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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.

該隱和亞伯

2020-09-07 in /by

創世記四章1-2節    有一日，那人和他妻子夏娃同房，夏娃就懷孕，生了該隱，便說：「耶和華使我得了一個男子。」又生了該隱的兄弟亞伯。亞伯是牧羊的，該隱是種地的。

離開了伊甸園，亞當和夏娃開始用自己的勞力換取食物。他們或許生了很多孩子，只是沒有一一記載；在這章裡該隱所說的其他人，也有可能是他們的後裔。亞當活了930歲，不可能只生下三個孩子，那時還沒有生育計劃。其他的孩子可能陸續長大後就出外獨立了。在第五章都只用一個兒子作為代表，所以該隱和亞伯算是代表作吧。

該隱是種地的，亞伯是牧羊的。當時神給人類的食物還是以蔬菜水果為主，該隱的工作是為了民生；亞伯牧羊是為了有羊皮給人作衣服，並不是拿來吃的。神看中亞伯的獻祭，不看中該隱的獻祭，並不是神愛吃葷或素，因為在〈利未記〉裡，不管是燔祭，贖罪祭或是素祭都是神聖的祭。

當然，獻祭給神不是為了要給神吃，而是為了解決人的罪的問題，好讓人依然有機會可以和神溝通。所以〈希伯來書〉九章22 節說：「按著律法，凡物差不多都是用血潔淨的，若不流血，罪就不得赦免了。」

〈希伯來書〉11章4 節說：「亞伯因著信獻祭於神，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是神指他禮物作的見證。」亞伯為何蒙稱讚呢？因為亞伯將他羊群中頭生的和羊的脂油獻上。他所獻的合乎神的教導和神的心意，他特地選了羊群中頭生的，還有羊的脂油。

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創造的工

2020-09-04 in /by

創世記二章1-3 節   天地萬物都造齊了。 到第七日，神造物的工已經完畢，就在第七日歇了他一切的工，安息了。神賜福給第七日，定為聖日，因為在這日神歇了祂一切創造的工，就安息了。

守安息日乃是記念上帝創造之奇工，所當永矢咸遵的永遠的責任-守安息日的命令，乃遠在十誡之先，乃為上帝道德律的一部分。因為六日之內，耶和華造天，地，海，和其中的萬物，於此可見安息日之重要與價值。此乃記念並慶祝上帝創造之工及其位格，必然與超越性。所以在十誡的第四誡規定：「當記念安息日，守為聖日。六日要勞碌作你一切的工。」

「七」乃是一個神聖的字，乃是從亞加底亞（Accadian）先祖傳給閃族的，病人要在每週第七日用洗罪油在自身膏抹，以求早日痊癒。考古學家在米所波大米發現石版上的日曆，寫的是每週七日，證明安息日在古巴比倫早已風行。在石版上，第七日，第十四日，第二十一日，第二十八日，都稱安息日，並且加寫：「歇工的日子」，而其所用的字句，乃與摩西相同。這種限制，也和摩西法典一樣嚴格。這些制度乃遠在亞加底亞時代即已製定，還在亞伯拉罕之前。考古學家又發現一塊石版，上面寫的是乃是「心靈歇息的日子」。這乃是因為上帝裡面有一個永遠安息，以及永不止息的創造力的「活水的泉源」（耶二13），所以神命告我們要遵守祂安息的律法，又要守工作的律法。我們的安息，只是上帝安息的「縮型」之表徵而已。況且上帝的創作和安息，乃是神聖的，我們的工作和安息，乃是世俗的，稱為模仿上帝。

在新約時代，主耶穌和門徒都未廢除安息日。摩西律法時代以後，雖已廢除守安息日的法令和規律，但同時卻又宣告因為人性的需要，不可忘記安息日神聖的淵源，仍應謹守勿渝。在主耶穌基督裡面，並沒有廢除摩西法典的任何一點。我們雖不拘泥死的字句，但為了我們的靈命與聖潔，仍應虔誠與敬拜。

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.

