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信心的材料

約伯記42:5  我從前風聞有祢,現在親眼看見祢。

當大火席捲而過,一切盡毀後,能存留下來的是什麼?是稻禾、碎屑,還是精金?

甚麼材料是信心的根基?我們所仰望的,是神蹟奇事,還是平凡卻深遠的點滴?如果今天上帝沒有醫治我的病,祂就不是我的救主嗎?如果我一生貧困潦倒,最終未能進入更美的國度,祂就不信實嗎?如果惡人沒有受到懲罰,祂就不公義嗎?

但,真的是這樣嗎?我們的信心,真的建立在這些條件之上嗎?是神蹟?是命運的逆轉?還是惡人遭報?

約伯記三章到三十七章,篇幅浩大,細述約伯的苦難與辯論。然而,焦點並不在於苦難為何降臨,而是在於「信心的根基究竟是什麼?」

當上帝顯現,祂沒有直接回答約伯的問題,而是向他顯示祂所造的一切世界萬物,何等豐富奇妙。此時,約伯的回應只有一句:「我從前風聞有你,現在親眼看見你。」(約伯記42:5)話語至此,便已足夠。

照我本相

約翰福音6:37   耶穌說:「凡父所賜給我的人必到我這裡來;到我這裡來的,我總不丟棄他。」

《照我本相》(Just As I Am)是由英國詩人夏洛蒂·艾略特(Charlotte Elliott)創作的一首深具影響力的福音詩歌。這首詩歌的誕生背後有著感人的故事。

夏洛蒂·艾略特出生於一個虔誠的基督徒家庭,但她在年輕時因疾病導致終生癱瘓,這使她陷入深深的痛苦和對神的埋怨。她的生命在一次與瑞士佈道家塞薩爾·馬蘭(Cesar Malan)的交流中發生了轉變。馬蘭鼓勵她「照你本相」來到神面前,無需等待自己變得更好或更完美。這句話深深觸動了夏洛蒂,她重新建立了與神的關係。

1834年,夏洛蒂因身體原因無法參與家人舉辦的慈善活動,感到自己毫無價值。在寂靜的房間中,她回想起馬蘭的話,並受到神話語的激勵,創作了這首詩歌。詩歌的歌詞表達了神接納我們的本相,無論我們有多軟弱或不堪。

The Power of Accountability + Passion for God’s House

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 12:1-12.  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 12:1-3 (NIV) 
1  In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 
2  Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 
3  The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

On verses 1-3:  Notice what it says in verse 2:  “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”  Here we see the importance of being teachable and accountable to someone you trust and respect.  Joash was blessed to have a wise and God-loving father figure and mentor in his life called Jehoiada. 

主啊!祢還會難過嗎?

約翰一書 4:7-8

親愛的弟兄啊,我們應當彼此相愛,因為愛是從神來的。凡有愛心的,都是由神而生,並且認識神。 8 沒有愛心的,就不認識神,因為神就是愛。

祢已勝過了世界,從死裡復活,升上高天,祢已坐在父的右邊,擁有一切榮耀與權能。那麼,主啊!祢現在還會難過嗎?

我在黑夜裡問祢,當我承受這些不能說出口的痛,心碎無聲、眼淚乾涸…,祢還懂嗎?祢已不再受苦,那麼我這些破碎,祢還會放在心上嗎?

祢沉默,但祢沒有遠離。我看見十架,空了,卻依然刻著釘痕的記號。那不是遺忘的痕跡,是祢記得的證據。

祢復活了,卻沒有撕去人性的共鳴;祢得勝了,卻仍然在我痛時垂下眼簾。原來,祢不只是曾經難過,祢今天依然會為我心碎,依然與我一同承擔未痊癒的傷。

我不再問「祢還會難過嗎?」因為我知道,祢比我更在意我的痛。

You Have A Destiny

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 11:1-21.  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 11:1-21 (NIV)
1  When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.
2  But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

On verses 1-21:  After talking about the kingdom of Israel and how Jehu became its king in 2 Kings 9 and 10, the author of 2 Kings turns our attention once again to the kingdom of Judah.  Judah’s King Ahaziah was killed by Jehu of Israel, but instead of Ahaziah’s brother or son taking over Ahaziah’s throne in Judah, Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah seizes power for herself.

Goodbye Jehu. Hello Jesus.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 10:18-36.  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 10:18-36 (NIV)
18  Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.
19  Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his ministers and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the ministers of Baal.
20  Jehu said, “Call an assembly in honor of Baal.” So they proclaimed it.

On verses 18-36:  Having gotten rid of the house of Ahab along with a slew of others, Jehu now focuses on erasing the worship of the idol Baal in Israel. He invites all the prophets of Baal to the temple of Baal under the auspices that he is going to hold an assembly in honour of their god. Jehu even gives each prophet of Baal a special robe, which seems like a gift when in fact it just makes them an easier target (v22). 

