2020年10月27日 星期二

以弗所書3:8

 


我本來比眾聖徒中最小的還小,然而他還賜我這恩典,叫我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外邦人,

 

Although I am the least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ.

 

*******

 

     對於耶穌基督的使徒們來說,保羅是一位特殊的人物,他是法利賽人,也是在外邦長大的猶太人,又有羅馬公民的身份。卻不是在主耶穌傳到的時候跟隨主耶穌的,也沒跟隨主耶穌從加利利到耶路撒冷,更沒有和主耶穌一起吃逾越節的晚餐。還要奇怪的是,他曾經大力的迫害教會!

 

    而他之所以成為基督徒,是因為在大馬色的路上遇見大光,聲稱自己是被主耶穌呼召,雖然有亞拿尼亞被聖靈的感動佐證,巴拿巴的介紹與接納而進入教會。不過這一切的過程,令人覺得很神奇!連保羅自己也像哥林多的弟兄姊妹說:「我如同未到產期而生的人一般。」(哥林多前書15:8

 

    所以保羅在這裡也說到:「我本來比眾聖徒中最小的還小,

 

    雖然如此,上帝卻是大大的使用他,他勇敢的做見證說:「然而他還賜我這恩典,叫我把基督那測不透的豐富傳給外邦人!」

 

    可見上帝有絕對的主權,更有大大的恩典,使人做出自己都難以想像的事情!在保羅的心目中,以為上帝會用其他的使徒如彼得、約翰、等等,來完成今天他要完成的事,因為他們論資格和地位都比保羅更配得,然而上帝竟然讓保羅來做!在在證明,上帝的意念是高過人的意念的!

 

    今日上帝也是用卑微的弟兄來成就偉大的事,要讓人清楚上帝的作為!套用保羅的話來說:「上帝卻揀選了世上愚拙的,叫有智慧的羞愧;又揀選了世上軟弱的,叫那強壯的羞愧。上帝也揀選了世上卑賤的,被人厭惡的,以及那無有的,為要廢掉那有的,使一切有血氣的,在上帝面前一個也不能自誇。」(哥林多前書1:27-29

 

    因此我們不要自誇,自以為比別人強,想要展現自己在眾人面前!凡我們高抬自己就是與上帝為敵,與上帝為敵的就無法得著上帝的賜福!正如使徒彼得說:「你們年幼的,也要順服年長的。就是你們眾人也都要以謙卑束腰,彼此順服;因為上帝阻擋驕傲的人,賜恩給謙卑的人。所以,你們要自卑,服在上帝大能的手下,到了時候,他必叫你們升高。你們要將一切的憂慮卸給上帝,因為他顧念你們。」(彼得前書5:5-7

 

    讓我們以此互相勉勵,在上帝面前成為謙卑的人,成為一位能蒙上帝賜福的人,讓上帝的榮耀透過我們彰顯出去!

 

 

 

 

 

2020年10月26日 星期一

約伯記18章

    約伯記18:1-21   ,

約伯記18:1-21

 


18:1 書亞人比勒達回答說:
18:2
你尋索言語要到幾時呢?你可以揣摩思想,然後我們就說話。
18:3
我們為何算為畜生,在你眼中看作污穢呢?
18:4
你這惱怒將自己撕裂的,難道大地為你見棄、磐石挪開原處嗎?
18:5
惡人的亮光必要熄滅;他的火焰必不照耀。
18:6
他帳棚中的亮光要變為黑暗;他以上的燈也必熄滅。
18:7
他堅強的腳步必見狹窄;自己的計謀必將他絆倒。
18:8
因為他被自己的腳陷入網中,走在纏人的網羅上。
18:9
圈套必抓住他的腳跟;機關必擒獲他。
18:10
活扣為他藏在土內;羈絆為他藏在路上。
18:11
四面的驚嚇要使他害怕,並且追趕他的腳跟。
18:12
他的力量必因飢餓衰敗;禍患要在他旁邊等候。
18:13
他本身的肢體要被吞吃;死亡的長子要吞吃他的肢體。
18:14
他要從所倚靠的帳棚被拔出來,帶到驚嚇的王那裡。
18:15
不屬他的必住在他的帳棚裡;硫磺必撒在他所住之處。
18:16
下邊,他的根本要枯乾;上邊,他的枝子要剪除。
18:17
他的記念在地上必然滅亡;他的名字在街上也不存留。
18:18
他必從光明中被攆到黑暗裡,必被趕出世界。
18:19
在本民中必無子無孫;在寄居之地也無一人存留。
18:20
以後來的要驚奇他的日子,好像以前去的受了驚駭。
18:21
不義之人的住處總是這樣;此乃不認識上帝之人的地步。

