Category: 260靈修

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.

第三章

18 小子們哪，我們相愛，不要只在言語和舌頭上，總要在行為和誠實上。19 從此就知道我們是屬真理的，並且我們的心在　神面前可以安穩。 20 我們的心若責備我們，　神比我們的心大，一切事沒有不知道的。 21 親愛的弟兄啊，我們的心若不責備我們，就可以向　神坦然無懼了。 22 並且我們一切所求的，就從他得著；因為我們遵守他的命令，行他所喜悅的事。 23 　神的命令就是叫我們信他兒子耶穌基督的名，且照他所賜給我們的命令彼此相愛。 24 遵守　神命令的，就住在　神裏面，　神也住在他裏面。我們所以知道　神住在我們裏面是因他所賜給我們的聖靈。

 

默想：

1. 緩慢並且仔細地讀這段經文，細心咀嚼一下：為什麼「當我們愛別人的時候，我們就能夠不再受內心的責備（自我批評，21節）」？有什麼觸動我心的字句？
2. 我是否經常責備自己？是否經常自我批評，或是很難接受別人的稱讚或肯定？和神一起來思考這個問題，告訴祂我的情況與領受。
3. 為何約翰如此確認「愛別人」與「從自我批評中釋放」（我們的心不責備我們）兩者有關？思考這兩者有什麼關連（18-20，24）？
4. 今天，特別注意我對自己的批評，或是輕看別人對我的讚賞。將這些事記下來，花幾分鐘把今天所遇到與想到的和神交談。再回想約翰所寫有關愛人與愛己（不受自我批評的捆綁）的經文，感謝並接受神樂意賜下的「坦然無懼」的心（21節）。

 

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。

 

Chapter3

¹⁸Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ¹⁹This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.  ²¹Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God ²²and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. ²³And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. ²⁴Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

 

Meditation

1. Read this passage slowly and carefully.  Think: why can we cease to be controlled by the internal voice of self-criticism when we love others (v21)?
2. What role does self-criticism play in my life?  Do I constantly criticize myself or do I find it difficult to receive compliments or affirmation?  Explore this with God, and talk with Him about what I discover.
3. Why does John so firmly ties loving others and freedom from self-criticism?  Ponder this connection(18-20,24).
4. Pay special attention today to my self-criticism.  Jot these things down.  Then, talk to God about it.  Recall what John says about loving others and self-criticism, and ponder it some more.  Thank God and accept the “confidence before God” (v21).

 

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

15 不要愛世界和世界上的事。人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裏面了。 16 因為，凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾、眼目的情慾，並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。 17 這世界和其上的情慾都要過去，惟獨遵行　神旨意的，是永遠常存。

 

默想：

1. 這段經文中，「世界」是指背叛神的整個世俗化體系與觀點。約翰指出這個價值觀的本質深植於人自我滿足的自私慾望、對物質擁有的貪婪慾望、及個人的虛浮名聲地位的追求；這些理念與價值觀都是與神相對抗。
2. 我們很容易變得自我中心，被短暫的私慾、地位、財富的魅力所迷惑，而遠離神。那些堅持與神同走天路的，才是永存的。作者提醒我們必須選擇，因我們只能事奉一個主。
3. 將這首詩歌獻給主，凝視主的眼，慢慢地唱，每小段都停頓一下，聆聽主問我，「這真是你的心願嗎」？讓我也像彼得一樣回答主：「主啊！你知道，這是我的心願，一個很膚淺、微弱，卻真實的心願」。

我寧願有耶穌，勝得金錢，我寧屬耶穌，勝得財富無邊；
我寧願有耶穌，勝得華宇，願主釘痕手，引導我前途。

副歌：
勝過做君王，雖統治萬方，卻仍受罪惡捆綁；
我寧願有耶穌，勝得世界榮華，富貴，聲望。

我寧願有耶穌，勝得稱頌，我寧忠於主，成全祂的事工；
我寧願有耶穌，勝得名聲，願向主聖名，永赤膽忠誠。

恩主比百合花，更加美艷，遠比蜂房蜜，更加可口甘甜；
惟主能滿足我飢渴心靈，我寧願有主，跟隨祂引領。

（by Rhea F. Miller）

 

