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第八章

27 耶穌和門徒出去，往凱撒利亞‧腓立比村莊去；在路上問門徒說：「人說我是誰？」 28 他們說：「有人說是施洗的約翰；有人說是以利亞；又有人說是先知裡的一位。」 29 又問他們說：「你們說我是誰？」彼得回答說：「你是基督。」 30 耶穌就禁戒他們，不要告訴人。 31 從此，他教訓他們說：「人子必須受許多的苦，被長老、祭司長，和文士棄絕，並且被殺，過三天復活。」 32 耶穌明明地說這話，彼得就拉著他，勸他。 33 耶穌轉過來，看著門徒，就責備彼得說：「撒但，退我後邊去吧！因為你不體貼神的意思，只體貼人的意思。」 34 於是叫眾人和門徒來，對他們說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。」35 因為，凡要救自己生命（或作：靈魂；下同）的，必喪掉生命；凡為我和福音喪掉生命的，必救了生命。 36 人就是賺得全世界，賠上自己的生命，有甚麼益處呢？ 37 人還能拿甚麼換生命呢？ 38 凡在這淫亂罪惡的世代，把我和我的道當作可恥的，人子在他父的榮耀裡，同聖天使降臨的時候，也要把那人當作可恥的。

 

默想：

1. 當彼得承認耶穌「你是基督」，開口認耶穌為主，為救主，那僅僅是踏出信仰的第一步。下一步便是一生之久的旅程，就是完完全全、真真實實地活出彼得在此時口中所表明的知識。
2. 基督徒也是如此，在我們開口認耶穌為我們的救主與主宰之後，耶穌告訴我們，祂呼召我們要活出這樣的生命：「捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我」。
3. 在一生信仰的旅途上，我踏出了第幾步？是還在第一步徘徊？或是已經朝向成聖的境地邁進？我膽怯、害怕的是什麼？
4. 為自己走信仰路程的勇氣與信心禱告，求主牽引，讓我跟隨。

 

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。

 

Mark 8

²⁷Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  ²⁸They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”  ²⁹“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”  ³⁰Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. ³¹He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. ³²He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.  ³³But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”  ³⁴Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? ³⁷Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ³⁸If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

 

Meditation

1. When Peter made this confession of faith “You are the Christ”, he has only taken the first step.  The next step is a lifelong journey to live out this confession fully and authentically.
2. That’s the same with us.  After our confession of faith, Jesus calls us to live a life to “deny himself and take up his cross and follow” Jesus.
3. In my journey of faith, which step have I taken?  Am I still lingering at the first step?  Or am I walking toward the goal of being sanctified and made holy?  What is it that has kept me from moving ahead?  What am I afraid of?
4. Pray for courage and faith to walk on this journey.  Ask for God’s guidance that I may willingly follow.

 

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.

第七章

17 耶穌離開眾人，進了屋子，門徒就問他這比喻的意思。 18 耶穌對他們說：「你們也是這樣不明白嗎？豈不曉得凡從外面進入的，不能污穢人， 19 因為不是入他的心，乃是入他的肚腹，又落到茅廁裡。（這是說，各樣的食物都是潔淨的）」； 20 又說：「從人裡面出來的，那才能污穢人； 21 因為從裡面，就是從人心裡，發出惡念、苟合、 22 偷盜、凶殺、姦淫、貪婪、邪惡、詭詐、淫蕩、嫉妒、謗讟、驕傲、狂妄。 23 這一切的惡都是從裡面出來，且能污穢人。」

 

默想：

1. 信主的人成為聖潔，不是因為我們的行為表現良好，而是因為基督更新了我們的心思，並塑造我們成為祂的樣式。任何邪惡的行為都是從一念之差開始的，若我們容讓自己的思想浸淫在慾望、妒忌、憎惡和仇恨裡，至終我們便會犯罪。
2. 操練昨天的「獨處、安靜」，用些時間來歇息安靜，求聖靈光照，檢視自己內心的思念，有什麼需要潔淨的思想、念頭嗎？向神禱告，求祂洗滌我內心的污穢。

 

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。

 

Mark 7

¹⁷After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ¹⁸“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? ¹⁹For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)

²⁰He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ²¹For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

 

Meditation

1. We are sanctified and become holy not because of our outward behavior, but because Christ has renewed our minds, reformed us in his image.  Any evil behavior begins with an idea.  If we allow our thought life immersed in desires, jealousy, hatred and bitterness, eventually we will sin.
2. Continue the practice of solitude and silence from yesterday.  Take time to rest and to be silent.  Ask the Holy Spirit to examine my inner thoughts.  Is there a need for cleansing?  Pray to God and ask Him to cleanse my inner wickedness.

 

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.

第六章

30 使徒聚集到耶穌那裡，將一切所做的事、所傳的道全告訴他。 31 他就說：「你們來，同我暗暗地到曠野地方去歇一歇。」這是因為來往的人多，他們連吃飯也沒有工夫。 32 他們就坐船，暗暗地往曠野地方去。 33 眾人看見他們去，有許多認識他們的，就從各城步行，一同跑到那裡，比他們先趕到了。 34 耶穌出來，見有許多的人，就憐憫他們，因為他們如同羊沒有牧人一般，於是開口教訓他們許多道理。

 

默想：

1. 耶穌差遣門徒出去傳道，當他們工作結束回來時，耶穌帶著他們遠離群眾「到曠野去、歇一歇」，這是因為耶穌知道，門徒們若要能夠繼續有效的事奉，他們必須有獨處休息的時間，使他們得到屬靈的更新，以便再接再厲為主工作。《生命陶造版聖經》對「獨處」的定義是：刻意減少人際的互動，好在生活中騰出空間，使我們擺脫各樣的纏累，讓神找著我們。
2. 在我日常的行程表中，我有多少「安靜、獨處」的時間？在我每天繁忙的生活中，怎樣「讓神找著我」？
3. 將下週或下個月的日程表打開，嘗試劃出一段時間（半個鐘頭，或是長至半日或一日），去公園、空曠的地方，或是在一個安靜、不受打擾的室內，「安靜、獨處」，並與神對話。

 

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。

 

 

Mark 6

³⁰The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  ³²So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

 

Meditation

1. When the disciple came back after they finished their assignment, Jesus took them away “to a quiet place and get some rest”.  This is for them to find spiritual resources to continue effective ministry.  The Spiritual Formation Bible has the definition for “Solitude”: the creation of an open, empty space in our lives by purposefully abstaining from interaction with other human beings, so that, freed from competing loyalties, we can be found by God.
2. Have I arranged “solitude” into my regular routine schedule?  How can I “be found by God” in my busy life?
3. Open my agenda to next week or next month.  Try to carve out a time (half an hour, or half a day or a whole day).  Go to a park, a deserted place, or an indoor place without being disturbed.  Stay quiet and alone, and then converse with 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.

