2008-12-31 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 禧年 粵語 國語 第31天 讀經：   利未記二十五章1至10節 我們在這裡看見舊約時代一幅最美麗的圖畫──安息年和禧年。按照規定，每七年就有一個安息年(1至7節)。百姓要在那年讓地休息，不作耕種或播種。某些債項獲得豁免(申十五1-11)，並且要公開誦讀神的律法給百姓聽(申三十一10-13)。 因此，安息年不單是讓土地休養生息，更是為了百姓本身的好處而設立。神的旨意並非叫百姓呆坐一年，而是希望他們用更多時間去認識神的話語。 此外，神也希望百姓能操練信心。請看第20至22節。百姓若聽從神的吩咐，神便會在第六年賜給他們豐收，足夠他們在第七年、甚至第八年享用。百姓能夠倚靠這位豐厚仁愛的神，實在是太幸福了！ 然後，每五十年便有一禧年。它是以贖罪日作為開始，突顯這年是以喜樂和贖罪為基礎。 當以色列人聽到角聲吹響的那刻，一定是非常振奮、快樂和充滿期待的。這是一個重新檢視人生和各歸本家的時刻，也是休息和復興的日子；神會將預定的祝福豐富地降給祂的百姓(參18、22節) 以色列人如果遵守神的律例，便能經歷這禧年的祝福。從某個角度而言，每個以色列人都可以在禧年之始，揭開人生的新一頁。 對於我們今天的信徒來說，安息年和禧年又有何意義呢？希伯來書指出，神為每個屬祂的人預備了「安息」。每個信徒都可以憑著信心得享這「安息」──相信耶穌基督已為我們作成了一切，心靈因此而得著平安。我們不再仗倚自己，或不斷爭取和掙扎，反之，卻因著信靠祂會保守我們在祂的愛裡，信靠祂必顧念我們，因而在祂裡面得著真正的安息。 我們只要每天信靠祂的看顧和帶領，便能經歷這真正的安息。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE YEAR OF JUBILEE Day 31 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 25:1-10 Here is one of the most wonderful pictures in the Old . Testament-the Sabbatical year and the Jubilee year. The I Sabbatical year came every seven years (v. 1-7). The land was not to be ploughed or sown that year. Certain debts were to be forgiven (Deut. 15:1-11) and there was to be the public reading I of God's law (Deut. 31 :10-13). This year then was not only for the benefit of the land, but for the people as well. God's intention was not that the people should be idle for a whole year but that extra time should be given to the reading and studying of God's Word. It also meant the exercise of faith. Look at verses 20-22. If the people obeyed the Lord, he would give them such an abundant harvest each sixth year that they would have sufficient to carry them through the seventh and on into the eighth year. Isn't it wonderful to have a God who can count? The Jubilee year came every 50 years. It began with the Day of Atonement, which emphasised the basis of their year of rejoicing and redemption. What a wonderful sound that Jubilee trumpet must have been to all the Children of Israel! Can you imagine the scene -the thrill, the expectancy, the laughter, the rejoicing. It was a time of review, of return, of going back to the old , home. It was a time of rest and a time of revival, when God commanded blessing on his people (see v. 18, 22). If only Israel had obeyed these beautiful provisions what a blessing they might have known. In one sense, life for Israel would have begun again every fifty years. What are the lessons these years have for us? The book of Hebrews speaks of the 'rest' that God has planned for his people. It is a rest of faith which is available for every believer. A peace of mind and heart is ours because of what Christ has done for us. There is a resting in him, not trusting in ourselves or working or striving to keep ourselves in his love and care. It is a day by day acceptance of what we have in Christ and by faith leaving our lives in his hands.