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

¹⁵Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

 

Meditation

1. The “world” in this passage refers to the value system and perceptions expressed in the culture of sinful human beings.  John pointed out the roots of every human society are in the selfish cravings of man, in the tendency to greedily desire the materialistic things he sees, and in man’s drive for self-importance.  Each of these is antagonistic to God.
2. It is easy to become self-centered and drawn away from God by the glamour of sensuality, status, and riches that will not last.  Those who remain on pilgrimage with God will live forever.  The author reminds us that we must choose; we can have only one master.
3. Use this hymn to express my desire for the Lord.  Look into the Lord’s eyes, sing slowly.  Pause at every sentence.  Listen to the Lord’s question: “Is this really your desire”?  Let my answer be similar to Peter’s, “Lord, you know, this is indeed my desire, though shallow, feeble, but it’s true”.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold; I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands,  I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand.

Than to be a king of a vast domain Or be held in sin’s dread sway,
I’d rather have Jesus than anything This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause; I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom; He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs, I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

(by Rhea F. Miller)

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.

約翰一書

第一章

6 我們若說是與神相交，卻仍在黑暗裏行，就是說謊話，不行真理了。 7 我們若在光明中行，如同　神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。 8 我們若說自己無罪，便是自欺，真理不在我們心裏了。 9 我們若認自己的罪，　神是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。 10 我們若說自己沒有犯過罪，便是以　神為說謊的，他的道也不在我們心裏了。

2:1我小子們哪，我將這些話寫給你們，是要叫你們不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那裏我們有一位中保，就是那義者耶穌基督。 2 他為我們的罪作了挽回祭，不是單為我們的罪，也是為普天下人的罪。

 

默想：

1. 認罪：把我們內心深處的軟弱不足，向神和可信賴的人傾訴，好讓我們經歷神的恩典和憐憫，得著祂樂意賜下的赦免和醫治。（生命陶造版聖經）
2. 神是光，我們必須進入神的光中，在光明中生活，才能與神、與弟兄姐妹相交。離開這個信仰群體、離開神的光的人，他們自稱是沒有罪；但真正的信徒卻非如此。我們必須承認我們犯罪，需要耶穌來赦免，並潔淨我們的罪；好讓我們繼續在光明中行走，“如同神在光明中”。
3. 禱告：我是否正在掙扎什麼罪？有什麼深層的捆綁尚未得釋放？我是否被罪咎所牽制而無法親近神？告訴神，安靜地坐在神面前，聆聽耶穌對我的回應。祂對我的心意是什麼？

 

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 1

⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

⁸If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

^2：1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

Meditation:

1. Confession: Sharing our deepest weaknesses and failures with God and trusted others, so that we may enter into God’s grace and mercy and experience His ready forgiveness and healing. (Spiritual Formation Bible)
2. God is light.  In order to be in fellowship with God and fellow believers, we need to enter into God’s light and to live accordingly.  Those who had left the fellowship claim they are without sin, but not the faithful.  We must admit that we do sin and need Jesus to forgive and cleanse us from sin so that we may continue walking in the light “as he himself is in the light”.
3. Pray: Am I struggling with some sin?  What deeper bondage is still not released?  Does my guilt hold me back from Jesus?  Talk to him about this.  Now sit silently, listen for Jesus’ response.  What is his desire for me?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

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

 

 

第二十一章

15 他們吃完了早飯，耶穌對西門‧彼得說：「約翰（在馬太十六章十七節稱約拿）的兒子西門，你愛我比這些更深嗎？」彼得說：「主啊，是的，你知道我愛你。」耶穌對他說：「你餵養我的小羊。」 16 耶穌第二次又對他說：「約翰的兒子西門，你愛我嗎？」彼得說：「主啊，是的，你知道我愛你。」耶穌說：「你牧養我的羊。」 17 第三次對他說：「約翰的兒子西門，你愛我嗎？」彼得因為耶穌第三次對他說「你愛我嗎」，就憂愁，對耶穌說：「主啊，你是無所不知的；你知道我愛你。」耶穌說：「你餵養我的羊。 18 我實實在在地告訴你，你年少的時候，自己束上帶子，隨意往來；但年老的時候，你要伸出手來，別人要把你束上，帶你到不願意去的地方。」 19 （耶穌說這話是指著彼得要怎樣死，榮耀　神。）說了這話，就對他說：「你跟從我吧！」

