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第九章

57 他們走路的時候，有一人對耶穌說：你無論往那裡去，我要跟從你。 58 耶穌說：狐狸有洞，天空的飛鳥有窩，只是人子沒有枕頭的地方。 59 又對一個人說：跟從我來！那人說：主，容我先回去埋葬我的父親。 60 耶穌說：任憑死人埋葬他們的死人，你只管去傳揚　神國的道。 61 又有一人說：主，我要跟從你，但容我先去辭別我家裡的人。 62 耶穌說：手扶著犁向後看的，不配進　神的國。

默想：

1. 耶穌與三位想要跟隨他的人的談話；耶穌要求跟隨他的人要完全盡忠，沒有半點虛假與條件的；不挑三揀四地跟從。他們接受冠冕也接受十字架、接受憐憫也接受審判；放棄所有的自我保障，將焦點集中在耶穌身上。
2. 耶穌對第一個人的回答是：“在跟從我之前，請先計算好代價”；根據猶太人的習俗，第二個人說話的意思很可能是“等我父親死後，我再來跟從你”，耶穌要他把握時機，回應聖靈當時在他內心的感動；第三個人講的話，很可能就是要回家去，把家裡的事處理妥當後，時間許可再來跟隨耶穌。扶犁耕田的農夫，必須定睛向前看才不致耕出歪斜的犁溝；耶穌用以指出想成為神國一份子的人，必須對神全心全意，不讓世事調轉他的眼目。
3. 如果耶穌對我說，“你今天來跟從我！”，我會用什麼藉口，來拖延耶穌的呼召？是什麼使我戀戀不捨而不能專心跟隨主？我願意讓耶穌幫助我除去心中的不捨、不願嗎？

 

Luke 9

⁵⁷As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”  ⁵⁸Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”  ⁵⁹He said to another man, “Follow me.”  But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”  ⁶⁰Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”  ⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”  ⁶²Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Meditation:

1. Jesus is talking to three potential followers of him.  He expects his followers to be totally faithful without any conditions or restrictions.  He wants them to accept the cross as well as the crown, judgement as well as mercy.  We need to calculate the price and be willing to relinquish all that we consider our security to follow Jesus.  Focus on Jesus and we will not be distracted in living out a life of truth and grace.
2. Jesus’ response to the first person is: ”Count your cost before following me.” According to the Jewish customs, the second person probably meant that “I’ll wait until my father dies before I come to follow you.”  Jesus advised him to grasp the opportunity to respond to the moving of the Holy Spirit at the time.  The third person probably wanted to settle his family affairs and if time allows, then he’ll come to follow Jesus.  The farmer has to look straight ahead in order to plow straight furrows for planting seeds.  Jesus says that if we want to become a member of God’s kingdom, we need to focus our attention on God, and not allow the world to distract our focus elsewhere.
3. If Jesus says to me, “Come and follow me, today!”, what excuses would I use to delay Jesus’ calling?  Does Jesus delight in my hesitation in following Him?  What are the things that are holding me back?  Am I willing to allow Jesus to take away these things from me?

 

Family Time

Vv14-17, God is especially interested in those who are hungry.  Jesus showed us that when he fed the 5,000.  Discuss how your family can help feed the hungry of the world.  Do not forget the foreign missionaries who could help you feed the hungry.  Decide how you will put your plan into action.  Ask God’s help to complete your plan.

第八章

42 ……耶穌去的時候，眾人擁擠他。43 有一個女人，患了十二年的血漏，在醫生手裡花盡了他一切養生的，並沒有一人能醫好他。 44 他來到耶穌背後，摸他的衣裳繸子，血漏立刻就止住了。 45 耶穌說：摸我的是誰？眾人都不承認。彼得和同行的人都說：夫子，眾人擁擁擠擠緊靠著你。（有古卷在此有：你還問摸我的是誰嗎？） 46 耶穌說：總有人摸我，因我覺得有能力從我身上出去。 47 那女人知道不能隱藏，就戰戰兢兢的來俯伏在耶穌腳前，把摸他的緣故和怎樣立刻得好了，當著眾人都說出來。 48 耶穌對她說：女兒，你的信救了你；平平安安的去吧！

