Category: 260灵修

第四章12-20節

12 弟兄們，我勸你們要像我一樣，因為我也像你們一樣。你們一點沒有虧負我。 13 你們知道我頭一次傳福音給你們，是因為身體有疾病。 14 你們為我身體的緣故受試煉，沒有輕看我，也沒有厭棄我，反倒接待我，如同　神的使者，如同基督耶穌。 15 你們當日所誇的福氣在那裡呢？那時你們若能行，就是把自己的眼睛剜出來給我，也都情願。這是我可以給你們作見證的。 16 如今我將真理告訴你們，就成了你們的仇敵嗎？ 17 那些人熱心待你們，卻不是好意，是要離間你們（原文是把你們關在外面），叫你們熱心待他們。 18 在善事上，常用熱心待人原是好的，卻不單我與你們同在的時候才這樣。 19 我小子啊，我為你們再受生產之苦，直等到基督成形在你們心裡。 20 我巴不得現今在你們那裡，改換口氣，因我為你們心裡作難。

默想

1. 神使用我們生命中所有原生材料——包括環境、家庭、和性格——為要讓基督在我們裡面成形；這是基督按自己的形像在我們身上進行的塑造之工。我們可以選擇繼續靠律法追求完美，終至疲憊失望；或者我們可以選擇倚靠聖靈，順從基督，讓基督的形像、品格、榮美在我們身上彰顯出來。
2. 每一次向主的呼求：“主啊，我屬你！主啊，救我！主啊，憐憫我！主啊，我感謝你！主啊，我愛你！”，都表示我在選擇倚靠聖靈。在過去一週中，有多少次我藉著這幾個簡短的禱告，向主說，也是向自己說，“我選擇倚靠聖靈來渡過每天的生活”？

 

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。

 

Galatians 4:12-20

12. I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13. As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14. Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15. What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16. Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17. Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. 18. It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20. how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!

 

Meditation

1. God uses the raw material of our lives – circumstances, family, and personality – to conform us to the image of Christ.   This is God’s formation work in us.  We can choose to continue to depend on the do’s and don’ts to pursue perfection, or we can choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and allow Christ to rule every aspect of my life, to reflect Christ’s image, Christ’s character and Christ’s beauty through us.
2. Every time I cry to God with the simple prayers: “Lord, I belong to you! Lord, help me! Lord, have mercy on me!  Lord, I thank you!  Lord, I love you!…”, it is my choice to rely on the Spirit.  How many times last week have I cried out to God with the short prayers to tell God and myself that I love Him and I choose to rely on Him for every day of my life?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第三章1-14節

1 無知的加拉太人哪，耶穌基督釘十字架，已經活畫在你們眼前，誰又迷惑了你們呢？ 2 我只要問你們這一件：你們受了聖靈，是因行律法呢？是因聽信福音呢？ 3 你們既靠聖靈入門，如今還靠肉身成全嗎？你們是這樣的無知嗎？ 4 你們受苦如此之多，都是徒然的嗎？難道果真是徒然的嗎？ 5 那賜給你們聖靈，又在你們中間行異能的，是因你們行律法呢？是因你們聽信福音呢？ 6 正如亞伯拉罕信　神，這就算為他的義。 7 所以，你們要知道：那以信為本的人，就是亞伯拉罕的子孫。 8 並且聖經既然預先看明，　神要叫外邦人因信稱義，就早已傳福音給亞伯拉罕，說：萬國都必因你得福。 9 可見那以信為本的人和有信心的亞伯拉罕一同得福。 10 凡以行律法為本的，都是被咒詛的；因為經上記著：凡不常照律法書上所記一切之事去行的，就被咒詛。 11 沒有一個人靠著律法在　神面前稱義，這是明顯的；因為經上說，義人必因信得生。 12 律法原不本乎信，只說：行這些事的，就必因此活著。 13 基督既為我們受（原文是成）了咒詛，就贖出我們脫離律法的咒詛；因為經上記著：凡掛在木頭上都是被咒詛的。 14 這便叫亞伯拉罕的福，因基督耶穌可以臨到外邦人，使我們因信得著所應許的聖靈。

