每日读经

撒迦利亚书 第十三章 - 那位牧者救主

那枝子被折下来是特为叫我接上。

作者:

Anne

|

6 分钟阅读

在撒迦利亚书的最后几章中,探讨了神未来的国度。特别是在本章中,我们看到,尽管神对祂的子民充满慈爱和眷顾,以色列却仍不断得罪神。然而,虽然以色列最终将被毁灭,即使他们曾犯下极大的罪,神仍然会拯救一部分犹太人的余民。因此有关我们今天所领受的救恩,除了神那浩大的怜悯之外,我们从中还能学到什么呢?

因不信,他们被折断了,而我们因信而站立得住

虽然以色列拒绝了福音,然而正是因着神极大的怜悯,今天我们才得以领受这救恩的恩典。我们能做些什么来报答神的爱与恩典呢?透过我们在教会中的服事——有些人弹琴、有人负责教会的维修,有人为他人预备食物,有人教导圣经真理,甚至有人牧养迷失的羊群——这些都是我们在世上尽己所能、全力以赴地参与神事工的方式。

也许我们当中有些人,也可以藉着成为真理的使者来回应神的爱,将祂的救恩计划传扬给身边的人,使他们的心也能归向正道——正如我们在马太福音28:18-20中得蒙召的一样。无论如何,我们事奉的心态应当与想着我们每天能如何尽一份力,使神的教会更加兴旺的心意对齐,作为我们回应祂慈爱与怜悯的一种方式。

神的怜悯能持续多久呢?

从民数记中神在旷野中多次给以色列民机会,到约拿最终被大鱼吐在路地上,我们可以看见神的怜悯是何等浩大,无法衡量。这是否意味着神的怜悯会永远长存呢?正如撒迦利亚书第十三章中以色列人最终仍要受罚一样,我们也不能因自己如今处在神的救赎计划中就自满自得。虽然因以色列弃绝神,我们如今得以被接枝在橄榄树上,但我们必须时刻谨记——我们本就不配。

我们因此被时刻的提醒着要敬畏神不要自大。(罗马书11:20)

正如神能砍断祂所拣选的子民(以色列人),祂同样也能将我们这些“非天然枝子”的人从祂的救恩计划中除去。在当今这个道德观念日益淡薄的世界里,我们该如何保持对罪的敏感,并提醒自己远离罪恶呢?我们是否有足够的敬畏神来优先警惕那些可能得罪祂的行为和意念,而不是只在意这个世界的眼光呢?

虽然这听起来有点吓人,但让我们也记得,在人生的困难和试炼中,我们并不是孤军作战的。我们可以常常接着祷告、真理和圣灵,来帮助我们面对那些可能让人觉得极其艰难甚至不可能解决的处境——使我们最终能被拣选,与祂一同作王。

那美好的仗我已经打过了,当跑的路我已经跑尽了,所信的道我已经守住了。(提摩太后书 4: 7-8)

相关内容

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 .

关于本会

我们是真耶稣教会,一间建立在耶稣与使徒们的教导上的全球性非宗派教会。藉由圣灵创立,我们的使命是把全备的救恩真理传向地极/世界尽头。

关于本会

We have four places of worship, and we gather for Sabbath and night worship services. We welcome you to join us for any of our in-person services!

参与崇拜聚会