Category: 260靈修

第四章
1 顯我為義的神啊，我呼籲的時候，求你應允我！我在困苦中，
你曾使我寬廣；現在求你憐恤我，聽我的禱告。
2 你們這上流人哪，你們將我的尊榮變為羞辱要到幾時呢？你們
喜愛虛妄、尋找虛假要到幾時呢？
3 你們要知道，耶和華已經分別虔誠人歸他自己。我求告耶和華，
他必聽我。
4 你們應當畏懼，不可犯罪；在床上的時候，要心裡思想，並要肅靜。
5 當獻上公義的祭，又當倚靠耶和華。
6 有許多人說：“誰能指示我們甚麼好處？”耶和華啊，求你仰
起臉來，光照我們！
7 你使我心裡快樂，勝過那豐收五穀新酒的人。
8 我必安然躺下睡覺，因為獨有你耶和華使我安然居住。

默想：
1.大衛的跟從者在面對周圍的困難時，沮喪氣餒了。但是大衛卻
抬頭仰望，因為知道神的臉定要轉向他，他因而得到喜樂。神
向人“仰臉”的意思是神眷顧這個人，並定意要幫助他。

2.再多讀幾遍這段經文，同時心中思考：我最大的憂慮是什麼？
我所信靠的是什麼？

3.背熟7-8節。每一個晚上，臨上床前，背讀這兩節經文，作為
對神的感恩禱告，並學習喜樂地將你一切的憂慮及重擔交託給
神，安穩地在神的豐富與保護中入眠。

 

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。

 

Chapter4
1 Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
3 Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous and trust in the LORD.
6 Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
7 Fill my heart with joy when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me
dwell in safety.

Meditation
1. David’s followers looked at surrounding troubles, and despaired.
David, however, looked up and found a source of joy in the knowledge
that God’s face was turned toward him. The image of God’s
face “shining on” a person means to look with favour; to look with
the intent to do good for them.

2. Read this psalm a couple more times, asking: What is my biggest
source of stress? Where lies my confidence?

3. Memorize vv7-8. Tonight and every night before going to bed, recite
this passage as a thanksgiving to God. Learn to let go all your
worries and burdens joyfully at the end of the day and rest in God’s
abundant and protective care.

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
1 耶和華啊，我的敵人何其加增！有許多人起來攻擊我；
2 有許多人議論我說：“他得不著神的幫助。”
3 但你耶和華是我四圍的盾牌，是我的榮耀，又是叫我抬起頭來的。
4 我用我的聲音求告耶和華，他就從他的聖山上應允我。
5 我躺下睡覺，我醒著，耶和華都保佑我。
6 雖有成萬的百姓來周圍攻擊我，我也不怕。
7 耶和華啊，求你起來！我的神啊，求你救我！因為你打了我一
切仇敵的腮骨，敲碎了惡人的牙齒。
8 救恩屬乎耶和華，願你賜福給你的百姓。

 

默想：
1.詩人大衛當時面對眾叛親離，甚至他的敵人也認為神都離棄大
衛了。當事事都出錯時，我們很容易懷疑神的同在；這就會帶
來焦慮、失眠，甚至使我們無法有效地工作。

 

2.但是,此時大衛卻決意專注在神的身上，思想神的本性與祂的
作為。大衛認識神是他的盾牌（保護者），是他的榮耀（極有
價值），並使他抬起頭來（力量的源頭）。大衛回顧神過去在
他生命中的工作，因此他能夠即使在面對背叛與沮喪之時，仍
然憑信心向神禱告。

 

3.在遇到挫折、意外、苦難時，試著不去往灰心、喪志的路上
走，卻刻意回想神過去在你生命中所作的事，一一的數算出
來，會有怎樣不同的果效？

 

4.重覆讀幾次這首詩，或是唱下面這首詩歌，作為我對神的讚美及禱告：
“耶和華你是我的神” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJQl
OeKhwfA&feature=related

 

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
1 LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him. ”
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
7 Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your
people.

 

Meditation
1. David was faced with the fact that many who have rebelled against him
seemed to think that God had abandoned him. When everything seems to
be going wrong, it’s easy for us to wonder if God were still with us or not.
Such experiences cause stress, rob us of sleep, and frequently make us so
anxious that we become ineffective.

 

2. Yet, David chose to focus his thoughts on God, and to remember who God
is. David had known God as a shield (protector), and his glory (greatest value),
as one who lifted up his head (source of strength). David remembered
who God had proved himself to be in his life, and he was able to pray to God
with confidence, even in the face of opposition and stress.

 

3. When faced with frustration, accidents, troubles, try not to go on the path of
despair and gloom. Instead, recall the things God has done in your life, count
them out one by one. What different results these two ways bring out?

 

4. Read this psalm a couple of more times or sing along with this psalm as a
praise and prayer to God: “Thou art a shield for me” http://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=ZJQlOeKhwfA&feature=related

 

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 外邦為甚麼爭鬧？萬民為甚麼謀算虛妄的事？
2 世上的君王一齊起來，臣宰一同商議，要敵擋耶和華並他的受膏者，
3 說：“我們要掙開他們的捆綁，脫去他們的繩索。”
4 那坐在天上的必發笑；主必嗤笑他們。
5 那時，他要在怒中責備他們，在烈怒中驚嚇他們，
6 說：“我已經立我的君在錫安我的聖山上了。”
7 受膏者說，我要傳聖旨：耶和華曾對我說：“你是我的兒子，我今日生你。
8 你求我，我就將列國賜你為基業，將地極賜你為田產。
9 你必用鐵杖打破他們，你必將他們如同窯匠的瓦器摔碎。”
10 現在，你們君王應當省悟；你們世上的審判官該受管教！
11 當存畏懼事奉耶和華，又當存戰兢而快樂。
12 當以嘴親子，恐怕他發怒，你們便在道中滅亡，因為他的怒氣
快要發作。凡投靠他的，都是有福的。

 

默想：
1.這篇詩繼續第一篇的主題，就是我們在生命旅途上可以作的兩
個選擇，並邀請我們作明智的選擇：義人思念如何遵行神的道
路，惡人卻思想如何背抗神的主權及旨意。

 

2.我們常常會嘲笑一些荒繆的事，但是當我們揮動著無力的雙
拳，心中盤算如何頂撞神時，有什麼比這事更可笑的？事實
上，神的旨意是最奇妙的，祂的權威是無以比擬的！

 

3.在我的生活中，我在哪些方面需要面對這樣的抉擇：或是選擇
事奉神以得福；或是抗拒神到底，最終因神的震怒而消滅（
10-12節）？求神幫助我正確地選擇事奉祂，並一心跟隨祂到底。

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。

 

Chapter2
1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. ”
7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces
like pottery. ”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your de
struction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who
take refuge in him.

Meditation
1. This psalm continues the theme of two ways that we can choose to
journey in life and inviting us to make a wise choice: the righteous
think about how to follow God’s ways while the others think about
how to rebel against God’s authority and purposes.

 

2. We often laugh at the absurd, and what could be more absurd than
waving our fists and plotting against God, whose purposes are wonderful
and whose authority is unrivaled? How silly can we get?

 

3. In what specific ways do I face the decision to choose between
serving the Lord, and resisting God to the end and be destroyed
in His wrath? What’s my choice? Ask God to help me choose to
serve Him and follow Him to the end.

 

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.

詩篇第一卷
第一篇
1 不從惡人的計謀，不站罪人的道路，不坐褻慢人的座位。
2 惟喜愛耶和華的律法，晝夜思想，這人便為有福！
3 他要像一棵樹栽在溪水旁，按時候結果子，葉子也不枯乾。
凡他所做的盡都順利。
4 惡人並不是這樣，乃像糠秕被風吹散。
5 因此當審判的時候，惡人必站立不住；罪人在義人的會中也是如此。
6 因為耶和華知道義人的道路，惡人的道路卻必滅亡。

默想：
1.這篇詩篇向我們挑戰，要在義人的路和惡人的路之間做選擇。
根據本篇詩，這兩者之間，有什麼分別？

 

2.一個喜愛神的話語（耶和華的律法）的人，怎樣會像一棵栽在
溪水旁的樹？要使我的生命像按時結果子的樹，那會是怎樣的生命？

 

3.今天，花些找時間走到戶外，找一棵健壯的樹。花幾分鐘來看
這棵樹，它的樹幹、它的葉子、它的根。然後向神禱告，求主
引領，使我能夠經常開花，並結果實。求主讓我的根向下延
展，直到深植在神話語的豐富土壤中。

 

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。

 

Psalms 1

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

 

Meditation:
1.This psalm challenges us to make a choice between the way of the
righteous and the way of the wicked. What are the differences between
these two in this psalm?

