HARDER INSTEAD OF BETTER

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 在困難中學習信靠 粵語 國語 第8天 讀經： 出埃及記五章1至12節 有些時候，當我們嘗試踏上神所指示的道路，卻發現路途並不平坦，甚至是荊棘滿途。你有過這樣的經驗嗎？ 摩西此刻所經歷的便正是如此。當他聽從神的吩咐回到埃及，晉見法老，請求法老容讓以色列民離開；可是法老不單一口拒絕，而且，還下令加重以色列人的苦工。以色列民當時正為法老興建兩座積貨城，原本是把草供應給他們作磚的；但如今，法老下令要他們自行檢草造磚，且造磚的數目不可減少──以色列民這回真是百上加斤了！ 百姓有甚麼反應呢？他們首先是哀求法老，然後，便埋怨摩西和亞倫。你猜摩西和亞倫有甚麼感受呢？本章22至23節記述了摩西的禱告，當中便流露出他的感受。 今天的情況也是一樣。當你立志為神工作的時候，撒但就會想盡辦法來攻擊你，使你感到灰心氣餒。 然而，我們切莫灰心，反要記著撒但至終是必然失敗的。神永遠站在我們身邊；對於撒但的阻撓，祂是不會坐視不理的。 神也許會容讓撒但來考驗你，可是，祂卻永遠在你的身旁扶持你。祂希望你能在困難的考驗中，學會更緊緊地倚靠祂。 在一切的艱難困境中，神仍然掌管著一切；祂容讓百姓吃苦，為的是使他們願意跟從祂的帶領離開埃及。 每當神容讓我們經歷試煉，背後都總有祂的心意和目的。在那一刻，我們究竟會努力明白神的心意，抑或只是自嗟自嘆和埋怨神？ 禱告： 主啊，當我遇到試煉的時候，或許我未能立即明白你的心意，但求你幫助我懂得信靠你。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HARDER INSTEAD OF BETTER Day 8 Bible Reading: Exodus 5: 1 – 12 Isn't it often true that when we try to take a step forward with God the road becomes harder instead of better, rougher instead of easier? That is what happened in Egypt. Moses asked Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go free. Pharaoh not only refused, he made their burdens heavier. Instead of giving them straw to put into the mud bricks they were making to build his cities, he made them get the straw themselves. What did the people do? First they complained to Pharaoh and then they blamed Moses and Aaron. How do you think Moses and Aaron felt? Read the prayer of Moses in verses 22 and 23 of this chapter. It is still the same. You will find that when you decide to move ahead with God, Satan will oppose you and use everything he possible can to discourage you. Don't be discouraged however. Remember Satan need not be victorious. God is on your side. He only allows Satan to go a certain distance and no further. While God is allowing Satan to test you, he is still right there with you. He wants those circumstances to strengthen, not weaken your faith in him. God is still sovereign and he allowed this testing of the Children of Israel to bring them close to the place of being willing to leave Egypt. God has his purpose in allowing testing to come into your life. Are you looking for his purpose or are you only looking at yourself and complaining about what he has allowed? A PRAYER: Lord help me trust you today even if I cannot see the reason behind the testing

AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT

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 火焰熄滅之後 粵語 國語 第7天 讀經： 出埃及記四章18至23節，27至31節 當荊棘的火焰熄滅之後，你猜摩西會怎樣想呢？他會否對自己說：「剛才是否只是造夢？我是否真的聽見神對我說話？」接著，你猜摩西會怎樣做呢？ 回應神呼召的其中一個最難的地方，就是當呼召過後、當聽到神的吩咐以後，我們如何以行動來作出回應。而這個時候，神又總是會靜觀我們的回應，看看我們會否按照先前在祂面前的立志而行。 摩西立即踏出了信心的第一步，他馬上回到他岳父葉忒羅那裡，把神吩咐他回到埃及一事告訴他。許多時候，要將神對自己的呼召告訴家人，是最難做的第一步；但摩西的決心，得到了出乎意外的正面回應：「你可以平平安安的去吧！」 然後，神更接二連三地向摩西重申祂的呼召： 祂向他再次重申自己的呼召。(19節) 祂指示亞倫去迎見摩西。(14、27節) 百姓都相信亞倫和摩西的話。(31節) 神確是充滿慈愛的。祂知道我們的信心軟弱，所以便經常透過我們的朋友、親人或客觀的環境來引證我們的行動，讓我們放心踏上。 神單純要求我們對祂的呼召作出回應；只要我們以行動來回應神，神就會為我們開一條出路，我們只要依從路上的指示去行就可以了。 神有否呼召你去為祂做些甚麼？你是否仍然猶疑不決？抑或已經踏出了第一步？立即以行動來回應神吧！這樣，你才能真正體會到神如何帶領你和如何與你同在。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AFTER THE FIRE WENT OUT Day 7 Bible Reading: Exodus 4: 18 – 23, 27 –31 What did Moses do when the burning bush was no longer on fire? Did he ask himself, 'Was all that a dream? Did God really speak to me'? What did Moses do? The hardest part of responding to God's call often is to act after the call has come, after God has spoken. God just waits to see if we have really meant what we said. Moses immediately took the first step of faith and went back to Jethro, his father-in-law, and told him God had called him to go back to Egypt. Sometimes telling our own family what we believe God wants us to do is the hardest step of all. But Jethro simply said, 'Go in peace'. Then God confirmed his call to Moses in three more ways: 1. He repeated the call himself (v.19). 2. He sent Aaron out to meet Moses (vv. 14, 27). 3. The people believed what Aaron and Moses said (v.31). God is so gracious. When our faith is weak, he knows it and will often give confirmation of the step we are taking through friends, loved ones or circumstances. God simply waits on our response to his call. When we respond, we open the way for God to move on and all we have to do is follow. Has God asked you to do something for him? What are you waiting for? Or have you taken the first step? Take it and see what God will do for you and with you.

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?

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 你有甚麼藉口？ 粵語 國語 第6天 讀經： 出埃及記三章11至14節，四章1至5節 神已經準備使用摩西去為祂工作，可是，摩西卻不準備被神使用。你可以列出摩西提出的各種藉口嗎？ 我是甚麼人，怎配得你的呼召呢？(三11) 我不知道該說些甚麼。(三13) 他們不會相信我的。(四1) 我沒有口才。(四10) 你為甚麼不派另一個人去為你工作呢？(四13) 當神希望你去為祂做某件工作時，你曾否用過類似的藉口來推託祂呢？你是否意識到，在謙虛與違抗這兩種心態之間，是有一條很微妙的界線呢？ 難道神不會加力給我們，讓我們有能力去完成祂所託負的工作嗎？神如果呼召我們去做某項工作，祂就一定會將我們所需用的一切賜予我們，讓我們能夠將工作做成。祂只希望我們聽從祂的吩咐，和忠心履行祂的託負。 摩西以為他要靠自己的口才來說服法老；但神卻對他說：「我會與你同在」。只要有神的同在，一切困難都可以迎刃而解了。 人只要信靠神的呼召，將生命交在神的手裡，神就可以大大地使用他來成就自己的計劃。當摩西願意順服神的心意，神就與他一同回到埃及，一同經過紅海，一同越過曠野。神永不離棄我們；祂應許永遠與我們同在，賜力量給我們渡過每一個日子。 反思： 不要編造各種藉口來推託神；順服神的呼召，看看神最終會怎樣使用你。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE? Day 6 Bible Reading: Exodus 3: 11 – 14; 4: 1 – 5 God was ready to use Moses, but Moses wasn't ready to be used. Can you list all of the excuses Moses gave? 1. Who am I that you should call me? 3:11 2. I don't know what to say 3:13. 3. They won't believe me 4:1. 4. I am not a good speaker 4:10. 5. Why don't you send someone else? 4:13. Have you ever used any of these excuses when God has wanted to use you to do something for him? Do you realise there is a very fine line between being humble and being unwilling? Or between humility and disobedience? Can't we trust God for what we should say? If God calls us he will provide every need. He just wants us to be obedient and faithful. Moses thought he would have to convince Pharaoh by his own power of words. But God said, 'I will be with you'. That would be sufficient! There is no end to what God can do with a life that is yielded to him. When Moses yielded to God's will, God went with him back to Egypt, through the Red Sea and through the desert. God will never leave us. He will always be with us and give us strength for each new day. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Don't make excuses. Just say yes to God and see how he will use you.

