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那鸿书 第二章 - 看哪,我与你为敌

神对尼尼微的宣告提醒我们,落在永生神的手里是一件可怕的事。

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“看哪,我与你为敌,将它的战车焚烧成烟,刀剑必吞灭你的少壮狮子;我必从地上除灭你的猎物,你使者的声音必不再听见。 这是万军之耶和华说的。”

我们从约拿的故事中知道,神爱尼尼微的人民。尽管他们的罪孽深重,以至于神不能再忽视,祂仍然派遣先知去向他们传讲警告,并在他们悔改时立刻回心转意。

但显然,他们的悔改并没有持续,多年后,神通过那鸿预言了他们的审判,他们将无法从中恢复。当神审判时——即使是祂在 《约拿书》 4:11中说“我岂能不怜惜尼尼微”的人民——祂也不会回心转意。即使看到他们将经历的痛苦,如 《那鸿书》 2:10所描述的,神也会确保他们为自己的恶行得到应有的报应。

这提醒我,即使我们曾经得到过神的恩典和怜悯,也不意味着神会永远宽恕我们——特别是如果我们不悔改,更糟糕的是,我们把神的忍耐当作理所当然。

让我们谨记 《希伯来书》 10:26-31的这段话。

因为我们得知真道以后,若故意犯罪,赎罪的祭就再没有了,惟有战惧等候审判和那烧灭众敌人的烈火。人干犯摩西的律法,凭两三个见证人尚且不得怜恤而死;何况人践踏神的儿子,将那使他成圣之约的血当作平常,又亵慢施恩的圣灵,你们想,他要受的刑罚该怎样加重呢?因为我们知道谁说:“伸冤在我,我必报应。”又说:“主要审判他的百姓。”落在永生神的手里,真是可怕的。

让我们时刻提醒自己 《雅各书》 4:4的话——与世俗为友就是与神为敌。回顾 《那鸿书》 2:13,当神与尼尼微为敌时,他们的战车和少壮狮子——他们力量、骄傲和世俗成就的象征——都化为乌有。如果我们成为神的敌人,就像亚述人一样,在那掌握我们生命的神面前,我们自己的世俗成就又有什么价值呢?

“看哪,我与你为敌”。我们的神对我们充满怜悯。让我们祈祷,我们永远不会迫使祂对我们说这句话。

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约拿书 第三章 - 神的丰富怜悯

约拿书 第三章 - 神的丰富怜悯

“这是好的,在我们救主神面前可蒙悦纳;祂愿意万人得救,并得以认识真理。”(提摩太前书2:3-4)。   《约拿书》第3章记录了这一情感的经典例证。它记载了先知约拿向尼尼微人传道,以及尼尼微人悔改的故事。   当我们看到尼尼微人悔改的故事时,我们可以从中找到一种安慰。正如神在尼尼微人真心悔改时宽恕了他们一样,我们也有信心,只要我们以真诚的心悔改,神今天也会以怜悯宽恕我们的罪。   然而,我们不应因为认为神会对我们仁慈而变得自满。在这一章中,我们看到尼尼微人为了寻求神的宽恕所付出的努力。首先,第6节记载,王自己披麻蒙灰,坐在灰中。第7至9节记录了王颁布的命令,要求所有百姓禁食哀哭,促使他们都在神面前悔改。让我们花点时间反思一下,这是我们最终转向神之前想要达到的状态吗?尽管尼尼微人最终得到了赦免,但我们不要被欺骗,他们当时的状态是悲惨的。   此外,《希伯来书》 10:26告诉我们:“因为我们得知真道以后,若故意犯罪,赎罪的祭就再没有了。”  神的爱是丰盛的,祂的怜悯是充足的,但我们要小心,永远不要滥用这种爱和怜悯。   约拿的故事也教导我们如何对待那些我们可能认为有罪的人。《约拿书》的叙事围绕着约拿拒绝向尼尼微宣讲的故事,因他憎恨那座城市,并怀疑那里的人民是否会改变。 当我们读到约拿的故事时,我们会很快说约拿的态度是不对的。然而,当我们看周围的同伴时,我们是否也不知不觉地采取了约拿的心态?我们是否轻易地评判他人?是否给他们贴上某些标签,并拒绝在他们的信仰上帮助他们?我们必须记住,神愿意万人得救。在神的眼中,每一个灵魂都是宝贵的。既然如此,作为神的仆人,我们必须履行祂的旨意,努力拯救每一个灵魂,无论我们对他们的看法如何。   总而言之,我们已经从神那里领受了这份爱与怜悯的礼物。我们也应当将这美好的礼物与他人分享。

