2009年11月26日 星期四

2009-11-26 Devotionals Today

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第52天
揀選、預定

讓我們追隨保羅,用感恩之心去領會被「揀選」、被「預定」的福氣。

請您安靜地、慢慢地從心裡誦讀以下的經文:

經文
以弗所書一3-6

願頌讚歸與我們主耶穌基督的父神!他在基督裡曾賜給我們天上各樣屬靈的福氣:就如神從創立世界以前,在基督裡揀選了我們,使我們在他面前成為聖潔,無有瑕疵;又因愛我們,就按著自己意旨所喜悅的,預定我們藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分,使他榮耀的恩典得著稱讚;這恩典是他在愛子裡所賜給我們的。

你可以重覆誦讀經文,在誦讀時,請您特別留意「在基督裡揀選了我們,預定我們」這兩句說話。

 
靈修指引

保羅寫的這段話是一首讚美之歌,為上主的「揀選」、「預定」而衷心地感謝神。他並不是做神學性的辯證,乃是分享他的個人體會──「上主深愛我們」。…

為甚麼我們每當談到「揀選」,就很容易想到一連串的神學議題?例如:神只「揀選」我嗎?也會「揀選」我的家人吧?神會「揀選」佛教徒嗎?神為甚麼要「揀選」一些人,又不選另一些人?如果基督徒是神「揀選」的,而非基督徒就不是,那麼,被神「揀選」其實是基督徒自說自話嗎?…

同樣,為甚麼我們想到神的「預定」,就會問關於人自由選擇的能力,及我們人世間的遭遇和未來世界的終局等等的問題?我們好像是要神解釋清楚,祂作事的合理和合法性。…

我們對神的「揀選」、「預定」提出許多疑問,其實是反映出,我們是不能夠接受一位偏心、獨斷、不近人情的神。人內心尋覓、相信的,是一位慈愛永遠長存的神。…

保羅的頌讚之歌正好提醒我們,神的「揀選」、「預定」是出於愛。他說我們是被神「揀選」、「預定」,是被愛的感恩之言,而不是神學思考所得的結論。…
我們或許不懂得欣賞和感謝上主所賜的恩惠,沒有讓自己開懷地接受被「揀選」、「預定」的福氣。…對!那些關於其他人的命運和遭遇的各種問題,我們不能回答,因為我們無法知道,但我們卻清楚自己是如何的被上主所愛──在創世之先、在這世界接近七十億的人中被看為獨特、可愛的子女。…

當我們體會到這一份深遠、主動的愛,便不會去想,神有可能是偏心、暴力或控制人等等。…請您與保羅一起,接受被神「揀選」、「預定」的愛,從而衷心地頌讚上主之恩。至於這個仍然破碎的世界,及其中很多受創的人,您為他們祝禱,又身體力行地成為鄰舍的祝福吧?…

請您用幾分鐘時間默禱,心裡對主說:「神啊!感謝您揀選、預定我成為您所愛的孩子,亦求您記念XXX、.XXX、XXX這些人。」……

 
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跟隨基督的腳蹤

粵語 國語

第26天


讀經:   馬可福音一章21至34節
馬可福音可被稱為一卷「行動密集」的書卷。在本章的第10節,我們看見基督再次回到加利利。事實上,由這裡一直到第九章尾,馬可記述的耶穌大部份事蹟,主要發生在加利利海和它的周邊地區。然後,場景才轉移到耶路撒冷和猶大地區,一直到基督被釘十架。馬可福音的最後三分之一的篇幅,都是用來記述基督在世最後一週所發生的事。

在第一章的經文中,我們看見基督與污鬼碰面。馬可福音共有35次提及污鬼和撒但;他們不單用盡各種方法來對抗基督,還在當時牢籠著許多人。

留意第25節和34節,基督不准污鬼說出祂的身份,儘管他們可能承認祂就是神的兒子。基督為何禁止他們呢?其中一個可能的解釋是,基督不准他們說出祂的身份,以免別人誤會他們是屬於一夥的,所以他們才聽從基督的命令。其後的確有些法利賽人這樣說──基督之所以能夠趕逐污鬼,是因為祂與撒但同夥。基督厲聲斥責他們這種講法(見可三22-30)。

經文沒有告訴我們,污鬼附著在故事中那人身上多久。基督至少在另一個場合,將附著在一個男童身上的污鬼趕走。今天有些人會否定污鬼的存在,他們對這些「奇蹟」的解釋是,基督早已知道沒有鬼附這回事,祂只是附從當時人的普遍看法,把精神病視作鬼附。然而,我們卻相信,聖經的記載是絕對可靠和真實的。

我們不知道這人被趕出污鬼之後生命有甚麼改變。神蹟發生時他身在會堂,顯示他可能想要來敬拜真神。他後來是否相信了基督呢?極有這個可能。一個親身經歷了基督作為的人,下一步當然就是跟從祂了。

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FOLLOWING CHRIST'S FOOTSTEPS
Day 26


Bible Reading:    Mark 1:21-34
The book of Mark's Gospel could be called "action-packed". From verse 10 in this first chapter we find Christ back in Galilee once more. In fact up to the end of chapter nine, Mark recounts mostly stories which took place around the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding areas. Then the scene shifts to Jerusalem and Judea leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. The last one-third of Mark's writings deals with only the last week of Christ's life.

Here in this first chapter, Christ comes face to face with demons. Thirty-five times in this Gospel, demons or Satan are mentioned. They sought to oppose Christ in every possible way and had a cruel hold on so many people at that time.

Notice in verse 25 and verse 34 Christ would not allow the demons to speak even though they might be acknowledging Him as the Son of God. Why was this so? One possible explanation could be that Christ would not allow them to speak in case it gave the impression that He was on their side and that they simply did what He told them to do. Later some of the Pharisees said this - that Christ cast out demons because He was in league with Satan. Christ rebuked that thought in very strong words (See Mark 3:22-30).

We are not told how long the demon had possessed the man in this story. On at least one occasion Christ cast out a demon which had control of a boy. There are those today who deny the existence of demons. Their explanation of this "miracle" is that Christ knew there was no such thing as demons but He went along with the prevailing view of that age and called mental illness, demon possession. Those of us who believe the Word of God take this story as being absolutely accurate and trustworthy.

We do not know what happened to this man in his later life. The fact that he was in the synagogue when this miracle took place may mean that he had some leaning toward the worship of the true God. Did he believe in Christ in the days which followed? It could well be. When Christ has done His work in a person's life, the next step is to follow Him.

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