 

2.How is the person who delights in God’s word like the tree planted
by streams of water? What would my life look like if it were “bearing
fruit” in season?

 

3.Today, go outside and find a healthy-looking tree. Spend a few
moments look at the tree, its trunk, the leaves, the roots. Ask God
to guide me in a way that I will always be in blossom and bearing
fruits. Pray that my roots will go down deep and be rooted in the
healthy soil of God’s word.

 

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.

第二十二章

12 「看哪，我必快來！賞罰在我，要照各人所行的報應他。 13 我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是首先的，我是末後的；我是初，我是終。」 14 那些洗淨自己衣服的有福了！可得權柄能到生命樹那裏，也能從門進城。 15 城外有那些犬類、行邪術的、淫亂的、殺人的、拜偶像的，並一切喜好說謊言、編造虛謊的。 16 「我─耶穌差遣我的使者為眾教會將這些事向你們證明。我是大衛的根，又是他的後裔。我是明亮的晨星。」 17 聖靈和新婦都說：「來！」聽見的人也該說：「來！」口渴的人也當來；願意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝。

18 我向一切聽見這書上預言的作見證，若有人在這預言上加添甚麼，神必將寫在這書上的災禍加在他身上； 19 這書上的預言，若有人刪去甚麼，神必從這書上所寫的生命樹和聖城刪去他的分。 20 證明這事的說：「是了，我必快來！」阿們！主耶穌啊，我願你來！ 21 願主耶穌的恩惠常與眾聖徒同在。阿們！

 

默想：

1. 「『來！』口渴的人也當來；願意的，都可以白白取生命的水喝」（17節）。這是多麼美好的邀請，讓心靈乾渴的可以進入永恒的國度。我是否已接受這個邀請？在得到滋潤後，我有沒有帶領其他疲乏、乾渴的人來到這個生命水的泉源？
2. 基督徒的禱告：「Maranatha! 阿們！主耶穌啊，我願你來！」（20節）當我們不斷地以此作禱告，我們對未來的焦慮與恐懼就會消失，取而代之的，是像熱切期盼的孩童，充滿興奮與盼望。有這樣的盼望如何影響我對物質財富及世界享樂的看法？這又如何影響我的人生目標？
3. 禱告：用「Maranatha! 阿們！主耶穌啊，我願你來！」來向主禱告，以真誠、期盼的心來對主說，也以真期盼的心，等候主對我說話。

 

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。

 

Chapter 22

¹²“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.  ¹⁴“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. ¹⁵Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.  ¹⁶“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”  ¹⁷The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.  ¹⁸I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. ¹⁹And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.

²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”       Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.  ²¹The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

 

Meditation

1. “Come! All who will, come and drink; drink freely of the Water of Life.” (v. 17) What a marvellous invitation to those who become thirsty in their journey to that eternal kingdom! Are you heeding this invitation?  After my thirst has been quenched, am I leading those who are weary and thirsty to this fountain of living water?
2. As Christians, we pray: Maranatha! “Yes! Come, Lord Jesus.” (v. 20). As often as pray this prayer, we will no longer face the future with anxiety and fear, but rather as eager children, full of excitement and hope.  How does this hope affect my attitude toward the material wealth and pleasure of this world?  How does this hope affect my life goals?
3. Pray: Use this prayer “Yes! Come, Lord Jesus” as my prayer to converse with the Lord in sincerity and expectation.  Also wait in sincerity and expectation for His speaking back to 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第二十一章

1 我又看見一個新天新地；因為先前的天地已經過去了，海也不再有了。2 我又看見聖城新耶路撒冷由神那裏從天而降，預備好了，就如新婦妝飾整齊，等候丈夫。3 我聽見有大聲音從寶座出來說：「看哪，神的帳幕在人間。他要與人同住，他們要作他的子民。神要親自與他們同在，作他們的神。4 神要擦去他們一切的眼淚；不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭號、疼痛，因為以前的事都過去了。」5 坐寶座的說：「看哪，我將一切都更新了！」又說：「你要寫上；因這些話是可信的，是真實的。」6 他又對我說：「都成了！我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛；我是初，我是終。我要將生命泉的水白白賜給那口渴的人喝。7 得勝的，必承受這些為業：我要作他的神，他要作我的兒子。8 惟有膽怯的、不信的、可憎的、殺人的、淫亂的、行邪術的、拜偶像的，和一切說謊話的，他們的分就在燒著硫磺的火湖裏；這是第二次的死。」

默想：

1. 閉上眼睛，想像新耶路撒冷的景象，驚嘆它的榮耀華美，就算我仍覺得難以相信，憑信心感謝神的應許。求神幫助我的信心。
2. 慢慢地讀下面這首翻譯的詩歌歌詞，體會並感受主再來的奇妙、能力、盼望。當知道有個地方「不用日月光照；因有神的榮耀光照，又有羔羊為城的燈」（23節）為我預備的，我對將來的盼望會有怎樣的改變？

永恒的主題：天地都要廢去，這不是夢想，神將在那日使萬事更新。使我失足跌倒的咒詛已不再有，邪惡被逐至永恒的地獄。不再有夜晚，不再有痛苦，不再有眼淚，也不再哭泣。讚美那位偉大的“自有永有”,我們將活在復活羔羊的光中。

環望周圍，萬國都跪下歌頌，唯一的響聲就是對基督—我們君王的稱頌。緩慢地，生命冊上的名字一個個被讀出來，我認識君王，所以不需害怕。不再有夜晚，不再有痛苦，不再有眼淚，也不再哭泣。讚美那位偉大的“自有永有”，我們將活在復活羔羊的光中。

你看那邊，有棟房子，喔，是為我預備的，我將在那兒與我的救主永遠同在。不再有夜晚，不再有痛苦，不再有眼淚，也不再哭泣。讚美那位偉大的“自有永有”，我們將活在復活羔羊的光中。讚美那位偉大的“自有永有”，我們將活在復活羔羊的光中。

（不再有夜晚No More Night」 Words & music by Walt Harrah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vX3HHtytDo&feature=related）

 

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 21

¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

⁶He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. ⁷He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. ⁸But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Meditation

1. Close eyes and visualize the glories of the New Jerusalem.  Marvel at it as you thank God for the promise. Even if I still struggle to believe, ask God to help me hope in it.
2. Read slowly the lyrics of this song.  Try to feel the wonder, power and hope of Christ’s second coming.  What might be different in me (even if it’s just the tiniest shift in perspective), knowing that a place “the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (v23) waits for me?

The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away.  It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day.  Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell.  Evil is banished to eternal hell.  No more night. No more pain.  No more tears.   Never crying again. And praises to the great “I AM.”  We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See all around,now the nations bow down to sing.  The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King. Slowly the names from the book are read.   I know the King, so there’s no need to dread.  No more night.   No more pain.  No more tears.   Never crying again.  And praises to the great “I AM.”  We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

See over there, there’s a mansion, oh, that’s prepared just for me,  Where I will live with my savior eternally.No more night.   No more pain.  No more tears.   Never crying again. And praises to the great “I AM.”  We will live in the light of the risen Lamb.

  (No More Night, Words & music by Walt Harrah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vX3HHtytDo&feature=related)

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.