2008-12-30 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 聖潔生活 粵語 國語 第30天 讀經：   利未記十八章1至5節、30節 神的話語一再提醒我們，當我們重生進入神的家，我們就要按照天父的期望，過聖潔的生活。 利未記從第十八章開始，便進入全書的最後一個環節，關係到神的百姓應如何過每天的生活。以色列民既是神的子民，神當然期望他們過分別為聖的生活，與別國的人民不同。我們在餘下的篇章，將會看到很多生活守則，包括了各種指示和規條。 神在第2節開宗明義地表明：「我是你們的神」。這句話在餘下的篇章出現超過50次，顯示神要不住提醒百姓重視祂與他們之間的關係。 請注意，說這句話的神，不是異教之中的一個神祗，而是獨一的聖潔真神；不是一個默不作聲的神，卻是一個不斷將心意向人顯明的神；不是一個已死的神，卻是一位永生神；不是一個不理世事的神，卻是一個察看一切的神。 新約聖經不斷重申這裡所提出的各項原則。我們可以翻到哥林多後書六章14至18節，便可看到神期望我們今天怎樣過活。 利未記十八章3節指出一個最首要的原則，就是我們不要隨從世界的標準過活。以色列的子民不要像埃及人或迦南人那樣過活。埃及是世界的典型；迦南是肉體的典型，兩者在神的眼中都是犯罪墮落。 以色列人卻要以神的話語作為生活的準則。請讀第4和5節。聖靈如今住在信徒心中，幫助信徒明白神的心意。 遵行神的旨意並不等於守律法；只著重外表的行為而忽略內心的敬虔，只會使人變成偽君子。我們只要讓神的愛充滿我們的心，並以神的話語作為指引我們每天生活的良朋，神必保守我們不會變成死守律法的偽君子。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOLY LIVING Day 30 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 18:1-5,30 The Word of God is filled with this truth-that after we are born into the family of God, we are to live holy lives, as our Father wants us to live. These verses at the beginning of chapter 18 of Leviticus introduce the final section of the book which deals with the daily walk of God's people. God wanted them to be different from everyone else because they belonged to him. These remaining chapters are filled with instructions, both negative and positive. What does God say in verse 2? 'I am the Lord your God'. This phrase occurs almost 50 times in these chapters which deal with the daily living of God's people. It emphasises our relationship with him. Notice who it is that speaks: Not a heathen god, but a holy God; Not a silent god, but one who tells us his will; Not a dead god, but a living God; Not one who cannot see, but a God who sees everything. The principles laid down in these verses are re-emphasised in the New Testament. Take time to read 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 and see how God wants us to live today. Verse 3 of Leviticus 18 says that, first of all, we are not to live according to the standards of the world. The Children of Israel were not to live as the Egyptians did nor as the Canaanites lived. Egypt is always a type of the world. Canaan is a picture of the flesh. Neither one of these was any better than the other. Both were wrong in God's sight. Israel's guide and standard was to be the Word of God. Look at verses 4 and 5 again. Today we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us see for ourselves how God wants us to live day by day. This is not legalism. Behaviour can easily become hardhearted conduct. May God keep us from that while still keeping us obedient to his Word. He will do so if our hearts are open to him, if his love fills our hearts and his Word is our daily companion.

