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Be a Humble Servant, Not a Distraction

2019-01-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 2:8-15.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 2:8 (NIV) 
8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. 

On verse 8:  Some people stereo typically think, “It’s the man’s job to work and the woman’s job to pray”.  But here Paul affirms that one of the most important things a man can do is to devote himself to prayer.  When a man devotes himself to prayer, he is much better able to lead in his home, to see things from God’s perspective, to bring God’s wisdom to situations and to model Christ to those in his care (especially his own family). 

論禱告

2019-01-26 in /by

馬太福音6:5-8_論禱告

5 「你們禱告的時候，不可像那假冒為善的人，愛站在會堂裡和十字路口上禱告，故意叫人看見。我實在告訴你們：他們已經得了他們的賞賜。 6 你禱告的時候，要進你的內屋，關上門，禱告你在暗中的父，你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。 7 你們禱告，不可像外邦人用許多重複話，他們以為話多了必蒙垂聽。 8 你們不可效法他們，因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。

假如你要和好朋友或情人講話，你會在大庭廣眾好像演講那樣對他(她)說嗎？我想禱告就是這樣，是在跟一個很親密的朋友說心裡話，所以你會找個僻靜的地方，兩個人傾心吐意。

進入內屋，關上門禱告，可以使人脫下虛偽的外表，不必惺惺作態，不必油嘴滑舌，不必思考要有華麗的辭藻，就是把心裡的話告訴神。進入內屋禱告，也可以說進到心裡的內室禱告，因為有許多時候我們不能等到找到一個內室才禱告，我們希望隨時可以跟神說話，就在我們的心裡，我們可以安靜的，在心裡說，只有神聽得見。

耶和華是一位自隱的神(賽45:15)，但是祂存在。在每一次的禱告後，我們的心裡都會得到平靜，增加信心和力量，因為神垂聽了我們的禱告。重複禱告不是因為神耳背，而是因為我們信心小，以為神也需要不斷的叮嚀才會去做事，這樣的心態就把神當成僕人了。

Devote Yourself to Prayer

2019-01-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 2:1-7.  Let’s go!

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV) 
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone– 
2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 
3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 

On verses 1-3:  It is good and pleasing to God when we devote ourselves to prayer. In fact, when you read Paul’s letters, a running theme is his devotion to prayer (see for example Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2; and Philemon 1:4-6).  These verses are a reminder that we ought to devote ourselves to prayer, praying often and praying for everyone we meet or think about, including our leaders.

How to Protect Your Faith and Keep a Good Conscience

2019-01-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 1:12-20. Let’s go!

1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst.

On verses 12-15: No matter how far Paul advanced as a leader in God’s kingdom, Paul never forgot where he came from, how he once was a persecuter of God’s church, “the worst of sinners” he calls himself. Likewise, may you never forget the depths from which God saved you, so that you will never take for granted His forgiveness, His acceptance, and the opportunities He has given you to serve Him since.

論施捨

2019-01-24 in /by

馬太福音6:1-4_論施捨

1你們要小心，不可將善事行在人的面前，故意叫他們看見。若是這樣，就不能得你們天父的賞賜了。 2 所以，你施捨的時候，不可在你面前吹號，像那假冒為善的人在會堂裡和街道上所行的，故意要得人的榮耀。我實在告訴你們：他們已經得了他們的賞賜。 你施捨的時候，不要叫左手知道右手所做的， 4 要叫你施捨的事行在暗中，你父在暗中察看，必然報答你。

主耶穌在這段教導裡說出一個很嚴重的警告：若將善事故意行在人前，施捨時在面前吹號，就和假冒為善的人一樣了。這些己經得到世人掌聲的，很可能就得不到天上的賞賜了。為何不可將善事行前，又為何不可在施捨時吹號呢？那不是做好榜樣嗎？要記得光和鹽都是不講話的。

愛仇敵

2019-01-24 in /by

馬太福音5:38-47_愛仇敵

38 「你們聽見有話說：『以眼還眼，以牙還牙。』 39 只是我告訴你們，不要與惡人作對。有人打你的右臉，連左臉也轉過來由他打； 40 有人想要告你，要拿你的裡衣，連外衣也由他拿去； 41 有人強逼你走一里路，你就同他走二里。 42 有求你的，就給他；有向你借貸的，不可推辭。

43 「你們聽見有話說：『當愛你的鄰舍，恨你的仇敵。』 44 只是我告訴你們，要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告， 45 這樣就可以做你們天父的兒子，因為他叫日頭照好人也照歹人，降雨給義人也給不義的人。 46 你們若單愛那愛你們的人，有什麼賞賜呢？就是稅吏不也是這樣行嗎？ 47 你們若單請你弟兄的安，比人有什麼長處呢？就是外邦人不也是這樣行嗎？ 48 所以你們要完全，像你們的天父完全一樣。

最近正好有一則打人的新聞。在今年1月22日，有位台灣資深藝人因為心裡懷著對某些事的怨恨和不滿，在關懷演藝人員春節餐會裡，掌摑在場問候的文化部長。文化部長當然嚇了一大跳，忘了把另一邊臉也轉過去給藝人再打一次。不過她默默回到自己的桌上，連同桌的人都不知道發生此事。她雖然不說，但是當場那麼多人，這事一下子就成了頭條新聞。假如你是那位文化部長，你會不會把左臉也轉過去由她打？在這條新聞的下面，有很多人回應該提告，免得邪風惡長。

3 Friends Every Christian Needs

2019-01-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today we begin the book of 1 Timothy. 1 Timothy is a letter written by Paul in approximately 63-66 AD to one of his disciples, Timothy. At the time, Timothy was leading a large church that Paul helped to start in the city of Ephesus. Today’s passage is 1 Timothy 1:1-11. Let’s go!

1 Timothy 1:1-2 (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

On verses 1-2: In these two verses we see the 3 friends you can’t live without, 3 friends that every Christian needs. First and foremost, we all need Jesus Christ as “our hope” (v1) and “our Lord”) (v2). Second, we all need a Paul, a pastor and spiritual father in our lives who teaches us God’s Word and models what it means to follow Jesus.

說真話

2019-01-22 in /by

馬太福音5:33-37_說真話

33 「你們又聽見有吩咐古人的話說：『不可背誓，所起的誓總要向主謹守。』 34 只是我告訴你們，什麼誓都不可起。不可指著天起誓，因為天是神的座位； 35 不可指著地起誓，因為地是他的腳凳；也不可指著耶路撒冷起誓，因為耶路撒冷是大君的京城； 36 又不可指著你的頭起誓，因為你不能使一根頭髮變黑變白了。 37 你們的話，是就說是，不是就說不是；若再多說，就是出於那惡者。

一說到起誓，我們可能就連想到那些想取得人信任的信誓旦旦。但是畢牧師把它譯為Empty promises空洞的應許，也就是信口開河。例如，我們有時會跟人說：“我會為你禱告”但是一回家就忘了。有時我們跟人家說：“願神與你同在”，實際上心裡並不這麼想。我們習慣用宗教用語來美化日常的對話，使我們顯得高尚有義。但是相反的，這樣的說話卻使我們成了虛偽的人。

When Mercy Triumphed Over Judgement

2019-01-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Hosea 14:1-9. Let’s go!

Hosea 14:1-2 (NIV) 
1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God. Your sins have been your downfall!
2 Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to him: “Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips. 

On verses 1-3:  Like a mediator between God and Israel, here Hosea suggests words that Israel can speak to return to God.  He urges Israel to plead with God for forgiveness (v2).  He also tells the Israelites to acknowledge that all those idols they had previously worshiped cannot save them (v3).