默想：

1. 我們很多時候以為，處在危機中，例如：癌症，破產，長期精神衰弱，無法避免的憂傷，或是失去信心；我們以為，這是必須坦然無懼地來到神的面前，才可能希望神答應我們的祈求。但是這個女人是恐懼戰兢地接近耶穌，她並不知道會有什麼結果，她心中只有一個微薄的願望：“只是摸一下耶穌的衣角” 。
2. 有時，我們所能做的就是像這個女人，暗暗地從後面，以我們僅存的力氣（意志），來觸摸耶穌的衣繸，希望他不會發怒或置之不理，並且希望在我們幾乎絕望的當中，能出現一絲生機。
3. 我是否曾經害怕神，而不敢將自己的問題帶到神面前？這個故事如何幫助我面對危急的情況？
4. 告訴神我現在所面對的困難。將我心中所有的恐懼、不安、缺乏信心，或是渴望、希望、感恩，都一起帶到神面前，與他交談，聆聽他對我說話，接受神的安慰與醫治。

 

 

Luke 8

42 ……   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.   45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.  When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”  46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”  47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Meditation:

1. Often we are taught that when we are in desperate need of something from God – in a crisis caused by, cancer, bankruptcy, chronic depression, inescapable grief, or loss of faith – we must come boldly and without fear into God’s presence if we expect him to answer our prayer.  Yet this woman came in fear and trembling, having no idea what might happen, but thinking, “If I can just touch the edge of his cloak, who knows?”
2. Sometimes all we can do is struggle toward God from behind and stretch with what little we have left in us to touch the edge of him, hoping he will not be angry with us or ignore us, hoping something will happen that we are almost beyond believing can happen.  We discover, to our astonishment, that nothing more than this is required, and we live.
3. Have I ever been too frightened to come to God with a problem?  Why?  How would this story help me as I face desperate situations?
4. Talk to God about the problem I am facing.  Bring all my fear, uncertainty, lack of faith, or eagerness, hope and thanksgiving to God.  Talk to him and wait for him to speak.

 

Family Time

vv38-39, One of the hardest places to be a Christian is at home.  The people who see us everyday cannot be fooled.  They know how we really live.  It makes giving a witness harder.  Ask each family member to tell what God has done for him or her in recent days.  Thank God for his blessings.

 

第七章

36 有一個法利賽人請耶穌和他吃飯；耶穌就到法利賽人家裡去坐席。 37 那城裡有一個女人，是個罪人，知道耶穌在法利賽人家裡坐席，就拿著盛香膏的玉瓶， 38 站在耶穌背後，挨著他的腳哭，眼淚溼了耶穌的腳，就用自己的頭髮擦乾，又用嘴連連親他的腳，把香膏抹上。 39 請耶穌的法利賽人看見這事，心裡說：這人若是先知，必知道摸他的是誰，是個怎樣的女人，乃是個罪人。

44 於是轉過來向著那女人，便對西門說：你看見這女人嗎？我進了你的家，你沒有給我水洗腳；但這女人用眼淚溼了我的腳，用頭髮擦乾。 45 你沒有與我親嘴；但這女人從我進來的時候就不住的用嘴親我的腳。 46 你沒有用油抹我的頭；但這女人用香膏抹我的腳。 47 所以我告訴你，他許多的罪都赦免了，因為他的愛多；但那赦免少的，他的愛就少。 48 於是對那女人說：你的罪赦免了。 49 同席的人心裡說：這是甚麼人，竟赦免人的罪呢？ 50 耶穌對那女人說：你的信救了你；平平安安的回去吧！

默想：

1. 這個女人以淚水洗耶穌的腳，用頭髮來擦乾，又不住地親耶穌的腳，並抹上香膏。作主人的法利賽人，卻認為耶穌容許一個犯罪的女人來觸摸，已經沾染了污穢。
2. 但耶穌問他：“你看見這女人嗎” ？耶穌問西門是否真的看見她，不是看見一個罪人，而是一個蒙神赦免、罪擔獲釋、感恩至極、喜極而泣的人；一個盡她所能向主表達愛，一個因為信心而得拯救，自此可以“平平安安的回去”之神的孩子。
3. 耶穌也在問我同樣的問題：“你看見……嗎？”我是否真正看見走在街上、地鐵上、商場裡、超市內，……的人？我是否如耶穌一樣的看見他們？若是，會有什麼分別？以耶穌的眼光看人，會怎樣改變我對人的態度？
4. 告訴耶穌我對人 “屬靈眼睛的弱視”，請求聖靈來觸摸我，改變我的眼光，學習以主耶穌慈愛憐憫的眼光，來看每一個我所接觸的人。

