Category: 260灵修

第三章

1申初禱告的時候，彼得、約翰上聖殿去。 2 有一個人，生來是瘸腿的，天天被人抬來，放在殿的一個門口，那門名叫美門，要求進殿的人賙濟。 3 他看見彼得、約翰將要進殿，就求他們賙濟。 4 彼得約翰定睛看他；彼得說：你看我們！ 5 那人就留意看他們，指望得著甚麼。 6 彼得說：金銀我都沒有，只把我所有的給你：我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名，叫你起來行走！ 7 於是拉著他的右手，扶他起來；他的腳和踝子骨立刻健壯了， 8 就跳起來，站著，又行走，同他們進了殿，走著，跳著，讚美神。 9 百姓都看見他行走，讚美神； 10 認得他是那素常坐在殿的美門口求賙濟的，就因他所遇著的事滿心希奇、驚訝。 11 那人正在稱為所羅門的廊下，拉著彼得、約翰；眾百姓一齊跑到他們那裡，很覺希奇。 12 彼得看見，就對百姓說：以色列人哪，為甚麼把這事當作希奇呢？為甚麼定睛看我們，以為我們憑自己的能力和虔誠使這人行走呢？ 13 亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神，就是我們列祖的神，已經榮耀了他的僕人（或作：兒子）耶穌；你們卻把他交付彼拉多。彼拉多定意要釋放他，你們竟在彼拉多面前棄絕了他。 14 你們棄絕了那聖潔公義者，反求著釋放一個兇手給你們。 15 你們殺了那生命的主，神卻叫他從死裡復活了；我們都是為這事作見證。 16 我們因信他的名，他的名便叫你們所看見所認識的這人健壯了；正是他所賜的信心，叫這人在你們眾人面前全然好了。

 

默想

跛腳乞丐乞討零錢，但彼得給他更好的——使他的腳復原能行走。我也可能只想神替我解決一些眼前的小問題，但祂希望賜給我新的生命，並且幫助我解決所有問題。當我求神時，祂也許會說：「我預備更好的東西要賜給你。」

我是否曾經向神禱告，將心中想要的告訴祂，結果得到的與心中所想的並不同，當時是驚喜？還是失望？

把心中的感受告訴神，並在今天一天中繼續的等候，聆聽神對我的回答。

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

¹One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ²Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  ⁶Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.  ¹¹While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹²When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? ¹³The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Meditation

1. The crippled man was begging for some change, but Peter gave him something much better – the full recovery of his legs.  Similarly, I may wish that God would solve some of my problems, but His plan is much bigger as he desires to give me new life and help resolve the real problem.  When I ask Him for help, He may say, “I’ve prepared something better for you.”
2. Have I ever prayed to God for certain things but the result was totally different?  What was my response?  Surprised or disappointed?
3. Tell God my feelings, and continue to listen to God’s words for me 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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第二章

37 眾人聽見這話，覺得扎心，就對彼得和其餘的使徒說：弟兄們，我們當怎樣行？

38 彼得說：你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈；

39 因為這應許是給你們和你們的兒女，並一切在遠方的人，就是主─我們神所召來的。

40 彼得還用許多話作見證，勸勉他們說：你們當救自己脫離這彎曲的世代。 41 於是領受他話的人就受了洗。那一天，門徒約添了三千人， 42 都恆心遵守使徒的教訓，彼此交接，擘餅，祈禱。

 

默想

那些人聽到彼得被聖靈充滿所傳講的信息後。都深受感動，他們問：「我們當怎樣行呢」？這是每個初信主的人，都要問的基本問題，單單為自己的罪而難過是不夠的，必須求神赦免。當我們悔改時，神不單塗抹我們的罪，更讓我們的靈得到更新，可以活出蒙赦免的新生命。

回想一下，神曾否提醒我日常生活中的過錯？我是怎麼回答的？我現今是活出新的生命嗎？

 

 

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

³⁷When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

³⁸Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

³⁹The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

⁴⁰With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” ⁴¹Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

 

 

 

Meditation

1. Those that heard Peter’s Spirit-filled message were moved.  They asked, “What shall we do?”  This is the basic question every new believer will ask.  It’s not enough to feel sorry for the sins we have committed, we need to ask for God’s forgiveness.  When we repent, God will not only wipe away our sins, He will renew us spiritually so that we may live out the forgiven new life.
2. Recall a time when God reminded me of my wrongs.  What was my response?  Am I living a new life now?  The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

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.

