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结出圣灵的果子-温柔

2025-05-05 in , /by

撒迦利亚书9:9  锡安的民哪，应当大大喜乐！耶路撒冷的民哪，应当欢呼！看哪，你的王来到你这里，祂是公义的，并且施行拯救，谦谦和和地骑着驴，就是骑着驴的驹子。

约翰福音8:1-11

于是各人都回家去了。耶稣却往橄榄山去。 2 清早又回到殿里，众百姓都到他那里去，他就坐下教训他们。 3 文士和法利赛人带着一个行淫时被拿的妇人来，叫她站在当中， 4 就对耶稣说：「夫子，这妇人是正行淫之时被拿的。 5 摩西在律法上吩咐我们把这样的妇人用石头打死，你说该把她怎么样呢？」 6 他们说这话乃试探耶稣，要得着告他的把柄。耶稣却弯著腰，用指头在地上画字。

加拉太书5:23谈到「温柔」是圣灵所结的果子之一，这里的「温柔」（希腊文原文为prautēs）指的是谦卑、温顺，但并非懦弱无能，而是刚柔并济，一种受控的力量，在真理与爱中表现出来的谦和态度。

柏拉图在《理想国》(Republic)中，利用守卫犬(guardian dog) 来比喻勇猛与温柔并存的理想品德；对敌人凶猛、果断（勇敢、具有攻击性），对熟悉的人亲切、和善（温柔、友好）；而这看似矛盾行为的核心，就在于这种犬只能辨别敌人与朋友。

2 Kings in a Nutshell

2025-05-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 17:14-23.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 17:14-23 (NIV)
14  But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their fathers, who did not trust in the LORD their God.
15  They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do,” and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do.

On verses 14-23:  These verses summarize the overall story of 2 Kings, which is that despite the Lord warning His people about the consequences that would result if they kept on sinning, the Israelites both in Israel and in Judah persisted in all forms of sinning against the Lord (v14 to 19). 

结出圣灵的果子-信实

2025-05-04 in , /by

你要知道耶和华─你的神，祂是神，是信实的神；向爱祂、守祂诫命的人守约，施慈爱，直到千代。（申命记7:9）

因为耶和华本为善。祂的慈爱存到永远；祂的信实直到万代。（诗篇100:5）

我们的天父是守约、施慈爱，信实的神，祂的儿女因为相信祂，就拥有延续到永远的慈爱，而这「信实」（可信、可靠）的确据则一直延伸到万代。

使徒保罗在加拉太书5:22谈到「信实」是圣灵所结的果子之一，它的原文就是「信心」一字。天父的儿女相信天父是信实的神，这信心让圣灵改变我们的生命，也让我们能承载天父的「信实」属性，成为「信实」的人。

一个信实的人要在日常生活中表现忠诚、信实、可靠，这不仅仅是对神的信靠，也体现在与他人的关系中。信实的表现包括对家庭的忠诚、对工作的责任感、对朋友的真诚，无论在顺境还是逆境中，保持对神的信心和倚靠，且和他人都能持守忠诚和真诚。

God Is So Much More Merciful Than People

2025-05-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 17:1-13.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go!

2 Kings 17:1-13 (NIV)
1  In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.
2  He did evil in the eyes of the LORD, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.
3  Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.

On verses 1-13:  One thing that strikes me as I read this passage is how much more merciful and gracious the Lord is compared to Shalmaneser king of Assyria.  King Hoshea of Israel had been Shalmaneser’s vassal. 

结出圣灵的果子-恩慈(Kindness)

2025-05-02 in , /by

以弗所书4:32  要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。

马丁·路德·金恩博士是美国历史上重要的民权运动领袖之一，他也是一位敬虔的基督徒牧师。面对种族歧视、暴力与不公，他选择非暴力抗争与爱的回应，显出圣灵结出的「恩慈」果子。

在1950-60年代，金恩博士与他的追随者常常面对辱骂、暴力攻击、甚至死亡威胁。然而，他坚持以「恩慈」来回应仇恨。他在演讲中不止一次提到：

「黑暗不能驱逐黑暗，只有光可以做到；仇恨不能驱逐仇恨，只有爱可以做到。(Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.)」

金恩博士相信，基督徒蒙召要以「恩慈的心肠」对待敌人。他不以恶报恶，而是选择原谅攻击他的人。他坚信：「即使别人用仇恨来对待我，我仍然选择以爱来回应他们。」这「恩慈」，不是出于人的本能，而是圣灵的工作，使他在极其艰难的环境中仍能活出基督的样式。

「要以恩慈相待，存怜悯的心，彼此饶恕，正如神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。」（以弗所书4:32）

结出圣灵的果子-忍耐

2025-05-01 in , /by

雅各书1:2-4 我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐，3 因为知道，你们的信心经过试验就生忍耐。 4 但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全、完备，毫无缺欠。

尼克・胡哲(Nick Vujicic)患有先天性四肢切断症，出生时没有四肢，从小就面临极大的身体限制与心理挑战。他曾经在童年时期感到绝望，甚至想过结束自己的生命。然而，他后来透过信仰耶稣，找到了人生的意义与希望。

