祭，就坐下吃喝，起來玩耍。(出32:1-6)

百姓想要做神像，為他們領路。因為他們看不到摩西。百姓想做神像，因為在埃及都學埃及人拜神像。他們的心只是暫時被神的威榮所震撼，例如雷轟、閃電和密雲，當一切都平靜下來之後，神就與他們沒關係了。眼見為憑，摩西也不見了，他們的信心就找不到地方掛了。我們的信心掛在誰的身上呢？

Focus on Jesus’ Greatness, Not Your Own

2020-11-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 22:14-24. Let’s go!

Luke 22:14-24 (NIV)
14  When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.
15  And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17  After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you…….

On verses 14-24: This scene, one of the most famous scenes from Jesus’ life, is the basis for why and how we do communion. The bread we break represents the body Jesus broke for us on the cross. The cup we drink represents the blood Jesus shed for us on the cross.

At first, when I read a passage like this, I’m struck by how petty the disciples are in this scene. Their leader Jesus has just shared his heart about how much he desires to eat this final supper with them before he suffers. The disciples, however, upon hearing that one of them will betray Jesus, turn this last supper with Jesus into a quarrel among themselves about who would be the one to betray Jesus. This would lead to various disciples getting defensive and starting to talk about which of them was the greatest disciple. Yet in quarreling this way, the disciples were missing the point of the last supper. They had turned an occasion that was supposed to be about Jesus into an occasion that was more about themselves.

普遍啟示與特殊啟示

2020-11-06 in /by

普遍啟示與特殊啟示

我們自小開始不斷看書，完全不知疲倦，得到的知識多的不得了。我這一生買的書有二萬多本，因為有太多知識使我深受吸引。我們把世界的知識與《聖經》的真理做一比較，不違背《聖經》的，我們接受；違背《聖經》的，我們要謹慎，不要受引誘。《聖經》把一切屬靈、屬世重要的原則都告訴我們，我們就要謹慎自己的知識有怎樣的來源與內容。

一、普遍啟示

世上的學問有些很高超，不一定有罪惡的成分，雖然世上的書都是人寫的，人都有犯罪的成分，但上帝把普遍啟示給了人，上帝是真理與啟示的源頭，人可以觀察、探討自然，然後找到一些原理，有些人所找到的原理並沒有錯，因為是上帝把創造的智慧放在其中，使人發現。有些希臘的思想家專研究自然，因為自然有太多奧秘，太使人好奇，吸引人來觀察與思想。這世界上有一個特別的民族，就是希臘人，希臘人一看到什麼就思想，一思想就研究原理，一研究原理就寫下原則，成為自然科學方面的研究。

我們現在用「邏輯」（logy）這個字，就是與「道」（logos）有相同意義的字。我們應當把logy翻譯成「道」，但很多人把logy翻譯成「學」，比如生理學、物理學，其實應該改成生理道、物理道，因為萬有有一個大道，叫作logos，人心裡有一個小道，叫做logigos，人用心裡的小道探知宇宙的大道，結果發現真理的道是知識的總源頭。上帝用祂的道創造萬有，祂的道就隱含在各種知識範圍內。我們透過觀察與研究明白宇宙的自然之道，透過聖靈的啟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.

人際關係之二

2020-11-05 in /by

出埃及記20章15-17節     「不可偷盜。16 「不可作假見證陷害人。17 「不可貪戀人的房屋，也不可貪戀人的妻子、僕婢、牛驢並他一切所有的。」

在十誡中的第五誡到十誡裡，耶穌用一句話就把它們概括了：「你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人(路6:31)。」

你希望兒女孝敬你嗎？那你就要有好榜樣，先孝敬你和配偶的父母。你不想被殺嗎？或是被人蔑視或看輕，那你就不要恨人，也不要隨便罵人。你不想配偶背叛你，那麼你就要做個忠實的配偶，做一個手潔心清的人，給對方有安全感。

第八誡：「不可偷盜」。你喜歡人家偷你的東西嗎？若是不喜歡自己的東西被偷，那麼自己就不要去偷別人的東西。因為：「你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。」

第九誡：「不可作假見證陷害人」。假見證除了說謊，還包括你知道卻不說事實，或是把事情說一半，留一半不說，都是假見證，因為會誤導人，間接陷害他人。所以不要以為沉默是金，在該說話時保持沉默，那就是犯了此誡。

第十誡：「不可貪戀人的房屋，也不可貪戀人的妻子、僕婢、牛驢並他一切所有的。」現在還可以加上，不可貪戀人的車子，手機，電動玩具，名牌皮包……等等。別人的就是別人的，不要放在自己的心裡。有一次有位朋友告訴我：「你不要以為那些開名車的人都很有錢，大多數是租的或是分期貸款買的。」當然也不要羨慕別人的華屋，除非你有錢請人來打掃，不然住在裡面就變成房子的奴僕了。其他的也是如此，別人用好東西背後的責任和代價，不一定是你要的。

人際關係之一

2020-11-05 in /by

出埃及記20章12-14節「當孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和華你神所賜你的地上得以長久。13 「不可殺人。14 「不可姦淫。」

在十誡中，5-10誡是神教導人與人之間應當守的法則。我相信這幾誡也是一個和平社會必須有的法則。假如人人在社會裡可以遵守這幾誡，那麼人人都可以道不拾遺，夜不閉戶了。當然，許多人在表面上都可以達到這些要求，好像我沒殺過人，你一定也沒殺過人，他也沒殺過人，要找出殺過人的人並不是隨手可以指出。因為想殺人的，不會在臉上寫：「我要去殺人了。」或是，「我殺過人。」小偷也不會告訴你，他是小偷，要偷你的東西了。做假見證的更是口口聲聲說他說的都是真的，等到對質時，才笑你是大傻瓜。所以我們來看看這六誡裡的內容。

第五誡：「當孝敬父母，使你的日子在耶和華你神所賜你的地上得以長久。」孝敬有時很引起爭議，因為不信耶穌的父母最不想孩子信耶穌，害怕死後沒人燒香或燒紙錢，或是用一些雞鴨水果拜他們，以致他們在陰間沒得吃，他們覺得這就是不孝。但是基督徒強調孝敬父母是要在父母還在人間時，好好地服侍他們，使他們快樂。

因為所羅門王說：「活著的人知道必死，死了的人毫無所知，也不再得賞賜，他們的名無人記念。他們的愛、他們的恨、他們的嫉妒早都消滅了，在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有份了。(傳9:5-6)」所以與其在父母死後大張旗鼓，倒不如趁著父母還在時對他們好一點。

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.?