GOD'S CALL TO MOSES

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 神呼召摩西 粵語 國語 第5天 讀經： 出埃及記三章1至10節 當神呼召人去事奉祂的那一刻，對被呼召的人來說，是永遠難忘的一刻。神呼召人的方式各有不同。有些人是經過長時期的思想和等候，在內心逐漸體認到神的呼召。但是，有些人卻是在突如其來的某一刻，確切得到神的呼召。神如何向人說話，是神決定的事；而我們如何回應神的呼召，則是我們決定的事。 當神呼召摩西的時候，摩西身在何處？他正在做著他的日常職務，就是放羊的工作。同樣地，我們若希望神帶我們為祂做更大的事，就必須先要在日常的小事上忠心。 神在哪裡向摩西顯現？在燃燒的荊棘叢中。有些時候，神會用一些不尋常的方式來向人說話；例如，彼得住在約帕一個硝皮匠西門家中的時候，神用異象向彼得啟示祂的心意就是一例。不過，神更常採用的方式，是當我們研讀祂的話語──聖經──時，祂用微小的聲音向我們的內心說話。 也有些時候，神會藉著朋友，或牧者等的聲音向我們說話。但最重要的是：我們是否在聆聽？倘若祂真的向我們說話，我們聽得見嗎？我們是否離開神太遠，以致根本聽不見祂的說話？ 另一個重點，當然是我們如何作出回應了。摩西聽完神的說話，最初的反應是用各種理由去推託。最終，當他願意順服神的心意，神便能夠大大地使用他。 你會如何回應神的呼召呢？你聽得見祂的聲音嗎？你有沒有離祂太遠，以致祂與你說話，你也聽不見呢？祂要你做些甚麼？你願意聽命而行嗎？願你今天逐一細想這連串的問題。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GOD'S CALL TO MOSES Day 5 Bible Reading: Exodus 3: 1 – 10 The call of God to a person to come and serve him is a wonderful moment. For some it comes as a growing conviction in the heart over a long period of time. For others it is a time that can almost be pinpointed. How God speaks is always up to him. How we respond is always up to us. Where was Moses when God called him? He was doing his daily work of minding sheep. We too need to be faithful in our work if we want God to lead us on to a greater work for him. How did God come? In a burning bush. God sometimes does the unusual as he did with Peter in the house of Simon the tanner in Joppa (Acts 10). But more often it is while we are reading his Word, the Bible, that he quietly speaks to our hearts. Sometimes it is through the voice of a friend, of a pastor or a missionary. The most important thing is this, 'are we listening?' Would we hear him if he did speak? Are we within calling distance? Then the next point, of course, is how do we respond? Moses heard God speak, but at first made all kinds of excuses. Finally he gave in to God and God was able to use him in a wonderful way. What is your response to God's call? Have you heard his voice? Are you within calling distance? What does he want you to do? Are you willing to do it?

A LONELY MAN BY A DESERT WELL

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 在曠野井旁的孤獨漢 粵語 國語 第4天 讀經： 出埃及記二章11至17節 沒人喜歡失敗，但我們大部分人都嚐過失敗的滋味。摩西在開始事奉的時候，也遭遇到失敗。當時，他逼切想事奉神；按照希伯來書十一章25節的記載，那時的他已決意承認自己是以色列人。 然而，他一開始便試圖用自己的方法來解決問題，終於釀成災難性的後果！ 如今來到這個地步，他還可以做甚麼呢？他知道神要拯救祂的百姓，而他也將要有分參與這個行動。但神的時間還未到；在這期間，摩西該如何渡過？ 他可以選擇回到皇宮，可是，法老卻對他充滿怒氣。他可以回到同胞中間，然而，他們卻似乎對他心存抗拒。他惟一的選擇，就是離開自己的國家，到另一處地方生活，靜靜等候神的行動，或呼召他參與祂的計劃。 你可以想像他在烈日當空，坐在西乃曠野的一個井旁，百無聊賴地等著和推算著下一步要怎樣做，或該往何處的樣子嗎？就在這刻，神以祂的恩典與慈愛來呼召他；故事的發展，本章的經文已為我們一一細述。神後來確實大大地使用摩西為祂工作。 你有否嚐過某些失敗，是至今仍無法忘懷的？你是否每次開展工作，都總是碰到失敗？你是否確定那是神的心意要你做那件事？那是神的時間嗎？請記著，你即使失敗了，神仍然會給你第二次機會。只要你願意聽從神的旨意，祂就會把你從失敗中扶立起來，然後按照祂的心意來使用你。最後，請你再想想這個在曠野井旁的孤獨漢，神怎樣以祂的恩慈來眷顧他。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A LONELY MAN BY A DESERT WELL Day 4 Bible Reading: Exodus 2: 11 – 17 None of us like to be a failure but most of us know what it is to fail. Moses experienced failure at the beginning of his ministry. He wanted to serve God so much and according to Hebrews 11:25 he had chosen to identify himself with the Children of Israel. But one of his first actions was to take things into his own hands and the results were disastrous! What could he do now? He knew God would deliver his people and that he himself would be involved in it. But it was not yet God's time and what should Moses do in the meantime? He might be able to return to the palace, but Pharaoh was angry with him. He could not go to his own people. They seemed to have rejected him. His only way was to leave the country and wait for God to act or to call him to share in that action. Can you imagine him in the hot desert of Sinai, sitting by a well, waiting and wondering what to do next or where to go? God beautifully and lovingly cared for him and you can read the rest of the story in this chapter. God later used Moses in a wonderful way. Has there been some failure in your life which you can't forget? Does it seem that every time you try something it doesn't work out for you? Are you sure it is God's way just now? Is it his will for you? Is it his time? If you have failed, remember, our God is the God of the second chance. He can take you up and use you if you will let him do it in his own way. Think again of the lonely man at the desert well and how God lovingly watched over him.

