2008-06-29 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧，歡迎訂閱，推介及奉獻支持。 《網絡天糧》查詢，請電郵：ccf@ccfellow.org 訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持 建立神的殿 粵語國語 第29天 讀經：約書亞記十八章1至10節 　　本章的第1節標示著以色列民的敬拜生活，進入了一個新的里程碑。那個象徵著神與他們同在的約櫃，好像長時期留在吉甲，百姓要經常回到裡去敬奉神。此外，他們還在以巴路山設立了祭壇，並在那裡把摩西所寫的律法抄寫在石頭上(八章)。 　　但如今，以色列民卻要將會幕固定地設立在示羅。眾民一定是非常歡喜快樂；就如一座新建成的教會舉行獻堂禮一樣。回想過往，他們在曠野飄流期間，會幕一直放在全營的中心，被十二支派的營帳圍著。如今來到示羅的情況也大致一樣，因為示羅是在他們領地的中央。眾民就圍繞著會幕建立永久的家園。直至所羅門作王的時候，以色列民才興建了一座聖殿來取代會幕成為眾民的敬拜中心。那時的聖殿就建在耶路撒冷了。 　　回顧過去，他們為了征服迦南地，總共爭戰了漫長的七年。在這七年裡面，神一直信實地看顧和祝福他們。如今，全民都聚集在示羅，會幕將成為他們的敬拜中心。示羅的名意是「平安」和「休息」的意思，是雅各為將來的彌賽亞所起的名字。因此，這個地方便成了基督的預表，眾民都要聚集一起來敬拜祂。基督永遠是我們的生活和敬拜中心。 　　然而，約書亞卻在這個時候，向眾支派講了一番措辭嚴厲的說話：「我們在這裡高興夠了。你們當中的一些支派，還未分到地業。你們不能一直留在示羅。你們要回去，走遍那地，劃明地勢，再回到我這裡來分地。」 　　以色列民雖然都站神的應許地，可是，卻有些未能獲得完全的喜樂。迦南當然遠勝曠野。可是神已經為他們預備了本身的產業，可惜他們還未親自進入那片屬於自己的地業。 　　今天，許多基督徒的光景也是如此。他們已蒙救贖，並與神的子民一起相交；可是，他們卻未進入神為他們所預備的完全境地。讓我們反躬自問：我們的屬靈經驗還是處於初信的階段？還是已愈益進深，邁向更完全的境地？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SETTING UP GOD'S HOUSE DAY 29 BIBLE READING: Joshua 18:1-10 The opening verse of this chapter marks an important point for the Children of Israel. It seems as though the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence, had remained most of the time at Gilgal and the people had returned there again and again. There was also altar on Mt Ebal on which Joshua had written the Ten Commandments (chapter 10). But now the Tabernacle was to be set up. What a wonderful day of rejoicing that must have been. It would be like a church opening. During the wilderness wanderings, the Tabernacle had always been the centre of the camp with all the tribes camped around it. Now it was almost the same, as Shiloh was near the centre of the land they were possessing. Around the Tabernacle, as we find in the story of Eli and Samuel. Later in Solomon's time, a temple was built to replace the old Tabernacle. That of course was in Jerusalem. Seven years of fighting lay behind them. God had been so good and faithful. Now it seemed they could settle down with Shiloh and the Tabernacle as their spiritual centre. Shiloh means 'peace' or 'rest'. It was the name given by Jacob to the coming Messiah. So this place became a type of Christ with his people gathered around him. Christ must always be the centre of our lives and our worship. But Joshua had a strong word to say to some tribes. 'Some of you rejoicing here today have not yet really begun to possess the land God has given you. You can't stay here for ever at Shiloh. There is need back in your own home country and you haven't done anything about it. These people were in the land God had promised, but did not know the full joy and experience of it all. Canaan was certainly better than the wilderness. But there was more that God had prepared for them and somehow they weren't entering into it. That is true of many believers. They have been redeemed and are in fellowship with God's people, but still haven't entered into all that God has for them. Let's stop and ask ourselves today - where are we in spiritual experience? Still close to where we entered this new life? Or are we really growing in Christ?