第五章

25有一個女人，患了十二年的血漏， 26 在好些醫生手裡受了許多的苦，又花盡了她所有的，一點也不見好，病勢反倒更重了。 27 她聽見耶穌的事，就從後頭來，雜在眾人中間，摸耶穌的衣裳， 28 意思說：「我只摸他的衣裳，就必痊癒。」 29 於是她血漏的源頭立刻乾了；她便覺得身上的災病好了。 30 耶穌頓時心裡覺得有能力從自己身上出去，就在眾人中間轉過來，說：「誰摸我的衣裳？」 31 門徒對他說：「你看眾人擁擠你，還說『誰摸我』嗎？」 32 耶穌周圍觀看，要見做這事的女人。 33 那女人知道在自己身上所成的事，就恐懼戰兢，來俯伏在耶穌跟前，將實情全告訴他。 34 耶穌對她說：「女兒，你的信救了你，平平安安地回去吧！你的災病痊癒了。」

 

默想：

1. 耶穌在前往醫治睚魯女兒的路上，被這位長年患血漏病的女人觸摸。她花盡所有都不能醫好這病，當她聽到耶穌時，她立刻相信，只要摸一下耶穌的衣裳，就必得痊癒，她也真的得癒。
2. 馬可這段描述是要向我們表明，耶穌基督——神國度的主宰，祂的權能勝過自然界、勝過惡魔的權勢、以及各樣的疾病。當我們認識耶穌這樣的權力時，既或祂沒有立刻醫治每一位信徒的疾病，我們仍有信心靠著祂的話語（聖經）來生活。
3. 將我心中迫切的需要告訴耶穌，並求祂的醫治和幫助。

 

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。

 

Mark 5

²⁵And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.   30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

 

Meditation

1. Jesus, on his way to the home of a dying girl, was touched by a woman with chronic bleeding.  She spent all she had to search for a cure but to no avail.  Then she heard about Jesus, she became convinced that if she could only touch his clothing, she would be healed.  And she was healed indeed.
2. Mark is demonstrating to us here that Jesus Christ, ruler of God’s kingdom, has power over nature, over demonic power, and over every illness.  Knowing Jesus has such power gives us confidence to live by his word, even if he should not choose to heal every believer’s disease now.
3. Tell Jesus all of my urgent needs and ask for His healing and help.

 

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.

 

第四章

21 耶穌又對他們說：「人拿燈來，豈是要放在斗底下，床底下，不放在燈臺上嗎？ 22 因為掩藏的事，沒有不顯出來的；隱瞞的事，沒有不露出來的。 23 有耳可聽的，就應當聽！」 24 又說：「你們所聽的要留心。你們用甚麼量器量給人，也必用甚麼量器量給你們，並且要多給你們。 25 因為有的，還要給他；沒有的，連他所有的也要奪去。」

 

默想：

1. 耶穌在馬太福音六章3-4節，教導我們：「你施捨的時候，不要叫左手知道右手所做的，要叫你施捨的事行在暗中。你父在暗中察看，必然報答你」。
2. 但是耶穌在這段經文中卻講到，我們暗中所做的一切，不論是好是壞，都要顯露出來。「不張揚自己的善行和品德」，和「我們在暗中所做一切掩藏、隱瞞的事，都被顯露出來」，這兩件事有什麼關連？這對我們不將善行張揚出來，有什麼幫助？
3. 繼續昨天的默想，甘心地作主默默無聞的門徒，求主幫助我，「不要叫左手知道右手所做的」。

 

 

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「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

 

Mark 4

²¹He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? ²²For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. ²³If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”  ²⁴“Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. ²⁵Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.”

 

Meditation

1. In Matthew 6:3-4, Jesus taught us: “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
2. However, in this paragraph, it is talking about all of our secrets – good and bad – being revealed.  What is the connection between keeping good deeds and qualities secret and having all of our secrets revealed?  Does this motivate us to be quiet about the good works that we do?
3. Continue the meditation from yesterday to be willing to be a quiet disciple of Jesus.  Lord, help me so that I will “not let (my) left hand know what (my) right hand is doing” (Matt 6:3).

 

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.

 

 

第七章

17 耶穌離開眾人，進了屋子，門徒就問他這比喻的意思。 18 耶穌對他們說：「你們也是這樣不明白嗎？豈不曉得凡從外面進入的，不能污穢人， 19 因為不是入他的心，乃是入他的肚腹，又落到茅廁裡。（這是說，各樣的食物都是潔淨的）」； 20 又說：「從人裡面出來的，那才能污穢人； 21 因為從裡面，就是從人心裡，發出惡念、苟合、 22 偷盜、凶殺、姦淫、貪婪、邪惡、詭詐、淫蕩、嫉妒、謗讟、驕傲、狂妄。 23 這一切的惡都是從裡面出來，且能污穢人。」

 

默想：

1. 信主的人成為聖潔，不是因為我們的行為表現良好，而是因為基督更新了我們的心思，並塑造我們成為祂的樣式。任何邪惡的行為都是從一念之差開始的，若我們容讓自己的思想浸淫在慾望、妒忌、憎惡和仇恨裡，至終我們便會犯罪。
2. 操練昨天的「獨處、安靜」，用些時間來歇息安靜，求聖靈光照，檢視自己內心的思念，有什麼需要潔淨的思想、念頭嗎？向神禱告，求祂洗滌我內心的污穢。

 

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。

 

Mark 7

¹⁷After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. ¹⁸“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? ¹⁹For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”)

²⁰He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ ²¹For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. ²³All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”

 

Meditation

1. We are sanctified and become holy not because of our outward behavior, but because Christ has renewed our minds, reformed us in his image.  Any evil behavior begins with an idea.  If we allow our thought life immersed in desires, jealousy, hatred and bitterness, eventually we will sin.
2. Continue the practice of solitude and silence from yesterday.  Take time to rest and to be silent.  Ask the Holy Spirit to examine my inner thoughts.  Is there a need for cleansing?  Pray to God and ask Him to cleanse my inner wickedness.

 

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.