 

 

6 他們聚集的時候，問耶穌說：主啊，你復興以色列國就在這時候嗎？ 7 耶穌對他們說：父憑著自己的權柄所定的時候、日期，不是你們可以知道的。 8 但聖靈降臨在你們身上，你們就必得著能力，並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地，和撒馬利亞，直到地極，作我的見證。 9 說了這話，他們正看的時候，他就被取上升，有一朵雲彩把他接去，便看不見他了。 10 當他往上去，他們定睛望天的時候，忽然有兩個人身穿白衣，站在旁邊，說： 11 加利利人哪，你們為甚麼站著望天呢？這離開你們被接升天的耶穌，你們見他怎樣往天上去，他還要怎樣來。

12 有一座山，名叫橄欖山，離耶路撒冷不遠，約有安息日可走的路程。當下，門徒從那裡回耶路撒冷去， 13 進了城，就上了所住的一間樓房；在那裡有彼得、約翰、雅各、安得烈、腓力、多馬、巴多羅買、馬太、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、奮銳黨的西門，和雅各的兒子（或作：兄弟）猶大。 14 這些人同著幾個婦人和耶穌的母親馬利亞，並耶穌的弟兄，都同心合意的恆切禱告。

 

默想：

1. 向人傳福音作見證，並非要顯示我們能夠為神做些甚麼，而是要向人傳講神為我們做了甚麼。耶穌要門徒先等候聖靈的降臨（參路24:29），然後才向萬民作見證（參太28:19-20）。
2. 同樣的，今天神若吩咐我為祂工作，我也必須倚靠聖靈的能力，才去工作。我是否常常憑自己的能力和熱心去作事，卻不知等候是神計劃的一部分？
3. 禱告，求聖靈光照，在我目前所做的事情中，有什麼是我不耐煩去等待神，而跑在神前頭去做我認為好的、對的事情？

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 1

⁶So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  ⁷He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  ⁹After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  ¹⁰They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

 

Meditation:

1. Witnessing to others about Jesus is not to show what we can do for God but to tell what God has done for us.  Jesus instructed His disciples to witness to the world, but they must first wait for the Holy Spirit.
2. Similarly, when God entrusts me with a task, I need to first depend on the power of the Holy Spirit.  Do I like to get ahead of God and try to depend on my own abilities and enthusiasm, not knowing that WAITING is also part of God’s plan?
3. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show me specific areas where I am “impatient to wait” and have gone ahead of God with my own ideas of what is good.

 

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

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

16 十一個門徒往加利利去，到了耶穌約定的山上。17 他們見了耶穌就拜他，然而還有人疑惑。18 耶穌進前來，對他們說：「天上地下所有的權柄都賜給我了。19 所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗（或譯：給他們施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名）。20 凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」

 

默想：

1. 十一個門徒照吩咐前往加利利，耶穌也在那裡向他們顯現。祂不但向門徒有託附和授權（18節下至20節上），並應許與他們同在（「以馬內利」參1:23），讓他們經歷神的能力、同在和智慧，直到這世代終結。
2. 耶穌為什麼要與門徒同在直到世界的末了？耶穌今天用怎樣的方式與我同在？
3. 選擇耶穌同在的一個方式，在未來的星期中，特別留意「以馬內利」耶穌怎樣與我同在。

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 28

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

¹⁶Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Meditation:

1. The eleven did go to Galilee, and Jesus appeared as promised. He authorized His disciples to make disciples of all nations, and promised to be with them (Immanuel) as the divine power, presence, and Wisdom of God until the close of the age.
2. Why did Jesus tell the disciples that He would be with them to the end of the age? In what way is Jesus Christ with me today?
3. Consider choosing one of the ways and attempting to be especially sensitive to Jesus’ presence (Immanuel) with me this week.