 

Luke 7

³⁶Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, ³⁸and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.  ³⁹When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

⁴⁴Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”  ⁴⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”  ⁴⁹The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”  ⁵⁰Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Meditation:

1. This woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair.  She kisses them and pours perfume over them.  The host, a Pharisee –  a religious leader, considers that Jesus has “contaminated” himself by touching or being touched by someone considered morally, spiritually or physically filthy.
2. But Jesus asked Simon “Do you see this woman?”  Jesus asked Simon if he truly sees her – not a sinner, but a person, someone forgiven by God, a human who is weeping with gratitude and relief, a child who is loving as much as she can, a child of God who is saved by her faith and who is free to go in peace.
3. Jesus is asking me the same question, “Do you see ……?”  Do I truly see people on the street, on the subway, in the mall, in the supermarket, beggars, ……?  Do I see people as how Jesus sees them?  How would that make a difference?  How would seeing people as Jesus sees them change my attitude toward them?
4. Talk to Jesus about my “poor spiritual eyesight”, my reluctance, my stereotyping.  Wait for the Holy Spirit to touch me and change my perspectives.

 

Family

This woman was a person with many sins.  She had met Jesus and had been filled with love.  The woman responded to Jesus with faith.  Jesus responded to her with forgiveness and salvation.  Use a concordance to look up other Scripture that speaks of faith.  Sing, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow.”

 

第六章

27 只是我告訴你們這聽道的人，你們的仇敵，要愛他！恨你們的，要待他好！ 28 咒詛你們的，要為他祝福！凌辱你們的，要為他禱告！ 29 有人打你這邊的臉，連那邊的臉也由他打。有人奪你的外衣，連裡衣也由他拿去。 30 凡求你的，就給他。有人奪你的東西去，不用再要回來。 31 你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。 32 你們若單愛那愛你們的人，有甚麼可酬謝的呢？就是罪人也愛那愛他們的人。 33 你們若善待那善待你們的人，有甚麼可酬謝的呢？就是罪人也是這樣行。 34 你們若借給人，指望從他收回，有甚麼可酬謝的呢？就是罪人也借給罪人，要如數收回。 35 你們倒要愛仇敵，也要善待他們，並要借給人不指望償還，你們的賞賜就必大了，你們也必作至高者的兒子；因為他恩待那忘恩的和作惡的。 36 你們要慈悲，像你們的父慈悲一樣。

默想：

1. 耶穌教訓門徒要愛仇敵，這與我們的想法相反。我們會認為：如果去愛仇敵，他們豈不會得寸進尺，更加迫害我們？其實耶穌強調：愛仇敵、祝福他們，為他們禱告等等，就是要我們停止冤冤相報的惡性循環。
2. 畢竟，神自己以他無比的愛破除了這個報復的模式，將他的愛子差遣來到世間，為我們的罪受苦而死。當我們回應神的愛，接受基督的救贖時，我們對神的態度整個改變過來，由拒絕頂撞轉而愛神，願意討他的歡悅。這就是耶穌要我們學習，以愛來勝過仇敵。當然，這絕不容易，跟隨基督本來不是輕而易舉之事，但卻能帶來自由。
3. 回想以往曾經傷害過我的一個人，重新讀這段經文，並求耶穌讓我靠他來原諒這個人，破除心中憎恨或是報復的心態。

Luke 6

27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

Meditation:

1. Jesus’ call to love enemies often frightens us, and so we tend to ignore it.  If we love our enemies, won’t they take advantage of us and won’t we be more vulnerable to attacks?  What Jesus is emphasizing by asking us to love, bless and pray for our enemies and turn our other cheek, is for us to break the cycle of hostility and animosity.
2. After all, God broke the pattern by one bold act of love, sending his son to suffer and die for our sins.  As we respond to that love, accepting the salvation Christ brings, our whole attitude toward God has changed, and we now love and want to please Him.  No, it is not an easy thing to do, but following Christ has never been an easy thing to do.  Yet, it does make us free.
3. Name a person who has wronged me.  Read this passage.  Ask Jesus to give me his forgiveness for that person and take away the hatred and revengeful attitude in my heart.