2008-12-29 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 祭司的失敗 粵語 國語 第29天 讀經：   利未記九章23節至十章3節 今天我們所讀的經文跟前幾天是何等不同！在第八和九章，一切都是按照神的吩咐而行，因此出現一幅蒙福的景象。甚至有火從主面前出來，燒盡祭壇上的供物。 但如今，我們忽然看見審判和死亡。亞倫的兩個兒子拿答和亞比戶究竟犯了甚麼罪呢？ 當亞倫首天擔任大祭司的工作將盡，他的兩個兒子各卻從外面的營火拿來一些燒著的炭，放進自己的香爐裡面。可是，香爐只可以用神特定的火。留意第1節說：「是耶和華沒有吩咐他們的」──他們的罪正在於此。 神曾經用火燒盡祭物來表示祂悅納摩西所做的一切；但此刻，神卻用火來施行審判。同樣地，在初期教會的時期，聖靈曾經降臨在使徒和信徒身上，讓他們得著能力(火同樣象徵聖靈)，可是，亞拿尼亞和撒非喇卻因為欺哄神，遭到聖靈的審判而猝死。 這兩齣悲劇的背後都隱藏著同一個教訓，摩西在第3節所說的話便直接道明：「我在親近我的人中要顯為聖。」 亞倫突然之間痛失了兩個兒子，該怎麼辦呢？在第6節，我們看見神吩咐他不要為兒子的死哀哭，反要繼續事奉。對亞倫來說，這絕非易事，但我們從中得到的教訓卻是：別人的罪和失敗，不應成為我們事奉神的障礙。 這是一齣慘痛的悲劇。但願我們能夠緊記，神是聖潔的，祂期望祂的兒女都能表現出聖潔和順服；對領導崗位的信徒就要求更高。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PRIESTS WHO FAILED Day 29 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 9:23 - 10:3 What a contrast there is in the verses of our reading today! In chapters 8 and 9 everything was done as the Lord commanded and the result was a scene of blessing. Fire even came from the presence of the Lord and burned up the sacrifices on the altar. Now suddenly we are in the presence of judgment and death. What did these two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, really do? The first day of Aaron's work as high priest seems to have almost ended, then his two oldest sons took their fire-pots and filled them with live coals from a camp fire somewhere. Only the fire that God had given could be used. This was their sin-notice the words of verse 1-'which the Lord had not commanded them'. The very fire of God which had shown his acceptance of all that Moses had done, now became a fire of judgment. In the same way in the early days of the Christian church, two people acted out of the will of God and the same Holy Spirit (whose symbol is fire)-the one who gave such wonderful power to the apostles and believers-came on Ananias and Sapphira in judgment. The lesson behind these two incidents is the same. It is expressed in the words of Moses in verse 3. 'By those who come near me, I will be treated as holy'. What did Aaron do on the sudden death of his two sons? In verse 6 God told him not to mourn for their death but to continue in God's service. This must have been hard on Aaron but the lesson for us is that sin in the life of someone else is no excuse for us to stop serving God. The failure of others is no excuse for us. This is a sad section. May it impress again on our hearts the holiness of God and the holiness and obedience which God desires to see in the lives of his children. This is especially true of those who are in a place of leadership or special service.

2008-12-28 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 祭司制度預表了基督 粵語 國語 第28天 讀經：   利未記八章1至10節 我們一開始讀利未記的時候便指出，這卷書對以色列人應當如何敬拜神作出了詳盡的指示。我們可以想像到，當神昔日吩咐以色列人建造會幕作為一個敬拜中心的時候，百姓一定提出了許多問題(參出埃及記四十章)。 神對此提供了巨細無遺的指示，沒有留下任何空間讓人憑空構想。我們看過了幾種獻祭之後，如今，我們便看到祭司的設立和工作。這兩者的先後次序亦預表了基督的工作──基督首先成為沒有瑕疵的祭物獻上自己；然後，祂便為我們作大祭司的工作。 有人曾經指出本章的三大要點： 神的話語充滿權柄──父的話。 血的作用──子的話。 膏立的意義──聖靈的說話。 我們非常清楚看見神的話語充滿權柄：神說甚麼，摩西便向百姓宣告並切實遵行(4、5節)。一切都是按照神的吩咐而行。 當亞倫和他的兒子最初被立為祭司的時候，要宰殺多至八隻祭牲，只能說是預表到神的羔羊將要在各各他的山上為我們傾出寶血。 此外，我們還看到要用血和油來多次膏亞倫和他的兒子(12、23、24、30節)。這預表我們先需要救恩，然後再需要聖靈的能力。 基督徒的得力來源，完全是來自聖靈的能力。信徒唯有倚靠聖靈在他心裡工作，以及讓聖靈藉著他工作，才能作成神的工。 當我們與主相交，遵行神的話語，不再倚仗自己，我們便會得著聖靈的恩膏和能力。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHRIST AS SEEN IN THE PRIESTHOOD Day 28 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 8:1-10 We began our studies in Leviticus by saying that this book answers questions about how things should be done, questions which would have arisen as soon as the Tabernacle was I set up (see Exodus 40). The answers God gave left nothing to man's imagination. We have looked at some of the details of the offerings. Now I we look at the details concerning the priests and their work. This too is part of the divine order-first Christ offered himself without spot to God as the perfect sacrifice; then he entered into his work as our great High Priest. Someone has said that in this chapter there are three important points we should notice: 1. The authority of God's Word-speaking of the Father. 2. The value of the blood-speaking of the Son. 3. The anointing which speaks of the Holy Spirit. The authority of God's Word is so clear. God spoke. Moses declared it and obeyed it completely (v. 4, 5). Every action was in accordance with all God had said. It could be that as many as eight animals had to be slain in this first recognition of Aaron and his sons as priests. This could only speak of Calvary, a blood-stained place where Christ the Lamb of God shed his blood for us all. Again in these chapters much is made of the anointing of Aaron and his sons. They were anointed with both blood and oil (v. 12, 23, 24, 30). This spoke of their need of salvation first and then the oil spoke of power. The Holy Spirit alone is the source of a Christian's power. It is only as he, the indwelling Spirit, is allowed to do his work in and through us that anything can ever be accomplished for God. That anointing comes as we spend time with the Lord, and live in obedience to God's Word. It comes as we recognize our need of Christ continually and as we rely on the strength of the Lord and not on our own strength.