第二十章

11 我又看見一個白色的大寶座與坐在上面的；從他面前天地都逃避，再無可見之處了。12 我又看見死了的人，無論大小，都站在寶座前。案卷展開了，並且另有一卷展開，就是生命冊。死了的人都憑著這些案卷所記載的，照他們所行的受審判。13 於是海交出其中的死人；死亡和陰間也交出其中的死人；他們都照各人所行的受審判。14 死亡和陰間也被扔在火湖裏；這火湖就是第二次的死。15 若有人名字沒記在生命冊上，他就被扔在火湖裏。

 

默想：

1. 聖經裡有很多關於永遠刑罰的形像描繪，但最常出現的就是一個又大、又黑，燃燒的硫磺火湖。耶穌提到一個「外面、黑暗」的地方，在那裡的人「必要哀哭切齒」（太25：30）。
2. 新舊約聖經，都有提到一本書，其中凡事認識神、愛神的人的名字，都會記錄在其中。這就是生命冊。凡是名字在生命冊上的，就有永生，不在上面的，就是永死；是天堂的永生，而不是火湖裡無止盡的痛苦。
3. 這個審判的景觀提醒我們神的公義和正直，但同時也帶來傳福音與領人歸主的緊迫性。試想我們所愛的家人朋友將與我們永遠隔離，我們何等應當屈膝主前，為他們的得救來懇求？
4. 寫下我家中、親戚朋友當中，還沒有信主的人的名字；懇求聖靈在禱告中，將兩、三位的名字擺在我的心中。今天起，用三個月的時間，每天忠實、懇切地為他們禱告。

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「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 20

¹¹Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. ¹²And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. ¹³The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. ¹⁴Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. ¹⁵If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

Meditation

1. There are many images of eternal punishment in Scripture.  But the one that recurs most often is that of a vast, dark, and smoldering pool of burning sulfur.  Jesus spoke of a place of “darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt 25:30).
2. Both Old and New Testaments speak of a book in which a record of those who know and love God is maintained.  It is the Book of Life.  Being found in the book is the difference between eternal life and eternal death.  Between eternal life in heaven, and unending existence in the lake of fire.
3. This Judgment scene reminds us of God’s righteousness and justice.  It also brings a sense of urgency in the proclamation of the Gospel and the evangelization of our kinsmen. Imagine that our love ones will be separated from us in eternity.  How much more should we be on our knees to beseech the Lord for their salvation?
4. Write down the names of those among my family and friends who still do not know Jesus? Ask the Holy Spirit to bring up two or three of them in my mind. Begin to pray for them earnestly and faithfully daily for the next three months starting today!

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十九章

5 有聲音從寶座出來說：神的眾僕人哪，凡敬畏他的，無論大小，都要讚美我們的神！6 我聽見好像群眾的聲音，眾水的聲音，大雷的聲音，說：哈利路亞！因為主─我們的神、全能者作王了。7 我們要歡喜快樂，將榮耀歸給他。因為，羔羊婚娶的時候到了；新婦也自己預備好了，8 就蒙恩得穿光明潔白的細麻衣。（這細麻衣就是聖徒所行的義。）9 天使吩咐我說：「你要寫上：凡被請赴羔羊之婚筵的有福了！」又對我說：「這是神真實的話。」10 我就俯伏在他腳前要拜他。他說：「千萬不可！我和你，並你那些為耶穌作見證的弟兄同是作僕人的，你要敬拜神。」因為預言中的靈意乃是為耶穌作見證。

默想：

1. 此處，場景再次回到天上，在那裡巴比倫的毀滅使得眾人頌讚歡喜，神在掌權，眾聖徒殷切等候羔羊的婚宴。
2. 這裡的符號意義非常強烈。舊約裡，神被視為以色列的丈夫；在新約裡，基督是新郎，教會是祂揀選的新婦。聖經時代的婚宴是興高采烈的慶祝；現在巴比倫已被毀，新郎與新婦終於可以享受婚禮的宴席，在永恒裡，我們終將與神合而為一，直到永遠。
3. 在期待著這個宇宙的大歡慶，我會怎樣裝扮自己，預備參加？主再來的時候將到，我是否能以聖潔為衣，從容出席？我如何參與這項預備工夫？

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 19

⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying:
“Praise our God,  all you his servants,  you who fear him, both small and great!”

⁶Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  ⁷Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come,  and his bride has made herself ready.  ⁸Fine linen, bright and clean,  was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

⁹Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

¹⁰At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

 

Meditation

1. The scene again shifts to heaven.  There the fall of Babylon is a cause for rejoicing.  God now reigns.  And all the saints will celebrate at the wedding supper of the Lamb.
2. The symbolism here is powerful.  In the Old Testament God is pictured as the husband of Israel.  In the New Testament, Christ is the Bridegroom, the church his chosen bride.  In biblical times, the joining of the betrothed occasioned a week-long celebration.  So it is with us.  At last Bridegroom and bride sit down together at the wedding banquet.  For all eternity ahead life will be new.  And we will be one with God forever.
3. How do I prepare myself to participate in this much anticipated universal celebration?  The Lord’s coming is fast approaching.  Will I be clothed in holiness and purity to go?  How do I participate in the preparation?

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十八章

1 此後，我看見另有一位有大權柄的天使從天降下，地就因他的榮耀發光。2 他大聲喊著說：巴比倫大城傾倒了！傾倒了！成了鬼魔的住處和各樣污穢之靈的巢穴（或譯：牢獄；下同），並各樣污穢可憎之雀鳥的巢穴。3 因為列國都被她邪淫大怒的酒傾倒了。地上的君王與她行淫；地上的客商因她奢華太過就發了財。

4 我又聽見從天上有聲音說：我的民哪，你們要從那城出來，免得與她一同有罪，受她所受的災殃；5 因她的罪惡滔天；她的不義，神已經想起來了。6 她怎樣待人，也要怎樣待她，按她所行的加倍地報應她；用她調酒的杯加倍地調給她喝。7 她怎樣榮耀自己，怎樣奢華，也當叫她照樣痛苦悲哀，因她心裏說：我坐了皇后的位，並不是寡婦，決不至於悲哀。8 所以在一天之內，她的災殃要一齊來到，就是死亡、悲哀、饑荒。她又要被火燒盡了，因為審判她的主神大有能力。

 

默想：

1. 這首詩是有關巴比倫，大淫婦的滅亡。第一段的詩指出，巴比倫是個魔鬼很舒服的地方，因為那裡面的價值觀與神的價值背道而馳。
2. 這首詩的第二段指出，世人所享受的權利與奢華會摧毀屬靈生命。神賜給了我們各樣的事物來享受，但沒有一事比愛神，以及愛鄰舍更重要。巴比倫被定罪，是因他們太過珍惜物質財富，甚至在所不惜一切來獲得。
3. 思想這句呼喚：「出來吧！我的子民，要從那城出來，免得在她的罪上有分，」（ 4節，新譯本）。這是今天神對我的柔聲地呼喚呢？還是祂在向我大聲地疾呼？是要從什麼事情中出來？
4. 禱告，求聖靈照亮我心中的所有黑暗之處，讓我明白，並且願意順從地聽主的招喚，從那些事情中「出來吧！我的子民」。

 

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 18 

¹After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ²With a mighty voice he shouted:
   “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.  ³For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

⁴Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
   “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; ⁵for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.  ⁶Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. ⁷Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.  In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’  ⁸Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:  death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

 

Meditation

1. This song is about the destruction of Babylon, the Prostitute.  Babylon is a place where demons feel comfortable, because the values expressed in the society Babylon represents are at such odds with the values of our God.
2. The second part points out that power and luxuries enjoyed by the people of this world are devastating to the spiritual life.  God has given us all things richly to enjoy.  But nothing must become more important to us than loving God and loving our neighbour.  Babylon is condemned because her people value material possession so much that they willingly commit crimes against their fellow human being.
3. Meditate on this, “Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don’t get mixed up in her sins …” (v. 4). Is God whispering this to me today?  Or is He shouting at me?  Where does He want me to get out of?
4. Pray, ask the Holy Spirit to shine in every dark corner in my life and help me see and be willing to obey.

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十七章

1 拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位前來對我說：「你到這裏來，我將坐在眾水上的大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看。2 地上的君王與她行淫，住在地上的人喝醉了她淫亂的酒。」3 我被聖靈感動，天使帶我到曠野去，我就看見一個女人騎在朱紅色的獸上；那獸有七頭十角，遍體有褻瀆的名號。4 那女人穿著紫色和朱紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾；手拿金杯，杯中盛滿了可憎之物，就是她淫亂的污穢。5 在她額上有名寫著說：「奧祕哉！大巴比倫，作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」6 我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。我看見她，就大大地希奇。……

12 你所看見的那十角就是十王；他們還沒有得國，但他們一時之間要和獸同得權柄，與王一樣。13 他們同心合意將自己的能力、權柄給那獸。14 他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選、有忠心的，也必得勝。」

 

默想：

1. 七碗的審判終結出現了一位大淫婦，這淫婦代表屬靈的不貞，象徵歷世歷代以來，將自己出賣給撒但勢力的個人或是組織和機構，它們背棄永活的真神，幹這種勾當，就是為了擁有特權，獲得財富，享受世上的榮華富貴。
2. 其實，我是否也很容易跟隨其他的「假神」，被誘導去崇拜「偶像」。不見得是實際的偶像，但有哪些偶像、有哪些試探，會將基督徒牽制住、不去跟從神？
3. 思想：目前我所面對的試探是什麼？我的偶像是什麼？我如何能保守對主「從一而終」，而不至「晚節不保」？安靜坐在主前，向主禱告，祈求主的保守。

