2013年1月9日 星期三

2013-01-09 Devotionals Today

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歸心禱告操練     粵語  國語 
 
 

第84天

神同在是不變的事實

「你在前後環繞我,按手在我身上。」(五節)

當我們反覆誦讀:「你在前後環繞我,按手在我身上」,我們就逐漸意會到,那位透徹地認識、關心我們的神,就在前後環繞我,按手在我身上。

神就在我們身邊。這是一個基於信仰的事實。這個事實不會因為我們的感覺而改變。即或我們感覺不到神在前後環繞我,神仍然是在我的前後左右陪伴著。對於神的同在沒有感覺,是頗平常的。我們是血肉之軀,有情感的波動,有生理和心理上的需要,因此我們的注意力很容易就放在自己的情緒、思想或願望上,再沒有空間、心力去意識神;即或嘗試去留意神的臨在,也會受著自己的情緒、思想所左右。但不管我們的情感和思維怎樣判斷神,事實是:神仍然在我們身旁。

現在,請你在靜禱中體認你的存在是被神環繞的。神永遠與你同在,你永遠都是在神之內。你現在就放鬆,慢慢呼吸,心裡默念:「神,你在前後環繞我。」把你的意識放在與神共融的當下。請開始。……

這一刻,請你在靜禱中體認你的存在是被神環繞的。每當你察覺自己在想其他東西,或有任何思念把你的意識帶離神同在的當下,便再次在心中默念:「神,你在前後環繞我。」然後返回當下。……

 

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王終於認識神

粵語 國語

第9天


讀經:   

但以理書四章28至37節

28這事都臨到尼布甲尼撒王。

29過了十二個月,他遊行在巴比倫王宮裡(原文是上)。

30他說:這大巴比倫不是我用大能大力建為京都,要顯我威嚴的榮耀麼?

31這話在王口中尚未說完,有聲音從天降下,說:尼布甲尼撒王啊,有話對你說,你的國位離開你了。

32你必被趕出離開世人,與野地的獸同居,吃草如牛,且要經過七期。等你知道至高者在人的國中掌權,要將國賜與誰就賜與誰。

33當時這話就應驗在尼布甲尼撒的身上,他被趕出離開世人,吃草如牛,身被天露滴濕,頭髮長長,好像鷹毛;指甲長長,如同鳥爪。

34日子滿足,我─尼布甲尼撒舉目望天,我的聰明復歸於我,我便稱頌至高者,讚美尊敬活到永遠的神。他的權柄是永有的;他的國存到萬代。

35世上所有的居民都算為虛無;在天上的萬軍和世上的居民中,他都憑自己的意旨行事。無人能攔住他手,或問他說,你做甚麼呢?

36那時,我的聰明復歸於我,為我國的榮耀、威嚴,和光耀也都復歸於我;並且我的謀士和大臣也來朝見我。我又得堅立在國位上,至大的權柄加增於我。

37現在我─尼布甲尼撒讚美、尊崇、恭敬天上的王;因為他所做的全都誠實,他所行的也都公平。那行動驕傲的,他能降為卑。

歷史學家告訴我們,在古代世界中,巴比倫是版圖最廣和兵力最強的城市,簡直是無與倫比。它方圓25平方公里;圍繞它的城牆堅厚寬闊,足夠四輛戰車並駕齊驅。城內有53座廟宇;人口約有125萬人。

王宮周長10公里。大殿長約50米,寬約15米。殿中擺設了來自帝國各地的貢品。

難怪尼布甲尼撒王自詡說:「這都是我造成的!」(30節)但神卻對他說:「時間到了。我已等了很久,但你卻始終不肯認識我。」(31節)

神對王的審判非常嚴厲。足有7年的時間,王變得神志失常,像動物般生活。他曾經自誇的榮華富貴,他卻完全享受不到。

然而,神是何等的恩慈。祂讓巴比倫國一直保持完好無損,直至尼布甲尼撒的神志恢復正常,人民再次接納他(36節)。

尼布甲尼撒王就像浪子一樣,終於醒悟過來。在他清醒的一刻,他舉目望天,神就使他的神志恢復正常。

他的生命立即出現奇妙的改變!更重要的是他的心完全改變過來。請看第34節,他竟然說:「我便稱頌至高者,讚美尊敬活到永遠的神。」

簡直如脫胎換骨的改變!我們預期將來在天上會見到尼布甲尼撒王。此外,請留意他在第37節的見證。他向他的所有臣民宣講這個信息(1、2節)。他認識神之後,便希望所有人都知道並能認識祂。我們是否有同樣的心志呢?我們的行事為人和言談說話,能否被神使用,以致更多人能認識神呢?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE KING ACKNOWLEDGES GOD
Day 9


Bible Reading:   

Daniel 4:28-37

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.

30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"

31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!

32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, "What have You done?"