我知道我的救贖主活著

馬太福音28:1-10

安息日將盡,七日的頭一日天快亮的時候,抹大拉的馬利亞和那個馬利亞來看墳墓。 2 忽然,地大震動,因為有主的使者從天上下來,把石頭滾開,坐在上面。 3 他的相貌如同閃電,衣服潔白如雪。 4 看守的人就因他嚇得渾身亂戰,甚至和死人一樣。 5 天使對婦女說:「不要害怕!我知道你們是尋找那釘十字架的耶穌。 6 他不在這裡,照他所說的,已經復活了。你們來看安放主的地方! 7 快去告訴他的門徒,說他從死裡復活了,並且在你們以先往加利利去,在那裡你們要見他。看哪,我已經告訴你們了!」 8 婦女們就急忙離開墳墓,又害怕又大大地歡喜,跑去要報給他的門徒。 9 忽然,耶穌遇見她們,說:「願你們平安!」她們就上前抱住他的腳拜他。 10 耶穌對她們說:「不要害怕!你們去告訴我的弟兄,叫他們往加利利去,在那裡必見我。」

那一天(星期日)清晨,婦女們買了香膏要去膏抹耶穌的身體,發現墳墓空了;天使宣告耶穌復活,耶穌向來探墓的抹大拉馬利亞顯現(馬太福音28:1-10;馬可福音16:1-8;路加福音24:1-12;約翰福音20:1-18),那日也向門徒顯現,證明祂真的從死裡復活。

天微亮,我跟著婦女們走向墳墓,心中充滿悲傷。但當我們抵達,大石頭已被挪開,墳墓裡空無一人,只有折好的裹屍布。我們聽到聲音說:「不要驚恐!你們尋找那釘十字架的拿撒勒人耶穌,祂已經復活了,不在這裡。」(馬可福音16:6)

我在晨光中甦醒…死亡失去了權勢,愛在絕望中暈開,黑夜過去了,新的曙光升起。祂真的勝過了死亡!救贖勝過死亡,盼望永不止息。

Not One, But Both: Two Areas Where We Need To Be Strong

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 2 Kings 10:1-17.  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 10:1-17 (NIV)
1  Now there were in Samaria seventy sons of the house of Ahab. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders and to the guardians of Ahab’s children. He said,
2  “As soon as this letter reaches you, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons,
3  choose the best and most worthy of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne. Then fight for your master’s house.”
4  But they were terrified and said, “If two kings could not resist him, how can we?”

On verses 1-17:  Having assassinated Joram king of Israel and Jezebel the queen mother, Jehu continues his mission to eliminate the remaining sons in Ahab’s house.  Instead of a sneak attack, Jehu issues a formal challenge to the high officials in Israel’s capital city as well as those in charge of Ahab’s sons.  Jehu challenges them to put one of Ahab’s sons on Ahab’s throne and to fight Jehu and his troops.

我鳥瞰死寂的耶路撒冷城

馬太福音27:62-66

次日,就是預備日的第二天,祭司長和法利賽人聚集來見彼拉多,說: 63 「大人,我們記得那誘惑人的還活著的時候曾說:『三日後我要復活。』 64 因此,請吩咐人將墳墓把守妥當,直到第三日,恐怕他的門徒來把他偷了去,就告訴百姓說他從死裡復活了。這樣,那後來的迷惑比先前的更厲害了。」 65 彼拉多說:「你們有看守的兵,去吧,盡你們所能的把守妥當。」 66 他們就帶著看守的兵同去,封了石頭,將墳墓把守妥當。

那一天(星期六),耶穌的身體被安放在墳墓中,門徒們因猶太安息日而靜默哀悼;祭司長和法利賽人擔心門徒藉機迷惑眾人,要求彼拉多派兵看守耶穌的墳墓(馬太福音27:62-66;馬可福音15:42-47;路加福音23:50-56)。

安息日過後的清晨,我從橄欖山鳥瞰耶路撒冷城,街道上的人少了,狂熱肅殺的氣氛依然還在,流淚、痛心、失望、嘆息…從燈光微暈的矮樓洩出,人們失去了那屬於「安息日的安息」。我隱約回憶…

祂曾在耶路撒冷城內羊門旁的畢士大池,醫好一個病了38年的癱子,對他說:「起來,拿你的褥子走吧!」

祂曾在耶路撒冷聖殿面對一位行淫時被拿的婦人,提醒正要依律法處置婦人的眾人說:「你們中間誰是沒有罪的,誰就可以先拿石頭打她。」又對婦人說:「我也不定你的罪。去吧,從此不要再犯罪了!」

我遙望十架上的耶穌…

路加福音23:34 當下耶穌說:「父啊,赦免他們!因為他們所做的他們不曉得。」兵丁就拈鬮分祂的衣服。

路加福音23:42-43 就說:「耶穌啊,你得國降臨的時候,求你記念我!」 43 耶穌對他說:「我實在告訴你:今日你要同我在樂園裡了!」

約翰福音 19:30  耶穌嘗了那醋,就說:「成了!」便低下頭,將靈魂交付神了。

那一天(星期五),耶穌先後受審於猶太議會(公會)、彼拉多、希律王,最後被定罪;接著,遭受鞭打、羞辱,背著自己的十字架走到各各他(髑髏地)。中午被釘十字架,下午三時左右斷氣(馬太福音27章;馬可福音15章;路加福音23章;約翰福音18-19章),死後由亞利馬太人約瑟和尼哥底母領去安葬。

我跟在人群後,暗夜裡悄悄地跟隨祂的蹤跡。黎明時分,祂被捆綁帶走,踉蹌背負十字架前行。鞭子抽打,血跡斑斑;荊棘壓頭,嘲笑怒吼。祂不吭一聲,默默承受。

我從城牆邊遙望,看著祂被釘上十字架。祂睜開被鮮血模糊的眼睛,望向我們—不是咒罵,不是控訴,而是祈求天父的饒恕,祂說:「父啊!赦免他們;因為他們所做的,他們不曉得。」(路加福音23:34)

我聽見與祂同釘十架的犯人說:「耶穌啊,祢得國降臨的時候,求祢記念我!」祂肯定的回應:「我實在告訴你,今日你要同我在樂園裡了。」(路加福音23:42-43)