 

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

“When will you end these speeches?
    Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Why are we regarded as cattle
    and considered stupid in your sight?
You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,
    is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?
    Or must the rocks be moved from their place?

“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;
    the flame of his fire stops burning.
The light in his tent becomes dark;
    the lamp beside him goes out.
The vigor of his step is weakened;
    his own schemes throw him down.
His feet thrust him into a net;
    he wanders into its mesh.
A trap seizes him by the heel;
    a snare holds him fast.
10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground;
    a trap lies in his path.
11 Terrors startle him on every side
    and dog his every step.
12 Calamity is hungry for him;
    disaster is ready for him when he falls.
13 It eats away parts of his skin;
    death’s firstborn devours his limbs.
14 He is torn from the security of his tent
    and marched off to the king of terrors.
15 Fire resides[a] in his tent;
    burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling.
16 His roots dry up below
    and his branches wither above.
17 The memory of him perishes from the earth;
    he has no name in the land.
18 He is driven from light into the realm of darkness
    and is banished from the world.
19 He has no offspring or descendants among his people,
    no survivor where once he lived.
20 People of the west are appalled at his fate;
    those of the east are seized with horror.
21 Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man;
    such is the place of one who does not know God.”

 

*************

 

    這位朋友比勒達真是名符其實因為這個名字的意義是「迷惑混淆的愛」!真是搞不清楚是來安慰受苦中的約伯,還是來和約伯辯論,爭一口氣到底誰說的對?真是搞不清楚狀況!

 

    正如我們面對不信的人,要將福音傳給他們,希望他們能夠信靠耶穌基督成為救主,可使一開始就對他們說:「只有像我們這些得勝者,才能進入上帝的城,享受永生的福樂;你們這些不信的和拜偶像的,上帝要你們在城外哀哭切齒,無法享受到上帝的福分!」

 

    想想看這樣傳福音,內容似乎沒有問題,也符合聖經的教導,但是這樣傳是要人悔改還是要炫耀自己呢?這樣不信的人聽了以後還會有興趣來認識基督的信仰嗎?

 

    想想保羅怎樣論到上帝的拯救呢?羅馬書56-11節:「因我們還軟弱的時候,基督就按所定的日期為罪人死。為義人死,是少有的;為仁人死,或者有敢做的。惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死,上帝的愛就在此向我們顯明了。 現在我們既靠著他的血稱義,就更要藉著他免去上帝的忿怒。因為我們作仇敵的時候,且藉著上帝兒子的死,得與上帝和好;既已和好,就更要因他的生得救了。 不但如此,我們既藉著我主耶穌基督得與上帝和好,也就藉著他以上帝為樂。」

 

    比較起來就知道,都是傳福音,效果是不是不一樣!

 

    因此,我們當求聖靈給我們智慧像保羅一般,可以把上帝的恩典說清楚,使人感受到是上帝透過基督所展現的慈愛和恩典,使不信的人可以悔改快跑來跟隨主,不是光有熱心,要學習如何陳明上帝的心意,才是真正為主耶穌的緣故來呼召人成為耶穌基督的門徒!不要交差了事!