 

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 17

¹One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. ⁵This title was written on her forehead:  Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth. ⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.… …

¹²“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

 

Meditation

1. The judgment scene comes to an end with the portrayal of the Great Prostitute.  Although Prostitute is a sexual image, here it is about spiritual infidelity.  This figure embodies those people and institutions that, across the ages, have betrayed the living God and sold themselves to Satan’s forces, doing their bidding in order to enjoy privilege and riches.
2. In fact, we, too, also quickly follow other gods. We are so easily seduced into idolatry of one kind or the other. What are some the temptations that would draw Christians from God?
3. Think: What are the temptations that I face today? What can help me to remain faithful to the very end to “FINISH WELL”? Sit quietly before the Lord and pray for His protection and empowerment.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十六章

1 我聽見有大聲音從殿中出來，向那七位天使說：「你們去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上。」2 第一位天使便去，把碗倒在地上，就有惡而且毒的瘡生在那些有獸印記、拜獸像的人身上。3 第二位天使把碗倒在海裏，海就變成血，好像死人的血，海中的活物都死了。4 第三位天使把碗倒在江河與眾水的泉源裏，水就變成血了。5 我聽見掌管眾水的天使說：昔在、今在的聖者啊，你這樣判斷是公義的；6 他們曾流聖徒與先知的血，現在你給他們血喝；這是他們所該受的。7 我又聽見祭壇中有聲音說：是的，主神─全能者啊，你的判斷義哉！誠哉！8 第四位天使把碗倒在日頭上，叫日頭能用火烤人。9 人被大熱所烤，就褻瀆那有權掌管這些災的神之名，並不悔改將榮耀歸給神。

 

默想：

1. 在這一景中，七位天使離開天上，要將盛滿神大怒的七碗傾倒在地上。這七碗，與七號相似，也讓人聯想起埃及的十災。這想法更加使約翰強調崇拜的重要，因為十災的降下並非因埃及人特別邪惡，而是因為他們定意阻止以色列人去敬拜神。
2. 有人曾這麼說，「信徒從外界遭受的最大邪惡，就是對敬拜的阻擋；而他們所面對內在的最大邪惡，就是對敬拜的漠視」。我明白這說法的含意嗎？今天，教會應當如何與這種勢力來抗衡？
3. 對於我自己，現代社會中有什麼勢力會對我有這樣的影響——或是阻擋我對神的敬拜，或是腐化我對敬拜的重視？我是否曾經因為我的行為或態度，攔阻了別人對神的敬拜？我應當如何悔改？並重整我的敬拜生活？

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。

 

Chapter 16

¹Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” ²The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.  ³The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.  ⁴The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:    “You are just in these judgments,   you who are and who were, the Holy One,       because you have so judged;  ⁶for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,  and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”  ⁷And I heard the altar respond:  “Yes, Lord God Almighty,  true and just are your judgments.”  ⁸The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. ⁹They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

 

Meditation

1. In this scene, the seven angels leave heaven to pour out their bowls filled with God’s wrath. The seven bowls, similar to the seven trumpets, are reminiscent of the judgments plagues in Egypt.  This reinforces John’s emphasis on worship because the ten plagues on the Egyptians not because they were extraordinarily evil but for their determination to prevent Israel from worshipping God.
2. It has been said, “The greatest evil that people of faith face from the outside is the obstruction of worship.  The greatest evil that they face from the inside is the subversion of worship.”  Can I identify some these forces in our contemporary society? How should the church counteract these external and internal forces?
3. Have I noticed such forces in me – either hindering my worship of God or corrupt my sense of significance of worship? Have I ever hindered others from worshipping God by my behaviours or attitudes? How do I need to repent, and claim victory in Christ?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十五章

1 我又看見在天上有異象，大而且奇，就是七位天使掌管末了的七災，因為神的大怒在這七災中發盡了。2 我看見彷彿有玻璃海，其中有火攙雜。又看見那些勝了獸和獸的像並牠名字數目的人，都站在玻璃海上，拿著神的琴，3 唱神僕人摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，說：主神─全能者啊，你的作為大哉！奇哉！萬世之王啊，你的道途義哉！誠哉！4 主啊，誰敢不敬畏你，不將榮耀歸與你的名呢？因為獨有你是聖的。萬民都要來在你面前敬拜，因你公義的作為已經顯出來了。

默想：

1. 在蠻橫混亂的世界，我們經常會迷失方向，敬拜使我們重新定位，擺正方向。在我們生活的每個方面來敬拜神——每天將我們自己獻上當作活祭（羅12;1-3），是我們在屬靈爭戰中，是最有力的武器。
2. 在我的屬靈旅程中，敬拜和爭戰佔有怎樣的位置？
3. 存著對神最高的崇敬，慢慢讀3-4節，輕唱「我心旋律」詩歌《敬拜萬世之主》，作為今天對主的敬拜：

 

主啊！有誰不敬畏你，不將榮耀歸你名；

因為獨有袮是至聖，萬民都要來到你面前；

敬拜，尊崇，因你公義的作為已彰顯。

主神，全能者啊！袮的作為大哉奇哉！

萬世之王！我敬拜你，你的道途義哉誠哉！

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeP0AMPO0DM)

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：

¹I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ²And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God ³and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
   “Great and marvelous are your deeds,  Lord God Almighty.    Just and true are your ways,  King of the ages.
⁴Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

 

 Meditation

1. In a turbulent world where we are constantly getting disoriented, worship is the way we get re-orientated.  Worshipping God in all areas of our lives—daily giving all of our selves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)—is our powerful weapon in the midst of a spiritual warfare.
2. In my spiritual journey, how does worship and spiritual battle play a role in my spiritual growth?
3. With my most reverence to God, read slowly vv3-4 a few times as my worship to God this 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.

第十四章

6 我又看見另有一位天使飛在空中，有永遠的福音要傳給住在地上的人，就是各國、各族、各方、各民。 7 他大聲說：應當敬畏神，將榮耀歸給他！因他施行審判的時候已經到了。應當敬拜那創造天地海和眾水泉源的。 8 又有第二位天使接著說：叫萬民喝邪淫、大怒之酒的巴比倫大城傾倒了！傾倒了！ 9 又有第三位天使接著他們，大聲說：若有人拜獸和獸像，在額上或在手上受了印記，10 這人也必喝神大怒的酒；此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中純一不雜。他要在聖天使和羔羊面前，在火與硫磺之中受痛苦。 11 他受痛苦的煙往上冒，直到永永遠遠。那些拜獸和獸像，受他名之印記的，晝夜不得安寧。 12 聖徒的忍耐就在此；他們是守神誡命和耶穌真道的。

13 我聽見從天上有聲音說：你要寫下：從今以後，在主裡面而死的人有福了！聖靈說：是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，作工的果效也隨著他們。

 

 默想：

1. 自從成為基督徒以後，有沒有灰心喪志的時刻？或是在忙碌中迷失了自己，甚至有時會自問：「我這樣辛苦，到底是為了甚麼？」
2. 這段經文給了意想不到的應許：「是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，做工的果效也隨著他們。」（13節）信徒如同一般人一樣，也會死去，可是，我們死了，乃是從辛苦的工作中享受休息。而且工作果效會隨著我們，我們為主盡心的工作並非徒然，神會記念；因此死亡再不是咒詛，而是休息（睡了）。
3. 再讀幾遍13節，讓這節的意義沉澱我心。這節經文對我有什麼安慰與鼓勵？這樣的安慰，是否幫助我面對死亡？又如何面對生活？

 

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。

 

Chapter 14：

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth —to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” ⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” ⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ¹² This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

 

Meditation

1. Since becoming a Christian, have I ever felt disappointed and discouraged?  Or have I been so busy that I lost myself even to the point of asking myself: “Why am I doing this?  What’s this for?”
2. This passage gave us an unexpected promise in v 13.  Believers will die just as anyone else.  However, when we die, it’s a blessed rest from our hard, hard work.  And none of what we’ve done is wasted for God will bless us for it all in the end. (ref. the Message Rev 14:13)
3. Read v13 again and allow it to sink in.  Does this bring any comfort and encouragement to me?  How does it help me to face death?  And 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.

