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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.

神照着自己的形象造人

2020-09-02 in /by

创世记一章26节    神说：「我们要照着我们的形象，按着我们的样式造人，使他们管理海里的鱼、空中的鸟、地上的牲畜和全地，并地上所爬的一切昆虫。」

在创造的第六天，神造了许多动物。你觉得那时的动物会不会动，有没有生命的迹象呢？在〈创世记〉第二章19节，神说：「耶和华上帝用土所造成的野地各样走兽和空中各样飞鸟都带到那人面前，看他叫甚么。那人怎样叫各样的活物，那就是牠的名字。」所以我们知道，神用土造成各样的活物。

神造出野兽，各从其类；牲畜，各从其类；地上一切昆虫，各从其类。神看着是好的。现在这个世界看起来很圆满了，有穹苍大海，有陆地和各样树木菜蔬，有昼夜，有日夜星辰，有沉鱼飞雁，还需要什么呢？假如你把婴儿房都预备好了，你觉得还需要什么？是的，需要一个可爱的婴儿来享受这一切的精心预备。

神造大地岂是没有目的吗？在〈启示录〉第四章第11节里，宝座周围的24位长老俯伏在坐宝座的面前，敬拜那活到永永远远的，又把他们的冠冕放在宝座前，说： 「我们的主，我们的神，祢是配得荣耀、尊贵、权柄的，因为祢创造了万物，并且万物是因祢的旨意被创造而有的。」万物是因神的旨意被创造而有的，包括人。所以我们不是随意被造的，我们是神精心的创造。神预定我们来享受祂所创造的一切，身为人，我们必须知道，神造万物都是为了我们。

唐崇荣牧师说：「在〈创世记〉第一章里面，希伯来原文有三个不同的字，都被翻译为『造』字。第一个是 bara 这个字。第一节提到『上帝创造天地』的时候，用的是 bara 这个字。到了26、27节时说到：『我们要按照自己的形像样式造人』的时候，用的也是 bara 这个字。 bara 这个字是什么意思呢？它有双重的意思。第一个的意思是： 本来没有的现在有了，这是神旨意中的一种特殊行动 — 创造之工。第二个意思是：人本来是没有的，从这一刻开始，人才被造出来。

You Can Never Out-Give or Out-Forgive God

2020-09-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Luke 6:27-36.  Let’s go!

Luke 6:27-36 (NIV) 
27  “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28  bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29  If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.
30  Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31  Do to others as you would have them do to you…….

As you read these words from Jesus, keep in mind the following:

Everything Jesus told his followers to do here Jesus modeled for us first and did so perfectly at the cross.  Jesus always leads us not just with his words but with his example as well.
God wants us to be people of grace who love our enemies, do good to them, lend without expecting to be repaid in full, and forgive them when they hurt us.  When we do this, we’re following in God’s example, store up treasure in heaven and show ourselves to be “children of the Most High”.
You will never give to anyone more than God has already given you.  You will never have to forgive anyone more than God has already forgiven you.  You can never outgive or outforgive God.

生命之物各从其类

2020-09-01 in /by

创世记一章24节    神说：「地要生出有生命之物，各从其类，就是牲畜、爬行动物、地上的走兽，各从其类。」事就这样成了。

昨天的新闻报导，因为新冠肺炎疫情的关系，温哥华的水族馆在9月4日又要暂时关闭了。今年三月中也因为新冠疫情，水族馆关闭了，大家都很担心馆内约七万只动物不知如何处理。还后后来有募款，终于可以再开，但是现在疫情一上，就又不得不关闭了，有两百多人即将失业。

我们都很爱喜欢这间水族馆，带着小孩来，一家都开心，因为可以欣赏神奇妙的创造。动物园也是一样，我比较喜欢野生动物园，虽然有的动物还是被局限在特定范围里活动，但总是好过被关在笼子里好。我们喜欢观看不同的动物，欣赏牠们不同的生活方式，去感觉造物的奇妙。

但是我很难想像，一只恐龙进化成鸡的样子。多年前有人争议先有鸡还是先有蛋的谜题时，竟有人认为是恐龙的蛋进化成鸡而产出鸡来，所以说先有蛋后有鸡。当然，这是非常牵强的说法，谁见过恐龙的蛋进化成鸡蛋？那是一种没有事实根据的推测。

幸好英国科学家发现，蛋壳的构成仰赖一种仅能在鸡的卵巢中找到的蛋白质，换言之，必须先有鸡，蛋才可能存在。ovocledidin-17（OC-17）的蛋白质是作为加速蛋壳发展的催化剂，硬壳保护蛋黄与蛋白，让鸡胚胎得以发育。所以在鸡蛋形成前，必须先有OC-17，而OC-17只能在鸡的卵巢中发现。长久以来学界料想是蛋先于鸡，然而现在有科学证据，证明事实上是先有鸡才能有蛋。