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先求祂的国和祂的义

马太福音6:31-33_先求祂的国和祂的义

31 所以,不要忧虑说吃什么、喝什么、穿什么。 32 这都是外邦人所求的。你们需用的这一切东西,你们的天父是知道的。 33 你们要先求他的国和他的义,这些东西都要加给你们了。

忧虑是人的生活里很重要的一部份,因为我们不敢不忧虑。但是主耶稣告诉我们,忧虑于事无补。不信主的人追求这世界的一切物质享受,但是信主的人应该有不同的生活方向。

我们要怎样先求神的国和神的义呢?神的国和神的义似乎离我们很远,我们怎么管得到那么多?事实上,那是一种尊神为大的生活方式。换句话说,不要在争取这世上的一切时,忘记了神的原则,要活出光和盐的特质,让人看见神的荣耀。

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

马太福音6:28-30_野地的花

28 何必为衣裳忧虑呢?你想野地里的百合花怎么长起来,它也不劳苦,也不纺线, 29 然而我告诉你们:就是所罗门极荣华的时候,他所穿戴的还不如这花一朵呢! 30 你们这小信的人哪!野地里的草今天还在,明天就丢在炉里,神还给它这样的装饰,何况你们呢?

在第6 章25节里,主耶稣提醒我们:生命胜于饮食,身体胜于衣裳。祂要我们把生命的焦点调对了,把忧虑的方向摆正了,头脑就自然清楚了。我们的饮食若为了生命的好处而吃,衣裳若为了身体的好处而穿,生活里的烦恼和忧愁就会相对地减少。

更重要的是,若一直担心想要怎样吃来延年益夀,或是为了体面或漂亮来考虑衣着装饰,就会远离了神给我们生命的初衷。神要我们明白的是祂的信实,而不是要我们去追求那些虚浮的华贵亮丽。

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). 

思虑

马太福音6:27_思虑

27 你们哪一个能用思虑使寿数多加一刻呢?

最近有个朋友88岁,身体一向很好,两星期前跌了一下,两星期后就回天家了。她不是第一个,也不是最后一个,身体保持得很健康,但是跌了一下就不再醒过来的人。我们都是努力在维持自己健康的人,但是不管我们怎样努力,也不能使我们的寿数多加一刻,就是这样的意思。所以我们要注重自己的灵魂甚于自己的身体,要注重神和自己的关系甚于积存地上的财富。

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.

看那天上的飞鸟

马太福音6:25-26_看那天上的飞鸟

25 所以我告诉你们,不要为生命忧虑吃什么喝什么,为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗? 26 你们看那天上的飞鸟,也不种也不收,也不积蓄在仓里,你们的天父尚且养活牠,你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗?

我有走森林的习惯,有时会听到啄木鸟在啄树木的声音,有时可以看到牠在殷勤地工作和觅食;有时会看到在树颠之上有老鹰盘旋,似乎在寻找食物。神在创世的第五日造了雀鸟,让牠们飞在地面以上,天空之中。神从来没有忘记牠们的需要,也不让牠们为食物忧愁。

神没有要求飞鸟去耕种或收成或积蓄,但是神给牠们本能去觅食得以养活自己,甚至嗷嗷待哺的小鸟们。神又赐给牠们有知天候的本事,何时飞往天气温和的地方以避寒存活,时候到了又会往回飞。这就是神为人预备的,当我们往天上看时,看到飞鸟就会想到天父的信实。

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. 

侍奉的对象

马太福音6:24_侍奉的对象

24   一个人不能侍奉两个主,不是恶这个爱那个,就是重这个轻那个。你们不能又侍奉神,又侍奉玛门(财富)。

从《圣经》的教导来看,神一点也不反对人拥有财富。在〈申命记〉28章11节-13节里,摩西说到神对以色列人的应许,他们若遵守神的律法和诫命,「祂必使你身所生的,牲畜所下的,地所产的,都绰绰有余。耶和华必为你开天上的府库,按时降雨在你的地上,在你手里所办的一切事上赐福于你。你必借给许多国民,却不致向他们借贷。」这里说的便是神的供应使家产富足。

神愿意供应祂的子民,使他们富足。但是主耶稣要我们注意的是,其一,积儹财富的地方。因为神给的富足不是只为了我们和家人的享受,更是为了祂的子民和祂在地上的家之需要:「你们要将当纳的十分之一全然送入仓库,使我家有粮…」(玛3:10a)。神提醒我们,我们是财富的管家,管理今生祂交给我们的。

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”.