 

Family

v31 is often called the “Golden Rule.”  Can you explain why?  Notice that it is a positive statement rather than a negative one.  Discuss how it can be of value in our lives today.  Choose one of the valuable lessons to do this week.  Record it in your Family Journal.

 

第五章

耶穌站在革尼撒勒湖邊，眾人擁擠他，要聽　神的道。 2 他見有兩隻船灣在湖邊；打魚的人卻離開船洗網去了。 3 有一隻船是西門的，耶穌就上去，請他把船撐開，稍微離岸，就坐下，從船上教訓眾人。 4 講完了，對西門說：「把船開到水深之處，下網打魚。」 5 西門說：「夫子，我們整夜勞力，並沒有打著甚麼。但依從你的話，我就下網。」 6 他們下了網，就圈住許多魚，網險些裂開， 7 便招呼那隻船上的同伴來幫助。他們就來，把魚裝滿了兩隻船，甚至船要沉下去。 8 西門‧彼得看見，就俯伏在耶穌膝前，說：「主啊，離開我，我是個罪人！」 9 他和一切同在的人都驚訝這一網所打的魚。 10 他的夥伴西庇太的兒子雅各、約翰，也是這樣。耶穌對西門說：「不要怕！從今以後，你要得人了。」 11 他們把兩隻船攏了岸，就撇下所有的，跟從了耶穌。
默想：

1. 漁夫們經過一夜的打撈，毫無所獲，深感疲倦挫敗，不願再試。這和我們的人生多麼相像，我們也常會遇到失敗沮喪，因而想要放棄、退縮，與人保持距離。
2. 主耶穌對信徒的呼召，并非一定是要我們去做什麼嶄新的事情，多數是要我們回到日常生活的圈子、平日所作的事當中。但是這次是與耶穌一起去，和他一起作。神就是這樣來掌管我們的人生——我們的工作、家庭、休閑 等一切。同樣的船，同樣的工作，同樣的方式，但現在有耶穌在其中——這就起了極大的差別。
3. 耶穌在我人生的船上嗎？是誰在為我的航程掌舵？目前我是否正經歷或大或小的風浪，或是“整夜勞力並沒有打著什麼”的挫敗？安靜默想，讓聖靈向我的心說話，隨心中聖靈的感動，向主作回應的禱告。

Luke 5

¹One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ²he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.  ⁴When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  ⁵Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”  ⁶When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.  ⁸When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.    Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” ¹¹So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

 

Meditation:

1. After a whole night’s labour, the fishermen didn’t want to try again, depression and fatigue were written all over them.  How similar this is to our own lives.  We have all experienced failure which often left us feeling guilty, shameful and self-distrust.   Then, we wanted to quit, withdraw and to be away from people.
2. Jesus does not get us to do something entirely new but sends us back to what we’ve been doing all along, but this time with Jesus.  God wants to be in command of our lives – our work lives, our family lives, our leisured lives.  Same boat.  Same Commands.  Same nets.  But now Jesus is with us[JS1]  – and that makes all the difference.
3. Is Jesus on my LIFE boat?  Who’s in command of my journey?  What am I experiencing right now?  Just be quiet before God and allow the Holy Spirit speak to my heart.  Respond and speak to God as you are so moved by the Holy Spirit.

 

Family

What did the fishermen say when Jesus asked them to go to the deep water to fish?  Why?  What happened afterward?  What’s the difference between the fishermen’s first fishing trip at night and the second trip after Jesus told them to?  Sing this song: “With Christ in my vessel.”