FAITH, TESTED BUT TRIUMPHANT

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 信心、考驗和勝利 粵語 國語 第3天 讀經： 出埃及記二章1至10節 經文講述的那個小男嬰，一定是生於一個敬虔的家庭。我們不曉得他的父母為他起了個甚麼名字，只知道法老的女兒為他起了「摩西」這個名字，意思很簡單，就是解作「拉出來」。希伯來書十一章23節曾提及摩西的父母，說他們是大有信心的人。因此，驅使他們冒險把嬰兒藏起來的背後動力，不單是父母的愛，更是因為他們相信神的應許，知道終有一天，神必拯救以色列人離開埃及。他們可能覺得這個男嬰與神的計劃有關。 是否神讓他們靈機一觸，決定把嬰兒放在籃子裡，再放到河邊？將幼小的嬰兒放在河邊，本是危險至極的事；但全靠一個籃子，嬰兒的性命便幸保平安。 嬰孩的姊姊在暗處窺看事態的發展。許多時候，等待都總是最磨人的。然而，就在這個最適當的時刻，神把全埃及惟一一個能救這嬰孩的人帶到河邊，而且，嬰孩也在這個最適當的時刻哭起來！嬰孩的哭聲打動了公主的心，不用我說，你也知道故事的發展了。 這裡的教訓，正是給每位為人父母的最佳提醒和鼓勵。摩西的母親先後兩次把男嬰交在神的手中，信靠神必看顧。第一次是她把嬰兒放在河邊的那一刻；第二次是她把他抱進皇宮，讓他留在宮裡成長的那一刻。我們相信，她每次把嬰兒放下，內心都一定是飽受煎熬，然而，神卻嘉許她的信心，不單保守她的兒子成長，還裝備他成為祂將來使用的器皿。 你是否願意放心把兒女交在神的手中？你可以一直用禱告來承托兒女的成長，隨著他們學習每天行在神的路上，你將可以放心信靠神必保守和看顧他們。 禱告： 主啊，求你加添我的信心，讓我懂得凡事信靠你。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAITH, TESTED BUT TRIUMPHANT Day 3 Bible Reading: Exodus 2: 1 – 10 It was a very godly home into which this baby boy was born. We do not know what his parents called him. Moses is the name given to him by Pharaoh's daughter and simply means 'drawn out'. Both father and mother are mentioned in Hebrews 11:23 as being people with remarkable faith. It was not just a mother's love that made them hide their baby boy. They believed in the promise that one day God would deliver Israel out of Egypt. It seemed to them that this baby would have something to do with God's plans. Did God put this marvellous idea of a baby basket into their minds? The little life was put into the river, the place of death, but was kept safe because of a basket. He was alive in the place of death. His sister waited to see what would happen. Sometimes the hardest part of all is to wait isn't it? Then God brought to the river, to that exact place, at the right time, the only person in all of Egypt who could help in the situation. Also this was one time when it was very good that a baby cried! It moved the woman's heart and you know the rest of the story. Parents, here is a lesson and an encouragement for you. Twice the mother of Moses had to put her boy into God's hands and leave him there. The first time was when she put him into the river in the basket. The second time was when she took him to the palace and left him there. Each time she must have been tested severely and yet God honoured her faith and kept her son safe and kept him for himself. Have you come to that place yet? Are you willing to trust your children into God's hands? You can follow them with your prayers and you can trust God to keep them day by day as they learn to walk in his way. A PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, help me trust you not only with my family but with myself day by day.