第十三章

11 我又看見另有一個獸從地中上來，有兩角如同羊羔，說話好像龍。12 牠在頭一個獸面前，施行頭一個獸所有的權柄，並且叫地和住在地上的人拜那死傷醫好的頭一個獸。13 又行大奇事，甚至在人面前，叫火從天降在地上。14 牠因賜給牠權柄在獸面前能行奇事，就迷惑住在地上的人，說：「要給那受刀傷還活著的獸作個像。」15 又有權柄賜給牠，叫獸像有生氣，並且能說話，又叫所有不拜獸像的人都被殺害。16 牠又叫眾人，無論大小、貧富、自主的、為奴的，都在右手上或是在額上受一個印記。17 除了那受印記、有了獸名或有獸名數目的，都不得做買賣。

 

默想：

1. 魔鬼設計要在地上施展強大的軍力，並要欺詐威迫我們不許敬拜真神，卻要崇拜假神。另一方面，撒但亦會企圖蒙騙我們，假扮成世界的救主，自稱可以賜我們健康、財富、快樂和不朽生命。我是否看得出現今社會中撒但的作為？
2. 要脫離撒但欺騙的網羅，就要將我的信心專注在基督和祂的話語上。
3. 我是否預備好，來面對政治壓迫、或是經濟誘惑？我是否每天刻意有屬靈的操練：讀經（260）、禱告（五個簡短的禱告）等，來增強自己的屬靈生命力、洞察力、抵抗力？

 

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。

 

Chapter 13

¹¹Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. ¹²He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. ¹⁴Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. ¹⁶He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

 

Meditation

1. In the Devil’s design, Satan will deploy his troops.  The land beast will dupe us and coerce us into idolatry.  On the other hand, Satan tries to deceive us by disguising itself as the world’s saviour, claiming to deliver health, wealth, happiness and immortality.  Do I see Satan’s activities in our society today?
2. The way to be out of Satan’s trap of deception is to fix my confidence in Christ and His written Word.
3. How prepared am I in facing the political persecution, or the economic temptation?  How am I engaged in the daily deliberate practices of Bible reading (260) and prayer (5 simple prayers) as they are part of the effort toward spiritual maturity, sensitivity and defences?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十二章

7 在天上就有了爭戰。米迦勒同他的使者與龍爭戰，龍也同牠的使者去爭戰，8 並沒有得勝，天上再沒有牠們的地方。9 大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。10 我聽見在天上有大聲音說：「我神的救恩、能力、國度，並他基督的權柄，現在都來到了！因為那在我們神面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了。11 弟兄勝過牠，是因羔羊的血和自己所見證的道。他們雖至於死，也不愛惜性命。12 所以，諸天和住在其中的，你們都快樂吧！只是地與海有禍了！因為魔鬼知道自己的時候不多，就氣忿忿地下到你們那裏去了。」

 

默想：

1. 撒但確是存在，且像咆哮的獅子遍地游行。牠是要試探並欺騙信徒。我們多麼容易就會陷入撒但的陷阱網羅中！
2. 但基督徒的保障就是基督已經得勝撒但和死亡。救恩是肯定的，神的國度毫不動搖。不論龍（撒但）有多威猛，基督終會得勝。信徒當持定對神的信心，為主的見證，宣揚基督的執掌王權。
3. 用這首詩歌，加入千萬聖徒的大詩班，向神、也向我自己重新肯定「對神的信心，為主的見證」：

祂是主，祂是主，祂是勝過死亡又復活的主；
萬膝當跪拜，萬口當承認，耶穌基督是主。

 

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

⁷And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers,  who accuses them before our God day and night,  has been hurled down.
¹¹They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb  and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much  as to shrink from death.
¹²Therefore rejoice, you heavens   and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

 

Meditation

1. Satan is alive and is roaming the earth as roaring lion.  His goal is to keep people from coming to know Jesus personally, and to tempt and fool the believers.  How often we fall traps to the tricks of Satan!
2. But Christians are reminded of the victory of Christ over Satan and death.  Salvation is assured and God’s rule is intact. No matter how daunting the Dragon, Christ will prevail.  Believers have to keep trusting God and persist in their witness, proclaiming that Christ reigns.
3. Join the crowds of saints in singing this hymn to affirm my “trusting God and persisting in witness”.

He is Lord, He is Lord, He has risen from the dead, And He is Lord

Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess, That Jesus Christ is 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十一章

1 有一根葦子賜給我，當作量度的杖；且有話說：「起來！將神的殿和祭壇，並在殿中禮拜的人都量一量。2 只是殿外的院子要留下不用量，因為這是給了外邦人的；他們要踐踏聖城四十二個月。3 我要使我那兩個見證人，穿著毛衣，傳道一千二百六十天。」4 他們就是那兩棵橄欖樹，兩個燈臺，立在世界之主面前的。

 

默想：

1. 這兩位無名的見證人，有著舊約先知以利亞和摩西的特徵。自古以來，摩西代表律法的頒佈者，以利亞代表先知預言的宣告者。兩位都要扭轉人類的注意，指向基督是主與救主。律法與預言兩者缺一不可，而基督同時成全了律法與預言，成為完美的見證。
2. 教會在世界上是基督的見證，我們每個人都是基督身體的一個部分。我有沒有學效這兩個見證人，在我的生活小範圍內，作基督忠心的見證人？

 

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

¹I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. ²But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Meditation

1. The two unnamed witnesses have the characteristics of the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Moses.  Through the centuries, these two men have accumulated symbolic greatness – Moses being the giver of Law and Elijah the giver of prophecy.  They direct the attention of all humanity to the Christ as Lord and Saviour.  There can be no complete witness when either Law or Prophecy is omitted, for Christ is both the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of prophecy.
2. The Christian church stands in this world as a witness for Christ.  You and I are members of the body of Christ.  Am I following the steps of the two witnesses, in my smaller ways, as a faithful witness for Christ?

Prayer & Journaling:

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

第十章

8 我先前從天上所聽見的那聲音又吩咐我說：「你去，把那踏海踏地之天使手中展開的小書卷取過來。」9 我就走到天使那裏，對他說：「請你把小書卷給我。」他對我說：「你拿著吃盡了，便叫你肚子發苦，然而在你口中要甜如蜜。」10 我從天使手中把小書卷接過來，吃盡了，在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以後，肚子覺得發苦了。11 天使（原文是他們）對我說：「你必指著多民、多國、多方、多王再說預言。」

 

默想：

1. 天使要約翰把書吃下去，吃一本書的意思就是要將整本書吸收消化，融入身體當中。作見證的人，必須在未開口之前，首先成為所說所見證的人。我是否將神的話吸收消化，融入生活中，以至于可以成為神的代言人？
2. 每個見證人，都會經歷甜與苦兩種相反的感受。神的話是甜的，因為是從神而來的；但當神的話被拒時，就會給我們留下迂迴不散的苦味。我最近對神的話有什麼經歷？
3. 回想一些我作見證的甜與苦的滋味。安靜的細細回味當時的情景，靜坐主前數分鐘，繼續與主一起思想、回味。

 

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

⁸Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

⁹So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” ¹⁰I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

Meditation

1. John is told to eat the book.  Eating a book means that one takes it all in, assimilating it into one’s body. Witnesses must first become what they say before they say it.  Am I assimilating God’s word so that I can be a speaker on His behalf?
2. Every witness experiences the opposite sensations of sweetness and bitterness.  The Word is sweet because it is from God; a bitter feeling will linger when it is rejected by others.  What are some of my recent experiences with God’s word?
3. Recount some of my sweet moments and the bitterness I experience when my witness is being rejected.  Sit quietly before God and continue to linger for a few minutes at the situations the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

 

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.

