Category: 260灵修

第三章

¹ 「如果有人渴慕監督的職分，他就是愛慕善工。」這話是可信的。 ² 所以作監督的，必須無可指摘，只作一個妻子的丈夫，有節制，自律，莊重，樂意接待客旅，善於教導， ³ 不好酒，不打人，只要溫和，與人無爭，不貪財， ⁴ 好好管理自己的家，使兒女凡事敬重順服。 ⁵ （人若不知道怎樣管理自己的家，怎能照料神的教會呢？） ⁶ 初信主的不可作監督，恐怕他驕傲，就落在魔鬼所受的刑罰裡。 ⁷ 作監督的也必須在教外有好聲譽，免得他被人毀謗，就落在魔鬼的陷阱裡。

默想:

1. 本段經文列出負責教會的屬靈狀況的長老牧者當有的品格條件。慢慢仔細地讀幾遍這段經文，對經文中所提到道德上的要求，我有什麼想法？花多幾分鐘再讀一遍，每讀到一個要求，就求聖靈引導我省察自己的內心，有什麼地方，目前我的舉止與聖經所列有出入？
2. 懇求神來幫助並賜力量給我，在這些事上開始改變，經歷聖靈的塑造，使我的生命彰顯屬靈的生命質素。
3. 為教會的領袖，牧者，事工會成員，小組長等禱告，求主也在他們生命中繼續塑造的工作。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

CHAPTER 3

¹Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. ²Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

 

MEDITATION

1. This passage lists some qualifications for church leaders.  Read it over slowly and carefully.  Upon each qualification, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to examine my heart.  What areas in my life are they different from the list here?
2. Ask God to help and empower me to make the necessary changes so that the transformation may begin in me and that I may display qualities of genuine spiritual life.
3. Pray for the leaders of our church: pastors, ministry committee members, cell leaders, etc.  Pray that their lives may continue to be transformed by God.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二章

^1-2 因此，我勸你最重要的是要為萬人、君王和一切有權位的懇求、禱告、代求和感恩，好讓我們可以敬虔莊重地過平靜安穩的日子。 ³ 在我們的救主神看來，這是美好的，可蒙悅納的。 ⁴ 他願意萬人得救，並且充分認識真理。 ⁵ 因為神只有一位，在神和人中間也只有一位中保，就是降世為人的基督耶穌。 ⁶ 他捨了自己作萬人的贖價，到了適當的時候，這事就證實了。 ⁷ 為了這事，我也被派作傳道的和使徒（我說的是真話，不是謊言），在信仰和真理上作外族人的教師。⁸ 因此，我願意男人沒有忿怒，沒有爭論，舉起聖潔的手隨處禱告。 ⁹ 照樣，我也願意女人以端正、、自律為裝飾；不要以鬈髮、金飾、珠寶，或名貴衣裳為裝飾¹⁰ 卻要以善行作裝飾，這才配稱為敬畏神的女人。

 

默想：

1. 保羅要我們為萬人的得救來禱告（1，4，6，7節）；我們為當權者禱告，祈求和平，為使萬人可以在基督裡找到平安，大家能夠「敬虔莊重地過平靜安穩的日子」。
2. 基督徒傳福音最有效的方法，就是在日常生活中「敬虔莊重地過平靜安穩的日子」的見證。使人接受福音最有效的工具，並非要等到遇見危險急難的時候；而是藉著基督徒在平時所流露出來的平安與喜樂、樂善助人，使得非信徒對這種生命日趨渴望的心。

1. 安靜在神面前等候聖靈將一些人與他們的需要放在我的心裡，然後誠懇地「舉起聖潔的手」來，恒切地為他們禱告；也為我的國家、及地方首長禱告，求神在我居住的地方賜下平安。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

CHAPTER 2

¹I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— ²for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ³This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. ⁷And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. ⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

 

MEDITATION

1. Paul wants us to pray for the salvation of everyone (vv1, 4, 6,7).  We pray for our rulers and for peace that others may find peace in Christ so that we all may “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness”.
2. The most effective evangelism is supported by the evidence of “quiet lives” lived “in all godliness and holiness”.  The most powerful aid to the Gospel is not sudden fear created by danger, but a growing hunger for the peace and goodness observed in the lives of ordinary Christians.