第三章

13 耶穌上了山，隨自己的意思叫人來；他們便來到他那裡。 14 他就設立十二個人，要他們常和自己同在，也要差他們去傳道， 15 並給他們權柄趕鬼。 16 這十二個人有西門（耶穌又給他起名叫彼得）， 17 還有西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰（又給這兩個人起名叫半尼其，就是雷子的意思）， 18 又有安得烈、腓力、巴多羅買、馬太、多馬、亞勒腓的兒子雅各、和達太，並奮銳黨的西門， 19 還有賣耶穌的加略人猶大。

 

默想：

1. 耶穌的十二個門徒當中，我們所熟悉，就是幾位較出名（或惡名昭彰）的門徒，但對於這名單中耶穌所選召的其他幾位門徒，聖經並未多作記載，因此我們對他們也都一無所知。因此，他們雖然與彼得、約翰、雅各一樣，有三年多的時間與耶穌一起，得到耶穌的教導與關愛，同樣奉命出去傳道、醫病、趕鬼，但是他們在聖經中，在教會的歷史中，卻是似乎成了亟亟無名的小卒。
2. 當我在學習成為耶穌門徒的過程中，或會有人邀請我擔任某個受人矚目的工作或崗位；然而，大多數的時候，做主的門徒，就是忠心辦理沒人會不受人留意的小事，只有神才注意的一些基督徒的例行事奉。
3. 在教會中，小組裡，家庭中，或是公司，與親友來往中，我有沒有留意到一些默默無聞的服事者？這個星期找機會向他們表示感激，一個微笑、說一聲謝謝。
4. 我是否願意做一個默默無聞的主的門徒？有什麼服事是不受人注意，但卻是實際的服事？我願意做嗎？告訴主，我的心願，求主幫助我，甘心也安心的在日常生活中，在不為人注意的事上，忠心地作主的門徒。

 

 

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。

 

Mark 3

¹³Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

 

Meditation

1. We know a few of the more famous (and infamous) disciples, but there are many in this list we know nothing about at all.  Though they were also with Jesus for more than three years just as Peter, John and James were.  They also received teachings and care from Jesus, were commanded to preach, heal, and cast out demons. However, they remains to be the unnoticed in the Bible and in the church history.
2. In our own discipleship, we may be asked to do some work or to take a stand that gets noticed by others.  But often discipleship consists of faithfulness in the small, even mundane acts of Christian service perhaps unnoticed by all except God.
3. Am I aware of any unnoticed servers at church, home, the office or any other places? Look for an opportunity to show appreciation, a smile, or a thank you to these people.
4. Am I willing to be an unnoticed disciple of Christ?  Is there any behind-the-scene work that needs to be done?  Am I willing to do it?  Ask the Lord to give me the willingness  to do the not-easily-noticed services faithfully even without people’s recognition or appreciation.

 

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過了些日子，耶穌又進了迦百農。人聽見他在房子裡， 2 就有許多人聚集，甚至連門前都沒有空地；耶穌就對他們講道。 3 有人帶著一個癱子來見耶穌，是用四個人抬來的； 4 因為人多，不得近前，就把耶穌所在的房子，拆了房頂，既拆通了，就把癱子連所躺臥的褥子都縋下來。 5 耶穌見他們的信心，就對癱子說：「小子，你的罪赦了。」 6 有幾個文士坐在那裡，心裡議論，說： 7 「這個人為甚麼這樣說呢？他說僭妄的話了。除了神以外，誰能赦罪呢？」 8 耶穌心中知道他們心裡這樣議論，就說：「你們心裡為甚麼這樣議論呢？ 9 或對癱子說『你的罪赦了』，或說『起來！拿你的褥子行走』；哪一樣容易呢？ 10 但要叫你們知道，人子在地上有赦罪的權柄。」就對癱子說： 11 「我吩咐你，起來！拿你的褥子回家去吧。」 12 那人就起來，立刻拿著褥子，當眾人面前出去了，以致眾人都驚奇，歸榮耀與神，說：「我們從來沒有見過這樣的事！」

默想：

1. 當神呼召我們時，祂不僅要拯救我們，使我們個人的靈命得到塑造；神還要將我們形成一個信仰的群體，使我們彼此支持代求，並且竭力幫助別人也同樣得到神的醫治，獲得健全的人生；這就好像癱子的四位朋友，協力幫助他得著醫治一樣。
2. 禱告：親愛的主，我很羨慕這四位朋友與癱子之間彼此親愛、不計代價地互相支持的關係；我也希望我自己，和我的小組組員們，藉著互相的幫助扶持，使我們都得到主在我們身體上、情感上、靈性上、生活上……的醫治。

 

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。

 

Mark 2

¹A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ²So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. ⁴Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. ⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  ⁶Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  ⁸Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic, ¹¹“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹²He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

 

Meditation

1. God has called us not only to individual spiritual formation, but to be formed into communities of faith too.  We pray for one another and work for the healing and wholeness of others, just as this paralytic’s four friends help him receive the healing he needs.
2. Prayer:  Dear Lord, how I desire the mutual love, care and sacrificial support between this paralytic and his friends.  I hope that there will be similar relationships between me and my cell members so that we may all receive healings in our body, emotion, spiritual life, daily 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第一章

14 約翰下監以後，耶穌來到加利利，宣傳神的福音， 15 說：「日期滿了，神的國近了。你們當悔改，信福音！」 16 耶穌順著加利利的海邊走，看見西門和西門的兄弟安得烈在海裡撒網；他們本是打魚的。 17 耶穌對他們說：「來跟從我，我要叫你們得人如得魚一樣。」 18 他們就立刻捨了網，跟從了他。 19 耶穌稍往前走，又見西庇太的兒子雅各和雅各的兄弟約翰在船上補網。 20 耶穌隨即招呼他們，他們就把父親西庇太和雇工人留在船上，跟從耶穌去了。

 

默想：

1. 耶穌的門徒不是一遇見耶穌便已一步登天成是信心的偉人，他們的信心和對主的委身，跟所有信徒一樣，是逐步塑造而成的。耶穌當時對這四位門徒所作的呼召，他們要經過一段時間才能理解；但不約而同地，他們四人都立刻跟從了耶穌。今天，主耶穌仍在呼召那些對傳福音、跟隨主有同樣緊迫感的門徒，我是否聽到祂的呼聲？
2. 西門、安得烈、雅各和約翰勇於跟從主，不惜捨棄所有的；今天我還有什麼牽制、掛慮，使我不願、也不能跟隨主？
3. 花些時間靜默在主前，思想那些攔阻我跟隨主的牽掛，將它們一一寫下來，並將每一項逐一的告訴主，等候主對我說話。聽見什麼嗎？在這一天中，繼續和主對話，並繼續聆聽，對話，聆聽。。。

 

 

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。

 

 

Mark 1

¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” ¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ¹⁸At once, they left their nets and followed him.  ¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

 

Meditation

1. Jesus’ disciples didn’t become faith giants once they met Jesus.  Their faith and commitment grew step by step, just like all believers.  They didn’t understand Jesus’ calling then but they all responded by following Him immediately.  Jesus is still calling disciples who have the same urgency for spreading the gospel and following Jesus.  Do I hear his calling?
2. Simon, Andrew, James and John left everything that they owned to follow Jesus.  What is it that is holding me from following the Lord?
3. Stay silent before the Lord. Think of the obstacles that are holding me back.  Write them down one by one.  Tell them to the Lord.  Wait and listen to what the Lord is speaking.  Then, continue this conversation with the Lord throughout the day…

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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。

 

