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麥死(袂死=不會死)的勇氣

約翰福音12:24-25 我實實在在地告訴你們,一粒麥子不落在地裡死了,仍舊是一粒,若是死了,就結出許多子粒來。愛惜自己生命的,就失喪生命;在這世上恨惡自己生命的,就要保守生命到永生。

莫大的恩典讓我能領受神的話語, 且能與你(妳)分享. 分享中, 禱告裡, 心中總是有個禱求, 我們能一起明白神的話語, 跟隨主的腳步, 經歷聖靈的保守, 讓我們走出疑惑, 失望, 挫折及失敗的陰影, 尋得平安喜樂的生命. 我懇求神, 照著祂豐盛的慈愛和不斷絕的憐憫, 成就祂對我們每一個人的應許。

帶著擔憂,我們走入2025年,因為我們親眼看見耶穌的提醒:

「你們聽見打仗和打仗的風聲,不要驚慌。這些事是必須有的,只是末期還沒有到。民要攻打民,國要攻打國;多處必有地震、饑荒。這都是災難的起頭。」(馬可福音13:7-8)

帶著使命,我們走入2025年,因為我們明白領受耶穌的託付:「但你們要謹慎;因為人要把你們交給公會,並且你們在會堂裡要受鞭打,又為我的緣故站在諸侯與君王面前,對他們作見證。然而,福音必須先傳給萬民。」(馬可福音13:9-10)

Worthy of All the Honour

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 12:35-44.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 12:35-37 (NIV)
35  While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David?
36  David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”‘
37  David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with delight.

On verses 35-37:  The Pharisees, the Herodians, the Sadducees and the teachers of the law all had their turns asking Jesus tough questions.  Jesus answered every one of their questions with amazing wisdom and poise.  Now it was Jesus’ turn to ask a question. 

迎接新一天的盼望

詩篇59:16   但我要歌頌祢的力量,早晨要高聲稱頌祢的慈愛;因為祢作過我的高臺,在我急難的日子作過我的避難所。

詩篇46:5 神在其中,城必不動搖;到天一亮,神必幫助這城。

新衣、新車、新房…,每一個人都喜歡,但不竟然人人都能得到,且能經常得到。機會,也是每一個人都喜歡,但奇妙的是,人人都能得到,且能經常得到;每一天全新的早晨,擺在你眼前的就是全新的機會,你想如何踏出今天的第一步?

早晨是「我新的存在」,顯明神在我身上,不斷絕的慈愛與憐憫。「我們不致消滅,是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛;因祂的憐憫不致斷絕。每早晨,這都是新的;祢的誠實極其廣大!」(耶利米哀歌3:22-23)

早晨是「更新的開始」,憂愁留在昨夜夢迴,不再藏於今日思緒。「祂的怒氣不過是轉眼之間;祂的恩典乃是一生之久。一宿雖然有哭泣,早晨便必歡呼。」(詩篇30:5)

The Key to Entering God’s Kingdom

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 12:28-34.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)
28  One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

On verses 28-31:  After answering questions from the Pharisees, the Herodians, and the Sadducees, now Jesus is confronted by a representative of another group: the teachers of the law.  This teacher asks Jesus, “what is the most important commandment in the Jewish law?”

勞碌中享福

傳道書2:22-23  人在日光之下勞碌、累心,在他一切的勞碌上得著什麼呢? 23 因為他日日憂慮,他的勞苦成為愁煩,連夜間心也不安。這也是虛空。

傳道書2:24  人莫強如吃喝,且在勞碌中享福,我看這也是出於神的手。

傳道書1:12-2:26描述傳道者(多數學者認為是所羅門王)專心用智慧尋求、查究天下(日光之下)所做的一切事,找尋生命的意義。

他本以智慧為榮,卻發現多有智慧,就多有愁煩;加增知識,就加增憂傷(傳道書1:16-18)。他試著用歡樂來滿足自己,用酒來使肉體舒暢,為自己建造房屋、栽種葡萄園、修園栽樹、挖池澆灌,也經營家業,買僕婢、得牛羊、積財寶、擁妃嬪…;他得到眼所求的、心所樂的,這是他從勞碌中所得的分、所成的功。(傳道書2:1-11)