默想

1. 加拉太人知道他們在信主時便領受了聖靈，並非是因遵守律法而得。但是他們仍然對自己的信仰不放心，認為單靠信心似乎太輕而易舉了，因此希望遵守某 些律法規條，好與神更加親近。某些屬靈操練（如讀經、祈禱）和事奉，可以幫助我們成長，但是絕不能代替聖靈的工作。保羅的尖銳問題（1-4節），就是希望能引導加拉太信徒重建“只有基督才是我們信仰的中心”。
2. 我是否也會認為單靠信心的信仰不夠扎實，還想要多作些好事，才會多一點得救的把握？
3. 求神賜給我“單純”的信心，而非“簡化——規條式”的信心。

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。

Galatians 3: 1-14

1. You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3. Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4. Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5. Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?  6. Consider Abraham: “He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 7. Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. 8. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9. So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.  10. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11. Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12. The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14. He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Meditation

1. The Galatians had been taught that they had received the Holy Spirit by faith and not by obeying the law.  However, they still thought it was too simplistic to be saved by faith only.  They wanted to have some rules and creeds to follow in order to feel closer to God.  Spiritual exercises such as prayer and Bible ready as well as serving may help us grow spiritually but it can never replace the work of the Holy Spirit.  By raising some pointed questions (vv1-4), Paul tried to help them to restore Christ as the center of their faith.
2. Do I think it not realistic to depend on faith alone for salvation?  Would I think that perhaps a bit more work on my part may bring more assurance?
3. Pray that God would teach me to allow Him to be in control and for a “simple” but not “simplistic” faith in Him.

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二章15-21

15 我們這生來的猶太人，不是外邦的罪人； 16 既知道人稱義不是因行律法，乃是因信耶穌基督，連我們也信了基督耶穌，使我們因信基督稱義，不因行律法稱義；因為凡有血氣的，沒有一人因行律法稱義。 17 我們若求在基督裡稱義，卻仍舊是罪人，難道基督是叫人犯罪的嗎？斷乎不是！ 18 我素來所拆毀的，若重新建造，這就證明自己是犯罪的人。 19 我因律法，就向律法死了，叫我可以向　神活著。 20 我已經與基督同釘十字架，現在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我裡面活著；並且我如今在肉身活著，是因信　神的兒子而活；他是愛我，為我捨己。 21 我不廢掉　神的恩；義若是藉著律法得的，基督就是徒然死了。

 

默想

1. “人稱義不是因行律法，乃是因信耶穌基督”（16節）。很多不信主的人到處求籤拜佛、刻苦修身、施善行積功德，為的是要求得心想事成。聖誕節期間，我們告訴小孩子，聖誕老人會“再三查看他的名單，要知道誰頑皮，誰聽話”，希望如此能讓孩子聽話，才能在聖誕節收到禮物。究竟這兩者種接受禮物的心態有什麼異同？耶穌的救恩禮物與這兩者有何不同？
2. 如果聖誕老人是真實的，并且有個送禮物的單子，當中包括有我的名字，聖誕老人會按什麼條件來決定我能不能收到禮物？把這些條件寫在一張紙上，一面禱告感謝主賜下白白的救恩，然後將這張紙撕掉，丟在垃圾簍。再一次感謝神，因祂所賜下的各樣恩典禮物，不需要我做任何的努力去贏得。

 

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。

Galatians 2:15-21

15. “We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ 16. know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

17. “If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18. If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20. .I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

 

Meditation

1. “(A) man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ” (v16).  Many people go to temples, burn incense, and engage in meditation and generous donations in the hopes of receiving peace and prosperity.  We tell children that Santa Claus checks “his list twice to see who’s naughty or nice” in order to give them gifts at Christmas accordingly.  Is there any difference between the two examples?  How is Jesus’ gift of salvation different from them?
2. If Santa Claus existed and had a list with my name on it, what actions might be listed to determine whether I was naughty or nice?  Bring this list to God and thank Him that He is not like Santa.  Tear up the list and throw it to the garbage.  Once again, thank God for all the grace gifts given me without my working for them.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

加拉太書  第一章  1—8節

1  作使徒的保羅（不是由於人，也不是藉著人，乃是藉著耶穌基督，與叫他從死裡復活的父　神） 2 和一切與我同在的眾弟兄，寫信給加拉太的各教會。 3 願恩惠、平安從父　神與我們的主耶穌基督歸與你們！ 4 基督照我們父　神的旨意，為我們的罪捨己，要救我們脫離這罪惡的世代。 5 但願榮耀歸於　神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！ 6 我希奇你們這麼快離開那藉著基督之恩召你們的，去從別的福音。 7 那並不是福音，不過有些人攪擾你們，要把基督的福音更改了。 8 但無論是我們，是天上來的使者，若傳福音給你們，與我們所傳給你們的不同，他就應當被咒詛。