2008-12-27 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 贖罪祭 粵語 國語 第27天 讀經：   利未記四章1至7節 我們越過了第三章所講述的平安祭。平安祭象徵了人獲得赦罪之後所得著的平安，正如人在基督裡得享平安一樣。 第四章對贖罪祭作出了詳盡的描述。燔祭、素祭和平安祭都是甘心樂意的奉獻，但贖罪祭卻是人犯了過錯之後必須獻上的祭。人若想蒙神的接納，就必須獻上贖罪祭來求神赦罪。 然而，人若沒有一顆真正悔罪和相信神的心，即使獻祭也不會蒙神的悅納。我們在舊約經常看到神藉著先知指斥百姓，單是獻祭而沒有悔罪之心，是毫無作用的。 我們在這章經文看到，祭司必須先為自己的罪獻上贖罪祭。由此可見，神的僕人更必須嚴肅處理自己的罪，絕對不可掉以輕心。 第3節告訴我們：「受膏的祭司犯罪，使百姓陷在罪裡」──這實在是基督教教會最大的悲哀：作領袖的人犯罪，致使信徒也同樣在罪中，或是羞辱了教會及基督的聖名。這事再次提醒我們，我們沒有一個人是單為自己而活；我們的所言所行，不論是好是壞，都會對別人帶來正面或負面影響。 我們應該怎樣處理罪呢？不是單說一句：「我會改過」，就可以解決。犯罪的祭司或個人，必須獻上祭牲；他要按手在牠的頭上，表示與牠認同，祭牲就是代表自己。這表示他在神面前承認自己的罪，並知道他需要無罪的祭物流出的血來替他贖罪，他才能夠得蒙神的赦免。 犯罪的人將祭物帶到會幕面前獻祭，表示他願意公開認罪和渴望得到神的赦免──這是罪人的唯一希望。祭牲不單要沒有瑕疵，而且，牠被宰殺之後，更要把血倒在會幕門口。犯罪的人只要憑著信心作這一切，就必得著神的赦免。請留意第20、26和31節。 你可以把這些獻祭的原則，用在基督和我們作罪人的身上嗎？你知道我們今天如何才能得蒙神的赦罪嗎？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE SIN OFFERING Day 27 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 4:1-7 We have passed over chapter 3 which describes the peace offering. It symbolizes in a beautiful way a heart which knows forgiveness so is at rest in Christ. Now in chapter 4 the details of the sin offerings are set out. The first three offerings described in Leviticus were voluntary. The sin offerings had to be made. If a man wanted to be accepted before God, he had to show it. It was no good bringing the offering if there was no repentance or faith. In the Old Testament God often spoke through the prophets about an outward form that had no inner meaning. In this long chapter, a sinning priest comes before us first of all. Sin, especially that of a servant of God is never dealt with lightly or carelessly in the Bible. In one translation (NASB) verse 3 reads 'If the anointed priest sins so as to bring guilt on the people ...'. This is one of the greatest tragedies in the Christian church-a leader who sins and takes his people with him or brings shame on the church and the name of Christ. None of us live to ourselves. What we do for good or bad always affects the lives of others. What is the answer to sin? It is not 'I am going to do better or I am going to be different'. The priest or person concerned had to bring an offering. Forgiveness had to be centred around the recognition of sin and the shedding of blood from an innocent victim. The offerer had to place his hand on the head of the animal, thus identifying himself with the sacrifice. The Hebrew words say 'he shall lean hard'. That offering, as an open admission of repentance and the desire for forgiveness, was the sinner's only hope. The offering had to be killed. It not only had to be a perfect animal, but its blood had to be shed and applied. When this was done in faith, the sinner was forgiven. Notice verses 20, 26 and 31. Can you apply these principles to Christ, our sacrifice and to ourselves as sinners today?

