聖經中的母親 (5)

聖經中的母親 (5)
聖經閱讀：提摩太後書1:3-7 現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月12日(四)

　我們要談的最後一位母親是友妮基，今天閱讀的經文是她唯一一次在聖經中被提到的地方。
保羅寫提摩太後書來鼓勵並教導他的朋友提摩太，在這些經節中，保羅談到提摩太對上帝的信心，保羅在第5節說：「我記得你那純真的信心，就是你外祖母羅綺和你母親友妮基所有的那種信心。她們的信心，我相信你也有了。」
我們對友妮基的認識並不多，但我們確實知道她相信上帝並教導提摩太認識祂。許多我認識的人都是藉著他們的父母或祖父母來認識上帝，我的父母教導我認識上帝並且鼓勵我接受耶穌作為我的救主。
想一想那些教導你並鼓勵你成為基督徒的人，也許是你的父母，也許是主日學老師，或者是一個朋友，就花一點時間打電話給他們，或者寫一封信或電子郵件給他們，感謝他們帶領你認識耶穌。 －JK

「你要堅守我所給你的那健全的信息，作為你的規範，也要守住我們跟基督耶穌連結所得到的信心和愛心。」 提摩太後書1:13b

禱告：上帝，我很感謝有人帶領我認識祢。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林威妮譯)

Bible Mothers (5)
Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 1:3-7
Thursday, May 12, 2016

The last mother we will talk about is Eunice. Our Bible Reading is the only time she is mentioned in the Bible.
Paul wrote 2 Timothy to encourage and teach his friend, Timothy. In these verses, Paul talked about Timothy's faith in God. Paul said in verse 5, “I remember your true faith. That kind of faith first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice. I know you now have that same faith.”
We do not know much about Eunice. But we do know that she believed in God and taught Timothy about Him. Many people I know learned about God from their parents or grandparents. My parents taught me about God and encouraged me to accept Jesus as my Savior.
Think about people who taught you and encouraged you to become a Christian. Maybe it was your parents or a Sunday School teacher or a friend. Take time to call them or send them an e-mail or letter. Thank them for leading you to Jesus. —JK

“Follow that model of right teaching with the faith and love we have in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:13b

PRAYER: God, I am so thankful that someone led me to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

聖經中的母親 (4)

聖經中的母親 (4)
聖經閱讀：路加福音1:26-38現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月11日(三)

　耶穌的母親馬利亞大概是聖經中最有名的母親，今天閱讀的經文告訴我們天使加百列拜訪馬利亞的情形。 加百列告訴馬利亞一個令人興奮的消息：「馬利亞，不要害怕，因為上帝施恩給你。你要懷孕生一個兒子，要給他取名叫耶穌」（第30b-31節）。
我想馬利亞是既驚訝又困惑，同時也感到高興，也許她心裡有許多的疑問，但是她並沒有和加百列爭辯，馬利亞反而說：「我是主的婢女；願你的話成就在我身上」（第38a節）。
有時候上帝會交給我一件工作，但是我並不像馬利亞那樣，我會抱怨並質問上帝：「為什麼我要做這個？」我必須學像馬利亞那樣謙卑，也要信靠上帝來幫助我完成祂要我做的事。
今天就學像馬利亞，不要問──就照著上帝說的去做！ －JK

「他（耶穌）要永遠作雅各家的王，他的王權無窮無盡！」 路加福音1:33

禱告：親愛的天父，我願像馬利亞一樣謙卑又順服。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林威妮譯)

Bible Mothers (4)
Bible Reading: Luke 1:26-38
Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is probably the best-known mother in the Bible. Our Bible Reading today tells us about the time when the angel, Gabriel, visited Mary.
Gabriel told Mary some exciting news. “Don't be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. Listen! You will become pregnant, and have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus” (verses 30b-31).
I think that Mary was surprised, confused and also happy. She probably had many questions in her mind. But she didn't argue with Gabriel. Instead, Mary said, “I am the servant of the Lord God. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” (verse 38a).
Sometimes God gives me a job to do. But instead of being like Mary, I complain and ask God, “Why do I have to do this?” I need to learn to be humble like Mary. Also I need to trust God to help me do what He wants me to do.
Be like Mary today. Don't ask questions — just do what God says! —JK

“He [Jesus] will rule over the people of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:33

PRAYER: Dear Father, I want to be humble and obedient like Mary. In Jesus' name. Amen.

聖經中的母親 (3)

聖經中的母親 (3)
聖經閱讀：列王紀下4:1-7 現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月10日(二)

　今天閱讀的經文跟我們談到一個死去丈夫的女人的故事。這個女人去見上帝的先知以利沙，在第1b節，她對以利沙說她的丈夫欠了債，「現在有一個債主來，要把我的兩個兒子帶去當奴隸。」
那女人告訴以利沙，說她家中僅有的一件東西就是一瓶橄欖油。以利沙吩咐她去向鄰居借許多容器，然後「把油倒進容器，裝滿了就放在一邊」（第4b節）。那女人就照著以利沙跟她說的去做，居然能夠倒滿所有容器！然後以利沙說（第7b節）：「把橄欖油賣掉，去還你的債。剩下的錢足夠你們母子過活了。」
這個母親不希望兒子被賣去當奴隸，她急著找方法來保住兒子，上帝用了一個奇妙的方法來幫助她！今天你或許遇到了困難的情況，請不要放棄！要向上帝禱告，求祂幫助你找到問題的答案。－JK

「義人的禱告有很大的功效。」 雅各書5:16b

禱告：天父，感謝祢幫助我找到問題的答案。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林威妮譯)