 

默想

1. 在辯證信仰的真實性時，若要用我信仰基督生命得到改變，來作實例時，我會分享哪一方面？我個人經歷神的經驗，對我向別人作見證，有什麼重要性？
2. 我是否認識什麼人，當初是十分反對基督的，但是現在卻成為了基督徒？什麼原因帶來如此的改變？

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。

 

Galatians 1:1-8

1. Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2. and all the brothers with me,  3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4. who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5. to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.   6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7. which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

 

Meditation

1. If I had to argue for the reality of the gospel by giving one example of how I have changed by faith, what would I share?  How is my personal experience of Christ an important part of my witness to others?
2. Whom do I know who was once very hostile to Christ, but is now His follower?  What brought about that change?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第五章13-20節

13你們中間有受苦的呢，他就該禱告；有喜樂的呢，他就該歌頌。14你們中間有病了的呢，他就該請教會的長老來；他們可以奉主的名用油抹他，為他禱告。15出於信心的祈禱要救那病人，主必叫他起來；他若犯了罪，也必蒙赦免。16所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求，使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。17以利亞與我們是一樣性情的人，他懇切禱告，求不要下雨，雨就三年零六個月不下在地上。18他又禱告，天就降下雨來，地也生出土產。19我的弟兄們，你們中間若有失迷真道的，有人使他回轉，20這人該知道：叫一個罪人從迷路上轉回便是救一個靈魂不死，並且遮蓋許多的罪。

 

默想

1. 在我信仰的路程中，我是否曾經幾乎“失迷真道”，想要離棄神、回頭追求世界？是誰幫助我回轉到神的跟前？用些時間回想那次的經歷，以及心中感受？
2. 求問神，是否有那位信徒，目前也落在我當時的“失迷”光景中，我當如何來幫助他，重新回到信仰的真道上？
3. 為教會和小組的弟兄姐妹彼此間的關係禱告，我們都是破碎的人——肉體上、情感上、靈命上——因此我們需要彼此代禱，使我們的痊愈。求主賜下和諧、接納、寬恕、相愛的靈在當中，使我們能彼此相顧，見證神的能力。

 

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。

James 5:13-20

13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

Meditation

1. Recall a time when I came very close to wandering from the faith?  Who helped bring me back?  Spend some time revisit that experience and all my emotions then and now.
2. Is God putting someone in my heart that is in the “wandering from the faith” situation as I was?  How would I help him/her come back to the faith?
3. Pray for the people in the church and in my cell. We are all broken people—physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc—and we need each other in the community of faith to pray that we might be healed. Ask God to give us a spirit of harmony, acceptance, forgiveness, compassion, and love so that we would care for each other and witness God’s power.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

雅各書 第四章11-17節

11弟兄們，你們不可彼此批評。人若批評弟兄，論斷弟兄，就是批評律法，論斷律法。你若論斷律法，就不是遵行律法，乃是判斷人的。12設立律法和判斷人的，只有一位，就是那能救人也能滅人的。你是誰，竟敢論斷別人呢？13嗐！你們有話說：「今天明天我們要往某城裏去，在那裏住一年，做買賣得利。」14其實明天如何，你們還不知道。你們的生命是甚麼呢？你們原來是一片雲霧，出現少時就不見了。15你們只當說：「主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以做這事，或做那事。」16現今你們竟以張狂誇口；凡這樣誇口都是惡的。17人若知道行善，卻不去行，這就是他的罪了。

 

默想

1. 訂立目標原是好的，但問題是我們常會認為是我自己在掌控我的生命和我的未來，而將神拋在我生命之外。如果我們的計劃中從來沒有把神包括在內，我們就不能參與在神的計劃中，因為沒有人能控制明天，未來是掌握在神手中的。我們應該在神面前謙卑，慎重地尋求神在我們生命中的心意。
2. 我對未來的十年、一年或明天有甚麼打算呢？假若神要介入我的計劃，替我重新安排，我願意嗎？我是否願意放開我的手，放開我對自己的計劃，雖然會面對不知，決心以信心來選擇跟隨神所為我安排的道路？事實上，只有當我選擇容許神來指引我的道路，我才能真正的活出神為我安排的豐盛生命。

 

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。

 

James 4:11-17

11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

 

Meditation

1. Setting goals and making plans can be good. The temptation, however, when we plan is to think that we are in control of our lives and our future, which pushes God away from our lives. And when God is not at the centre of our planning, we will find that we are not participating in His story—the things that he is doing in this world. Our lives and the future are in God’s hands. We need to come humbly to God and carefully seek God’s will for our lives.
2. What plans do I have for tomorrow, this year or next ten years? Am I willing to submit all of them to God so that I can be involved in his work for his glory and honour?  Am I willing to hold loosely to my own plans, and to take risky steps of faith to follow what God has in store for me?  Only when I choose to allow God to direct my path, will I be able to live the best life, the one God has in store for me.