今天的尼克成为了世界知名的基督徒演讲家、励志作家、慈善机构创办人，并且经常公开见证圣灵在他生命中结出了「忍耐」的果子。尼克分享过，从小到大，他的生活充满了延迟的希望和长时间的等待。他说：

「我必须学会接受，祷告的答案不一定会按我想要的时间和方式实现，但我可以相信神依然是美善的(I had to learn that my prayers wouldn’t always be answered when and how I wanted them to be, but I could trust that God was still good.)。」

为了简单的事情（比如拿杯水、打开门），尼克都需要极大的耐心学习和持续练习。他经历了无数次失败，但没有放弃，而是靠着圣灵赐下的力量坚持下去。

Before You Make That Change, Ask Why

2025-05-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 16:1-20.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 16:1-4 (NIV)
1  In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.
2  Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD his God.
3  He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
4  He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.
 
On verses 1-4:  Ahaz replaces his father Jotham as king of Judah. Unlike his father, Ahaz is deeply into idol worship.  As part of worshiping an idol, Ahaz sacrifices his child in the fire (v3), hoping it will bring him prosperity.

结出圣灵的果子-和平(平安)

2025-04-30 in , /by

腓立比书4:7  神所赐出人意外的平安，必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。

NBA金州勇士队球星Stephen Curry曾多次分享，信仰是他的人生和职业生涯的核心价值之一。作为一位职业运动员，柯瑞面临极大的压力，媒体关注、比赛胜负、伤病风险…，这些都可能让人焦虑或失去方向。但他常提到「对耶稣的信仰」让他享有心里平安，无论在胜利还是失败中都不动摇。

他说过：「我知道我是谁，也知道我是属于谁的(I know who I am, and I know whose I am)。」还说过：「我身上有比球衣更重要的东西(There’s more to me than just this jersey I wear)。」这几句话背后，就是他对神完全的信靠，让他在动荡的环境中依然持守内心的平静与安稳，这正是圣灵的果子-和平。

贾斯汀・比伯(Justin Bieber)是全球知名的流行音乐巨星，年少成名后，迷失了方向，他的生命经历非常大的挣扎，曾公开承认：「我感到孤单、迷惘、焦虑…，即使世界都认识我，我却不认识自己。」但几年前，他开始重新参加教会，并在牧师与妻子Hailey的陪伴下，重新建立与耶稣的亲密关系。

There’s No One Like Jesus

2025-04-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 15:27-38.  As usual, I encourage you to open your Bible and read the passage yourself first.  See what you can glean with the Holy Spirit’s help. Then read the GAME sharing below.  Let’s go! 

2 Kings 15:27-38 (NIV)
27  In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years.
28  He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.
29  In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maacah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and deported the people to Assyria.

On verses 27-38:  In these verses we read of two kings with two very different reigns. First there is Pekah king of Israel who worshiped idols and as a result much of his territory was conquered and his people taken away by a foreign enemy, the Assyrians (v27-31). 

结出圣灵的果子-喜乐

2025-04-29 in , /by

使徒行传16:16-40

16 后来，我们往那祷告的地方去，有一个使女迎著面来，她被巫鬼所附，用法术叫她主人们大得财利。 17 她跟随保罗和我们，喊著说：「这些人是至高神的仆人，对你们传说救人的道！」 18 她一连多日这样喊叫，保罗就心中厌烦，转身对那鬼说：「我奉耶稣基督的名，吩咐你从她身上出来！」那鬼当时就出来了。

19 使女的主人们见得利的指望没有了，便揪住保罗和西拉，拉他们到市上去见首领， 20 又带到官长面前，说：「这些人原是犹太人，竟骚扰我们的城， 21 传我们罗马人所不可受、不可行的规矩。」 22 众人就一同起来攻击他们。官长吩咐剥了他们的衣裳，用棍打。 23 打了许多棍，便将他们下在监里，嘱咐禁卒严紧看守。 24 禁卒领了这样的命，就把他们下在内监里，两脚上了木狗。

保罗和同工西拉在腓立比传讲福音（使徒行传16:16-40），被诬告而遭到捉拿，受到众人攻击、殴打，最后被下到监里，双脚上了木狗，处境极为艰难。然而，即便是在这样的困境中，保罗和西拉并没有感到绝望，反而在监里祷告，并且唱诗赞美神。

这时，令人惊奇的事发生了。一场地震使监牢的地基摇动，监门全开，囚犯的锁链也都松开了。惊慌的狱卒以为囚犯都逃走了，想要拔刀自尽，但保罗喊住他：「不要伤害自己！我们都在这里。」

狱卒被保罗和西拉的喜乐、信心及行为感动，战兢地俯伏在他们面前，问道：「我当怎样行才可以得救？」他们回应说：「当信主耶稣，你和你一家都必得救。」（使徒行传16:30-31）最后，狱卒和他的全家接受了福音，并受了洗。