2009-10-04 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 每個年齡都為主活 粵語 國語 第4天 讀經：   提多書二章1至10節 無論甚麼年紀的基督徒，在家中、在教會、在社會上，應有甚麼表現呢﹖保羅就在這段經文中清楚指出。他提到5個不同年齡的組別：老年人、年長婦女、青年人、年輕婦人和作僕人的（或僱員）。 就算有文化的不同，保羅的教導對我們今天仍有很重要的指引。 這是作牧者的又一份差事！保羅提醒提多要教導這些不同年紀的人如何為主而活，並如何彼此相處。每個年齡的群體都需要神話語的提醒。例如，年長的人就很容易自以為甚麼都懂，而認為年輕人的想法及行為都是錯誤。 但如果長者的行為能如保羅在這裡所提的，有這樣的長者，任何一間教會都會非常受益。留意當中所提的愛和忍耐，年輕人對這樣的態度必能接受，但對嚴厲的批評和不停的斥責必定敬而遠之。 保羅指出，年長婦女可以是年輕主婦的極好幫助。那些有小孩子的主婦確實需要不斷的幫助和鼓勵，而年長的婦女需要清楚這方面的需要，並盡力給予她們友情關懷。保羅也提醒婦女應學習如何愛丈夫，這在盲婚啞嫁的年代有特別幫助。 接著便是年輕人。他們的誠信、平常的言談、自制，都是基督內住在他們心裡的好例證，表明主已把他們從以往的惡習中釋放出來。 同樣，作奴僕的也應在工作上、順服上及態度上見證基督。時至今天，這些原則對基督徒僱員仍然有效。如果教會中的每一位信徒都能活出這些標準，那該是一個如何美好的教會！ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EVERY AGE GROUP LIVING FOR CHRIST Day 4 Bible Reading:   Titus 2: 1-10 What should Christians be like in their homes, in the church, and in the world, no matter what their age group is? Paul spells it out very plainly in this passage, covering five groups: older men, older women, young men, young women, and servants (or employees). Allowing for differences in culture, there are significant instructions here for us all today. Here is one more job for the pastor! Paul tells Titus to teach each of these groups how to live for Christ and with each other! Each group continually needs instruction from the Word. For example it is easy for older people to think they know everything and that younger people are usually wrong in their thinking and behaviour. But any church would greatly benefit from having a group of seniors who act in the various ways Paul mentions here. Notice how love and patience are mentioned. Young people respond to that kind of attitude but are turned off by harsh judgment and constant reproof. Paul mentions what a help older women can be to younger housewives. Those with young children are constantly in need of help and encouragement, and older women ought to recognise this and try to cover this angle of fellowship. Paul also speaks of women learning to love their husbands. In the days of arranged marriages this would be especially helpful. Young men are next. Their integrity, their every day conversation, self-control, are all to be proof that Christ has come into their lives and has set them free from the habits of the past life. Similarly even slaves must show Christ in their work, in their obedience and attitude. Even today those principles hold good for Christian employees. What a wonderful church it would be if everyone faces up to and lives by these standards!

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2009-10-03 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 假教師的危險 粵語 國語 第3天 讀經：   提多書一章10至16節 革哩底的教會雖然只成立了很短時間，竟然已有假教師出現，實在令人驚訝。撒旦當然不希望教會成長，也不希望教會榮耀耶穌基督，因此，他倍加努力地擾亂革哩底教會。保羅在第10節指出「有許多人」是假教師。保羅在第16節形容這些假教師「說是認識神，行事卻和祂相背」；今天豈不是一樣有許多這類虛假的信徒！ 保羅在第11節強調要將這些人「堵住」。他們運用的手段，今天也屢見不鮮，其中一個方法，就是首先吸引某位家庭成員，然後藉著他/她去迷惑全家。當一人受迷惑，不單使整個家庭陷入無盡的痛苦，更禍及整間教會。尤其是一些激動情緒的錯誤教義，最容易在教會中間造成嚴重的分裂；但它們卻特別能夠吸引那些喜歡新鮮感的人。 假教師的動機值得懷疑。保羅指出他們的動機是「貪不義之財」。歷世歷代的教會，都曾被這些為了一己貪念而自立作傳道的人，弄得傷痕纍纍。一個要求信徒奉獻所有儲蓄的領袖，必然大有問題，我們必須立即遠離他，並奉勸其他人不要追隨。這是對任何假教派的一個準確測試。 革哩底人似乎特別容易聽信謊言；但保羅相信福音能徹底改變他們。他建議提多要「嚴嚴地責備他們，使他們在真道上純全無疵」。換句話說，不要把他們逐出教會，反要重建他們的信心，使他們再次堅定不移地相信耶穌基督。責備是為了挽回。請翻看加拉太書六章1節的教導；讓我們也以此原則，來處理那些在教導和行為上出現偏差的信徒。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE DANGER OF FALSE TEACHER Day 3 Bible Reading:   Titus 1: 10-16 It is surprising that there seems to have been so many false teachers in the infant churches in Crete. Satan of course did not want the church to grow or to honour Jesus Christ. He appears to have been working overtime in Crete. Paul uses the word "many" in verse 10. The description in verse 16 could be true of false teachers and cults today, "they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him." Paul wrote in verse 11 that these false teachers must be stopped. One of their methods is still used today - get hold of one member of a household and then through him/her attempt to attract the whole family. This can cause endless heart ache and can disrupt not only family life but the whole church also. Nothing is so divisive than wrong doctrine especially when it appeals to the emotions and to people who are always looking for something new. The motives of false teachers are often suspected. Paul speaks of them doing this for "dishonest gain". The church of God has been hurt many many times by self-appointed preachers of various kinds who are only doing it for the sake of money. When a group leader wants his or her followers to contribute all of their savings, we should clearly stay away from them and warn others also not to be involved. That is one sure test of a false cult. The people of Crete seemed to have been particularly susceptible to any untruth or false statements. But Paul believed the Gospel could completely change them. The words he used in saying how to deal with these people was "rebuke so that they will be sound in the faith". In other words, don't throw them out of the church but win them to a new place of faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The rebuke was to bring about restoration. Look at Galatians 6:1, and let it guide us in dealing with those who are wrong in teaching or behaviour.