第九章

1 第五位天使吹號，我就看見一個星從天落到地上，有無底坑的鑰匙賜給它。2 它開了無底坑，便有煙從坑裏往上冒，好像大火爐的煙；日頭和天空都因這煙昏暗了。3 有蝗蟲從煙中出來，飛到地上；有能力賜給牠們，好像地上蠍子的能力一樣，4 並且吩咐牠們說，不可傷害地上的草和各樣青物，並一切樹木，惟獨要傷害額上沒有神印記的人。5 但不許蝗蟲害死他們，只叫他們受痛苦五個月。這痛苦就像蠍子螫人的痛苦一樣。6 在那些日子，人要求死，決不得死；願意死，死卻遠避他們。

20 其餘未曾被這些災所殺的人仍舊不悔改自己手所做的，還是去拜鬼魔和那些不能看、不能聽、不能走，金、銀、銅、木、石的偶像，21 又不悔改他們那些凶殺、邪術、姦淫、偷竊的事。

 

默想：

1. 約珥書以蝗蟲災禍的預言（約珥書 1:2-2:11），規勸以色列上下當悔改歸向神。並且強調拒絕悔改，最終將受到審判與可怕結局。惟有由心中徹底悔改，才能從罪的恐怖中得拯救。
2. 20-21節，但是當時有些人，雖然經歷了神的審判刑罰，那些暫時得到倖免得以存活的，卻仍然繼續醉生夢死的生涯。而當年法老雖經過十災，依然也是拒絕反省悔改。其實，有時我們豈不也是如此？在這樣的時候，神其實是以惡劣的環境，來逼使我們省察自己內心的頑梗、輕忽神無比恩典的呼召。若我們能誠實的面對自我，必然會謙卑下來，而謙卑就能引領我們來到悔改的恩典中。
3. 安靜在神的面前。容許聖靈來光照我內心「內心的頑梗」，求神賜下「謙卑」，以及「悔改」的恩典。

 

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 9

¹The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. ²When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. ³And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ⁴They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. ⁶During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

²⁰The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ²¹Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

 

Meditation

1. Joel’s prophecy (Joel 1:2-2:11) of locusts is to call for repentance of the Israelites to return to God.  He emphasized the final judgment and terrible consequence of refusing to repent.  Only in true repentance are we saved from the terror of sin.
2. Despite God’s judgment, those who are temporarily spared still go on their merry way (vv20-21). Pharaoh also refused to repent after the ten plagues.  And sometimes, we are just like them.  During such times, God is actually forcing us, through difficult circumstances, to look inside ourselves for persistent stubbornness that dismisses such invitation of grace from God.  If it’s an honest look, what we see should humble us, and that humility should pave the way to the grace of repentance.
3. Sit silently.  Allow the Holy Spirit to show areas of my “persistent stubbornness”.  Pray for humility to see and grace to repent.

 

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.

第八章

1 羔羊揭開第七印的時候，天上寂靜約有二刻。2 我看見那站在神面前的七位天使，有七枝號賜給他們。3 另有一位天使，拿著金香爐來，站在祭壇旁邊。有許多香賜給他，要和眾聖徒的祈禱一同獻在寶座前的金壇上。4 那香的煙和眾聖徒的祈禱從天使的手中一同升到神面前。5 天使拿著香爐，盛滿了壇上的火，倒在地上；隨有雷轟、大聲、閃電、地震。

 

默想：

1. 揭開第七印的時候，有段寂靜的時間，有位天使拿著香爐來到祭壇前，將聖徒的禱告摻和著香，當「香的煙和眾聖徒的祈禱……升到神面前」時，地就大為震動。禱告的功效是無可計量的；甚至包括我們微小的禱告，也能生發效用。既是如此，我當如何看待我的禱告生活？
2. 用這首「泰澤」詩歌，成為我委身，經常地、每天與千萬聖徒一同禱告的祈求與許願：(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSr_dO_9TA)

主啊，聽我禱，主啊，聽我禱，當我求，請垂聽；

主啊，聽我禱，主啊，聽我禱，請來，聽我懇求。

 

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

¹When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

²And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets.

³Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. ⁴The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand. ⁵Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.

 

Meditation

1. Before the seventh seal, there is silence.  An angel comes before the altar with a censer and mixes the prayers of believers with the incense. When the censer plummets, the earth rumbles.  Prayers bring incalculable effects.  Even the smallest words of mine can result in great effects.  How would this awareness help my prayer life?
2. Use this Taize song to pray as my commitment to join the numerous saints in daily and regular prayers.( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSr_dO_9TA)

Oh, Lord, hear my prayer, Oh, Lord, hear my prayer, When I call, answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, Oh, Lord, hear my prayer, Come and listen to 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第七章

9 此後，我觀看，見有許多的人，沒有人能數過來，是從各國、各族、各民、各方來的，站在寶座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕樹枝，10 大聲喊著說：

「願救恩歸與坐在寶座上我們的神，也歸與羔羊！」

11 眾天使都站在寶座和眾長老並四活物的周圍，在寶座前，面伏於地，敬拜神，
12 說：阿們！頌讚、榮耀、智慧、感謝、尊貴、權柄、大力都歸與我們的神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！

 

默想：

1. 你是否曾聽說過這話：我們一生的唯一目標就是敬拜神？
2. 出聲再讀一次這段經文，聆聽敬拜者的話語：「願救恩歸與坐在寶座上我們的神，也歸與羔羊！」「阿們！頌讚、榮耀、智慧、感謝、尊貴、權柄、大力都歸與我們的神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！」思想，為什麼神值得我的敬拜？
3. 嘗試「面伏於地」在神面前，就像本段中的天使，長老，活物一樣，告訴神我為什麼敬拜祂；存著感恩、真實、熱切的心，向神說話，敬拜祂。

 

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

⁹After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.” ¹¹All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²saying:
“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

 

Meditation

1. Ever heard it said that the sole purpose of our life is to worship God?
2. Read this passage aloud one more time and listen to the words of the worshippers.  Think, why is God worthy of my worship?
3. Consider lying down on my face before him as I tell him (with specifics), just as the angels, elders, and animals do in this passage. Respond to him with thanksgiving, authenticity, honesty and passion.

 

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

9 揭開第五印的時候，我看見在祭壇底下，有為神的道、並為作見證被殺之人的靈魂，10 大聲喊著說：「聖潔真實的主啊，你不審判住在地上的人，給我們伸流血的冤，要等到幾時呢？」11 於是有白衣賜給他們各人；又有話對他們說，還要安息片時，等著一同作僕人的和他們的弟兄也像他們被殺，滿足了數目。12 揭開第六印的時候，我又看見地大震動，日頭變黑像毛布，滿月變紅像血，13 天上的星辰墜落於地，如同無花果樹被大風搖動，落下未熟的果子一樣。14 天就挪移，好像書卷被捲起來；山嶺海島都被挪移離開本位。15 地上的君王、臣宰、將軍、富戶、壯士，和一切為奴的、自主的，都藏在山洞和巖石穴裏，16 向山和巖石說：「倒在我們身上吧！把我們藏起來，躲避坐寶座者的面目和羔羊的忿怒；17 因為他們忿怒的大日到了，誰能站得住呢？」

 

默想：

1. 聆聽殉道者（為作見證被殺的人）哭叫的聲音：「聖潔真實的主啊，你不審判住在地上的人，給我們伸流血的冤，要等到幾時呢？」（10節）。我是否有時也會像他們這樣的呼求？神給他們怎樣的確據（保證）？當我受委屈或被壓甚重時，這段經文對我有什麼意義？有什麼保證？
2. 今天世界各地，仍然有許多因為基督的緣故被迫害的基督徒；我如何與這些受逼迫的教會一齊禱告？
3. 「他們忿怒的大日到了，誰能站得住呢？」（17節）的確，沒有人能逃脫的這情況。環觀近來一連串的自然大災害，閱讀這段經文如何提醒我有關主再來的日子？有這樣的認知如何幫助我預備迎接主的再來？

 

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「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 6

⁹When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. ¹⁰They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” ¹¹Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

¹²I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, ¹³and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. ¹⁴The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

¹⁵Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

 

Meditation

1. Listen to the voice of the martyrs.  Do I find myself echoing their cry from time to time? What sort of assurance did God give to them?  When I have been wronged and in stress, what sort of assurance do I receive from today’s passage?
2. Today, there continue to be martyrs Jesus’ sake across the world, where Christians are persecuted. How can I pray alongside the persecuted church?
3. “The great day of his wrath is here; and who can stand it?” (v. 17).  No one is capable of escaping these conditions.  In light of all the recent natural disasters, how does this passage remind me of the second coming of Jesus?  How does this awareness help me prepare for the return of the 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第五章
7 這羔羊前來，從坐寶座的右手裏拿了書卷。8 他既拿了書卷，四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿著琴和盛滿了香的金爐；這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。9 他們唱新歌，說：你配拿書卷，配揭開七印；因為你曾被殺，用自己的血從各族、各方、各民、各國中買了人來，叫他們歸於神，10 又叫他們成為國民，作祭司歸於神，在地上執掌王權。11 我又看見且聽見，寶座與活物並長老的周圍有許多天使的聲音；他們的數目有千千萬萬，12 大聲說：曾被殺的羔羊是配得權柄、豐富、智慧、能力、尊貴、榮耀、頌讚的。13 我又聽見在天上、地上、地底下、滄海裏，和天地間一切所有被造之物，都說：但願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠！14 四活物就說：「阿們！」眾長老也俯伏敬拜。