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Historians tell us that Babylon was the largest and most powerful city ever built in the ancient world. It was 25 square kilometres (15 square miles). Four chariots could drive alongside each other on top of its enormous wall. There were 53 temples in the city. It had a population of one and a quarter million.

The king's palace was 10 kilometres in circumference. The throne room was about 50 metres long and 15 metres wide. The furnishings had been brought by Nebuchadnezzar from every part of his great empire.

The king was saying to himself (v.30), "I have done it all." Then God spoke and said, "Time is up. I have waited long enough for you to acknowledge Me." (v.31)

The judgment on the king was severe. For seven years he endured a form of insanity which made him act like an animal. He was stripped of everything about which he had been boasting.

However, God is gracious. He kept the kingdom intact until Nebuchadnezzar came to himself and was accepted by his people once again (v.36).

How did it happen? Like the prodigal son, he finally came to himself. In a moment of rationality, he raised his eyes to heaven and his sanity was restored.

What a wonderful change immediately came into his life! More importantly that change came to his heart. Listen to his words in verse 34, "Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever."

What a remarkable conversion. We can expect to meet Nebuchadnezzar in heaven. Notice also his testimony in verse 37. That message was sent to all his subjects (vv.1-2). When he acknowledged God, he wanted everyone to know it and he wanted them to do the same. Does that describe our desires today? Can God use our life and our words so that others will acknowledge Him too?


創世記廿五至廿七章


重點: 亞伯拉罕娶基土拉;亞伯拉罕壽終;以實瑪利和以撒的後裔;雅各和以掃生;以撒與非利士人爭水井;雅各騙取長子祝福。

鑰節: 以撒從那裡上別是巴去。當夜耶和華向他顯現,說:「我是你父親亞伯拉罕的神,不要懼怕!因為我與你同在,要賜福給你,並要為我僕人亞伯拉罕的緣故,使你的後裔繁多。」(廿六23-24)

內容: 

以撒與父親亞伯拉罕一樣,在遇饑荒時離開應許地,要往埃及去。當他去到基拉耳,神向他顯現,吩咐他不要下埃及。

以撒聽神吩咐,沒有繼續行程,停留在基拉耳。基拉耳雖不是埃及,但也不是神應許他的地;他在那裡也有了詭詐。因此神用環境催促他離開基拉耳:神賜以撒物質豐富,引致非利士人嫉妒,亞比米勒便親口請他離開。

以撒只是稍為移離,沒有離開基拉耳,在基拉耳谷停留居住;神藉他所挖的水井與人爭執,一步一步的迫他離去。

當以撒離開了基拉耳,上到別是巴,神就在當夜向他顯現,應許與他同在,賜福與他。以撒就在那裡築了一座壇,求告耶和華的名。

神不容祂的兒女居在世界(埃及)裡,就是在世界的邊緣(基拉耳),神也不喜悅;祂要我們與世俗分離。若我們留戀世界,或許得享世上財利,只是失去神的同在。惟有從世界出來,主才與我們同在,我們才有敬拜,才能與主交通。


默想: 世界福樂與神的同在、相交可否兼得?我們在愛世界的同時能愛神嗎?(參約壹二15)
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責任與正直

 
創世記三十九章1-6節
 
「主人[波提乏]派他管理家務,把一切所有的都交在他手裡。」(4節)

這種情況何其罕見!故事中,一個異國少年,在外國商旅手中被買下為奴隸,服侍法老的護衛長。然而,不出幾年,這名奴隸全權代理主人的家務和財產。為何他平步青雲?第6節有所提示:「[波提乏]除了自己所喫的飯,別的事一概不知。」只要波提乏滿足了口腹之慾,他樂於放下管理家務的責任!不過,主要原因其實是「耶和華與他同在,他就百事順利」(2節)。波提乏有否看出神助約瑟百事順利,我們無從知道。但是,他看得出,這少年(約瑟才二十出頭)是心思純正的人,可以讓他完全信賴,一切事情這少年都辦得順利。所以,波提乏願意把一切財政事宜和事務安排,都交給約瑟去辦。

曾被寵壞的小子必須急速成長。在急速艱苦的成長過程中,有兩大因素影響約瑟。首先,約瑟驚見兄長襲擊自己,接著又隨米甸商人下埃及去,他必然大受打擊。這些事件可以引致我們心靈受創、軟弱無能、放棄盼望。或者,就像約瑟,我們可以藉著它們,找著人生的新目標,決心扭轉困局。同時,從家族成員的嫉妒和爭吵中釋放出來,於約瑟來說也是好事。我不知道約瑟有否察覺到,這份新的自由讓他有機會長大成為正直和願意承擔責任的人。

主啊,祈求在我心靈受創的時候,不會失去盼望。求你使用困境使我得益處、使我在真理和正直中得改變。

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