默想：

1. 慢慢的讀這段經文，好像我就是彼得，主在連續三次問我，我愛主嗎？隨著彼得的回答，體會當時的心情，與心中翻動的思潮。重復閱讀幾次，留意聆聽主對彼得所說的說話；祂也在向我說什麼嗎？
2. 繼續安靜在主前，聆聽、等候、再聆聽、再等候。
3. 若得到主對我說的話，感謝神。若尚未得到，亦感謝神，結束今天的靈修時間，繼續等候，體會聖靈的微小聲音。

 

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

¹⁵When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”  ¹⁶Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

 

Meditation

1. Read it slowly as if I were Peter and the Lord was asking me three times, “Do you love me?”  Follow Peter’s answers and imagine his mood, emotion and thoughts going through his whole person.  Repeat it several times paying extra attention to what the Lord is saying to Peter.  Is He speaking to me, too?
2. Continue to be quiet before the Lord, listen, wait, listen, and wait…..
3. If I have heard what the Lord is telling me, thank Him.  If I haven’t, thank Him, too.  Continue to wait and listen to the whispering voice of the Holy Spirit after this time 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.

 

第二十章

19 那日（就是七日的第一日）晚上，門徒所在的地方，因怕猶太人，門都關了。耶穌來，站在當中，對他們說：「願你們平安！」 20 說了這話，就把手和肋旁指給他們看。門徒看見主，就喜樂了。 21 耶穌又對他們說：「願你們平安！父怎樣差遣了我，我也照樣差遣你們。」 22 說了這話，就向他們吹一口氣，說：「你們受聖靈！ 23 你們赦免誰的罪，誰的罪就赦免了；你們留下誰的罪，誰的罪就留下了。」
24 那十二個門徒中，有稱為低土馬的多馬；耶穌來的時候，他沒有和他們同在。 25 那些門徒就對他說：「我們已經看見主了。」多馬卻說：「我非看見他手上的釘痕，用指頭探入那釘痕，又用手探入他的肋旁，我總不信。」 26 過了八日，門徒又在屋裏，多馬也和他們同在，門都關了。耶穌來，站在當中說：「願你們平安！」 27 就對多馬說：「伸過你的指頭來，摸（原文是看）我的手；伸出你的手來，探入我的肋旁。不要疑惑，總要信！」 28 多馬說：「我的主！我的　神！」 29 耶穌對他說：「你因看見了我才信；那沒有看見就信的有福了。」

默想：

1. 這是約翰記載耶穌受難復活後，第一次向門徒顯現。特別注意耶穌對他們所說的話。
2. 多馬對耶穌復活的反應，我覺得如何？耶穌如何回應他呢？
3. 再讀一次經文，環觀耶穌的門徒中，有相信的，也有如多馬懷疑的；以我現在與主耶穌的關係，我會站在那一邊？當我聽見耶穌對我說話時，從心中向神回應，讓祂帶領我與祂對話。
4. 無論我是多馬或是其他門徒，感謝神賜給我的信心。

 

禱告與筆錄：

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

 

 

Chapter 20

¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  ²¹Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”   ²⁴Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”  ²⁶A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  ²⁸Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  ²⁹Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Meditation:

1. Read John’s description of the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection.  Pay special attention to Jesus’ words to them.
2. What does Thomas’s response to Jesus’ resurrection make me feel?  How did Jesus respond to him?
3. Read the passage once more.  Look around Jesus’ disciples, those believing ones; and then Thomas.  Judging from where I actually am in my relationship with Jesus right now, where will I be?  As I hear Jesus speak to me, respond to him from my heart.  Let him engage me in conversation.
4. Thank God for the faith he has given me no matter if I were a Thomas or like the other disciple.

