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先求祂的國和祂的義

馬太福音6:31-33_先求祂的國和祂的義

31 所以,不要憂慮說吃什麼、喝什麼、穿什麼。 32 這都是外邦人所求的。你們需用的這一切東西,你們的天父是知道的。 33 你們要先求他的國和他的義,這些東西都要加給你們了。

憂慮是人的生活裡很重要的一部份,因為我們不敢不憂慮。但是主耶穌告訴我們,憂慮於事無補。不信主的人追求這世界的一切物質享受,但是信主的人應該有不同的生活方向。

我們要怎樣先求神的國和神的義呢?神的國和神的義似乎離我們很遠,我們怎麼管得到那麼多?事實上,那是一種尊神為大的生活方式。換句話說,不要在爭取這世上的一切時,忘記了神的原則,要活出光和鹽的特質,讓人看見神的榮耀。

How to Recognize a False Teacher

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 3:1-9.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 3:1 (NIV) 
1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 

On verse 1: By “last days” what does Paul mean?  “Last days” is a term used by various New Testament writers (e.g 1 Peter 1:20; 2 Peter 3:3; Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3).  It refers to the entire period between Christ’s ascension to heaven and his eventual return to earth.  

Here Paul is saying that during these last days, something terrible will happen:  false teachers will try to influence Christ’s church and lead Christians astray.  

野地的花

馬太福音6:28-30_野地的花

28 何必為衣裳憂慮呢?你想野地裡的百合花怎麼長起來,它也不勞苦,也不紡線, 29 然而我告訴你們:就是所羅門極榮華的時候,他所穿戴的還不如這花一朵呢! 30 你們這小信的人哪!野地裡的草今天還在,明天就丟在爐裡,神還給它這樣的裝飾,何況你們呢?

在第6 章25節裡,主耶穌提醒我們:生命勝於飲食,身體勝於衣裳。祂要我們把生命的焦點調對了,把憂慮的方向擺正了,頭腦就自然清楚了。我們的飲食若為了生命的好處而吃,衣裳若為了身體的好處而穿,生活裡的煩惱和憂愁就會相對地減少。

更重要的是,若一直擔心想要怎樣吃來延年益夀,或是為了體面或漂亮來考慮衣著裝飾,就會遠離了神給我們生命的初衷。神要我們明白的是祂的信實,而不是要我們去追求那些虛浮的華貴亮麗。

Be Careful Against False Teaching

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:14-26.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:20-21 (NIV) 
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
21 If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. 

On verses 14-26:  The background behind these verses is that Timothy is still dealing with the threat of false teaching influencing his church.  Individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection “had already happened” (v18). 

思慮

馬太福音6:27_思慮

27 你們哪一個能用思慮使壽數多加一刻呢?

最近有個朋友88歲,身體一向很好,兩星期前跌了一下,兩星期後就回天家了。她不是第一個,也不是最後一個,身體保持得很健康,但是跌了一下就不再醒過來的人。我們都是努力在維持自己健康的人,但是不管我們怎樣努力,也不能使我們的壽數多加一刻,就是這樣的意思。所以我們要注重自己的靈魂甚於自己的身體,要注重神和自己的關係甚於積存地上的財富。

Everything We Need Is In Jesus

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Timothy 2:1-13.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) 
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

On verse 1:  No matter how difficult your situation is today, praise God that there is grace in Jesus Christ so that you can be strong.  Regardless of the trial you’re facing, God’s grace is always sufficient for you.

看那天上的飛鳥

馬太福音6:25-26_看那天上的飛鳥

25 所以我告訴你們,不要為生命憂慮吃什麼喝什麼,為身體憂慮穿什麼。生命不勝於飲食嗎?身體不勝於衣裳嗎? 26 你們看那天上的飛鳥,也不種也不收,也不積蓄在倉裡,你們的天父尚且養活牠,你們不比飛鳥貴重得多嗎?

我有走森林的習慣,有時會聽到啄木鳥在啄樹木的聲音,有時可以看到牠在殷勤地工作和覓食;有時會看到在樹顛之上有老鷹盤旋,似乎在尋找食物。神在創世的第五日造了雀鳥,讓牠們飛在地面以上,天空之中。神從來沒有忘記牠們的需要,也不讓牠們為食物憂愁。

神沒有要求飛鳥去耕種或收成或積蓄,但是神給牠們本能去覓食得以養活自己,甚至嗷嗷待哺的小鳥們。神又賜給牠們有知天候的本事,何時飛往天氣溫和的地方以避寒存活,時候到了又會往回飛。這就是神為人預備的,當我們往天上看時,看到飛鳥就會想到天父的信實。

Guard What God Has Given You in Christ

Hi GAMErs,

There are so many lessons we can learn from this passage, 2 Timothy 1:8-18.  Let’s go!

2 Timothy 1:8 (NIV) 
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 

Verse 8:  In Paul’s time it was politically incorrect to be a Christian, so much so that identifying yourself as a Christian was to invite serious persecution, even execution.  Under these circumstances, a much more worldly father would tell his son, “Take the easy way out. 

侍奉的對象

馬太福音6:24_侍奉的對象

24   一個人不能侍奉兩個主,不是惡這個愛那個,就是重這個輕那個。你們不能又侍奉神,又侍奉瑪門(財富)。

從《聖經》的教導來看,神一點也不反對人擁有財富。在〈申命記〉28章11節-13節裡,摩西說到神對以色列人的應許,他們若遵守神的律法和誡命,「祂必使你身所生的,牲畜所下的,地所產的,都綽綽有餘。耶和華必為你開天上的府庫,按時降雨在你的地上,在你手裡所辦的一切事上賜福於你。你必借給許多國民,卻不致向他們借貸。」這裡說的便是神的供應使家產富足。

神願意供應祂的子民,使他們富足。但是主耶穌要我們注意的是,其一,積儹財富的地方。因為神給的富足不是只為了我們和家人的享受,更是為了祂的子民和祂在地上的家之需要:「你們要將當納的十分之一全然送入倉庫,使我家有糧…」(瑪3:10a)。神提醒我們,我們是財富的管家,管理今生祂交給我們的。

When You’re Facing Death’s Door

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of 2 Timothy, a letter written by Paul to his disciple and fellow pastor Timothy.  2 Timothy is very likely the last letter that Paul wrote before he was executed (beheaded by Caesar Nero).  When you read 2 Timothy, you’ll notice clues that Paul himself knew that his days on earth were coming to a close.  As such, this letter is very tender and heartfelt, like a last letter from a father to his son.  

2 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 

On verse 1:  Paul would often begin his letters by identifying himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”.