 

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第三章1-12節

1我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。2原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。3我們若把嚼環放在馬嘴裏，叫牠順服，就能調動牠的全身。4看哪，船隻雖然甚大，又被大風催逼，只用小小的舵，就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。5這樣，舌頭在百體裏也是最小的，卻能說大話。看哪，最小的火能點著最大的樹林。6舌頭就是火，在我們百體中，舌頭是個罪惡的世界，能污穢全身，也能把生命的輪子點起來，並且是從地獄裏點著的。7各類的走獸、飛禽、昆蟲、水族，本來都可以制伏，也已經被人制伏了；8惟獨舌頭沒有人能制伏，是不止息的惡物，滿了害死人的毒氣。9我們用舌頭頌讚那為主、為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著　神形像被造的人。10頌讚和咒詛從一個口裏出來！我的弟兄們，這是不應當的！11泉源從一個眼裏能發出甜苦兩樣的水嗎？12我的弟兄們，無花果樹能生橄欖嗎？葡萄樹能結無花果嗎？鹹水裏也不能發出甜水來。

 

默想

1. 倘若把上週我所說過的話全部錄下來，並且在這週崇拜中播放出來，有那些內容我會希望刪除？
2. 花一些時間思想9-10節的經文，想想我一般說話是咒詛多、或是頌讚多？我怎樣才可以多說讚美鼓勵的話？
3. 在本週中，有那一位家人、同事或朋友，我要向他/她說些鼓勵的話？寫下我要講的話，並禱告求主提醒幫助我能確實做到。

 

 

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。

 

James 3:1-12

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

 

Meditation

1. If I were to record everything I said last week to have it played back during church, what would I want to erase from the recording?
2. Meditate on 3:9-10. Have I been doing more praising or cursing? What are ways that I can praise and encourage others more?
3. Is there a family member, a friend or colleague, to whom I may say some encouraging words? During this week, pray that God will help me to speak words of kindness and grace, and pray for one particular person with whom you find it difficult to speak with love.  As we pray for others, even ones whom we feel like we can’t love, God transforms our hearts to love them like He does.

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第二章14-26節

14 我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有甚麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？15 若是弟兄或是姊妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食；16 你們中間有人對他們說：「平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有甚麼益處呢？17 這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。18 必有人說：「你有信心，我有行為；你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我便藉著我的行為，將我的信心指給你看。」19 你信　神只有一位，你信的不錯；鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。20 虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？21 我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕把他兒子以撒獻在壇上，豈不是因行為稱義嗎？22 可見，信心是與他的行為並行，而且信心因著行為才得成全。23 這就應驗經上所說：「亞伯拉罕信神，這就算為他的義。」他又得稱為　神的朋友。24 這樣看來，人稱義是因著行為，不是單因著信。25 妓女喇合接待使者，又放他們從別的路上出去，不也是一樣因行為稱義嗎？26 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。

 

默想

1. 我們的信心，正如雅各所說，是不能眼見的，但卻藉著我們的行為表明出來。雅各告訴我們信心與行為是相齊並進的，我們因為相信耶穌基督，因此對世界、自己並神的工作，有不同的看法。當我們與基督的關係日漸增長時，我們的看法及價值觀也就因此而改變，我們的舉止行為也就會越來越貼近神的心意。這樣，我們的行為就顯明我們對神的信心。
2. 信主以後，我的信心怎樣影響我對生命、關係、工作、教會的看法？我如何使用我的時間？神如何在我身上開始祂的陶造工作？我怎樣與其他信徒一同活出我們的信心來？

 

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。

 

James 2:14-26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

 

Meditation

1. Faith is something that we cannot see but faith is made real and visible in our works. James tells us that faith and works go hand-in-hand; our faith in the person and gospel of Jesus Christ changes the way that we see the world, ourselves, and God’s work. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, our changed perspective and value system will cause us to behave closer to God’s way.  Thus, our actions reveal our faith in God.
2. How has my faith affected the way in which I view my life, relationships, work, the Church, how I spend my time, etc? How is God already at work around me?  How can I join others to live out my faith in actions?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 第一章 1-11節