 

 

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

1當下彼拉多將耶穌鞭打了。 2 兵丁用荊棘編做冠冕戴在他頭上，給他穿上紫袍， 3 又挨近他，說：「恭喜，猶太人的王啊！」他們就用手掌打他。 4 彼拉多又出來對眾人說：「我帶他出來見你們，叫你們知道我查不出他有甚麼罪來。」 5 耶穌出來，戴著荊棘冠冕，穿著紫袍。彼拉多對他們說：「你們看這個人！」 6 祭司長和差役看見他，就喊著說：「釘他十字架！釘他十字架！」彼拉多說：「你們自己把他釘十字架吧！我查不出他有甚麼罪來。」 7 猶太人回答說：「我們有律法，按那律法，他是該死的，因他以自己為　神的兒子。」 8 彼拉多聽見這話，越發害怕， 9 又進衙門，對耶穌說：「你是哪裏來的？」耶穌卻不回答。 10 彼拉多說：「你不對我說話嗎？你豈不知我有權柄釋放你，也有權柄把你釘十字架嗎？」 11 耶穌回答說：「若不是從上頭賜給你的，你就毫無權柄辦我。所以，把我交給你的那人罪更重了。」 12 從此，彼拉多想要釋放耶穌，無奈猶太人喊著說：「你若釋放這個人，就不是凱撒的忠臣（原文是朋友）。凡以自己為王的，就是背叛凱撒了。」 13 彼拉多聽見這話，就帶耶穌出來，到了一個地方，名叫「鋪華石處」，希伯來話叫厄巴大，就在那裏坐堂。 14 那日是預備逾越節的日子，約有午正。彼拉多對猶太人說：「看哪，這是你們的王！」 15 他們喊著說：「除掉他！除掉他！釘他在十字架上！」彼拉多說：「我可以把你們的王釘十字架嗎？」祭司長回答說：「除了凱撒，我們沒有王。」 16 於是彼拉多將耶穌交給他們去釘十字架。

默想：

1. 慢慢地讀這段經文，最好能夠將本章聖經通讀一次，用心中的眼觀看，用心中的耳聆聽。有什麼感受，心中有什麼思想？告訴神，聆聽神對我的回應。
2. 唱或讀這首詩歌：「你在那裡？」作為我對神的禱告。

（1）主捨命十架時你在那裡？
主捨命十架時你在那裡？
啊！有時我一想到就戰抖，戰抖，戰抖，
主捨命十架時你在那裡？

（2）我的主被釘時你在那裡？

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

¹Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ²The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they struck him in the face.  ⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”  ⁶As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”       But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”  ⁷The Jews insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”  ⁸When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”  ¹¹Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”  ¹²From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”  ¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.       “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”       “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.       “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.  ¹⁶Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

Meditation:

1. Read this passage slowly.  If it’s possible, read the whole chapter.  Try to see and hear the story.  What do I think and how do I feel?  Talk to God about it.  Wait for His response.
2. Sing or read this hymn as a response prayer.

Were You There    Negro spiritual

(1)     Were you there when they crucified my Lord?(2X)
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

(2)     Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?(2X)

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

4 耶穌知道將要臨到自己的一切事，就出來對他們說：「你們找誰？」 5 他們回答說：「找拿撒勒人耶穌。」耶穌說：「我就是！」賣他的猶大也同他們站在那裏。 6 耶穌一說「我就是」，他們就退後倒在地上。 7 他又問他們說：「你們找誰？」他們說：「找拿撒勒人耶穌。」 8 耶穌說：「我已經告訴你們，我就是。你們若找我，就讓這些人去吧。」 9 這要應驗耶穌從前的話，說：「你所賜給我的人，我沒有失落一個。」 10 西門彼得帶著一把刀，就拔出來，將大祭司的僕人砍了一刀，削掉他的右耳；那僕人名叫馬勒古。 11 耶穌就對彼得說：「收刀入鞘吧，我父所給我的那杯，我豈可不喝呢？」