但以理书 第四章(英文)

但以理书 第四章(英文)

The story in Daniel Chapter 4 is perhaps not unfamiliar to many of us. King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the great Babylonian empire, the king of kings, being turned into a beast, how spectacular is that? It's not until we read through this chapter for ourselves that we realise something even more spectacular: this whole chapter is told by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel Chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar's own personal testimony! Isn't King Nebuchadnezzar the infamous evil king? How is it that in this chapter he gives praise to the almighty God? Perhaps the first thing that should catch our attention from today's chapter is the repeated phrase in verses 17 and 32. The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He wills. This phrase can even be said to be the theme of the whole Book of Daniel. This book is mostly set in the time of exile, when there seemingly was no longer any king over the people of God. Yet, in the Book of Daniel we see that though there was no earthly king ruling over Israel, God made it clear to these foreign kings that He is the almighty God. He was still the one who was truly the King. The outcome of this is that the evil king Nebuchadnezzar, probably the greatest and most powerful man during his time, writes this testimony for all peoples, nations, and languages to hear (Daniel 4:1-3). Imagine being a subject in the Babylonian empire, and receiving this declaration from king Nebuchadnezzar praising and glorifying the God of Israel. Though God's people sin against Him and are punished by being taken into exile, the name of God is still magnified. God is not put to shame. Today through baptism we have entered into the Kingdom of God. Yet, it is key for us to consider whether God truly is the King of our lives. It's natural to make many plans for our future, out of a desire to lead our dream lives. But for us Christians, the sovereignty and authority of God is something that we must be well-aware of and fully willing to submit to. If God doesn't let me get that job, are we able to accept it? If God closes the path towards our dreams, are we will to say "Let Thy will be done"? If God takes away all that we have, are we able to be like Job and say "Blessed be the name of the Lord"? If all this is causing us to struggle, remember this: God loves us. He knows what's best for us, He knows what we need. He has already given His life for us, and given us His precious Spirit to dwell within us. Having faith in God's love towards us gives us strength to submit to our King with full assurance that this is the best path for us, this is the way to blessing and to eternal life. Since our God is the highest and rules over the kingdom of man, what then should our response ought to be? Nebuchadnezzar begins and ends his testimony by praising and glorifying God. Giving praises to God is something that we have been often taught but perhaps we have not given enough thought to or taken seriously enough. Yet, throughout the Bible, it's clear that praises are a key part of our worship to God (just read the Book of Psalms). What might we praise God for? Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can praise God for His greatness and His almightiness. Just consider the stars, or the intricacies of the human body. We can praise God for His love and wisdom as seen in His creation as well as in His word. The more we study into the holy scriptures, the more we are filled with awe at how complete, connected, and wonderful these life-giving words are. We can also glorify God for His salvation which He has so freely given to us. Imagine how different our lives might be today if not for His grace and mercy! It's when we decide to finally take the importance of praising God seriously and intentionally set aside some time in our daily prayers to praise God, that we truly experience the blessing that comes along with it. We go through life being filled with joy and gratitude, knowing that we have such a great and powerful Heavenly Father who loves us. In fact, it was when Nebuchadnezzar took the glory for Himself rather than giving all glory to God, that the infamous transformation into a beast took place. This brings us nicely to the final point of reflection for this devotional. Pride - when we take glory for ourselves rather than giving glory to God. Nebuchadnezzar's testimony serves as a stark warning for us. Even just a sentence or thought of pride can greatly displease God. How often have we unknowingly taken credit for ourselves for any achievements we have, or for any divine work that we do? Being puffed up with pride and not keeping to one's proper domain is precisely the sin of satan (1 Tim 3:6, Jude 6-7). If we are filled with pride, what difference is there between us and satan? In fact, while satan exalted himself, God on the contrary lowered Himself, coming in the likeness of man and humbling Himself even to the point of death (Phil 2:5-8). Whose example do we want to follow, that of God or of satan? Let us take warning from the story of Nebuchadnezzar and carefully consider who's example we want to follow. Indeed, God opposes the proud while giving grace to the humble. He blesses the meek, that they might inherit the earth .