1. Sit quietly before God and wait.  Lift up hands and pray earnestly for those people and needs that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.  Pray also for the political leaders in my country, and local leaders.  Pray for peace for my city.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第一章

³ 我往馬其頓去的時候，曾經勸你留在以弗所，為要囑咐某些人，不可傳別的教義， ⁴ 也不可沉迷於無稽之談和無窮的家譜；這些事只能引起爭論，對於神在信仰上所定的計劃是毫無幫助的。 ⁵ 這囑咐的目的是出於愛；這愛是發自純潔的心、無愧的良心和無偽的信心。 ⁶ 有些人偏離了這些，就轉向無意義的辯論， ⁷ 想要作律法教師，卻不明白自己講的是甚麼，主張的又是甚麼。

 

默想:

1. 保羅在他的書信中經常強調「純正教導」（10節），以及防備教導錯誤道理的假教師。他提到純正的教導會產生一種獨特的生活形態 ——就是有愛特徵，「這愛是發自純潔的心、無愧的良心和無偽的信心」（5節）。
2. 神的真理能激發我們的信心，清潔我們的良心，純化我們的內心，因為神的真理事實上，就是耶穌（約14：6）。一個人被神的真理觸摸過，就會變得有愛心、會關懷人。因此，我們不要與神的真理爭鬥，而是要向真理敞開心門，讓它來改造我們。
3. 繼續安靜在神的面前，思想下面的問題：

我的愛是來自純潔的心嗎？或是已經被自我中心污染了？
求神幫助我除去生命中自私的污染。

我的愛是出自無虧的良心，真實無偽的？或是虛假、冒牌的？
求神賜我勇氣來真實地面對神、他人、自己。

我的生命和愛表明我對神真實的信心嗎？或是對神及神的旨意封閉？
求主讓我願意對祂的旨意更加開放，既或如此作會讓我感覺更加不安與懼怕。

4. 我是否願意今天就活出無私、真實、敞開的愛？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

1 Timothy (NIV)

Chapter 1

³As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer ⁴nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. ⁷They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

 

MEDITATION:

1. In his letters Paul often emphasized the importance of teaching “sound doctrine” as well as guarding against those who teach “false doctrines.”  Paul noted that teaching sound doctrine produces a distinctive lifestyle characterized by love, “which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (v5).
2. God’s truth has the power to stimulate faith, to cleanse the conscience, and purify the heart, because God’s truth is in fact, the Truth—Jesus (John 14:6).  A person touched by Truth will become a loving, caring individual.  We are not to fight for God’s Truth.  We are to open our hearts to the Truth, and let Him transform us.
3. Stay quiet before God and consider the following:

Does my love come from a pure heart?  Or has it been contaminated by self-centeredness?  Ask God to help remove the selfishness in my life.

Is my love real, and from a good conscience, not fake?  Ask for courage to be authentic with God, others and myself.

Does my life and love demonstrate a sincere faith in God?  Or is it closed off, or resistant to God and His purposes?  Ask God to give me the willingness to be more open to his purposes, even if doing so feels uncertain and scary.

4. Am I willing to live and love selflessly, authentically, and openly today?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十三章

⁵ 你們為人不要貪愛錢財，要以現在所有的為滿足；因為神親自說過：“我決不撇下你，也不離棄你。” ⁶所以我們可以放膽說：“主是我的幫助，我決不害怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？” ⁷你們要記念那些領導過你們，把神的道傳給你們的人；你們要觀察他們一生的成果，要效法他們的信心。 ⁸耶穌基督昨天、今天、一直到永遠都是一樣的。 ⁹你們不要被各樣怪異的教訓勾引去了。人心靠著恩典，而不是靠著食物得到堅定，才是好的；因為那些拘守食物的人，從來沒有得過益處。

默想

1. 出聲讀這段經文。花些時間思考作者所寫有關貪愛錢財、物質，以及相信神不會撇下我們，不會離棄我們，這兩方面的敘述。你認為這兩者有什麼關連嗎？
2. 花些時間反省我的生命，我對物質事物的看法是什麼？我是否常常希望更多的擁有？我是否覺得我擁有的越多，就越有安全感？若是神不照我的祈求應允，我會有何反應？「知足」對我是什麼意義？和神交談這些話題，仔細地聆聽神的回應。
3. 禱告。神啊，求你助我不貪愛金錢，而以我所有的為滿足；因為你說過「我決不撇下你，也不離棄你」。留意我的內心，求神改變我的不甘與不願。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

CHAPTER 13

⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,  “Never will I leave you;   never will I forsake you.” ⁶So we say with confidence,    “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.   What can man do to me?”   ⁷Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. ⁸Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.   ⁹Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them.