 

默想：

1. 敬拜的第一部分，就是將我們的全神、全身、全人，都聚焦、集中在神的身上，而不是我們自己。敬拜的最後一個字是「阿們！」也就是「喔，是的！」這是我們向神的回應。神對我們肯定，向我們說「是的」，我們也以「是的！」來回應神的肯定。
2. 反省我對神的敬拜與回應，神是否是我人生的聚焦點？或是我自己才是我生活的中心？我是否經常向神說「不！」我最近什麼時候向神說過：「阿們（是的）」？

 

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 5
7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12In a loud voice they sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

 

Meditation

1. The first part of worship is to focus all ourselves on God, we center ourselves in God and not in ourselves. The last word of worship in “amen,” which means “Oh, yes!” It is the word of affirmation to the God who affirms us. God says yes to us. We respond to his yes by saying yes in return.
2. Reflect on my worship and my response to God. Is God the focal point of my life? Or is it myself the center of my life? How frequently do I say “No” to God. When was the last time that I say “Yes” to 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.

第四章

1 此後，我觀看，見天上有門開了。我初次聽見好像吹號的聲音，對我說：「你上到這裏來，我要將以後必成的事指示你。」2 我立刻被聖靈感動，見有一個寶座安置在天上，又有一位坐在寶座上。3 看那坐著的，好像碧玉和紅寶石；又有虹圍著寶座，好像綠寶石。4 寶座的周圍又有二十四個座位；其上坐著二十四位長老，身穿白衣，頭上戴著金冠冕。5 有閃電、聲音、雷轟從寶座中發出；又有七盞火燈在寶座前點著；這七燈就是神的七靈。6 寶座前好像一個玻璃海，如同水晶。寶座中和寶座周圍有四個活物，前後遍體都滿了眼睛。7 第一個活物像獅子，第二個像牛犢，第三個臉面像人，第四個像飛鷹。8 四活物各有六個翅膀，遍體內外都滿了眼睛。他們晝夜不住地說：聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！主神是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者。9 每逢四活物將榮耀、尊貴、感謝歸給那坐在寶座上、活到永永遠遠者的時候，10 那二十四位長老就俯伏在坐寶座的面前敬拜那活到永永遠遠的，又把他們的冠冕放在寶座前，說：11 我們的主，我們的神，你是配得榮耀、尊貴、權柄的；因為你創造了萬物，並且萬物是因你的旨意被創造而有的。

 

默想：

1. 開聲將本段經文讀兩遍，揣摩一下在天上所發生的情景。
2. 再一次慢慢地讀這段經文，閉上眼睛，想像一下所描述的景況：碧玉、紅寶石、綠寶石，閃電、聲音、雷轟，火燈、玻璃海……。是否能體會當時的輝煌莊嚴的情景？若我當時在場，會有何感覺？
3. 仔細聆聽四活物的吟誦：「聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！」思想，神的聖潔對我有什麼意義，然後加入他們的崇拜中，一同吟誦：「聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！」
4. 思想今天我能用什麼方式來敬拜神：一篇詩、一首歌、一幅畫、一個能榮耀神的行動……？

 

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。

 

Chapter4

¹After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” ²At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. ⁴Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. ⁶Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back……⁸……Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” ⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:    ¹¹“You are worthy, our Lord and God,     to receive glory and honor and power,     for you created all things,        and by your will they were created        and have their being.”

Meditation

1. Read the passage aloud 2 times and get a feel for what is happening in heaven.
2. Read the passage again slowly. Close eyes and imagine what is described here: the amber and the emerald, the thunder and the lightning, the torch and the sea …. Get a sense the awe of the place. What does it feel like to be there?
3. Listen to the chanting of the Four Animals: “Holy, Holy, Holy.” Think about what God’s holiness means to me and join in their worship and chant: “Holy, Holy, Holy.”
4. Think about one way that I would worship God today – a poem, a song, a painting, a specific act that can honor 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.

第三章

14 「你要寫信給老底嘉教會的使者，說：『那為阿們的，為誠信真實見證的，在神創造萬物之上為元首的，說：15 我知道你的行為，你也不冷也不熱；我巴不得你或冷或熱。16 你既如溫水，也不冷也不熱，所以我必從我口中把你吐出去。17 你說：我是富足，已經發了財，一樣都不缺；卻不知道你是那困苦、可憐、貧窮、瞎眼、赤身的。18 我勸你向我買火煉的金子，叫你富足；又買白衣穿上，叫你赤身的羞恥不露出來；又買眼藥擦你的眼睛，使你能看見。19 凡我所疼愛的，我就責備管教他；所以你要發熱心，也要悔改。20 看哪，我站在門外叩門，若有聽見我聲音就開門的，我要進到他那裏去，我與他，他與我一同坐席。21 得勝的，我要賜他在我寶座上與我同坐，就如我得了勝，在我父的寶座上與他同坐一般。22 聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！』」

 

默想：

1. 我對一般的教會，在哪些方面覺得失望？對我自己的教會呢？對身為教會一員的我自己呢？
2. 對當時老底嘉的人來說，溫水是沒有用處的；又不能飲用（需要冷水），也不能用來洗澡（需要熱水）。在哪些方面，因為對財富、舒適、及理所當然的看法，使得我對神國度不再如昔的有用？
3. 我怎麼看，神那忍耐又堅持的恩典，在我的教會中、以及在我這個教會的成員身上工作？神藉著這段經文對我說什麼？

 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 3

¹⁴“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ¹⁹Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. ²¹To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²²He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Meditation

1. What are some of my disappointments with the church at large? With my own church in particular? With myself as a member of the church?
2. For the people in Laodicea, lukewarm water was useless water, since it was no good for drinking  (cold) or for bathing in (hot). In what ways have wealth, comfort, and taking things for granted impaired my usefulness the Kingdom of God?
3. How do I see the patient and yet persistent grace of God at work in my church and in me as a member?  What does God say to me through this passage?

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 「你要寫信給以弗所教會的使者，說：『那右手拿著七星、在七個金燈臺中間行走的，說：2 我知道你的行為、勞碌、忍耐，也知道你不能容忍惡人。你也曾試驗那自稱為使徒卻不是使徒的，看出他們是假的來。3 你也能忍耐，曾為我的名勞苦，並不乏倦。4 然而有一件事我要責備你，就是你把起初的愛心離棄了。5 所以，應當回想你是從哪裏墜落的，並要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就臨到你那裏，把你的燈臺從原處挪去。6 然而你還有一件可取的事，就是你恨惡尼哥拉一黨人的行為，這也是我所恨惡的。7 聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃。』」

 

默想：

1. 思想我們自己的教會，在那些方面是與以弗所教會相似的？
2. 現在專注在我與主的關係上，第4節對我說了什麼話？我是否已經失去了當初對主的愛心？
3. 我當如何重拾那當初對主的愛心？是什麼使我遠離了主？我當在那些方面悔改？若我並沒有遠離當初對主的愛，我怎樣能夠持續對神忠心，愛神？

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。

 

Chapter2

¹“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: ²I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. ⁴Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

 

Meditation

1. Think about our own church. In what ways is it similar to the church at Ephesus?
2. Focus on the relationship between me and the Lord.  How does v.4 speak to me? Have I walked away from my first love for the Lord?
3. How can I regain that first love? What have distracted me from the Lord? In what areas should I repent? If I haven’t walked away from my first love, how can I continue to be faithful and in love 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.