 

第四章

16 耶穌來到拿撒勒，就是他長大的地方。在安息日，照他平常的規矩進了會堂，站起來要念聖經。 17 有人把先知以賽亞的書交給他，他就打開，找到一處寫著說： 18 主的靈在我身上，因為他用膏膏我，叫我傳福音給貧窮的人；差遣我報告：被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，叫那受壓制的得自由， 19 報告　神悅納人的禧年。 20 於是把書捲起來，交還執事，就坐下。會堂裏的人都定睛看他。 21 耶穌對他們說：「今天這經應驗在你們耳中了。」 22 眾人都稱讚他，並希奇他口中所出的恩言；又說：「這不是約瑟的兒子嗎？」

默想：

1. 耶穌在18-19節中，引用舊約說出他來到世界的使命。下面這五項中，哪一項對我有最切身的關係？為什麼？

貧窮（被踐踏，貧困的）：得到盼望與尊嚴

被擄（身體、心理、政治的俘虜）：捆綁中得釋放

瞎眼（肉身的殘障預表屬靈的黑暗）：得看見神，得到新生命

受壓（政治或經濟上處於劣勢）：從壓制中得自由

欠債（每50年所有債務完全取消）：所有債務得清除

1. 思想：慢慢地讀這五個項目，有哪一項是我接受耶穌之後，在生活中最有體會的，對我最有切身關係的？回想我原來的光景，思想耶穌為我帶來的救恩，以及我現在的情況。讓自己沉浸幾分鐘在這個回憶、思想中。
2. 由衷地向神獻上感恩的禱告。

 

Luke 4

¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:  ¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,  to release the oppressed,   ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”   ²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”   ²²All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Meditation:

1. Jesus applied five Old Testament promises to his mission on earth.  Which of these five forms of rejection can be connected with the gospel in my life today?

Poverty (downtrodden, underprivileged): to receive hope and dignity

Imprisonment (physically, psychologically or politically captive):  to receive freedom from bondage

Blindness (physical disability often meaning spiritual darkness): to receive new sight to recognize God’s perspective and new life

Oppression (political and economic disadvantage): to receive release and new freedom from forces holding you down

Debt (every 50 years all debts were cancelled): to receive the Jubilee Year’s release from debt of every sort.

1. Read the above list slowly.  Immerse myself in the recollection of my situations before and after receiving Christ.  Meditate on Jesus’ salvation for me.
2. Give God thanks for all the things He’s done in me.

 

 

Family

Jesus became well known as he taught and healed people throughout the area.  Discuss what Jesus said about his purposes on earth.  Ask, “What does Jesus’ healing the sick tell us about his care for people?”  How can we help people and be like Jesus?

第三章

7 約翰對那出來要受他洗的眾人說：「毒蛇的種類！誰指示你們逃避將來的忿怒呢？ 8 你們要結出果子來，與悔改的心相稱。不要自己心裏說：『有亞伯拉罕為我們的祖宗。』我告訴你們，　神能從這些石頭中，給亞伯拉罕興起子孫來。 9 現在斧子已經放在樹根上，凡不結好果子的樹就砍下來，丟在火裏。」 10 眾人問他說：「這樣，我們當做甚麼呢？」 11 約翰回答說：「有兩件衣裳的，就分給那沒有的；有食物的，也當這樣行。」 12 又有稅吏來要受洗，問他說：「夫子，我們當做甚麼呢？」 13 約翰說：「除了例定的數目，不要多取。」 14 又有兵丁問他說：「我們當做甚麼呢？」約翰說：「不要以強暴待人，也不要訛詐人，自己有錢糧就當知足。」15百姓指望基督來的時候，人都心裡猜疑，或者約翰是基督。

默想：

1. 約翰傳道的信息毫不留情面、且單刀直入。他宣講神的忿怒、將來的審判，呼籲他們悔改使罪得赦、接受洗禮。這些信息不容易令人接受的，但是人們不斷地來聽他講道，甚至猜疑約翰是否就是要來的基督（15節）。
2. 施洗約翰的信息，對當時聽道的人，單刀直入地將他們的面具、假裝給除掉，他們才開始面對真實自我的醜陋與污穢；而神的話更是帶來得救的盼望。惟有當我們肯面對自己的罪過，我們才會尋求饒恕，並在耶穌基督裡尋得新生命。
3. 在我的生活中，我是否習慣經常“轉換方向”（悔改）？最近聖靈是否有向我指出，在那方面的錯誤方向，需要調頭回轉？
4. 用一點時間來默想，向神認罪，祈求赦免。並求聖靈保守我，“不要讓我們遭受承擔不起的考驗；要救我們脫離那邪惡者的手。”（太6：13，現中譯本）

 

Luke 3

⁷John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  ⁸Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”  ¹⁰“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.  ¹¹John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”  ¹²Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”  ¹³“Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them. ¹⁴Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”  He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” ¹⁵The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah.