第廿七章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

45 從午正到申初，遍地都黑暗了。46 約在申初，耶穌大聲喊著說：「以利！以利！拉馬撒巴各大尼？」就是說：「我的　神！我的　神！為甚麼離棄我？」47 站在那裏的人，有的聽見就說：「這個人呼叫以利亞呢！」48 內中有一個人趕緊跑去，拿海絨蘸滿了醋，綁在葦子上，送給他喝。49 其餘的人說：「且等著，看以利亞來救他不來。」50 耶穌又大聲喊叫，氣就斷了。51 忽然，殿裏的幔子從上到下裂為兩半，地也震動，磐石也崩裂，52 墳墓也開了，已睡聖徒的身體多有起來的。53 到耶穌復活以後，他們從墳墓裏出來，進了聖城，向許多人顯現。54 百夫長和一同看守耶穌的人看見地震並所經歷的事，就極其害怕，說：「這真是　神的兒子了！」

默想：

1. 基督教信仰的中心,竟是我們的神極致的受辱，並忍受最深的痛苦。祂自己的同胞要求處死祂，祂的朋友離棄祂，連最親密的父都轉面不顧祂。
2. 花些時間用心與腦來深思，為什麼全能者要選擇這樣的道路。多讀幾遍耶穌的話來貼近祂的經歷。
3. 我心中此時漲溢的是什麼？死亡？驚奇？難過？漠不關心？把從心中浮上來的，一一告訴耶穌。輕輕地把自己拉回耶穌的犧牲與受死上，再讀一遍經文。讓自己深深地沉浸在整個事件中，繼續體會自己的反應，再繼續與主交談。
4. 天找個安靜的地方去散步，或靜坐片刻，設好預定時間的鬧錶來作提醒，讓自己忘記時間，放鬆地默想基督為我做的犧牲，並等待祂要我從祂那接受的。

 

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 27

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

⁴⁵From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” ⁴⁷When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” ⁴⁸Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ⁴⁹The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” ⁵⁰And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. ⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. ⁵⁴When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Meditation:

1. The central event of the Christian faith is the immense humiliation of our God. And His anguish is deeper than we can imagine. His own people demanded his death, his friends deserted him. And now even his loving Father has turned away.
2. Spend time wrestling with why the Almighty would choose such a path. Reread Jesus’ own words a few times to get closer to his experience.
3. What wells up inside me as I spend time with Jesus’ death? Death? Wonder? Grief? Distractedness? Tell Jesus about what surfaces. Then gently pull my thoughts back to His sacrifice and death, reading the passage again if needed. Allow myself to sink into the event deeply, again being aware of my reaction and talking to Jesus about it.
4. Find a new place to be silent. For example, walk in a quiet place or sit in an empty church sanctuary. Bring a wristwatch and set the alarm so I can forget the time until it reminds me. Meditate on Jesus’ sacrifice for me, and then wait for what He would have me receive from Him.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.

 

第廿六章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

36 耶穌同門徒來到一個地方，名叫客西馬尼，就對他們說：「你們坐在這裏，等我到那邊去禱告。」37 於是帶著彼得和西庇太的兩個兒子同去，就憂愁起來，極其難過，38 便對他們說：「我心裏甚是憂傷，幾乎要死；你們在這裏等候，和我一同警醒。」39 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，禱告說：「我父啊，倘若可行，求你叫這杯離開我。然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」40 來到門徒那裏，見他們睡著了，就對彼得說：「怎麼樣？你們不能同我警醒片時嗎？41 總要警醒禱告，免得入了迷惑。你們心靈固然願意，肉體卻軟弱了。」42 第二次又去禱告說：「我父啊，這杯若不能離開我，必要我喝，就願你的意旨成全。」43 又來，見他們睡著了，因為他們的眼睛困倦。44 耶穌又離開他們去了。第三次禱告，說的話還是與先前一樣。45 於是來到門徒那裏，對他們說：「現在你們仍然睡覺安歇吧（吧：或譯嗎？）！時候到了，人子被賣在罪人手裏了。46 起來！我們走吧。看哪，賣我的人近了。」