25 西門彼得正站著烤火，有人對他說：「你不也是他的門徒嗎？」彼得不承認，說：「我不是。」 26 有大祭司的一個僕人，是彼得削掉耳朵那人的親屬，說：「我不是看見你同他在園子裏嗎？」 27 彼得又不承認。立時雞就叫了。

默想：

1. 存著謙卑的態度，等候神透過這段有關彼得的事件來對我講話。
2. 重讀這段經文。彼得的自信（10）及軟弱（25-27）的經歷，是否使我得到鼓勵？我什麼時候也曾像有過彼得一樣的感受？
3. 告訴神我心中的感受。等候聖靈在我心中繼續醫治和陶造的工作。

 

禱告與筆錄：

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

 

 

Chapter 18

⁴Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”  ⁵“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.    “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) ⁶When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.  ⁷Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”       And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”  ⁸“I told you that I am he,” Jesus answered. “If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ⁹This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” ¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)  ¹¹Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”

 

²⁵As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” ²⁶One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?” ²⁷Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.

Meditation:

1. Go over the passage slowly with humility.  Wait for God to speak to me about Peter’s actions here.
2. Read this passage again.  How does the story of Peter both self-confident(v10) and weak (vv25-27) encourage me?  When have I felt like Peter?
3. Talk to God about this.  Allow the Holy Spirit to work to heal and to mold in me slowly and surely.

 

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

20 「我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求， 21 使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裏面，我在你裏面，使他們也在我們裏面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。 22 你所賜給我的榮耀，我已賜給他們，使他們合而為一，像我們合而為一。 23 我在他們裏面，你在我裏面，使他們完完全全地合而為一，叫世人知道你差了我來，也知道你愛他們如同愛我一樣。

26 我已將你的名指示他們，還要指示他們，使你所愛我的愛在他們裏面，我也在他們裏面。

默想：

1. 慢慢地讀這段經文，記得這是耶穌在為我禱告（「為那些因他們的話信我的人」20節）。讀第二遍時，讀到他們時，將我的名字代入，再讀多一遍。
2. 耶穌在為我禱告這件事，最觸動我的是什麼？為什麼？
3. 感謝耶穌為我禱告，告訴耶穌最觸動我的禱告詞句。用耶穌的禱告為其他的信徒禱告。
4. 在今天一天的生活中，時刻體驗耶穌的同在，而這正是祂的計劃——內住我心中。

 

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 17

²⁰“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: ²³I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. ²⁴“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. ²⁵“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. ²⁶I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

Meditation:

1.  Read the passage slowly, knowing that this is Jesus praying for me (“those who will believe in me”). Read it again; substitute my name when it comes to them or they.  If needed, read it one more time.
2. What am I most excited about Jesus praying for me or saying about me?  Why?
3. Thank Jesus for praying for me.  Talk to him about the prayer phrases I found most meaningful.  Pray Jesus’ prayer for his followers alive today in the world.
4. Walk around today with the sense that Jesus is in me and that this was always his plan – to be in 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.

 

 

第十六章

7 然而，我將真情告訴你們，我去是與你們有益的；我若不去，保惠師就不到你們這裏來；我若去，就差他來。 8 他既來了，就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判，自己責備自己。 9 為罪，是因他們不信我； 10 為義，是因我往父那裏去，你們就不再見我； 11 為審判，是因這世界的王受了審判。 12 「我還有好些事要告訴你們，但你們現在擔當不了（或譯：不能領會）。 13 只等真理的聖靈來了，他要引導你們明白（原文是進入）一切的真理；因為他不是憑自己說的，乃是把他所聽見的都說出來，並要把將來的事告訴你們。 14 他要榮耀我，因為他要將受於我的告訴你們。 15 凡父所有的，都是我的；所以我說，他要將受於我的告訴你們。」

