奉獻

奉獻
聖經閱讀：瑪拉基書3:6-12
2012年8月16日(四)

兩歲的茱莉亞在教堂裡和奶奶一起坐著，奶奶給了茱莉亞一些錢，要她放進奉獻籃裡。 茱莉亞看著奉獻籃向她靠近，最後她把錢放了進去。然後，她用每個人都聽得到的音量大聲地說：「嘿！你！把錢還給我！」 茱莉亞只有兩歲大，我們可以理解她為什麼不想把錢給出去，但是有時候，我們的行為也像茱莉亞一樣。在哥林多後書9:7中，保羅說：「所以，每一個人都應該按照自己的心願捐助，不猶豫，不勉強，因為上帝喜愛樂意奉獻的人。」在今天的經文中，上帝鼓勵猶太人向祂奉獻，祂並應許猶太人，會因為他們的奉獻而祝福他們。 那你呢？你會像小茱莉亞一樣想要留著自己的錢，或是你會樂意奉獻給上帝，好讓祂的國度可以成長？ —NM 「試試我，你們就會看見我打開天上的窗戶，把各樣好東西豐豐富富地傾倒給你們。」瑪拉基書3:10b 禱告：親愛的天父，幫助我在向祢奉獻時有正確的態度。奉耶穌的名，阿們！ (林煜茹譯/台南聖教會英語團契)

Giving
Bible Reading: Malachi 3:6-12
Thursday, August 16, 2012

Two-year-old Julia was sitting with her grandmother in church. The grandmother gave Julia some money to put in the offering basket. Julia watched as the basket came closer to her. Finally she dropped in her money. Then she shouted so everyone could hear, “Hey, people! Give me my money back!” Julia was two years old. We can understand why she didn’t want to give up her money. But sometimes we act like Julia, too. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul said, “Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give. A person should not give if it makes him sad...God loves the person who gives happily.” In our Bible Reading today, God encouraged the Jews to give to Him. And He promised to bless them for their giving. What about you? Will you be like little Julia and want to keep your money, or will you freely give to God so His kingdom can grow? —NM “Test me! If you do those things, then I will truly bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything.” Malachi 3:10b PRAYER: Dear Father, help me to have the right attitude as I give to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.