第十六章

¹我向你們推薦我們的姊妹非比；她是堅革里教會的執事。²請你們在主裡用合乎聖徒身分的態度去接待她。無論她在甚麼事上有需要，請你們都幫助她；因為她曾經幫助許多人，也幫助了我。保羅問候眾聖徒³問候在基督耶穌裡與我同工的百基拉和亞居拉；⁴他們為了我的性命，置生死於度外，不但我感激他們，連外族的眾教會也感激他們。⁵也問候他們家裡的教會。問候我親愛的以拜尼妥，他是亞西亞省第一個歸入基督的人。⁶問候馬利亞，她為你們多多勞苦。⁷問候曾經與我一同被囚的親族安多尼古和猶尼亞；他們在使徒中是有名望的，也比我先在基督裡。

 

默想

1. 這一章所列出的名單，表現出初期教會中那種溫馨互愛的關係，使得他們更加同心一體。保羅不僅是個神學家，他也是一位朋友。他並不是在數點得救人數，他實在是關心每一位信徒。
2. 讓這個名單提醒我們，在神的眼中，在基督的教會中，每一個人都是重要的，都值得我們認識他的名字。
3. 我認識教會中多少弟兄姐妹的名字？拿出教會的通訊錄，逐一看一遍，遇到不認識的，圈起來，下主日在教會中，開始留意，並認識這些弟兄姐妹。

 

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 16

¹I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. ²I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me. ³Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. ⁴They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. ⁵Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. ⁶Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

 

Meditation

1. The list of names in this chapter displays something of the network of warm and loving relationships which bound the early church together.  Paul was not just a theologian, he was a friend.  He did not just count up converts; he cared for people as individuals.
2. Let this remind us that in the eyes of God and in the church of Jesus, each person is important enough to be known by name.
3. How many people do I know by name at my church?  Bring out the church directory and read it through.  Upon the ones I don’t recognize, make a check mark beside it.  Begin to notice and get to know these brothers and sisters in the church.

 

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.

 

第十五章

¹我們堅強的人，應該擔當不堅強的人的軟弱，不應該求自己的喜悅。²我們各人務要叫鄰舍喜悅，好讓他得到益處、得到造就。³因為連基督也不求自己的喜悅；反而像經上所記的：“辱罵你的人的辱罵，都落在我的身上。”⁴從前經上所寫的，都是為教訓我們而寫的，好使我們藉著忍耐和聖經中的安慰得著盼望。⁵願賜忍耐和安慰的神，使你們彼此同心，效法基督耶穌，⁶同心一致地榮耀我們主耶穌基督的父神。

 

默想

1. 保羅提到我們應當擔當別人的軟弱，用我們的強處，來幫助那些有需要的人。
2. 過去，曾經有過哪些人，以他們的能力與經驗來幫助過我？為他們的幫助來感謝神。
3. 我在那些方面受過訓練、指引、輔導？神賜給我有哪些才能和恩賜？我可以怎樣來幫助別人？最近什麼人有需要，是我可以幫助的？

 

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”簿上面。

 

Chapter 15

¹We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ²Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” ⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, ⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Meditation

1. Paul specifies that we are to help others in areas where we are strong and able in the faith.
2. Recall the people who have stepped in and built me up, even if I don’t remember the specific details.  Thank God for these people.
3. What are some areas in which I have received training, direction, or guidance?  What are some of my natural gifts and strengths?  Who do I know that are in need that I can lend a helping hand?

 

 

 

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.

 

第十四章

⁶守日的人是為主守的，吃的人是為主吃的，因為他感謝神；不吃的人是為主不吃，他也感謝神。⁷我們沒有一個人為自己活，也沒有一個人為自己死。我們若活著，是為主而活；⁸我們若死了，是為主而死。所以，我們無論活著或是死了，總是屬於主的人。⁹為了這緣故，基督死了，又活過來，就是要作死人和活人的主。¹⁰這樣，你為甚麼批評你的弟兄呢？為甚麼又輕看你的弟兄呢？我們都要站在神的審判臺前；¹¹因為經上記著：“主說，我指著我的永生起誓：萬膝必向我跪拜，萬口必稱頌神。”¹²這樣看來，我們各人都要把自己的事向神交代。¹³所以，我們不要再彼此批評了；倒要立定主意，決不作絆倒弟兄或使他跌倒的事。

 

默想

1. 在教會群體中，每個人都是單單憑著神的饒恕和恩典才得以存活，因此在教會中，常常評論自己不喜歡的人和事，是極其粗暴無禮的舉動。所以批評論斷和流言蜚語都會為教會帶來腐蝕敗壞。我們口中所發出的每個論斷之詞，其實都是冒犯了另一位信徒，他也是同蒙基督為他而死的肢體。
2. 我是否曾親眼見過本該彼此相親相愛的教會，卻被信徒之間的論斷批評和流言所毀壞？在這個月中，努力學習多說鼓勵人的話，來建立（而非拆毀）我們教會的群體。

 

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 14

⁶He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. ⁸If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

⁹For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. ¹¹It is written:
” ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.’ ” ¹²So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother’s way.

 

Meditation

1. In the church community, everyone lives entirely on the forgiveness and grace of God.  Therefore, to constantly making comments on what we disapprove of or dislike in one another is outrageous. Criticisms and gossips are detrimental to the church community.  Every judgmental word out of our mouths violates an eternal soul for whom Christ died.
2. Have I seen a fellowship being destroyed by judgmental criticisms and gossip?  Try this month to speak words of encouragement and hope that build community at every possible opportunity.

 

 

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.

 

第十三章

¹政府的權柄，人人都應當服從。因為沒有一樣權柄不是從神來的；掌權的都是神設立的。²所以抗拒掌權的，就是反對神所設立的；反對的人必自招刑罰。³執政的不是要使行善的懼怕，而是要使作惡的懼怕。你想不怕掌權的嗎？只要行善，就會得到稱讚；⁴因為他是神的僕役，是對你有益的。但如果你作惡，就應當懼怕；因為他佩劍，不是沒有作用的。他是神的僕役，是向作惡的人施行刑罰的。⁵所以你們必須服從，不但是為了刑罰，也是因為良心的緣故。⁶因此，你們也當納稅，因為他們是神的差役，專責處理這事的。⁷你們要向各人清還所欠的；應當納稅的，就要給他納稅；應當進貢的，就給他進貢；應當敬畏的，就敬畏他；應當尊敬的，就尊敬他。

 

默想

1. 在這段經文中，保羅訓誡信徒要履行公民的責任，納稅，付賬，敬重長官。究竟我身為這個國家的公民，我對這個國家，以及神的國度，有什麼義務？我能怎樣真實地敬重我的地方長官？
2. 找出我這一區的地方官員（市長、市議員），省長以及本區省議員，總理和本區聯邦議員，為他們每一位提名禱告，求神使用他們，有智慧秉公義來治理這地。

 

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

¹Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ²Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. ⁴For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. ⁶This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. ⁷Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour.