他看出智慧勝過愚昧,智慧人的眼目光明,愚昧人在黑暗裡行;然而,他發現智慧人和愚昧人都要都必遇見一件事,就是都要面對死亡,都被忘記,完全沒有差異。(傳道書2:12-16)

更有甚者,傳道者發現自己用智慧、知識、靈巧所勞碌得來的,卻要留給未曾勞碌的人,那人是智慧、是愚昧,誰能知道?竟要管理他勞碌所得的,就是在日光之下用智慧所得的。(傳道書2:17-21)

神不喜悅的心

箴言4:23   你要保守你心,勝過保守一切,因為一生的果效是由心發出。

雅各書4:6  神阻擋驕傲的人,賜恩給謙卑的人。

雅各書1:8  心懷二意的人,在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。

馬太福音15:19-20  因為從心裡發出來的,有惡念、凶殺、姦淫、苟合、偷盜、妄證、謗讟。這都是污穢人的。

在人與神的關係中,祂關注人的內心勝於人的行為。箴言4:23提到「你要保守你心,勝過保守一切,因為一生的果效是由心發出。」神不喜悅的心,並不是表面上的軟弱,而是內裡深層的驕傲、剛硬、詭詐、貪婪與邪惡、不信與悖逆。

「驕傲的心」使人自高自大、自以為是,不倚靠神。「凡心裡驕傲的,為耶和華所憎惡…」(箴言16:5)「神阻擋驕傲的人,賜恩給謙卑的人。」(雅各書4:6)

「剛硬的心」抗拒神的感動與教導,不願意悔改,不順服神。「你們今日若聽祂的話,就不可硬著心,像在曠野惹祂發怒、試探祂的時候一樣。」(希伯來書3:8)

Is There Marriage In Heaven?

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 12:13-27.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 12:13-17 (NIV)
13  Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
14  They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?

On verses 13-17:  By asking Jesus whether it is right to pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees and Herodians were trying to trap Jesus in a lose-lose situation, a “catch-22”.   If Jesus answered their question by suggesting that the Jews should not pay taxes to Caesar, the Pharisees and Herodians could then take this to the Roman government and say, “Look, Jesus is inciting rebellion against Caesar!” 

God’s Values vs. The World’s Values

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Mark 12:1-12.  With an open mind and a humble heart, read this passage and see what sticks out to you in this passage.  Is there a verse, a phrase, or a lesson you think the Holy Spirit may be highlighting for you in this passage?  After you’ve thought about the passage yourself a bit, read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

Mark 12:1-11 (NIV)
1  He then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.
2  At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard.

On verses 1-11:  Being the master communicator, Jesus shares a simple, powerful, and arresting story that gives people a fresh understanding of a famous phrase in Scripture: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone” (from Psalm 118:22-23).  At the same time, he uses this story to hint strongly at the tremendous evil that the chief priests, teachers of the law and elders were wanting to do to him.

與祢有約

希伯來書13:20-21 但願賜平安的神,就是那憑永約之血、使群羊的大牧人─我主耶穌從死裡復活的神,在各樣善事上成全你們,叫你們遵行祂的旨意;又藉著耶穌基督在你們心裡行祂所喜悅的事。願榮耀歸給祂,直到永永遠遠。阿們!

人與人相處,結交朋友,可以意氣相投,也可以道不同不相為謀,分道揚鑣。然而,生命中的婚姻和受洗卻截然不同,婚姻是夫妻間的立約,受洗則是與主立約,兩者的生活及生命旅程建基於盟約關係,其實有著相似的成長軌跡。

第一步,是「得著」我喜歡的。婚姻的開始,源於彼此吸引,因為看見對方的可愛與美好。同樣地,人在決志受洗時,往往是被主的愛吸引,得著赦免、平安、喜樂、盼望,這些是我們「喜歡」並渴慕的。婚姻和受洗的第一步總是美好,但好景總是短暫,人稱其為「蜜月」,一個月或許會延續久些,就要面對現實。

第二步,是「面對」我不喜歡的。婚姻進入現實後,差異與衝突必然浮現,我們開始學習包容與接納。跟隨基督也意味著要面對挑戰,悔改、被管教、捨己、十字架,這些不一定「討喜」,甚至「不喜歡」,卻是成長與真實的印記。這個階段也不會太長,在衡量得失後,我們必須選擇「堅持」或「放棄」。