MEDITATION

1. Read the passage aloud.  Spend time pondering the connection the writer is making between obsession with material possessions and the belief that God will never leave us or let us down.  What do you make of this?  How are the two ideas related to each other?
2. Take several minutes to explore my life in light of this instruction.  How do I relate to material things?  Do I often wish I had more?  Do I feel that nothing can harm me because of what I have?  What fears do I have about God letting me down?  What would it be like to “be content with what I have”?  Talk with Him about this subject.  Attentively listen for his input.
3. Prayer.  May I keep my life free from the love of money and be content with what I have, for You have said, “I will never leave you, nor will I forsake you.”   Pause to notice my internal reaction to what I’m saying.  Ask God to change my reluctance and unwillingness.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十二章

 

⁷為了接受管教，你們要忍受，因為神待你們好像待兒子一樣；哪有兒子不受父親管教的呢？ ⁸作兒子的都受過管教。如果你們沒有受管教，就是私生子，不是兒子了。 ⁹還有，肉身的父親管教我們，我們尚且敬重他們；何況那萬靈的父，我們不是更要順服他而得生嗎？ ¹⁰肉身的父親照著自己的意思管教我們，只有短暫的日子；唯有神管教我們，是為著我們的好處，使我們在他的聖潔上有分。 ¹¹但是一切管教，在當時似乎不覺得快樂，反覺得痛苦；後來卻為那些經過這種操練的人，結出平安的果子來，就是義。

 

默想

1. 慢慢地出聲讀兩遍這段經文。
2. 神怎樣使用「所遇的困難」來訓練（管教）我？不要急於回答，安靜的坐一會兒，看看神會讓我想到些什麼？我如何在這個經歷中，更與神合作？慢慢地思想，慢慢地聆聽。
3. 禱告。請求聖靈搜索我的內心，將我尚未認的罪顯露出來。向神認罪，並感謝祂的赦免。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

CHAPTER 12

⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  ¹²Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³“Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

MEDITATION

1. Read the passage aloud slowly.  Read the passage again.
2. How might God use the “trouble you’re in” to train you?  Don’t jump on the first thing that comes to mind.  Sit quietly for a while and see what God brings to mind.  How might I cooperate better with God in this training?  Once again, the first thing that comes to mind might not be from God, but an old tape from the past.  So take time to listen.
3. Pray.  Ask the Spirit to search my heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin.  Take some time to confess and repent before the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十一章

¹ 信就是對所盼望的事的把握，是還沒有看見的事的明證。 ² 因著這信心，古人得到了稱許。 ³ 因著信，我們就明白宇宙（“宇宙”或譯：“諸世界”或“眾世代”）是因著神的話造成的。這樣，那看得見的就是從那看不見的造出來的。

³⁹ 所有這些人都藉著信得了稱許，卻還沒有得著所應許的； ⁴⁰ 因為神已經為我們預備了更美的事，使他們若不跟我們在一起，就不能完全。

默想

1. 若時間許可，將十一章全部讀一遍，但專注在1-3及39-40節。
2. 本章可說是“信心偉人名人榜”，所羅列的人物，有些為要榮耀神，而作了很大的犧牲。作者首先給信心作了定義，「信就是對所盼望的事的把握，是還沒有看見的事的明證」。
3. 禱告：我願意存著信心生活到底，雖然知道在世不可能得著神所應許的，「只是從遠處看見，就表示歡迎」。我承認我在世上「是異鄉人，是客旅。但是我所嚮往的，是一個更美的、在天上的家鄉。所以，神不以我稱祂為神而覺得羞恥；因為祂已經為我預備了一座城。願我看為基督受的羞辱，比世界的財物更寶貴，因為我切盼期待將來的賞賜。」

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 11

¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.  ³By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

³⁹These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. ⁴⁰God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

 

