聖經的奧祕 (10)

聖經的奧祕 (10)
聖經閱讀：啟示錄17:1-18 現代中譯本|合和本
2015年4月28日(二)

新約聖經的最後一個奧祕出現在啟示錄的第18章和第19章，就是所謂的「大巴比倫」奧祕（啟示錄17:5）。 　我們知道，舊約聖經中的巴比倫是一個統治大帝國的大城，而上帝的子民就在這個城裡被奴役了70年。巴比倫最後被摧毀了，而且再也沒有被重建（以賽亞書13:1-22）。 　在啟示錄約翰的異象中，他看見了另一個巴比倫，是以一個擁有權能統治許多國家的淫婦形象出現，這個巴比倫將與上帝的子民敵對並讓很多人被殺害。 　今天經文閱讀的第18節告訴我們，巴比倫將會成為一個擁有大權的大城市，但最後，這個城市會被消滅。當這個城市被毀滅時，世人會感到哀傷，但上帝的子民卻會歡喜快樂。 　這些經節警告上帝的子民不要跟惡人來往，而要跟隨上帝並且單單事奉祂！ —HLN 「羔羊要擊敗他們，因為他是萬主之主，萬王之王。他所選召、忠心隨從他的人也要得勝。」 啟示錄17:14b 禱告：親愛的主，我們願意服事祢，求祢在每天的生活中引導我們。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (江惠蓉譯)

Bible Mysteries (10)
Bible Reading: Revelation 17:1-18
Tuesday, April 28, 2015

The New Testament's last mystery is in Revelation, chapters 18 and 19. It is the mystery of “The Great Babylon” (Revelation 17:5). 　We know Babylon in the Old Testament as a great city that ruled a world empire. God's people were in slavery there for 70 years. Babylon was finally destroyed, never to be rebuilt again (Isaiah 13:1-22). 　In John's vision in Revelation, he saw another Babylon in the form of a prostitute who would have power over many nations. This Babylon will be against God's people and cause many to be killed. 　Verse 18 of our Bible Reading tells us that this Babylon will be a great city that will have world power. But finally, this city will be destroyed. The people of the earth will be sad when the city is destroyed. But God's people will be happy. 　These verses warn God's people not to associate with evil people. Follow God and serve only Him! —HLN “...the Lamb will defeat them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And with him will be his chosen and faithful followers — the people he has called to be his.” Revelation 17:14b PRAYER: Dear Lord, we want to serve You. Guide us every day of our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.

猶大書

猶大書
聖經閱讀：猶大書1-25 現代中譯本|合和本
2014年10月15日(三)

今天我們要來看新約聖經中的另一本短書卷──猶大書，這是猶大寫給基督徒的一封告誡信。 　猶大喜愛耶穌的真理，他想要確保人們都認識這些真理。但是猶大看見了假裝成基督徒的人，猶大稱這些人「污穢了自己」（第12節），他在第16節形容這些人「常常埋怨別人，責怪別人；他們隨從自己邪惡的慾望。」 　猶大的信警告教會裡有像這樣的人：「在歷史的末期有人要出來，隨從自己邪惡和不敬虔的慾念嘲弄你們。這些人製造紛爭，受本性的支配，沒有聖靈」（第18-19節） 　今天就向人分享耶穌的真理，並要確定你只跟隨愛上帝、服事上帝的人。 —SH* 「常常生活在上帝的愛裏，仰望我們的主耶穌基督憐憫你們，賜給你們永恆的生命。」 猶大書21 禱告：天父，求祢今天幫助我向人分享耶穌的真理。奉主的名，阿們！ (尤榮輝譯)

Jude
Bible Reading: Jude 1-25
Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Today we will look at another short New Testament book — the book of Jude. This is a letter of warning that Jude wrote to Christians. 　Jude loved the truth about Jesus, and he wanted to make sure that people knew that truth. But Jude saw people who were pretending to be Christians. Jude called these people “dirty spots among you” (verse 12). He described these people in verse 16a, “These people always complain and find wrong in others. They always do the evil things they want to do.” 　Jude’s letter is a warning about people like this who are in the church. “In the last times there will be people who laugh at God and do only what they want to do — things that are against God. These are the people who divide you. They are not spiritual, because they don’t have the Spirit” (verses 18b-19). 　Share the truth about Jesus with others today. And be sure that you only follow people who love and serve God. —SH* “Keep yourselves safe in God’s love, as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life.” Jude 21 PRAYER: Father, help me share the truth about Jesus with others today. In His name. Amen.

