260靈修 June 30, 2011: 馬太福音第十一章 Matthew:11

第十一章

最好能將全章略讀一遍,再專注於以下經文段落:

 

1耶穌吩咐完了十二個門徒,就離開那裏,往各城去傳道、教訓人。2約翰在監裏聽見基督所做的事,就打發兩個門徒去,3問他說:「那將要來的是你嗎?還是我們等候別人呢?」4耶穌回答說:「你們去,把所聽見、所看見的事告訴約翰。5就是瞎子看見,瘸子行走,長大痲瘋的潔淨,聾子聽見,死人復活,窮人有福音傳給他們。6凡不因我跌倒的就有福了!」

 

默想:

  1. 我是否也像約翰一樣,雖然信主已經一段時間,但仍然會對自己的信仰產生懷疑,恐怕所信的不是真的?主耶穌的回答能否解決我的困境?
  2. 在我自己身上或是周圍的人生命中,我曾否看見過主耶穌的作為?寫下至少三件神的作為,現在就為此感謝神。
  3. 「回憶神的工作」,「一顆感恩的心」,與「身處困境艱難」,這三者有什麼互相的關聯與作用?

禱告與筆錄:

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

 

Chapter 11

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

1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”  4Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Meditation:

  1. Have I been like John doubt Jesus after a period of unresolved difficulties and problems?  How would Jesus’ reply to John answer my doubts?
  2. Have I seen the work of Jesus in my life and lives of those around me? Write down at least three things.  Then, utter a thanksgiving payer to God.
  3. What do “Remembering God’s work, a Grateful heart, and a Difficult Situation” have in common in bringing us to God?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

Family Time:

How do we share the gospel with other people?  Jesus told his disciples to tell John “what you hear and see”.  Tell people what God has done in our lives is the best way of sharing the gospel.  What can you tell people?  Who do you want to tell it to?  Decide when you will tell and pray for the person to be willing to listen.


260靈修 June 29, 2011: 馬太福音第十章

最好能將全章略讀一遍,再專注於以下經文段落:

 

32凡在人面前認我的、我在我天上的父面前、也必認他。 33凡在人面前不認我的、我在我天上的父面前、也必不認他。 34你們不要想我來、是叫地上太平.我來、並不是叫地上太平、乃是叫地上動刀兵。 35因為我來、是叫人與父親生疏、女兒與母親生疏、媳婦與婆婆生疏. 36人的仇敵、就是自己家裏的人。 37愛父母過於愛我的、不配作我的門徒、愛兒女過於愛我的、不配作我的門徒。 38不背著他的十字架跟從我的、也不配作我的門徒。 39得著生命的、將要失喪生命.為我失喪生命的、將要得著生命。

 

默想:

1. 作主門徒的記號包括:在人前認主(32節),對主忠心勝過家庭的關係(34-35節),背起十字架跟從主,學效耶穌順服神以致於死在十架上(38節),為愛主捨棄一切(37節)。

2. 似乎門徒的生命全是「捨棄」而無「得著」,但是當主的門徒出外事奉時,別人藉著他們而蒙福,這使他們得了喜樂。就像使徒保羅所說:「你們是我們的希望,我們的喜樂。在我們的主耶穌再來的時候,我們所要誇耀的冠冕不正是你們嗎?」(帖前19)

3. 「背起十字架跟從主」對我來說有什麼意義?我如何因成為基督的門徒而在祂的受苦上有分?我有否經歷到保羅所說的喜樂?

 

禱告與筆錄:

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

 

Chapter 10

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

32“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ” ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – 36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

 

Meditation

1. The marks of Jesus’ disciples according to this passage include: acknowledging Jesus before men (v32), placing loyalty to Christ above even the bonds of family (vv34-35), taking up his cross and following Jesus by subjecting one’s will to God even as Jesus chose to subject Himself to the cross (v38), surrendering all for the sake of his Lord (v37).

2. It seems that the disciple’s life is all “give up” and no “gain”. However, as Jesus’ disciple go out to minister, they will have the joy of knowing that it was through him or her that others were thus blessed. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”(I Thes. 19)

3. What does “take his cross and follow Jesus” mean to me? How am I sharing Christ’ suffering in discipleship? Have I experience the joy Paul talked about?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

260靈修 June 28, 2011: 馬太福音第九章

9耶穌從那裏往前走、看見一個人名叫馬太、坐在稅關上、就對他說、你跟從我來.他就起來、跟從了耶穌。 10耶穌在屋裏坐席的時候、有好些稅吏和罪人來、與耶穌和他的門徒一同坐席。 11法利賽人看見、就對耶穌的門徒說、你們的先生為甚麼和稅吏並罪人一同吃飯呢。12耶穌聽見、就說、康健的人用不著醫生、有病的人才用得著。 13經上說、「我喜愛憐恤、不喜愛祭祀。」這句話的意思、你們且去揣摩.我來、本不是召義人、乃是召罪人。

默想:
耶穌呼召馬太,表明祂向社會的邊緣人物——受人歧視、排擠、壓迫的群體招手,法利賽人對宗教禮儀與道德的拘泥,使他們無法了解何以耶穌會和這樣卑賤的人一同飲宴。我比較能認同馬太或是法利賽人?為什麼?
今天我有否看見主耶穌向我招手,邀請我跟從祂?我的回應是什麼呢? 我是否歡喜與主一同吃喝,歡樂,慶祝,休息……?
耶穌引用《何6:6》「我喜愛憐恤、不喜愛祭祀。」,是否因憐恤和愛是我們內在的實際改變,而祭祀卻是不論內心的實況如何,都可以做到的外在表現?

禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想
(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在“靈程筆記”本上面。

 

Chapter 9

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

9As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

 

Meditation

1. The calling of Matthew exhibited Jesus’ calling of outcasts and despised sinners. The Pharisees, with their concern for both ritual and moral purity, could not understand why Jesus would have meals with the bad people. Whom can I identify more easily, Matthew or the Pharisees? Why?

2. Do I see Jesus’ calling of me, inviting me to follow Him? What’s my response? Do I enjoy eating, drinking, celebrating, resting, having fun with Jesus?

3. Why did Jesus quote “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”(Ho 6:6)? Could it be because love and mercy reveal that we have a transformed heart, while sacrifice is an outward act that can be done regardless of the condition of our heart?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little while longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.