MEDITATION

1. If time allows, read all Hebrews 11, but focus on verses 1-3 and 39-40.
2. This familiar passage is often called the Faith Hall of Fame.  Some of the people listed made great personal sacrifices to bring glory to God.  We’ve all heard, and possibly even uttered, the saying “seeing is believing”.  The writer of Hebrews begins with a definition of faith.  Faith, he writes, is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”.  So, really, not seeing… is believing.
3. Pray: By God’s grace I want to live to the end in faith, knowing that I will not receive the promises on earth, but seeing them and welcoming them from a distance, I confess that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth.  Instead, I long for a better country, a heavenly one.  In this way, God will not be ashamed to be called my God, for He has prepared a city for me.  Like Moses, may I esteem reproach for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of this world, because I am looking to the reward.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十章

¹⁹所以，弟兄們！我們憑著耶穌的血，可以坦然無懼地進入至聖所。²⁰這進入的路，是他給我們開闢的，是一條通過幔子、又新又活的路，這幔子就是他的身體。²¹我們既然有一位偉大的祭司治理神的家，²²我們良心的邪惡既然被灑淨，身體也用清水洗淨了，那麼，我們就應該懷著真誠的心和完備的信，進到神面前；²³又應該堅持我們所宣認的盼望，毫不動搖，因為那應許我們的是信實的。²⁴我們又應該彼此關心，激發愛心，勉勵行善。²⁵我們不可放棄聚會，好像有些人的習慣一樣；卻要互相勸勉。你們既然知道那日子臨近，就更應該這樣。

 

默想

1. 23節「堅持我們所宣認（承認）的盼望（指望）」，與6：19「這盼望」都提到信徒的盼望。究竟我「為甚麼懷有盼望」（彼前3:15）？基督徒在社會上多少都承受著一些壓力，覺得對身邊的人分享信仰並不容易。我上一次坦然地與人分享基督耶穌的信仰，是多久以前的事？我是否不敢開口跟人分享信仰？

1. 基督徒聚會及信徒相交，能叫我們彼此相顧，互相勸勉，激發愛心，勉勵行善。嘗試在小組中分享我對分享信仰的困難，請求組員為我禱告，以達肢體相顧勉勵的功用。
2. 今天個人獨處時，嘗試安靜心靈，求神加添力量，使我不論處於任何環境都能為主作見證。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

 

CHAPTER 10

¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, ²¹and since we have a great priest over the house of God, ²²let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. ²³Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Meditation

1. Both v23 and 6:19 mention the hope: “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (v23) and “this hope” (6:19).  What is “the reason for the hope” (1 Peter 3:15) that I have?  Many Christians feel the tension of being Christians in this secular society and find it difficult to share their faith with others.  When was the last time I felt free to express my faith in Jesus Christ and the hope that this gives me?
2. Christian fellowship and gatherings provide opportunities for believers to care for one another, encourage one another, etc.  This week, share in my cell meeting the difficulty I have in sharing my faith with others.  Ask the other members to pray for me and to encourage each other.
3. During my quiet time alone today take a moment to ask God for the strength to express my faith in all circumstances.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第九章

²³   照著天上樣式作的既然必須這樣去潔淨，天上物體的本身，就應該用更美的祭品去潔淨了。   ²⁴   因為基督不是進了人手所做的聖所（那不過是真聖所的表象），而是進到天上，現在替我們顯露在　神的面前。   ²⁵   他不必多次把自己獻上，好像大祭司每年帶著不是自己的血進入至聖所一樣。   ²⁶   如果這樣，他從創世以來，就必須受許多次的苦了。可是現在他在這世代的終結，只顯現一次，把自己作為祭品獻上，好除掉罪。   ²⁷   按著定命，人人都要死一次，死後還有審判。   ²⁸   照樣，基督為了擔當許多人的罪，也曾經一次把自己獻上；將來他還要再一次顯現，不是為擔當罪，而是要向那些熱切期待他的人成全救恩。

 