 

Meditation

1. In this passage, Paul commands, “Fulfill your obligations as a citizen.  Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.”  What is my obligation as a citizen to this country and to the kingdom of God?  In what specific ways can I respect my leaders?
2. Find a list of names of my local officials (mayor, city councillor) as well as my MPP and MP.  Pray for each one of them by name.  Pray that God would use them to lead wisely and justly.

 

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.

 

 

 

第十二章

¹所以弟兄們，我憑著神的仁慈勸你們，要把身體獻上，作聖潔而蒙神悅納的活祭；這是你們理所當然的事奉。²不要模仿這個世代，倒要藉著心意的更新而改變過來，使你們可以察驗出甚麼是神的旨意，就是察驗出甚麼是美好的、蒙他悅納的和完全的事。  ³我憑著所賜給我的恩典，對你們各人說，不可自視太高，高於所當看的，反而應該照著神分給各人信心的大小，看得適中。

默想

1. 獻上“活”祭的難處是祭物總想逃離開祭壇。要做到將自己全身全心地——包括思想、語言、行為——獻給神，對我來說有多困難？假設“1”是“十分容易”，“10”是“十分困難”，我的指數會是多少？
2. 在這個星期裡，做一個“活祭”的練習：每當我想到一件我的東西時，就想像自己是躺在祭壇上的祭物，同時在心中將這樣東西獻給神——包括我的思想、言語、行為。思想一下，當我要這麼作時，我有什麽感受？是很興奮地獻上？或是很想跳下祭壇、逃之夭夭？為什麼？

 

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

¹Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

³For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

 

Meditation

1. The problem with a “living” sacrifice is that it always wants to get off the altar.  On a scale of 1 to 10 (“easy” to “hard”), rank the difficulty I think I would have in giving my entire being – thoughts, words, and actions – to God.？
2. As I go about my work this week, I will offer myself each morning as a living sacrifice and as an act of worship. Pray that God will help me not to conform to the pattern of this world but to be transformed. Then, throughout the day, in the words I say, the thoughts I have and my actions, I will seek God’s help to choose according to the pattern and character of Jesus rather than the pattern of this world.
3. What would be my feelings then?  Excited and willing?  Or Wanting to jump off the altar and escape?  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.

 

 

第十一章

²²所以要留意神的恩慈和嚴厲：對跌倒的人，他是嚴厲的；對你，只要你繼續在他的恩慈裡，他是恩慈的；不然的話，你也會被砍下來。²³至於他們（指以色列人），如果不是繼續不信，他們仍然會被接上去，因為神能夠把他們再接上去。²⁴你這從野生的橄欖樹上砍下來的，尚且可以不自然地接在栽種的橄欖樹（比喻神的國）上，那些本來就有的樹枝，不是更能夠接在原來的橄欖樹上嗎？ ²⁵弟兄們，我不願意你們對這奧祕一無所知，免得你們自以為聰明。這奧祕就是以色列人當中有一部分是硬心的，直到外族人的全數滿了；²⁶這樣，全以色列都要得救，如經上所記：“拯救者必從錫安出來，除掉雅各家的不敬虔的心；²⁷我除去他們罪惡的時候，就與他們立這樣的約。”

 

默想

1. 保羅警告外邦基督徒，不可以為自己比猶太人優越。外邦人得以“進入”神的恩典，完全出於神蹟，是神施行奇事，將他們“插枝”在救恩之樹上。原來的枝子（猶太人）雖被折下來，也可再被接上去（23節）。基督徒群體裡，無論是外邦人，或是猶太人，沒有類別之分；我們一樣是蒙神的大能，被接到救恩之樹上的。
2. 在我的教會或以前的經歷中，是否曾經有過基督徒之間，因自大傲慢而帶來爭鬥？我自己有沒有以這種態度來對待不認同我路線的“外人”？
3. 禱告：向神認罪，為那些受到傷害的信徒禱告。並為自己的教會求主保守，不讓這樣的優越感存在弟兄姐妹之間，而引起傷害來。

 

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。

 

Chapter 11

²²Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. ²³And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

²⁵I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.”

 

Meditation

1. How has arrogance between groups of Christians hurt my church experience?  When have I shown this type of attitude to “outsiders”?
2. Pray：Confess that I have acted arrogantly to others.  Pray for those that have been hurt in the conflict.  Pray also for the church that the Lord will guard us against such arrogance and division among members of the church.

 

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.

 

 

第十章

⁸然而那出於信心的義還說甚麼呢？“這話與你相近，在你口裡，也在你心裡。”這話就是我們所傳信心的信息。⁹你若口裡認耶穌為主，心裡信神使他從死人中復活，就必得救；¹⁰因為心裡相信就必稱義，用口承認就必得救。¹¹經上說：“所有信靠他的人，必不致失望。”¹²其實並不分猶太人和希臘人，因為大家同有一位主；他厚待所有求告他的人，¹³因為“凡求告主名的，都必得救。”¹⁴然而，人還沒有信他，怎能求告他呢？沒有聽見他，怎能信他呢？沒有人傳揚，怎能聽見呢？¹⁵如果沒有蒙差遣，怎能傳揚呢？如經上所記：“那些傳美事報喜訊的人，他們的腳蹤多麼美！”

 

默想

1. 既然我已經得救，為什麼我還需要公開地口中承認耶穌是主，並相信神叫祂從死裡復活？
2. 現代宣教之父——威廉克里，在明白了羅10：14-15這類的經文之意義後，就決心回應神的呼召，前往印度宣教。今天，我感到神呼召我去哪裡傳福音？
3. 我應該採取什麼步驟（或是已經採取），來順服神的呼召？

 

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。

 

Chapter10

⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, “that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: ⁹That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. ¹¹As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”¹²For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

 

Meditation

1. Beyond the fact that I am saved, why is it important for me to publicly confess with my lips that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead (vv. 9-13)?
2. Realizing the implications of verses such as Romans 10:14-15, William Carey, the father of modern missions, responded to God’s call and went to India. Where do I feel called to go with the gospel?
3. What steps can I take (or have I taken) to be obedient to that call?

 

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.