第一章

4 約翰寫信給亞細亞的七個教會。但願從那昔在、今在、以後永在的神，和他寶座前的七靈，5 並那誠實作見證的、從死裏首先復活、為世上君王元首的耶穌基督，有恩惠、平安歸與你們！他愛我們，用自己的血使我們脫離（有古卷：洗去）罪惡，6 又使我們成為國民，作他父神的祭司。但願榮耀、權能歸給他，直到永永遠遠。阿們！7 看哪，他駕雲降臨！眾目要看見他，連刺他的人也要看見他；地上的萬族都要因他哀哭。這話是真實的。阿們！8 主神說：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛（阿拉法，俄梅戛：是希臘字母首末二字），是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者。」

默想：

1. 開聲讀出本段經文，留意有關神的性情與行動。
2. 若可能的話，舉目望天，思想神怎樣為人類帶來勝利。
3. 第8節的宣言：「我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛」對我現今的信仰與生活有什麼意義？

 

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 1

⁴John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, ⁵and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, ⁶and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
⁷Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

⁸“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

 

Meditation:

1. Read the passage aloud and pay attention to the characteristics and actions of God described in this passage.
2. Look at the sky, or close your eyes and reflect on how God has brought victory to all mankind, including me.
3. What does the proclamation in v8 “I am alpha and omega” mean to my faith and life today?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

約翰三書

5 親愛的兄弟啊，凡你向作客旅之弟兄所行的都是忠心的。6 他們在教會面前證明了你的愛；你若配得過　神，幫助他們往前行，這就好了。7 因他們是為主的名出外，對於外邦人一無所取。8 所以我們應該接待這樣的人，叫我們與他們一同為真理做工。

 

默想：

1. 仔細地讀這段經文，就好像約翰特別寫給我的私人信。
2. 我最近有什麼機會「接待」過一個人，或是幫助一個人？我當時是怎麼做的？我這樣做的目的和動機是什麼？（或是我沒有作的原因是什麼？）
3. 想一想：我有什麼可以分給別人的（如：烹煮的食物，聆聽的耳朵，鼓勵的話語），將想到的一一寫下來。和神一起看一看，哪些是我樂意與人分享的，哪些我是不願意的。再想想看，有哪一位朋友可能有需要，問神我當怎樣作。然後，開始一小步、一小步地學習接待人的操練，看看神會怎樣改變我的心。

 

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。

 

3 John

⁵Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. ⁶They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. ⁷It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. ⁸We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

 

Meditation

1.  Read the passage carefully as if John is writing specifically to me.
2. What opportunity have I had recently to show someone hospitality? Or in some way help someone who is trying to do good?  How did I respond to that opportunity?  What do I notice about the motives and priorities behind my action (or non-action)?
3. Think about some gifts I can offer to others (such as cooking, listening ear, words of encouragement.)  Write them down and go through the list with God. Determine which gifts I am glad to share, and which ones I’m hesitant. Now think of a specific person who would be helped by my hospitality.  Ask God what he would have me offer to this person.  Be open to take this small step toward hospitality, and see how God may change my heart as I do it.

 

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.

約翰二書

1作長老的寫信給蒙揀選的太太（或譯：教會；下同）和她的兒女，就是我誠心所愛的；不但我愛，也是一切知道真理之人所愛的。 2 愛你們是為真理的緣故，這真理存在我們裏面，也必永遠與我們同在。 3 恩惠、憐憫、平安從父　神和他兒子耶穌基督在真理和愛心上必常與我們同在！ 4 我見你的兒女，有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚歡喜。5 太太啊，我現在勸你，我們大家要彼此相愛。這並不是我寫一條新命令給你，乃是我們從起初所受的命令。6 我們若照他的命令行，這就是愛。你們從起初所聽見當行的，就是這命令。

 

默想：

1. 一個遵行真理的人，他的舉止品德必定與真理相符。因此，遵行真理的生命是有聖潔與愛的標誌。基督徒的生活是不斷捨己為人、充滿活力的天路旅程，而非自我放縱的享樂園地。
2. 在一至十的 度量表上（一是最低，十是最高），我的「愛心商數」“love quotient”是多少？我的好友們會給我多少分數？在愛人方面，我最需要成長的是什麼？若我殷勤地「遵行真理」，我的生命會怎樣的改觀？
3. 禱告：求神幫助我明白：愛人與遵行神命令的直接關係，並賜我意願與力量，將我所明白的實踐在日常生活中。

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。

 

2 John

¹The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth – ²because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:  ³Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.  ⁴It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. ⁵And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

 

Meditation

1. A person who “walks in truth” lives in harmony with spiritual and moral reality.  Therefore, we walk “in the truth” if our lives are marked by holiness and by love.  The Christian life is a dynamic pilgrimage of self-giving.  It is not a comfortable resting place of self-indulgence.
2. On a scale of one to ten (with one being the lowest and ten being the highest), how would I rank my “love quotient”? How might my friends rank my love quotient?  What is needed for me to grow in my understanding and expression of love to others?  What would my life look like if I were diligently “walking in the truth”?
3. Pray:  Ask God to help me see the direct correlation between love and following his commands.  And give me the willingness and ability to live it out into my everyday 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.

第五章

1 凡信耶穌是基督的，都是從　神而生，凡愛生他之　神的，也必愛從　神生的。2 我們若愛　神，又遵守他的誡命，從此就知道我們愛　神的兒女。3 我們遵守　神的誡命，這就是愛他了，並且他的誡命不是難守的。4因為凡從　神生的，就勝過世界；使我們勝了世界的，就是我們的信心。5勝過世界的是誰呢？不是那信耶穌是　神兒子的嗎？

 

默想：

1. 使徒約翰強調「 我們遵守　神的誡命，這就是愛他了」；神激勵我們去愛，使我們愛神，也愛人。我們不可能對神熱情，但同時，對其他信徒卻是冷漠的。
2. 對神的愛還有一個特性，它會使遵守神的誡命變得「不是難守的」，是容易的。「想要做」的事情，總是比「必須做」的來得容易。一旦我們覺得是神的要求，我們被迫去做的時候，就會覺得是重擔。但若我們興奮地期望去做那些事情，就變得是件喜樂的事了。
3. 給自己做個「愛神」的測試。我是否願意去做那些我知道會討神喜悅的事情？

 

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。

 

Chapter5

¹Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ²This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

Meditation

1. John insists that God stimulates one love in our heart; a love that expresses itself both toward God and toward others.  We can’t be warm toward God and cold toward our fellow Christians at the same time.
2. There is another exciting thing about love for God.  It makes obeying EASY.  “Want to” is always easier than “have to”.  As long as we feel that we are forced to do certain things that God demands, those things will be burdensome to us.  But if we eagerly want to do those same things, they seem to us to be a delight.
3. Do a quick check up on my love for God.  Do I want to do those things that I know please 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.

第四章

4 小子們哪，你們是屬　神的，並且勝了他們；因為那在你們裏面的，比那在世界上的更大。 5 他們是屬世界的，所以論世界的事，世人也聽從他們。 6 我們是屬　神的，認識　神的就聽從我們；不屬　神的就不聽從我們。從此我們可以認出真理的靈和謬妄的靈來。7 親愛的弟兄啊，我們應當彼此相愛，因為愛是從　神來的。凡有愛心的，都是由　神而生，並且認識　神。

11 親愛的弟兄啊，　神既是這樣愛我們，我們也當彼此相愛。 12 從來沒有人見過　神，我們若彼此相愛，　神就住在我們裏面，愛他的心在我們裏面得以完全了。 13 　神將他的靈賜給我們，從此就知道我們是住在他裏面，他也住在我們裏面。

16 　神愛我們的心，我們也知道也信。　神就是愛；住在愛裏面的，就是住在　神裏面，　神也住在他裏面。 17 這樣，愛在我們裏面得以完全，我們就可以在審判的日子坦然無懼。因為他如何，我們在這世上也如何。 18 愛裏沒有懼怕；愛既完全，就把懼怕除去。因為懼怕裏含著刑罰，懼怕的人在愛裏未得完全。

 

默想：

1. 慢慢地開聲讀出這段經文。第二次再讀時，每讀到「愛」，就停頓一下；留意這些神所賜有關愛的禮物（無論是愛、與神的關係、神的生命、聖靈等）。
2. 嘗試畫張簡單的圖，描繪我接受神的愛的禮物。我有什麼感受？
3. 禱告：感謝神將這些禮物傾倒給我。告訴神，我希望像個吸收神愛的海綿器，被祂的愛所浸透，以至我的愛能漲溢出來，去愛別人。

 

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。

 

Chapter4

⁴You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spiritof truth and the spirit of falsehood.   ⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

¹¹Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.  ¹³We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

¹⁶And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.   God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. ¹⁷In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. ¹⁸There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

 

Meditation

1. Read the passage aloud slowly for a few times.  Pause at the word “love” each time coming upon it.  Consider these love gifts from God (love, relationship, God’s own life, the Spirit).
2. Draw a little picture of me receiving God’s love gifts.   How do I feel?
3. Pray:  Thank God for pouring such gifts to me.  Tell God my desire to be like an absorber of His love and to be saturated with His love so it overflows in me and pours out to 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 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.