1作神和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各請散住十二個支派之人的安。2我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；3因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。4但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。5你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他。6只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。7這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。8心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。9卑微的弟兄升高，就該喜樂；10富足的降卑，也該如此；因為他必要過去，如同草上的花一樣。11太陽出來，熱風颳起，草就枯乾，花也凋謝，美容就消沒了；那富足的人，在他所行的事上也要這樣衰殘。

 

默想

1. 人生必然會遇上各種考驗，我們若相信神，也就確信，即使我們遭遇愁煩，祂會藉著我們掙扎的過程來陶造我們，因為“信心經過試驗，就生忍耐”（3節），使我們更成熟，更能為主所用。當我們遭遇財務上、關係上、健康上，的種種困難時，這是我們最能夠專注並依賴神的時候。而當我們明白“我本軟弱主剛強”時，我們也就能夠充滿喜樂。
2. 回想我曾經遭遇的一個試煉，是什麼？當時我對神的信心承受怎樣的壓力？我從這經歷的當中得到什麼“智慧”？
3. 在現今這個崇尚財富的社會，9-11節對我有什麼意義？雅各教導我應當以那些事情為榮？

 

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 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

 

Meditation

1. Life involves us in many kinds of testing; it is in God that the testing of our faith produces endurance and because of Him, we are able to grow mature.  When we experience difficult times—whether financially, relationally, or otherwise—those times are when we are most able to focus and be dependent on God. These times can be filled with joy when we realise that He is strong when we are weak.
2. Recalling a trial I have experienced, what pressures did it bring on my faith?  What “wisdom” did I gain through it?
3. In this wealth-chasing modern society, what do vv 9-11 mean to me?  What might James say I should “take pride in”?  Will I heed his teaching?  Why?

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿八章

23 他們和保羅約定了日子，就有許多人到他的寓處來。保羅從早到晚，對他們講論這事，證明神國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。 24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。 25 他們彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保羅說了一句話，說：聖靈藉先知以賽亞向你們祖宗所說的話是不錯的。 26 他說：你去告訴這百姓說：你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得； 27 因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉著；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裡明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。 28 所以你們當知道，神這救恩，如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。（有古卷在此有： 29 保羅說了這話，猶太人議論紛紛的就走了。） 30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待， 31 放膽傳講神國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。

 

默想

1. 保羅有兩年在羅馬受到軟禁，凡來見他的人，他都接待。使徒行傳是從十字架轉成復活開始，之後有監禁，鞭打，殉道——不單是保羅，而是初期教會中許多信徒的經歷。他們遭遇公開的恐嚇，私下的勾結；還有更微妙的妥協——回歸猶太教的儀式，謹守舊有的規條。但雖經過這些，基督的福音還是傳出去了。雖有拘限，妥協，阻攔，拒絕，福音終由羅馬帝國傳向世界各處。
2. 使徒行傳最後留下的圖像就是：保羅開放自己，開放住所，接待所有來見他的人，向他們放膽傳講，沒有人禁止。他曾接受別人的接待，現在他也接待他人。而「神是不偏待人(10:34)」，因此神的使者亦當如此。
3. 禱告，求主幫助我對到我身邊來的人，慷慨、仁慈的接待他們。

 

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 28

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:  ²⁶” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”  ²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,  and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ ²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Meditation

1. Paul spent two years of imprisonment in Rome welcoming everyone who came to his house.  Acts began with a crucifixion turned into a resurrection.  There had been imprisonments, beatings, martyrdoms – not just for Paul but for many members of the early church.  There had been open threats and secret intrigues.  And there had been the more subtle danger of compromise – the pressure to be drawn back into Jewish ritual, absorbed into the old rule keeping.  Through it all, the gospel of Christ was spread to the world.  Every attempt to confine it, to compromise it, to muffle it, to reject it was finally ineffective.  It spread from the center of the world in Rome through the far reaches of the globe.
2. Acts closes with this image: Paul, opening his home and his heart, preaches boldly and without hindrance to all comers without.  As he has received hospitality, he offers it to “all who came to him.”  As “God shows no partiality” (10:34), God’s messengers must be similarly inclusive.
3. Pray that God will help me to offer hospitality to all who came to me and to show no partiality just as God does.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.