默想

1. 有個患腎病的人，需要靠洗腎機來維持生命，但是他還是怕見到這個機器。這個機器使他生存，但也提醒他所患的疾病。他並不自由，而是被機器綁住，要不斷的靠機器清洗他的血液。離開了機器，他的疾病就會拖倒他的身體與精神。
2. 這是希伯來書第九章描述舊約體系的情況（6-9節）。舊約不斷重復的獻祭，提醒百姓他們無法自救的情況。但是，基督一次獻祭就得了完全的勝利。基督的血已經洗凈我們一切的罪污，耶穌一次的獻祭，使我們得痊愈，且保證我們的得勝。我們就像瘸腿的，耶穌使我們跳躍跳舞；我們是瞎眼的，耶穌使我們看見；我們是耳聾的，耶穌使我們聽見。藉著耶穌一次的獻祭，我們得赦免，得痊愈，被召歡喜地面對人生，因為確知我們已經獲得勝利了。
3. 我願意讓基督一次的犧牲獻祭，釋放我，使我有信心且喜樂地生活？或是我要讓自己被過去的經歷拉回罪中？要記得，因為耶穌的緣故，我的過去對我不再有任何影響了。為此向神感謝。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

CHAPTER 9

²³It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. ²⁵Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

1. There was a kidney patient, whose dialysis machine kept him alive.  Yet he dreaded the process.  The kidney dialysis machine that kept him alive also reminded him of his illness.  He was not free, but bound to return to the machine to have his blood purified his again and again.  Away from it, his sickness quickly took hold on his body, and sapped all his strength.
2. That’s just what Hebrews 9 says about the Old Testament system (vv 6-9).  The repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament system reminded worshipers of their continuing desperate condition.  But, the one sacrifice of Christ reminds us of His total victory.  The blood of Christ has cleansed us from all sin!  By one sacrifice Jesus has made us well, and guaranteed victory!  We are the lame, called to leap and dance.  We are the blind, called to see.  We are the deaf who now hear.  By the once for all sacrifice of Jesus, we are forgiven, made well, and called to face life rejoicing in the assurance that the victory we need has already been won!
3. Do I let Christ’s one sacrifice free me to live confidently and joyously?  Do I let myself be dragged back into sin by the weight of my past?  Remember, because of Jesus, the past has no hold on me anymore.  Thank God for this.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第八章

⁸   可是神指責他們，說：「看哪，主說，日子要到了，我要與以色列家和猶大家訂立新約。   ⁹   這新約不像從前我拉他們祖先的手，領他們出埃及的日子與他們所立的約。因為他們沒有遵守我的約，我就不理會他們。這是主說的。   ¹⁰   主說：『因為在那些日子以後，我要與以色列家所立的約是這樣：我要把我的律法放在他們的心思裡面，寫在他們的心上。我要作他們的　神，他們要作我的子民。   ¹¹   他們各人必不用教導自己的鄰居，和自己的同胞，說：你要認識主。因為所有的人，從最小到最大的，都必認識我。   ¹²   我也要寬恕他們的不義，決不再記著他們的罪惡。』」   ¹³  神既然說到新的約，就是把前約當作舊的了；那變成陳舊衰老的，就快要消逝了。

 

默想

1. 廣告業老早就指出兩個強有勁的推銷詞：「新」，「免費」。這也是希伯來書作者在第八章要提出的。舊的律法體系「變成陳舊衰老，就快要消逝了」（13節）。神在基督裡與我們立的新約，要「寬恕他們的不義，決不再記著他們的罪惡」（12節）。因著耶穌所付的代價，神不再紀念我們的罪。舊的約將人無法達到的標準刻印在石板上，新的約將討神喜悅的意願刻印在我們的內心深處，並激勵我們遵行律法上的要求。
2. 「新」——那些嘗試了其他所有的方法，仍然不能成為自己希望成為的人，可以求靠耶穌，使他們罪得赦免、生命得到更新。並且是「免費」的——基督的救恩完全不需我們付任何代價！
3. 默想下面這段話：

我們應當做“大字體”的基督徒，這樣別人就不需要與我們相識很久，或透過放大鏡，才能察覺我們真是基督的門徒。我們生命的信息應該像那些大的廣告招牌，讓任何人路經過就可以看見。– F. B. Meyer

我的信徒身份是明顯的，還是隱藏的？禱告，求主使我的“信徒廣告牌”，越來越擴大，越來越明顯易見。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

CHAPTER 8

⁸But God found fault with the and said:    “The time is coming, declares the Lord,   when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.    ⁹It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.  ¹⁰This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord.  I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people.   ¹¹No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.   ¹²For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” ¹³By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.