 

默想：

1. 這裡記載了三次耶穌的禱告，非常清晰的描述了耶穌身心靈的掙扎，由問神可否叫這杯（藉著十字架表明神的審判）離開祂，到「若不能」，「願你的旨意成全」；並且都用「我父」這最親密的稱呼。而且這時候，祂的門徒們沒有一個能夠做到祂的要求——和祂一同警醒禱告。
2. 默想基督的受苦。低吟這首「泰澤」詩歌「陪著我」

在這等我，同我在這裡，警醒禱告，警醒禱告。http://www.thevigils.co.uk/vigils/chants.html (#2)

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 26

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” ⁴⁰Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” ⁴²He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” ⁴³When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. ⁴⁵Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

 

Meditation:

1. Here recorded three times of Jesus’ prayer. It clearly portrayed Jesus wrestling with God’s will and then finally accepting it. It started with Jesus asking if it is possible for the cup (referring to the expression of God’s judgment in and by the cross) to be removed from him. The next two times He says, “If this cannot … your will be done”(v42). In all cases, Jesus addresses God in the most intimate terms as “my Father”(vv39,42). The disciples, including even Peter, were unable to watch and pray with him.
2. Meditate on Christ’s suffering. Quietly sing this Taize song:

Stay with me, remain here with me
watch and pray, watch and pray. http://www.thevigils.co.uk/vigils/chants.html (#2)

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.

 

第廿五章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

14 「天國又好比一個人要往外國去，就叫了僕人來，把他的家業交給他們，15 按著各人的才幹給他們銀子：一個給了五千，一個給了二千，一個給了一千，就往外國去了。16 那領五千的隨即拿去做買賣，另外賺了五千。17 那領二千的也照樣另賺了二千。18 但那領一千的去掘開地，把主人的銀子埋藏了。19 過了許久，那些僕人的主人來了，和他們算帳。20 那領五千銀子的又帶著那另外的五千來，說：『主啊，你交給我五千銀子。請看，我又賺了五千。』21 主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』22 那領二千的也來，說：『主啊，你交給我二千銀子。請看，我又賺了二千。』23 主人說：『好，你這又良善又忠心的僕人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把許多事派你管理；可以進來享受你主人的快樂。』24 那領一千的也來，說：『主啊，我知道你是忍心的人，沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要聚斂，25 我就害怕，去把你的一千銀子埋藏在地裏。請看，你的原銀子在這裏。』26 主人回答說：『你這又惡又懶的僕人，你既知道我沒有種的地方要收割，沒有散的地方要聚斂，27 就當把我的銀子放給兌換銀錢的人，到我來的時候，可以連本帶利收回。28 奪過他這一千來，給那有一萬的。29 因為凡有的，還要加給他，叫他有餘；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪過來。30 把這無用的僕人丟在外面黑暗裏；在那裏必要哀哭切齒了。』」

 

默想：

1. 神給每個信徒都有不同的恩賜，可能是財富、才幹、時間、或機會。神要我們盡用每樣恩賜來服事神。
2. 主人稱讚頭兩個僕人，因他們盡了他們的努力，主人看他們的努力比成果更重要。但還有一個僕人，用最少的功夫，來確保自己不需勞力，又可保護自己。耶穌指出這個僕人並不關心主人的利益，也不願意服事主人。
3. 我的雙手承載著很多神給的恩賜，祂期待我有智慧地並完全地為祂使用。我有沒有好好地運用這些恩賜？當主再來時，我拿什麼呈獻給主？想一想，今天，這個星期，有什麼實際的事情，使我能運用到我的恩賜？並求神幫助我，為祂好好地做。