以西结书 第二十一章(英文)

以西结书 第二十一章(英文)

This chapter talks about the sword of God against His people and the Ammonites, with the word “sword” being mentioned 15 times! This sword (i.e. Babylon, v19-20) is a sword of judgement that God would use to punish these two groups of people for their sins. Here are 3 things that will happen when this sword is drawn: Why both the righteous and wicked – is God being unfair? We know from the consistent message of the Bible that this is not so. God is just, and He does not indiscriminately slay the righteous with the wicked. Even for a city as depraved as Sodom and Gomorrah, God delivered Lot and his family, the only few righteous people remaining (fewer than 5!), before destroying the city (Genesis 18:23-26). Moreover, by cutting off the righteous from the land, God not only delivers them from further physical suffering including forced labour by the Babylonians, He also delivers them from further spiritual corruption by their wicked kinsmen who were steeped in idolatry. God’s promise of delivering the righteous from their troubles is a promise we must cling to (Psalm 34:19). We must also recognise that ultimately, God wants to deliver us in a spiritual sense – from the temptations of the evil one (Matthew 6:13), the corruption of the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:4), and the corruption in hell (Psalm 16:10). Therefore, let us trust in the righteousness of God, knowing His will for us is not to perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). The original meaning of Israel is “prince with God”. However, now that their scepter is despised, Israel is no longer prince with God, no longer son of the King of kings. Israel is dethroned, because of the people’s wickedness. Yet, God foretells the coming of One whom God will crown because He is the rightful Ruler (v27b) – this One is none other than our Lord Jesus, whose reign and kingdom is everlasting (Luke 1:33). Just like how Esau lost his God-given birthright because of his choice to gratify a moment’s hunger, Israel lost their precious status as prince with God, children of God, because of their choice to persist in their unfaithfulness towards Him (Ezekiel 14:13). How about us: do we make personal choices that jeopardise our precious relationship with God? What does God remember? Their sins. As a result, what will God forget? His relationship with them – in other words, an utter disowning of His people. But… did God permanently forget His people? Again, we know from the consistent message of the Bible, as well as history, that this was not so. Rather, God disowns them with the purpose of cleansing them from their sins so that He can re-own them as His people – a people with a new spirit and heart of flesh that submits to God’s laws (Ezekiel 11:19-20), who will no longer stray from God (Ezekiel 14:11). As the psalmist says: “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life.” (Psalm 30:5) God promises that if we repent and return to Him wholeheartedly – fearing Him, meditating on His name, and serving Him (Malachi 3:16-18) – God will remember us and bless us with His favour for the rest of our life, in this age and the age to come. By always using the sword of His word to prune away sin from our hearts (Hebrews 4:12-13). Let us daily examine our thoughts and intents to see if they align with the Bible’s standards. Remember that we are naked and open to Him, secret sins and all, and one day we must give an account to God who will judge all our thoughts, words and deeds. Amen.

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