 

 

2020年10月25日 星期日

撒母耳記下5:1-25

 


5:1 以色列眾支派來到希伯崙見大衛,說:「我們原是你的骨肉。
5:2
從前掃羅作我們王的時候,率領以色列人出入的是你;耶和華也曾應許你說:『你必牧養我的民以色列,作以色列的君。』」
5:3
於是以色列的長老都來到希伯崙見大衛王,大衛在希伯崙耶和華面前與他們立約,他們就膏大衛作以色列的王。
5:4
大衛登基的時候年三十歲,在位四十年;
5:5
在希伯崙作猶大王七年零六個月,在耶路撒冷作以色列和猶大王三十三年。
5:6
大衛和跟隨他的人到了耶路撒冷,要攻打住那地方的耶布斯人。耶布斯人對大衛說:「你若不趕出瞎子、瘸子,必不能進這地方」;心裡想大衛決不能進去。
5:7
然而大衛攻取錫安的保障,就是大衛的城。
5:8
當日,大衛說:「誰攻打耶布斯人,當上水溝攻打我心裡所恨惡的瘸子、瞎子。」從此有俗語說:「在那裡有瞎子、瘸子,他不能進屋去。」
5:9
大衛住在保障裡,給保障起名叫大衛城。大衛又從米羅以裡,周圍築牆。
5:10
大衛日見強盛,因為耶和華萬軍之上帝與他同在。
5:11
泰爾王希蘭將香柏木運到大衛那裡,又差遣使者和木匠、石匠給大衛建造宮殿。
5:12
大衛就知道耶和華堅立他作以色列王,又為自己的民以色列使他的國興旺。
5:13
大衛離開希伯崙之後,在耶路撒冷又立后妃,又生兒女。
5:14
在耶路撒冷所生的兒子是沙母亞、朔罷、拿單、所羅門、
5:15
益轄、以利書亞、尼斐、雅非亞、
5:16
以利沙瑪、以利雅大、以利法列。
5:17
非利士人聽見人膏大衛作以色列王,非利士眾人就上來尋索大衛;大衛聽見,就下到保障。
5:18
非利士人來了,布散在利乏音谷。
5:19
大衛求問耶和華說:「我可以上去攻打非利士人嗎?你將他們交在我手裡嗎?」耶和華說:「你可以上去,我必將非利士人交在你手裡。」
5:20
大衛來到巴力毘拉心,在那裡擊殺非利士人,說:「耶和華在我面前沖破敵人,如同水沖去一般。」因此稱那地方為巴力毘拉心。
5:21
非利士人將偶像撇在那裡,大衛和跟隨他的人拿去了。
5:22
非利士人又上來,布散在利乏音谷。
5:23
大衛求問耶和華;耶和華說:「不要一直地上去,要轉到他們後頭,從桑林對面攻打他們。
5:24
你聽見桑樹梢上有腳步的聲音,就要急速前去,因為那時耶和華已經在你前頭去攻打非利士人的軍隊。」
5:25
大衛就遵著耶和華所吩咐的去行,攻打非利士人,從迦巴直到基色。

 

 

 

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.[a]” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”

David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces[b] inward. 10 And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

11 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 12 Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

13 After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 14 These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 15 Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, 16 Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.

17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?”

The Lord answered him, “Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands.”

20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, “As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me.” So that place was called Baal Perazim.[c] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off.

22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon[d] to Gezer.

 

*************

 

    對大衛的生命而言要不是耶和華與他同在他就不能成為以色列的王所以他每次的與敵人的征戰都會尋求上帝的引導正如他面對強大的非利士軍隊更是如此!也正是因為尋求耶和華,他的戰術兩次都不一樣,讓非利士人難以應付和招架,建立戰功。

 

    又如耶路撒冷本使在耶布斯人的手下,是一個易守難攻的城池,然而大衛王卻能夠掌握正確的戰術,就如大衛機是士兵所說:「誰攻打耶布斯人,當上水溝攻打我心裡所恨惡的瘸子、瞎子。」

 

    由此可見大衛是用逆水而上的方式,打入耶路掃冷,是那些耶布斯人沒有想到的,相信這也是上帝給他的指示。

 

   從大衛這些的功績讓我們感受到,有上帝同在的人,上帝必定在他的身上大顯榮耀!這些不是他本人有多麼本事,完全是上帝的作為!我們將自己交託給上帝,上帝也必定用祂的榮耀扶持我們,正如祂扶持大衛一般!

 

    讓我們來立志成為和上帝心意的人,我們也必經歷上帝榮耀的作為,使上帝的榮光界我們彰顯!