走另一條路

走另一條路
聖經閱讀：箴言4:10-27 現代中譯本|合和本
2014年4月21日(一)

今天早上，當我看到前面有道路施工的號誌時，只離聽障事工辦公室才幾哩路。我可以看見工人叫車子停下來等待，讓車子排成一條長長的隊伍。我知道如果我排隊等待的話，上班就會遲到，所以我決定下高速公路，改走另一條路到辦公室。 　有時候在生命中，我們也必須停下來改走另一條路。也許我們看見朋友正在帶我們離開耶穌，那麼我們就必須另外找一些跟從耶穌的新朋友。或許我們了解到，花在電腦上的時間太多，讓我們不能好好讀經，所以我們就必須限制使用電腦的時間，並安排時間來研讀上帝的話語。 　今天的經文提醒我們，當我們跟隨做錯事的人，我們應該「要躲避邪惡，不要跟從；只管走你的路，拒絕同流合污」（第15節），那麼，我們就是走在通往救恩和天國永生的道路上。 －JK 「對所計劃的事要有把握，你所做的就不至於差錯。要排除邪惡，朝著前面直走，不要離開正路一步。」 箴言4:26-27 禱告：親愛的上帝，我願走在通往祢的道路上。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (陳萍萍譯)

Go Another Way
Bible Reading: Proverbs 4:10-27
Monday, April 21, 2014

I was only a few miles from the Deaf Missions office this morning when I noticed road construction signs ahead. I could see that the workers were stopping traffic and making them wait in a long line. I knew that if I waited, I would be late for work. So I decided to turn off the highway and go another way to the office. 　Sometimes in life we need to stop and go another way. Maybe we see that our friends are leading us away from Jesus. Then we need to find new friends who follow Jesus. Or maybe we realize that our time on the computer is keeping us from studying the Bible. So we need to limit our time on the computer and make time to read and study God’s Word. 　Our Bible Reading today reminds us that when we are following people who do wrong things, we should “turn around and go another way” (verse 15). Then we will be on the way that leads to salvation and eternal life in heaven. —JK “Make sure you are going the right way, and nothing will make you fall. Don’t go to the right or to the left, and you will stay away from evil.” Proverbs 4:26-27 PRAYER: Dear God, I want to stay on the way that leads to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

難以理解

難以理解
聖經閱讀：詩篇73:12-28 現代中譯本|合和本
2013年2月26日(二)

當我環顧周遭的人們，我看到富裕並擁有很多財產的人，其中有些人驕傲又無禮，他們不跟從上帝和祂的法則。 　我每天都努力要跟從上帝，但祂並沒有用金錢和好東西來祝福我，所以，我很難理解為什麼這些壞人會富有。今天經文的第12a節是這樣說的：「邪惡的人就是這樣；他們已經富足，仍然貪而無厭。我實在徒然潔淨了我的心，徒然洗手表明無辜。」 　然後我又再次思想這些不跟從上帝的人，他們將不會與上帝永遠同住；他們也許在世上能擁有財富，但是他們將永遠與上帝隔絕。 　我同意這詩篇作者所說的，在第28節他說：「至於我，我能夠親近上帝多麼好啊！」。我不需要財富和昂貴的東西，我唯一真正需要的是上帝和祂藉由愛子耶穌所賜下的救恩。—SH* 「義人所擁有的雖少，卻勝過邪惡者的一切財富；因為上主要打斷邪惡人的膀臂；他要保護正直的人。」 詩篇37:16-17 禱告：天父，我唯一的需要是祢和祢的愛子耶穌。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (SDL譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Hard to Understand
Bible Reading: Psalm 73:12-28
Tuesday, February 26, 2013

I look around at people in the world. I see people who are wealthy and have many possessions. Some of these people are proud and rude. They do not follow God and His rules. 　I try every day to follow God. But He does not bless me with money and nice things. So it is hard for me to understand why these bad people are rich. Verse 12a of our Bible Reading says it this way: “Those proud people are wicked, but they are rich and getting richer. Clearly, then, I gain nothing by keeping my thoughts pure!” 　Then I think again about these people who do not follow God. They will not live forever with Him. They may have riches on earth, but they will be eternally separated from God. 　I agree with the writer of this psalm. He says in verse 28, “As for me, all I need is to be close to God.” I don’t need riches and fancy things. All I truly need is God and salvation through His Son, Jesus. —SH* “A few good people are better than a large crowd of those who are evil. The wicked will be destroyed, but the Lord cares for those who are good.” Psalm 37:16-17 PRAYER: Father, all I need is You and Your Son, Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