MEDITATION

1. “New” and “Free” are two catchy words for any salesperson.  It also says here that the old system of Law didn’t work (vv 7, 9, 13) and was “obsolete and aging”.  The New Covenant provides total forgiveness for all our wicked acts (v 12).  Because Christ has paid the ransom, God no longer holds us accountable for our sins.  The Old Covenant engraved standards that men were unable to meet on tablets of stone.  The New Covenant engraves the desire to please God in our inmost being, and moves us to what Law demanded, but could not produce.
2. When it comes to faith, “new!” means for people who have tried everything else, and can turn to Jesus and find themselves forgiven and renewed.  And, it is “free”.  The salvation offered us in Christ, costs us nothing.
3. Meditate the following paragraph:  We ought to be Christians in large type, so that it would not be necessary for others to be long in our society, or to regard us through spectacles, in order to detect our true discipleship.  The message of our lives should resemble the big advertisements which can be read on the street by all who pass by.  – F. B. Meyer

How big is my “Disciple billboard”? Pray that the Lord will enlarge it to become more and more visible to those passing by.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.

第七章

¹⁶ 他成了祭司，不是按著律法上肉身的條例，卻是按著不能毀壞的生命的大能。 ¹⁷ 因為有為他作證的說：「你永遠作祭司，是照著麥基洗德的體系。」 ¹⁸ 一方面，從前的條例因為軟弱，沒有用處，就廢棄了； ¹⁹ （因為律法從來沒有使甚麼得到完全，）另一方面，它卻帶來了更美的盼望，藉著這盼望，我們就可以親近神。

²²   耶穌既然是用誓言立的，就成了更美好的約的保證。 ²³   一方面，從前那些作祭司的，因為受死亡的限制，不能長久留任，所以人數眾多。 ²⁴   另一方面，因為耶穌是永遠長存的，就擁有他永不更改的祭司職位。 ²⁵   因此，那些靠著他進到神面前的人，他都能拯救到底；因為他長遠活著，為他們代求。 ²⁶   這樣的一位大祭司，對我們本是合適的。他是聖潔、沒有邪惡、沒有玷污、從罪人中分別出來、高過眾天的。 ²⁷   他不必像那些大祭司，天天先為自己的罪獻祭，然後為人民的罪獻祭；因為他獻上了自己，就把這事一次而永遠的成全了。 ²⁸   律法所立的大祭司，都是軟弱的人；可是在律法以後，用誓言所立的兒子，卻是成為完全直到永遠的。

 

思想

1.  「祭司」這個字拉丁文的意思是「築橋者」。在神與我們中間，有個無法跨越的鴻溝，耶穌成了我們的大祭司，就是為人築橋，使我們可以來到神面前。
2. 基督永遠為祭司對我們的意義，就是神向我們保證，藉著耶穌基督從死裡復活成為我們的大祭司，完成了神拯救的計劃，為我們「帶來了更美的盼望……我們就可以親近神。」（19節）；這表明耶穌不單拯救我們脫離罪的刑罰，祂並且每一天都在不斷拯救我們脫離罪惡對我們的思想與行為的陰險掌控，耶穌是我們罪得赦免與生命更新的源頭。  我們只要藉著信心，將自己和所有一切都交託給這位完全的大祭司，祂必能保全我們所交託祂的，直到那日（提後1：12）。
3. 想像一下，耶穌是我的「祭司——築橋者」的圖像是怎樣的？我在那裡？神在那裡？ 耶穌在那裡？有什麼感想？將心中的感受告訴耶穌。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

CHAPTER 7

¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” ¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

²²Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.  ²³Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.  ²⁶Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. ²⁸For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

MEDITATION

1. The word “priest” in Latin is pontifex, which means “bridge builder”.  There is an impassable gulf separating us from God.  Jesus Christ, being our High Priest, is the bridge builder from humans to God.
2. What does this permanent priesthood mean to us?  It is God’s promise to us that, through Jesus’ resurrection and His role as the High Priest, God’s plan for our salvation is complete and “a better hope is introduced, by which we are drawn near to God” (v19).  Note the phrase “save completely” (v25), which means that we are not only saved by Jesus from punishment for our sins, but also from sin’s insidious control of our thoughts and actions daily.  Jesus is the source of our forgiveness of sin and renewal of life.  All we need is to come to this perfect High priest in faith, and be “convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day”(2Tim 1:12).
3.  Visualize the image of Jesus as my “priest – the bridge builder”.  Where do I see myself, God, and Jesus in that picture?  How does that make me feel?  Share this feeling and thought with Jesus.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.