蛇引誘我

2020-09-03 in /by

創世記二章16-17節  耶和華神吩咐他說：「園中各樣樹上的果子，你可以隨意吃；只是分別善惡樹上的果子，你不可吃，因為你吃的日子必定死。」

這是一個耳熟能詳的故事，蛇引誘夏娃吃善惡果，夏娃雖然記得神說不可吃，也不可摸，不然必死；但是當蛇說：「你們不一定死！因為神知道你們吃的日子眼睛就明亮了，你們便如神能知道善惡。」不一定會死，不一定會被發現，說不定吃了就會變得更聰明，如神一般，能知善惡。當夏娃想到「不一定」時，她就想試試神的底線，她把神說的「必定死」換成「不一定」，很顯然的，這就是罪的開始。

當我們把人的話取代神的話時，那就是罪了。因為不信神的話就是渺視神了。神對祂的話是非常看重的，創造宇宙的神所說的每一句話，都不徒然返回，總要成就(賽55:11)。當我們經歷天道循環，四季輪換，晝夜不息時，就可以體會祂是一個非常信實，從不誤時的神。祂不容許人對祂的懷疑，因為天地要廢去，祂的話卻絕不廢去(太24:35)。偉大如摩西，與神如此貼近的摩西，也只因為一次沒有完全聽神的話，以擊打代替吩咐磐石出水，便得罪神，而不得進迦南地。一次! 所以假如你說你相信神，那就最好相信到底，不要腳踏兩條船，又要信又要懷疑，這兩者本不相容。

你還記得在神創造的六天裡，哪一天沒有說「神看是好的」？就是第二天，當神把深淵的水分開，穹蒼出現時。因為那時被囚禁在水中的惡魔也被釋放出來，成為空中掌權者的首領，就是現今在悖逆之子心中運行的邪靈(弗2:2)。而伊甸園裡引誘夏娃的古蛇是誰呢？就是〈啟示錄〉20章2節說的：「他(天使)捉住那龍，就是古蛇，又叫魔鬼，也叫撒旦」。為何神容許牠的存在，而且讓牠當空中掌權者？

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.

神照著自己的形象造人

2020-09-02 in /by

創世記一章26節    神說：「我們要照著我們的形象，按著我們的樣式造人，使他們管理海裡的魚、空中的鳥、地上的牲畜和全地，並地上所爬的一切昆蟲。」

在創造的第六天，神造了許多動物。你覺得那時的動物會不會動，有沒有生命的跡象呢？在〈創世記〉第二章19節，神說：「耶和華上帝用土所造成的野地各樣走獸和空中各樣飛鳥都帶到那人面前，看他叫甚麼。那人怎樣叫各樣的活物，那就是牠的名字。」所以我們知道，神用土造成各樣的活物。

神造出野獸，各從其類；牲畜，各從其類；地上一切昆蟲，各從其類。神看著是好的。現在這個世界看起來很圓滿了，有穹蒼大海，有陸地和各樣樹木菜蔬，有晝夜，有日夜星辰，有沉魚飛雁，還需要什麼呢？假如你把嬰兒房都預備好了，你覺得還需要什麼？是的，需要一個可愛的嬰兒來享受這一切的精心預備。

神造大地豈是沒有目的嗎？在〈啟示錄〉第四章第11節裡，寶座周圍的24位長老俯伏在坐寶座的面前，敬拜那活到永永遠遠的，又把他們的冠冕放在寶座前，說： 「我們的主，我們的神，祢是配得榮耀、尊貴、權柄的，因為祢創造了萬物，並且萬物是因祢的旨意被創造而有的。」萬物是因神的旨意被創造而有的，包括人。所以我們不是隨意被造的，我們是神精心的創造。神預定我們來享受祂所創造的一切，身為人，我們必須知道，神造萬物都是為了我們。

唐崇榮牧師說：「在〈創世記〉第一章裡面，希伯來原文有三個不同的字，都被翻譯為『造』字。第一個是 bara 這個字。第一節提到『上帝創造天地』的時候，用的是 bara 這個字。到了26、27節時說到：『我們要按照自己的形像樣式造人』的時候，用的也是 bara 這個字。 bara 這個字是什麼意思呢？它有雙重的意思。第一個的意思是： 本來沒有的現在有了，這是神旨意中的一種特殊行動 — 創造之工。第二個意思是：人本來是沒有的，從這一刻開始，人才被造出來。

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.