 

 

 

第八章

³¹既是這樣，我們對這一切還有甚麼話說呢？神若這樣為我們，誰能敵對我們呢？³²他連自己的兒子都捨得，為我們眾人把他交出來，難道不也把萬有和他一同白白地賜給我們嗎？³³誰能控告神揀選的人呢？有神稱我們為義了。³⁴誰能定我們的罪呢？有基督耶穌死了，而且復活了，現今在神的右邊，也替我們祈求。³⁵誰能使我們與基督的愛隔絕呢？是患難嗎？是困苦嗎？是迫害嗎？是飢餓嗎？是赤身露體嗎？是危險嗎？是刀劍嗎？³⁶正如經上所記：“為你的緣故，我們終日面對死亡，人看我們像待宰的羊。”³⁷但靠著愛我們的那一位，我們在這一切事上就得勝有餘了。³⁸因為我深信：無論是死、是生，是天使、是掌權的，是現在的事，是將來的事，是有能力的，³⁹是高天的、是深淵的，或是任何別的被造之物，都不能叫我們與神的愛隔絕，這愛是在我們的主耶穌基督裡的。

 

默想

1. “患難、困苦、迫害、飢餓、赤身露體、危險、刀劍”，這些遭遇如何會使我們懷疑神對我們的愛？（35-36節）
2. 為什麼保羅雖遇這些遭遇，仍然聲稱我們“在這一切的事上已經得勝有餘了”？（37-39節）
3. 再讀一下38-39節，這兩節強有力的字句，如何幫助我有勇氣堅持下去？

 

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

³¹What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³²He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Meditation

1. How might trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or the threat of death cause us to question God’s love for us (vv. 35-36)?
2. In spite of these things, why does Paul proclaim that we are “more than conquerors” (vv. 37-39)?
3. Look again at the powerful words of verses 38-39. How does this give me courage to persevere?

 

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.

 

 

第七章

¹⁸我知道在我裡面，就是在我肉體之中，沒有良善，因為立志行善由得我，行出來卻由不得我。¹⁹所以我願意行的善，我沒有去行；我不願意作的惡，我倒去作了。²⁰我若作自己不願意作的事，那就不是我作的，而是住在我裡面的罪作的。²¹因此，我發現了一個律，就是我想向善的時候，惡就在我裡面出現。²²按著我裡面的人來說，我是喜歡神的律，²³但我發覺肢體中另有一個律，和我心中的律爭戰，把我擄去附從肢體中的罪律。²⁴我這個人真是苦啊！誰能救我脫離這使我死亡的身體呢？²⁵感謝神，藉著我們的主耶穌基督就能脫離了。可見，一方面我自己心裡服事神的律，另一方面我的肉體卻服事罪的律。

 

默想

1. 我們信主後，仍會遇到許多棘手的問題，依然會有困難、掙扎、失敗、疑惑、絕望和缺乏。 我是否也曾發出像保羅那樣的吶喊：“誰能救我”？
2. 慢慢地讀這段文：

神使用失敗、疾病、崩潰、罪、悲慘事件、憂傷，來塑造祂的百姓成為神有用的僕人。除非他完全依靠神，不再依靠自己，否則他仍是太堅硬而無多大用途的。– Robert C. Girard

3. 禱告

主啊，我承認我是軟弱、冷淡、容易陷入罪中；若是靠自己，我一定是越來越差、越陷愈深。但是，謝謝主耶穌的拯救，以及繼續不斷的拯救，使我有能力來勝過罪惡及引誘。謝謝主的拯救。

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

¹⁸I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²²For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

 

Meditation

1. There is no use looking for a “secret” to the spiritual life that exempts us from trouble and conflict, defeat and doubt, despair and inadequacy.  No doubt we are “at war” (v23).  There are fierce difficulties with the resurrection life.  Have I uttered the cry as Paul did: “Who will rescue me”?
2. Read slowly:

God uses failure, sickness, breakdown, sin, personal tragedy, and sorrow to reduce His people to usefulness.  Unless the servant of God learns to depend utterly on God and to forsake self-dependence of any kind, he or she remains too strong to be of much value.  – Robert C. Girard

3. Prayer

Lord, I come humbly to you and admit that I am weak, cold and easy to fall into sin.  Depending on myself, I will only be worse and sink deeper. Thank you for your salvation and the continued deliverance that I will be able to overcome sin and temptation.  Thank you, Lord.

 

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.

 

 

第六章

¹⁵那卻怎麼樣呢？我們不在律法之下，而在恩典之下，就可以犯罪嗎？絕對不可！¹⁶難道你們不知道你們自願作奴僕去順從人，順從誰就作誰的奴僕，或作罪的奴僕以致於死，或作順從的奴僕以致於義嗎？¹⁷感謝神，你們雖然作過罪的奴僕，現在卻從心裡順從了傳授給你們的教義的規範。¹⁸你們既然從罪裡得了釋放，就作了義的奴僕。¹⁹因為你們肉體的弱點，我就按一般人的話來說，你們從前怎樣把你們的肢體獻給不潔和不法作奴僕，以致於不法，現在也要照樣把你們的肢體獻給義作奴僕，以致於成聖。²⁰你們作罪的奴僕的時候，就不受義的約束。²¹那麼，你們在現今以為羞恥的事上，當時得了甚麼呢？那些事的結局就是死。²²現在你們既然從罪裡得了釋放，作了神的奴僕，就有成聖的果子，那結局就是永生。²³因為罪的工價就是死，但神的恩賞，在我們的主基督耶穌裡，卻是永生。

 

默想

1. 省察自己的內心，有那一個地方仍然未得自由，依然在罪中掙扎的？什麼時候最容易陷入這罪中？這罪會帶來怎樣的快感與舒適？又會帶來怎樣的痛苦與難過？若要放棄這個罪，會有怎樣的損失？
2. 讀這段經文，心中想著這個罪，有什麼心得與感受？我認同“我們不在律法之下，而在恩典之下，就可以犯罪嗎”的論調？我能認同“現在也要照樣把你們的肢體獻給義作奴僕，以致於成聖”的 說法嗎？找出我認同與不認同的原因來。
3. 向神禱告，把心中的掙扎及未能解決的疑難交給主，決心遵行神的命令，並向神要求得到自由。

 

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 6

¹⁵What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! ¹⁶Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. ¹⁸You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

¹⁹I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. ²⁰When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. ²¹What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! ²²But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. ²³For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Meditation

1. Search myself for an area where I don’t walk in freedom but continue to struggle with sin.  When do I easily give in to temptation?  What comfort, relief or pleasure does the sin give me?  What pain or discomfort does it bring?  What do I fear I would lose if I gave up the sin?
2. Read this passage with this specific sin(s) in mind.  Read the passage through my life experience.  Do I identify with “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace”?  What about “now offer (your body) in slavery to righteousness”?  Take time to identify what my do and don’t agree with.
3. Pray and ask God to take over my struggle and unresolved problems.  As I determine to obey God’s command, I will ask God for my freedom.

 

 

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.