1. John was not a smooth, comfortable preacher.  He was blunt and confrontational.  He preached the message of coming wrath of God and “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.  This wasn’t an easy message to take, but people kept coming to hear him and even wondering if John might be the Christ (v15).
2. Perhaps when we hear messages such as John’s, our masks and pretenses are stripped away, and we are forced not only to face our need – but are given hope in God’s word.  And only when we face guilt do we seek forgiveness, and find the new life in our Saviour Jesus.
3. Am I in the habit of “direction change” (repentance) in my daily life?  What has the Holy Spirit been speaking to me lately on certain wrong “directions”?
4. Take a moment to think about it.  Then pray for God’s forgiveness.  Pray also for the Holy Spirit to “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”(Matt 6:13)

Family

John baptized the people who repented of their sins.  This was how John said they could prepare for the coming of the Messiah.  Discuss why we are baptized today to show our belief in Jesus.  Ask parents and members of the family who have been baptised to share their decision and their experiences of baptism.  Then give thanks for God’s salvation, for God’s forgiveness of your sins and for baptism to show your belief in Jesus.

第二章

25 在耶路撒冷有一個人，名叫西面；這人又公義又虔誠，素常盼望以色列的安慰者來到，又有聖靈在他身上。 26 他得了聖靈的啟示，知道自己未死以前，必看見主所立的基督。 27 他受了聖靈的感動，進入聖殿，正遇見耶穌的父母抱著孩子進來，要照律法的規矩辦理。 28 西面就用手接過他來，稱頌　神說： 29 主啊！如今可以照你的話，釋放僕人安然去世； 30 因為我的眼睛已經看見你的救恩─ 31 就是你在萬民面前所預備的： 32 是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的榮耀。 33 孩子的父母因這論耶穌的話就希奇。 34-35 西面給他們祝福，又對孩子的母親馬利亞說：「這孩子被立，是要叫以色列中許多人跌倒，許多人興起；又要作毀謗的話柄，叫許多人心裏的意念顯露出來；你自己的心也要被刀刺透。」

默想：

1. 西面的一生 “又公義又虔誠，素常盼望以色列的安慰者（彌賽亞救主）來到，又有聖靈在他身上”（25節）。現在他手中所懷抱的正是他一生所期盼等候的焦點。西面抱過孩子來祝福他，又祝福他的父母，然後宣稱，現在他可以安然離世了。
2. 西面的禱告和第一章馬利亞的禱告彼此呼應，年輕的馬利亞以順服神的話開始她的人生（1“38），老邁的西面則以順服神的話來結束他的一生（2：29）；馬利亞與西面都順服並憑信心禱告說：“照你的話行”。
3. 重讀並默想馬利亞和西面的禱告（1：46-55，及2：29-32），專注“照你的話” （1:38和2:29）；靜默聆聽神的說話，我怎樣用“照你的話”向主禱告？

 

Luke 2

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:  ²⁹“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,   you now dismiss your servant in peace.
³⁰For my eyes have seen your salvation,   ³¹which you have prepared in the sight of all people,  ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”  ³³The child’s father and mother marvelled at what was said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Meditation:

1. Simeon’s prayer is a prayer of completion.  He spent a long life of hopeful prayer and faithful witness.  What he has been praying for all his life is now present in this infant.  He takes the child in his arms and blesses him, and the parents.  Simeon holds the purpose and meaning of his life in his arms.  He’s now ready to die.
2. The prayers of Mary and Simeon are complementary to each other:  the young Mary starting out in submission to God’s word; the old Simeon ending in submission to God’s word.  Mary and Simeon submissively and believingly spoke the prayer: “according to your word”(1:38, 2:29).
3. Re-read the two prayers by Mary and Simeon (1:38, 2:29).  Focus on the words “according to your word”.  Listen to what God is speaking to me.  How could I use this phrase “according to your word” in my response prayer today?

 Family Time

vv8-20,Jesus was born and placed in a manger, a feeding trough containing hay and other food for animals to eat.  Take the family to a farm (or a nativity scene).  Imagine what it was like that starry night so long ago when Jesus was born.  Ask each family member to share what they imagined.