Bible Mothers (3)
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 4:1-7
Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Our Bible verses tell us about a woman whose husband had died. This woman came to God's prophet, Elisha. In verse 1b, she told Elisha that her husband “owed money to a man. And now that man is coming to take my two boys and make them his slaves!”
The woman told Elisha that the only thing she had in her house was a jar of olive oil. Elisha told her to borrow lots of bowls from her neighbors. “Then pour the oil into all those bowls. Fill them, and put them in a separate place” (verse 4b). The woman did what Elisha told her to do. She was able to fill all the bowls she had! Then Elisha said (verse 7b), “Go, sell the oil and pay your debt. You and your sons can live on the money that is left.”
This mother did not want her sons to be sold as slaves. She was desperate to find a way to keep her sons. God helped her in an amazing way! Maybe you are facing difficult situations today. Don't give up. Pray to God and ask Him to help you find answers to your problems. —JK

“Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.” James 5:16b

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for helping me find answers to my problems. In Jesus' name. Amen.

聖經中的母親 (2)

聖經中的母親 (2)
聖經閱讀：撒母耳記上1:9-28 現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月9日(一)

　我有兩個已經長大的孩子，我一直很喜歡扮演母親的角色！所以我可以想像哈娜沒有孩子有多麼傷心。
今天閱讀的經文告訴我們，哈娜向上帝禱告祈求賜給她一個兒子，她告訴上帝（第11b節）：「如果你賜給我一個兒子，我許願把他終生獻給你。」上帝回應哈娜的禱告，她生下了撒母耳。
當撒母耳年紀夠大了，哈娜將他帶到示羅，那裡是祭司以利事奉上帝的地方。撒母耳和以利住在一起，上帝使用撒母耳做了許多奇妙的事情。對哈娜來說，把她的兒子留在示羅一直是件不容易的事情，但是她信守了對上帝的承諾。之後，上帝賜福哈娜，讓她又生了三個兒子和兩個女兒（撒母耳記上2:21）。

想一想你的孩子、你的孫子，或是住在附近的孩子，今天就想辦法教導他們愛上帝、事奉上帝的事情。 －JK

「因此，我要把他獻給上主；他要終生歸屬上主。」 撒母耳記上1:28a

禱告：天父，感謝祢在我的生命中賜下孩子，求祢幫助我教導他們愛祢並事奉祢。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林威妮譯)

Bible Mothers (2)
Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-28
Monday, May 9, 2016

　I have two grown children. I have always loved being a mother! So I can imagine how sad Hannah felt when she didn't have any children.
Our Bible Reading tells us that Hannah prayed and asked God to give her a son. She told God (verse 11b), “If you will give me a son, then I will give him to you.” God answered Hannah's prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel.
When Samuel was old enough, Hannah took him to Shiloh. This was where Eli, the priest, served God. Samuel stayed with Eli. God used Samuel to do many wonderful things. It must have been difficult for Hannah to leave her son at Shiloh. But she kept her promise to God. Later, God blessed Hannah with three more sons and two daughters (1 Samuel 2:21).
Think about your children, your grandchildren or the children in your neighborhood. Look for ways today to teach them about loving and serving God. —JK

“And now I give this child to the Lord. He will serve the Lord all his life.” 1 Samuel 1:28a

PRAYER: Father, thank You for the children in my life. Help me to teach them to love and serve You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

聖經中的母親 (1)

聖經中的母親 (1)
聖經閱讀：出埃及記2:1-10 現代中譯本|合和本
2016年5月8日(日)

　今天是美國的母親節，這是特別要尊榮母親的一天。接下來的幾天，我想要跟你分享聖經中一些母親的故事。
今天我們要來談談摩西的母親約基別。我們今天閱讀的經文沒有告訴我們她的名字，但我們可以在出埃及記6:20讀到她的名字。約基別也是亞倫和米利暗的母親。
埃及國王不希望他國家中的以色列人越來越多，所以打算殺掉所有以色列的男嬰。約基別生了一個男孩，她把這孩子藏了三個月。
後來約基別拿了一個籃子、將嬰兒摩西放在裡面，她將籃子放到河裡，國王的女兒發現了摩西並「正式收養他作自己的兒子」（第10b節），這都是上帝計畫的一部分。摩西長大後，上帝使用他讓以色列人脫離在埃及為奴的生活。
約基別信靠上帝來照顧嬰兒摩西，上帝永遠知道什麼是對我們最好的，我希望你今天也能信靠祂。 －JK

「她說：『我從水裡把這孩子拉上來，就叫他摩西吧！』」 出埃及記2:10b

禱告：上帝，我願像約基別一樣信靠祢。奉耶穌的名，阿們！

(林威妮譯)

Bible Mothers (1)
Bible Reading: Exodus 2:1-10
Sunday, May 8, 2016

　Today is Mother's Day in the United States. This is a special day when we honor our mothers. For a few days, I would like to share with you about some Bible mothers.
Today we will talk about Jochebed, the mother of Moses. Our Bible Reading does not tell us her name. But we read her name in Exodus 6:20. Jochebed was also the mother of Aaron and Miriam.
The Egyptian king did not want more Israelites in his country. So he planned to kill all the Israelite babies that were boys. Jochebed gave birth to a baby boy. She hid her baby for three months.
Then Jochebed took a basket and put baby Moses in it. She placed the basket in the river. The king's daughter found Moses and “accepted the baby as her own son” (verse 10b). This was all part of God's plan. Moses grew up, and God used him to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Jochebed trusted God to take care of baby Moses. God always knows what is best for us. I hope you will trust Him today. —JK

“She named him Moses because she had pulled him from the water.” Exodus 2:10b

PRAYER: God, I want to trust You like Jochebed did. In Jesus' name. Amen.