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 25

 

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

¹⁴“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ¹⁶The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. ¹⁷So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. ¹⁸But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ²¹“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ²²“The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ ²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ ²⁴“Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ ²⁶“His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? ²⁷Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. ²⁸” ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. ²⁹For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ³⁰And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Meditation:

1. God gives gifts to all his disciples, wealth, skills, time or opportunities. God wants us to use them completely. This is how we can serve him.
2. The master praised two of the slaves for they had done their best. Not the other slave. This slave was doing the safest thing, and the least work, to protect himself from hard work and punishment if he lose it.
3. God also expects me to use my gifts wisely and completely for Him. How am I doing? Think of one way I can use my gift today and this week. Ask God to help me do it well for His sake.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.

 

 

第廿四章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

3 耶穌在橄欖山上坐著，門徒暗暗地來說：「請告訴我們，甚麼時候有這些事？你降臨和世界的末了有甚麼預兆呢？」4 耶穌回答說：「你們要謹慎，免得有人迷惑你們。5 因為將來有好些人冒我的名來，說：『我是基督』，並且要迷惑許多人。6 你們也要聽見打仗和打仗的風聲，總不要驚慌；因為這些事是必須有的，只是末期還沒有到。7 民要攻打民，國要攻打國；多處必有饑荒、地震。8 這都是災難（災難：原文是生產之難）的起頭。9 那時，人要把你們陷在患難裏，也要殺害你們；你們又要為我的名被萬民恨惡。10 那時，必有許多人跌倒，也要彼此陷害，彼此恨惡；11 且有好些假先知起來，迷惑多人。12 只因不法的事增多，許多人的愛心才漸漸冷淡了。13 惟有忍耐到底的，必然得救。14 這天國的福音要傳遍天下，對萬民作見證，然後末期才來到。」

 

 

默想：

1. 耶穌基督將要再臨這個世界，想到這個應許會使我快樂嗎？或對我是件有威脅性的事？拿張紙，將我在耶穌再來那天會失去的東西列出來，再將我在那天將得到的列出來。為什麼有些基督徒對耶穌的再臨，會覺得很難相信？
2. 假想一下，如果我們知道耶穌在一個月後將要回來，我們的教會將會有怎樣的不同？我自己呢？
3. 讓這個問題盤旋在我心中，靜坐一會兒，等候神指示我應當如何準備迎接耶穌的再來。

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 24

 

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

³As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

⁴Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ⁵For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. ⁶You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. ⁷Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are the beginning of birth pains.

⁹“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. ¹⁰At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, ¹¹and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. ¹²Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

 

Meditation:

1. Think about the fact that Jesus Christ will return to this earth. Does this promise make me happy? Or is it like a danger to me? Make a list of what I might lose on that great day. Then make a list of what I will gain. Why is it hard for some Christians to believe that Jesus will return?
2. Imagine that Jesus will return in a month’s time. What would be different in my church? What would I
3. Let this question linger in my heart for a while. Wait for God to show me how I may get ready for Jesus’ coming.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.

 

第廿三章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

1那時，耶穌對眾人和門徒講論，2 說：「文士和法利賽人坐在摩西的位上，3 凡他們所吩咐你們的，你們都要謹守遵行。但不要效法他們的行為；因為他們能說，不能行。4 他們把難擔的重擔捆起來，擱在人的肩上，但自己一個指頭也不肯動。5 他們一切所做的事都是要叫人看見，所以將佩戴的經文做寬了，衣裳的繸子做長了，6 喜愛筵席上的首座，會堂裏的高位，7 又喜愛人在街市上問他安，稱呼他拉比（拉比就是夫子）。8 但你們不要受拉比的稱呼，因為只有一位是你們的夫子；你們都是弟兄。9 也不要稱呼地上的人為父，因為只有一位是你們的父，就是在天上的父。10 也不要受師尊的稱呼，因為只有一位是你們的師尊，就是基督。11 你們中間誰為大，誰就要作你們的用人。12 凡自高的，必降為卑；自卑的，必升為高。