公義

公義
聖經閱讀：詩篇75:1-10
2012年10月6日(六)

在電視的晚間新聞裡，我看到有人在做壞事。當警察抓不到壞人時，我感到生氣；當法院放掉該被懲罰的人時，我同樣感到生氣。 　 詩篇第75篇是關於公義的詩篇，這些經文告訴我們，上帝是最好的法官，祂會按著人所做的壞事來懲罰人，總有一天，上帝也會懲罰那些在世上作惡卻沒有受到懲罰的壞人。 　 經文的第4及第5節談到「驕傲的人」，它說：「我叫驕傲的人不要狂妄；我叫邪惡的人不要傲慢；我叫他們不要誇張，不要再狂妄自大。」這些經文提醒了我，我有時候也會變得驕傲，所以，我需要小心地順從上帝，並且保持謙卑。 　 今天，就為上帝奇妙的智慧和公義感謝上帝，並且確定你有遵照上帝在你生命中的計畫來行。—SH* 今日金句： 「審判是從上帝而來，他判某些人有罪，某些人無罪。」詩篇75:7 禱告：上帝，謝謝祢的慈愛和公義。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (SSL譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Justice
Bible Reading: Psalm 75:1-10
Saturday, October 6, 2012

I watch the evening news on TV, and I see that people are doing bad things. It bothers me when the police are not able to catch someone who did something bad. And it bothers me when our court system lets people go free who should be punished. 　 Psalm 75 is a psalm of justice. These verses tell us God is the best judge and that He will punish people for the bad things they have done. Someday God will even punish bad people who are not punished here on earth. 　 Verses 4 and 5 talk about proud people. “Some people are very proud. They think they are powerful and important. But I tell those people, ‘Don’t brag! Don’t be so proud!’” These verses remind me that sometimes I become proud, too. I need to be careful to obey God and stay humble. 　 Thank God today for His wonderful wisdom and justice. And be sure that you follow God’s plan for your life. —SH* “God is the judge. And God decides who will be important. God lifts up one person and makes him important. God brings down another person and makes him not important.” Psalm 75:7 PRAYER: God, thank You for Your love and justice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

窮苦的人

窮苦的人
聖經閱讀：詩篇82:1-8
2012年10月1日(一)

詩篇第82篇的作者看見：有時候，邪惡的人順利成功，而好人卻可憐無助。在第2節，上帝說：「你們必須停止不公平的審判；你們不可再偏袒邪惡的人！」 　今天，看看周遭的世界，同樣的事情依然發生。我知道我該做點什麼事，而第3及第4節告訴了我該做的事：「要維護窮苦人和孤兒的權利；要以公道待貧寒無告的人。要救援窮苦貧寒的人，使他們免受惡徒的欺凌。」 　最近我搬新家，認識了許多新朋友，而我正在學習如何找出需要幫助的人。有些人，我可以幫他們準備一頓熱飯，或者，我可以分享我的財物，如果我沒辦法幫得上忙，我也可以找其他人來幫助他們。 　也許今天你會遇見需要幫助的人，你要盡你的能力來幫助他，向他分享上帝的愛，並且禱告求上帝使用你來幫助他們更親近上帝。—BH 今日金句： 「上主啊，你要維護弱小者的權益；我知道你要為貧窮的人伸張公義。正直的人要頌讚你；他們要居住在你的面前。」 詩篇140:12-13 禱告：主，我願意幫助人。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (SSL譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Needy People
Bible Reading: Psalm 82:1-8
Monday October 1, 2012

The writer of Psalm 82 saw that sometimes wicked people succeed and good people are poor and helpless. In verse 2 God asked, “How long will you judge people unfairly? How long will you let wicked people go free without punishment?” 　I look around my world today, and I see the same things happening. I know that I should do something. Verses 3 and 4 tell me what I should do. “Defend the poor people and orphans. Protect the rights of those poor people. Help those poor, helpless people. Save them from evil people.” 　Recently I moved to a new home. I have met many new people. I am learning how to find people who are in need. Some of these people I can help by providing a hot meal. Or I can share some of my possessions. If I can’t help them, I can find other people who can help them. 　Maybe you will see a person in need today. Do what you can to help that person. Share God’s love with them, and pray that God will use you so they can become close to Him. —BH “I know the Lord will judge poor people fairly. God will help helpless people. Good people will praise your name, Lord. Good people will worship you.” Psalm 140:12-13 PRAYER: Lord, I want to help other people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.