2008-05-10 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 西乃山的功課 粵語 國語 第 10 天 讀經：出埃及記十九章17至25節 　　信徒在神的學校中必須學習兩大功課：第一，是認識神是誰，和祂究竟是一位怎麼樣的神。第二，是明白我們要做些甚麼才能討神的喜悅。 　　以色列人在早前的經歷中，已認識到神的信實、神的慈愛和神的能力。如今在西乃山下，神要他們認識祂的聖潔，並且，知道他們要做些甚麼，才能討這位聖潔的神喜悅。 　　在接著的58章經文（由出埃及記十九章至民數記十章），我們看見神向百姓頒示了甚麼訓誨，以及百姓在西乃山下所發生的事情。他們在那裡停留了超過一年。 　　神為了教導以色列民認識祂是聖潔的神，特別向他們頒布了兩套法典。在他們快將成為一個獨立的國家之前，神確實有必要教導他們認識這點。因為他們若要成為神的子民，就必須活出神的樣式。 　　神頒示給他們的兩套法典，分別是我們稱的「道德法典」和「禮儀法典」。兩者都是讓他們認識到神是聖潔的神，並且教導他們怎樣才能親近這位聖潔的神。 　　「道德法典」包含了十誡；而十誡的作用就像一面鏡子（參看羅三20）。當你站在鏡子前面，你就會看見自己的衣服是否整潔；不過，你如果發現有任何不整潔之處，鏡子也不會幫助你去整理，你要自己動手去整理。律法的作用也是如此。它讓我們看清楚自己心中的罪，但它卻不能幫助你去清除罪。聖經告訴我們，只有耶穌基督才能除去我們的罪。 　　神在西乃山上向人顯示了神的聖潔和人的罪；但祂在各各他山上卻向人顯明了祂的慈愛，甘願為救贖罪人而犧牲。當我們認清自己的罪，再明白到救主願意洗清我們的罪，因而接受祂的赦罪，神的工作就開始在我們心中和生命中展開了。最後，聖經告訴我們，當我們將來到天堂的時候，我們將完全聖潔，就像主自己一樣。 反思： 我將來見主的時候，便會像主自己一樣。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A LESSON TO BE LEARNED AT SINAI Day 10 BIBLE READING: Exodus 19:17-25 In God's school there are always two main lessons. Firstly, we need to learn what God is and what he is like. Secondly, we need to learn what he wants us to do. Israel had learned about God's faithfulness, God's love for them and God's power. Now, at Mt Sinai, they were to learn about God's holiness and what he wanted them to do because of his holiness. Fifty-eight chapters tell use what God said and what happened at Mt Sinai (Exodus 19 to Numbers 10). They were there a little over twelve months. God gave Israel two patterns or plans which would teach them about his holiness. It was absolutely necessary to teach this to these people at the beginning of their separate existence as a nation. If they were to be God's people, they must become like him. God gave Israel first what we call the 'moral law' and then gave them a plan for service which we call the 'ceremonial law'. Both were to teach them about God's holiness, and how they could approach God. The moral law includes the Ten Commandments and are like a mirror (Romans 3:20). If you stand in front of a mirror it shows you if your clothes are tidy or untidy, but it does not straighten them. You have to do that. The law is the same. It shows us the sinfulness of our hearts but it cannot deal with that sin. The Bible points us to Jesus Christ who alone can take away our sins. Mt Sinai points out God's holiness and our sin. Mt Calvary shows God's love for us as sinners. When we see our sin then see our Saviour, and take him for ourselves, God is able to begin his work in our hearts and lives. Finally, when we get to heaven, we will be absolutely holy and be what he wants us to be. A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: When we shall see him, we shall be like him.