 

默想：

1. 耶穌吩咐門徒不要接受拉比、父或教師的稱號，因為世上只有一位最終極、最具權威的教師——不是摩西或所羅門，而是基督（10節）。因此，跟從耶穌的人，要一生做學生。凡高舉自己的必降為卑，謙卑的人必升為高（12節）。耶穌反復多次責備「假冒為善」，其意思就是「做戲」的行為。文士和法利賽人外表與實質不一致、說話與行為不配合，引致耶穌嚴厲的批評（13-33節）。
2. 文士和法利賽人相當於現代的教授。他們研讀聖經非常仔細入微，又背誦大量篇幅的經文。即使如此，亦未能使他們完全遵從所研讀的教訓。我要怎樣避免成為假冒為善，說一套，做一套的人呢？

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 23

 

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: ²“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. ⁴They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. ⁵“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries^[a] wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ ⁸“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ.^{[b] 11}The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Meditation:

1. Jesus’ disciples are commanded not to accept the title rabbi, father, or teacher, for there is only one final and authoritative teacher – not Moses or Solomon, but the Christ (v10). Thus, Jesus’ followers must always remain learners. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled and vice versa (v12). Jesus repeated condemns play-acting, which is what the word we translate “hypocrite” actually means. The dichotomy between appearance and reality, between word and deed, draws Jesus’ criticism (vv13-33).
2. The scribes and Pharisees were the professors of their time. They studied Scripture in minute detail and memorized huge chunks of it. Yet all of their study and memorization didn’t keep them from doing things contrary to what they were studying. How can I keep from being hypocrite: teaching one thing and doing another?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.

 

Family Time:

第廿二章

最好能將全章略讀一遍，再專注於以下經文段落：

 

34 法利賽人聽見耶穌堵住了撒都該人的口，他們就聚集。35 內中有一個人是律法師，要試探耶穌，就問他說：36 「夫子，律法上的誡命，哪一條是最大的呢？」37 耶穌對他說：「你要盡心、盡性、盡意愛主─你的　神。38 這是誡命中的第一，且是最大的。239 其次也相倣，就是要愛人如己。40 這兩條誡命是律法和先知一切道理的總綱。」

 

默想：

1. 整個律法全繫於兩個核心的命令，就是愛神和愛人；所有的律法和先知所說的，都是要培養我們對神和對鄰舍的愛。人要盡心愛神，這是最大的誡命；但沒有神幫助，人不可能做到。因此希坡的奧古斯丁說「主啊，求你把你所吩咐的賜給我，然後吩咐我遵行你的旨意。」
2. 現今我的愛心需要在那方面來成長？對神？對家人？對有需要/窮困的？對自己？我當怎樣著手學習？將上列奧古斯丁的禱告，作為我的心聲，並真誠的向神禱告。

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”本上面。

 

Chapter 22

If possible, read the whole chapter to see the full picture of what is happening here. Then focus on the following section:

³⁴Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. ³⁵One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Meditation:

1. The entire law hinges on its central commands to love God and neighbor. All the law and the prophets spoke was intended to nurture love for God and love for one’s neighbor. God is to be loved wholeheartedly, which is the greatest commandment. But this is impossible without the aid of God; hence the words of Augustine of Hippo, “Give what you command, Lord, and then command whatever you will”.
2. In what way do I want to grow in love right now: Toward God? Toward those in my family? Toward the needy? Toward myself? How would I do it? Use the above prayer of Augustine of Hippo as a prayer and ask God to help me to grow in love in the specific way shown by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while 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.