默想：

1. 聖靈在世上有三樣事工：為罪：因為罪的本質是不信（9節），而信徒對耶穌有堅定的信心，這與世界對祂的抗拒對立，正是證實世界的罪。為義：義的終極標準就是父神透過耶穌表現出來；現在耶穌已回到天父身邊（10節），證實祂的真確性。雖然人現在看不見耶穌，祂的性情卻表現在信徒學效耶穌的生命中；因此，日常生活中我們不斷顯示罪人和神之間的差距。為審判：十字架與復活的真實性，就是在信徒靠著耶穌的復活大能（羅8：11）而活出的嶄新生命；這就毫無疑問地證明撒但已被擊敗。因此，牠所統治的世界，只不過是個虛晃的空架。
2. 我們無法作任何事來定世界的罪；但是，當我們的生命注入聖靈的能力，並表現出天國的恩典時；我們便能勇敢地向世界宣告神的審判。
3. 感謝聖靈的引領，幫助我每天活出學效基督的生活來。

 

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 16

⁷But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ⁸When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt^[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; ¹⁰in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; ¹¹and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.  ¹²“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. ¹⁴He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. ¹⁵All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

Meditation

1. The Holy Spirit has three ministries to the world.  In regard to sin: the essence of sin is unbelief (v9).  Our trust in Jesus contrasts the world’s rejection of Him, this confirms its guilt.  In regard to righteousness: the ultimate standard of righteousness is God Himself, expressed in Jesus, whose claims have been vindicated by His return to the Father’s side(v 10).  Though men see Jesus no longer, His character is displayed in believers’ Christlike lives.  We continually exhibit the gap that exists between sinners and the Lord.  In regard to judgment: The Cross and Resurrection – the reality of which are seen in the believer who lives his life in Jesus’ resurrection power (Rm 8:11), proves unequivocally that Satan is a defeated foe.  Thus the world system he dominates is an empty sham.
2. There is nothing we can do to convict the world we live in.  It is our lives, infused by the Spirit’s power and displaying heaven’s grace, that boldly proclaim the judgment of our God.
3. Thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance in helping me to live out the Christlike life daily.

 

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「我是真葡萄樹，我父是栽培的人。 2 凡屬我不結果子的枝子，他就剪去；凡結果子的，他就修理乾淨，使枝子結果子更多。 3 現在你們因我講給你們的道，已經乾淨了。 4 你們要常在我裏面，我也常在你們裏面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上，自己就不能結果子；你們若不常在我裏面，也是這樣。 5 我是葡萄樹，你們是枝子。常在我裏面的，我也常在他裏面，這人就多結果子；因為離了我，你們就不能做甚麼。 6 人若不常在我裏面，就像枝子丟在外面枯乾，人拾起來，扔在火裏燒了。 7 你們若常在我裏面，我的話也常在你們裏面，凡你們所願意的，祈求，就給你們成就。 8 你們多結果子，我父就因此得榮耀，你們也就是我的門徒了。 9 我愛你們，正如父愛我一樣；你們要常在我的愛裏。

默想：

1. 耶穌的門徒是枝子，祂是葡萄樹，只要我們在主的愛中，我們就能結果子。枝子從連接的樹上吸取所需要的營養汁液。同樣的，我們從耶穌那裡汲取屬靈的生命力，使我們能開花結果。因此耶穌清楚地說：「離了我，你們就不能做甚麼」。
2. 枝子要能結果，園主需要經常修剪枝葉。我們的園主——天父，小心翼翼、殷勤地在園中工作，照料祂的葡萄園，為的是要幫助我們結出更多更好的果實來。神在我們生命中的修剪，是為我們的好處，並不是要威脅我們。
3. 活在主的裡面，並感謝祂必須作的修剪，使我能夠結果更多。

 

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

¹“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  ⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  ⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.

Meditation

1. Jesus’ disciples are branches, He is the Vine.  As we remain in His love, we produce fruit.  A branch draws its nutrients from the vine.  In the same way we draw the spiritual vitality from Jesus in order for us to produce fruit.  Thus Jesus says clearly, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”
2. For the branches to bear more fruits, the gardener needs to prune his vine regularly.  The great Gardener, our heavenly Father, works with extreme care to prune His vines.  We’re assured that God, the gardener, actively tending His vineyard, is fully committed to bring us to maximum fruitfulness.  God’s pruning work benefits us, it doesn’t threaten us.
3. Remain in the Lord and thank Him for the necessary pruning in order for me to be fruitful.

 

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.