2008-12-26 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 素祭 粵語 國語 第26天 讀經：   利未記二章1至6節 我們在這段經文看到人可以獻上素祭，來表明對神的愛。第一章的燔祭預示了基督藉著祂的犧牲受死來遵行神的旨意。第二章的素祭，則預示了基督一生都謹遵神的旨意而活。 人可以用細麵澆上油，加上乳香，再用鹽調和(13節)來作素祭的供物。素祭不可以有酵(11節)，因為在聖經中，酵經常與罪連上關係。人獻上素祭，並不是為了贖罪，而是為了表示渴望與神相交。 用來獻祭的麵粉要磨得細滑，不可帶有任何粗粒。這預表了基督的完美。無論從任何角度去看祂，祂都是毫無瑕疵的。 在聖經中，「油」差不多是聖靈的典型預表。油要加入麵粉之中，便預表了基督一直被聖靈充滿。此外，「油」還使我們想到，神已用聖靈膏立基督。 乳香是一種貴重的樹脂，只作敬拜神之用。這裡加在供物之中，當燒起來的時候便會發出馨香的氣味。基督所作的一切都討神喜悅；祂的一生在神面前發出香氣。 鹽具有保存和沁透的作用。基督的話語便同樣是恆久不變和沁透人心。 素祭是怎樣獻上的？祭司要將供物的一部分在祭壇上燃燒，作為火祭；餘下的部分，便給祭司們享用。這是一幅多麼美麗的圖畫：遵行神的旨意，就成了神的僕人的每天食糧。但願我們每天的生活都能滿足神的心意。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE MEAL OFFERING Day 26 Bible Reading:   Leviticus 2:1-6 Here was another offering which could be brought by anyone who wanted to show his love for God. The burnt offering in chapter 1 spoke of Christ's devotion to the will of God in death. The meal offering of chapter 2 speaks of Christ's I devotion to God's will in his life. Flour or grain could be used for this offering, mixed with oil, frankincense and salt (v. 13). Leaven, which speaks of evil, I was forbidden (v. 11). This offering did not refer to sin but showed a desire for fellowship and communion with God. The flour had to be ground until it was very fine. Nothing uneven or rough could remain. This speaks of the perfection of Christ. Whatever way you look at him, there was never anything wrong. Oil in the Bible is nearly always a type or picture of the Holy Spirit. Here it was mixed with the flour and then poured out on the offering. So it pictures Christ who was always filled with the Spirit. The oil also reminds us of the anointing of the Spirit on Christ. Frankincense was a very costly gum or resin which was used only in the worship of God. Here it was used on the sacrifice. It gave off a beautiful odour when it was burned. Everything that Christ did pleased the Father. His life and service were like a beautiful fragrance to God. ' Salt is the symbol of preservation. It speaks of something lasting and penetrating. The words of Christ are like that. They remain always as words which we can rely on, yet they can also penetrate into the heart of man. What was done with the offering? Part of it, with all the frankincense, was burned on the altar. The remainder was given to Aaron and his sons to eat. What a beautiful picture that which spoke of devotion to the will of God became the daily food of the servant of God. May our lives always find satisfaction in the will of God.