 

第五章

¹所以，我們既然因信稱義，就藉著我們的主耶穌基督與神和好；²我們也憑著信，藉著他可以進入現在所站的這恩典中，並且以盼望得享神的榮耀為榮。³不但這樣，我們更以患難為榮；知道患難產生忍耐，⁴忍耐產生毅力，毅力產生盼望；⁵盼望是不會令人蒙羞的，因為神藉著所賜給我們的聖靈，把他的愛澆灌在我們的心裡。⁶當我們還軟弱的時候，基督就照所定的日期，為不敬虔的人死了。⁷為義人死，是少有的；為好人死，或有敢作的；⁸唯有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死，神對我們的愛就在此顯明了。⁹所以，我們現在既然因他的血稱義，就更要藉著他免受神的忿怒。¹⁰我們作仇敵的時候，尚且藉著神兒子的死與他復和，既然復和了，就更要因他的生得救了！¹¹不但這樣，我們現在已經藉著我們的主耶穌基督與神復和，也藉著他以神為榮。

 

默想

1. 當基督徒回頭看，向前看，周圍看，他會看到什麼？“與神和好”。

回頭看：神拯救了我們，使我們與祂和好（10節）；向前看：我們將永遠與神同在（9節）；周圍看：我們正在被神拯救中，耶穌基督現在仍在我心中工作， 賜我能力來過聖潔的生活。我們的過去、現在、將來都因為主耶穌而得到全然的改變。而當我們與神和好時，也帶來我們與自己，與他人的和好。

2. 為這“與人和好”的福音感謝神，求主幫助我常活在“與神、與人和好”的光景中。

 

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 5

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

⁶You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

⁹Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! ¹¹Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

 

Meditation

1. What does a Christian see if he looks back? If he looks ahead?  If he looks around?  Reconciliation.  Looking back, we have been saved and reconciled to God (v10).  Looking ahead, we will stand by God throughout eternity (v9).  Looking around, we are being saved.  Jesus is even now at work within me to give me the power to live a holy life.  Our past, our present and our future are all transformed because of Him.  And when we are reconciled with God, it paves the way for us to be reconciled with ourselves and with others.
2. Thank God for this Reconciliation Gospel.  Pray that God will help me to live always in reconciliation with God, with myself and with others.

 

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.

 

²³因為人人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀，²⁴但他們卻因著神的恩典，藉著在基督耶穌裡的救贖，就白白地稱義。²⁵神設立了耶穌為贖罪祭（“贖罪祭”原文作“蔽罪所”），是憑著他的血，藉著人的信，為的是要顯明神的義；因為神用忍耐的心寬容了人從前所犯的罪，²⁶好在現今顯明他的義，使人知道他自己為義，又稱信耶穌的人為義。²⁷這樣，有甚麼可誇的呢？沒有可誇的了。憑甚麼準則說沒有的呢？憑行為嗎？不是的，而是以信心為準則說的。²⁸因為我們認定，人稱義是由於信，並不是靠行律法。  28因為我們認定，人稱義是由於信，並不是靠行律法。

 

默想：

1. 一群死刑犯，他們都犯了該死的罪，被判了刑，等候神忿怒的刑罰。他們靜默地坐在黝黑的監牢裡，所有的希望都破滅。但是，突然，牢房門打開了，黝黯變為光明，死亡成為生命，捆鎖變為自由。有一個聲音告訴他們：“你們被赦了！”這段經文告訴我們，這就是我們的光景；但是我如何獲赦的？為什麼會這樣呢？
2. 在我的信仰旅程中，我曾經如何經歷過神的恩典？這個經歷對我現在的生活有什麼影響？

 

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

²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

²⁷Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. ²⁸For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

 

Meditation

1. Like prisoners on death row, all people are guilty, condemned and awaiting the execution of God’s wrath. They sit silently in the miserable darkness of their cell, all hope extinguished.  Then abruptly, the door swings open and darkness becomes light, death becomes life, and bondage becomes freedom. “You are pardoned,” a voice tells them.  But how? Why? This passage tells us that this is exactly our situation.  But how did I get pardoned?  Why would it happen?
2. When did the message of God’s grace become real to me?  What impact is it having on my life right now?

 

 

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

 

¹⁷你身為猶太人，倚靠律法，仗著神誇口，¹⁸而且明白他的旨意，又從律法得了教導，能夠辨別甚麼是好的，¹⁹自信是瞎子的嚮導，在黑暗中的人的光，²⁰愚昧人的導師，小孩子的教師，在律法上得了整套的知識和真理；²¹你既然教導別人，難道不教導自己嗎？你傳講不可偷竊，自己卻偷竊嗎？²²你說不可姦淫，自己卻姦淫嗎？你憎惡偶像，自己卻劫掠廟宇嗎？²³你既然以律法誇口，自己卻因犯律法而羞辱神嗎？²⁴正如經上所說的：“神的名，因你們的緣故在列邦中被褻瀆。”²⁵你若遵行律法，割禮固然有益處；但你若是犯律法的，你的割禮就不是割禮了。

 

默想：

1. 這段經文中，保羅指責那些虛偽的猶太人。這些人怎樣看自己、以及他人？ 猶太人自恃在神的約中，他們知道神的旨意，但卻不去遵行。
2. 我最近在什麼時候，什麼情形上，有言行不一的表現？
3. 保羅是否也可能指責我的心口不一，虛有其表？這對我有什麼意義？

 

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

¹⁷Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; ¹⁸if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; ¹⁹if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, ²⁰an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— ²¹you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²²You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? ²³You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? ²⁴As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

 

Meditation

1. In this passage, Paul is pointing his fingers at the hypocritical Jews.  How does this kind of person view self and others? The Jews bragged about their being in God’s covenant.  They knew God’s will and even approved of it.  But the issue is they didn’t do God’s will.
2. When was the last time I said or taught one thing yet acted quite differently?
3. Could Paul also be pointing at me?  How does this realization affect 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.

 

1 基督耶穌的僕人保羅，蒙召作使徒，奉派傳神的福音。 2 這福音是神藉著眾先知在聖經上預先所應許的， 3 就是論到他的兒子我們的主耶穌基督：按肉身說，他是從大衛的後裔生的； 4 按聖潔的靈說，因為從死人中復活，顯明他是大有能力的、神的兒子（“顯明他是大有能力的、神的兒子”或譯：“以大能顯明他是神的兒子”）。

14 無論是希臘人或是未開化的人，聰明的人或是愚笨的人，我都欠他們的債。 15 所以，對我來說，我隨時都願意把福音也傳給你們在羅馬的人。  16 我不以福音為恥；這福音是神的大能，要救所有相信的，先是猶太人，後是希臘人。 17 神的義就是藉著這福音顯明出來，本於信而歸於信，正如經上所記：“義人必因信得生。”

 

默想：

1. 馬丁路德與約翰衛斯理，這兩位教會歷史的巨人，都是透過羅1：17 才真正接受了基督，而重生得救的。通過這一節經文，他兩個人分別了解到，要得到神的公義，讓自己的生命活出神的聖潔，惟有單靠對神的相信，而不能靠人的努力或功德。因著他們兩人的影響，千千萬萬的人都因著他們對神的信心，而得到神的義。
2. 神如何呼召我來接受基督的？接受基督如何改變我的人生目標、以及我對他人的負擔？神是否將什麼福音的使命放在我的心中？我怎樣為這個使命來禱告？我是否採取了什麼行動來回應？

 

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

¹ Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— ² the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures ³ regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life^[a] was a descendant of David, ⁴ and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

 ¹⁴ I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

 

Meditation

1. Martin Luther and John Wesley, two of church history’s towering figures, came to Christ through Romans 1:17.  Through this verse each realized that God’s righteousness is obtained by faith, not by human effort or merit.  Through their influence millions have claimed God’s righteousness, and made it their own “by faith from first to last.”
2. How did God call me to Christ?  How has God’s call changed my goals?  My sense of obligation to others?  To what mission or task do I sense God nudging me?  How is that reflected in my prayers?  My 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.

 

第十三章

¹   這是我第三次到你們那裡去，各樣事情必須憑兩三個證人的口，才能確定。   ²   我第二次到你們那裡去的時候說過，現今不在你們那裡，再預先對那些從前犯了罪的和其餘的人說：我若再來，必不寬容，   ³   因為你們在找基督藉著我說話的憑據。基督對你們不是軟弱的，相反地，在你們身上是有能力的。   ⁴   他因著軟弱被釘死了，卻靠著　神的大能活著。我們在他裡面也是軟弱的，但靠著　神向你們所顯的大能，也必與他一同活著。   ⁵   你們應當察驗自己是不是持守著信仰，也應當考驗自己。難道不曉得基督耶穌是在你們裡面嗎？（除非你們是經不起考驗的人。）   ⁶   我盼望你們曉得，我們不是經不起考驗的人。   ⁷   我們祈求　神，使你們不作甚麼惡事。這並不是要顯明我們是經得起考驗的，而是要你們行善；我們呢，就讓我們作經不起考驗的人好了！   ⁸   我們不能作甚麼事違背真理，只能維護真理。   ⁹   當我們軟弱、你們剛強的時候，我們就歡喜；我們所求的，就是要你們完全。   ¹⁰   因此，我趁著不在你們那裡的時候，把這些話寫給你們，到我來了，就不必憑著主所給我的權柄嚴厲地對待你們。這權柄不是要拆毀你們，而是要建立你們。   ¹¹   最後，弟兄們，你們要喜樂，要完全，要受安慰，要同心，要和睦。這樣，施慈愛賜平安的　神必與你們同在。   ¹²   你們要用聖潔的親嘴彼此問安。   ¹³   眾聖徒都問候你們。   ¹⁴   願主耶穌基督的恩惠，　神的慈愛，聖靈的契通，常與你們眾人同在。

 

默想

1. 哥林多教會是牧者的噩夢，但他們的新生命在裡面燃燒；他們教會的問題又多又難，但他們知道生命正被塑造中。雖然保羅和他們曾有惡言相對，保羅仍稱他們為朋友，并鼓勵他們要喜樂，為他們祝福。這表明我們在教會中，雖有強烈的 爭論，我們仍然是弟兄姐妹，是好朋友，可以繼續鼓勵，彼此祝福。
2. 我的教會又怎樣呢？我是否能與某位弟兄姐妹保持良好的友誼關係，就算是我們在一些事上有不同的意見？為萬民堂禱告，求主是我們教會的弟兄姐妹都是滿有神的愛與能力的信徒。

 

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

¹This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” ²I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, ³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. ¹⁰This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

¹¹Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³All the saints send their greetings.

¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

MEDITATION

1. The church at Corinth was a pastor’s nightmare, but their new life was ablaze in them.  Their problems are many and serious.  But, they knew that their lives were being shaped for some grand and eternal purpose.  In spite of some hard words exchanged between Paul and them, he called them “friends” and encouraged them to “keep their spirits up” (v11).  And he wished them the best by blessing them(v14).  This demonstrates that even though we can have strong disagreements within the body of Christ, we can still be friends, still encourage one another, still hope the best for each other.
2. What about my church?  Can I still keep friendship with someone at church even though we hold different opinions?  Pray for our church that it will be filled with people who are true reflections of God’s love and 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.

第十二章

1誇口固然無益，卻也是必要的。現在我要說說主的異象和啟示。2我認識一個在基督裡的人，他十四年前被提到第三層天上去。（是帶著身體被提的呢？我不知道，是離開了身體呢？我也不知道，只有神知道。）3我認識這個人，（是帶著身體被提，還是在身體以外被提，我都不知道，只有神知道。）4他被提到樂園裡去，聽見了難以言喻的話，那是人不可以說的。5為了這個人，我要誇口，但為了我自己，除了我的軟弱以外，我沒有可誇的。6即使我想誇口，也不算愚妄，因為我要說的是真話。但我閉口不提，免得有人把我看得太高，過於他在我身上所見所聞的。7又因為我所得的啟示太大，恐怕會高抬自己，所以就有一根刺加在我的身上，就是撒但的差役來攻擊我，免得我高抬自己。8為了這事，我曾經三次求主，使這根刺離開我。9他卻對我說：「我的恩典是夠你用的，因為我的能力在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」所以，我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好讓基督的能力臨到我的身上。10因此，我為基督的緣故，就以軟弱、凌辱、艱難、迫害、困苦為喜樂，因為我甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就剛強了。

 

默想

1. 當我們告訴別人，神會保證祂的兒女在今世出人頭地；或是告訴有病的人，只要有足夠的信心，就必得痊愈；我們實在是在誤導人，而且我們在生活中也知道這並不真實。保羅為自己的疾病多次充滿信心的祈求，但從神來的答案卻是否定的。經過一段時間，他了解到，原來這個讓他痛苦的疾病，才是神的禮物；讓他能經歷神的恩典、同在、能力，是他原來根本不可能經歷到的。當災害悲劇發生時，我們需要告訴人，也要提醒自己，當我們尋求祂的力量時，我們與神的關係才會更加親密，並且得到能力，使我們的軟弱變成得勝的凱歌。
2. 我有沒有體驗過第9節所說的：「我的恩典是夠你用的，因為我的能力在人的軟弱上顯得完全。」？我的軟弱是什麼？我有沒有得到神的禮物？這禮物怎樣幫助我體驗神的能力和恩典？

 

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

¹I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. ³And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— ⁴was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. ⁵I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

⁷To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

MEDITATION

1. When we tell people that God guarantees his children health and wealth in this life, or if they only have enough faith, they’ll be healed, that’s not true.  Paul prayed with total confidence, only to learn that the answer was no.  He learned in time that the weakness which devastated him was truly a gift from God.  A gift that enabled him to experience God’s grace, presence, and power, in ways he would never have experienced them otherwise.  So, when tragedy strikes and disaster comes, God will give his own strange gifts as we grow in our dependence on him.  As we seek His strength, we’ll discover a depth to our relationship with the Lord that we would otherwise never have known.  And a strength that makes weakness a triumph and a joy.
2. What is my weakness?  Have I received God’s gift?  How does this gift help me experience God’s power and grace?

 

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.