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2009-10-02 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 教會裏的屬靈領袖 粵語 國語 第2天 讀經：   提多書一章5至9節 保羅在這幾節經文，清楚表明他寫這封書信的目的。他似乎只在革哩底作短暫停留，卻在那裡建立了不少小型的教會，而需要一些有很強委身心志的領袖，繼續帶領它們。迪信（F. W. Dixon）指出：「一間教會之所以變得壯大或弱小、繼續成長或逐步衰亡、活力充滿或暮氣沉沉，主要在於它有怎樣的領袖。」 保羅清楚列出教會領袖需要具備的素質。他必須無可指責並誠信可靠；他必須專一愛護妻子，又有教導兒女的智慧；他不會堅持己意，也不會性急易怒。牧養的工作實在需要很大的耐性。 積極方面看，作領袖的人要熱心款待客人，愛好美善之事。初期教會經常與熱心款待拉上關係，所涉及的，當然不單是本地的信徒，還包括外地的訪客。即使在今天，若能在家中款待他人用飯，對許多來教會中的人也會是莫大的幫助。 接著，保羅繼續強調，領袖需要莊重、公平、聖潔和自持；他必須值得別人信賴，富有憐憫之心。不論是在公眾場合，還是獨自一人，都要謹言慎行，學像基督的樣式。教會若有這樣的領袖，必能興旺發展。 除了個人品格之外，領袖還要懂得堅持真理。教會中的領袖、教師或傳道人，都要有堅定不移的信仰，都要明白聖經、相信聖經和謹守聖經的真理，以至能駁倒傳播假教義的人。 主啊，求你賜我們更多這樣的領袖和教師。阿們。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SPIRIYUAL LEADERSHIP IN THE CHURCH Day 2 Bible Reading:   Titus 1:5-9 Paul's purpose in writing is spelled out very plainly in these verses. It would seem his visit to Crete was rather brief. But he left behind a number of small churches, which needed strong dedicated leadership. F. W. Dixon wrote, "Whether a church is strong or weak, a living force or a dying cause, powerful or lacking in vitality, depends largely on the leadership of the church." Paul's list of requirements for these leaders is plainly stated. That person must be blameless and of unquestioned integrity. He must be a faithful husband and a wise father. He will not merely insist on his own way and he must not be quick-tempered. Pastoral work requires enormous patience at times. On the positive side, a leader must be generous in hospitality and a lover of good things. Hospitality is often mentioned in connection with the early church. No doubt it covered not only church members but visitors to that town as well. Even today no greater help can be given to many in our churches, than to be invited to someone's home for a meal. Then Paul continues the list of qualifications in short, strong terms - self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. Leaders must be trustworthy, sympathetic, Christ-like, and continually careful of their behaviour, public and private. Any church with leaders like that will prosper. Paul has listed personal qualifications. Now he turns to the leader's stand for the truth. These points should be true of every leader, teacher or preacher in any church. "He must have settled convictions. He must know the Bible, believe the Bible, and hold fast to the truth of the Bible." He must be able to speak out against false doctrine. Lord, give us more leaders and teachers like that. Amen.

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2009-10-01 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 保羅問候提多 粵語 國語 第1天 讀經：   提多書一章1至4節 我們在上個月查考了保羅寫給提摩太的兩封書信；一般相信，提多書的成書日期，是在提摩太前、後書的中間，大概是在保羅第一次被囚的時期。聖經並沒有記載保羅到訪革哩底的詳情，我們只知道他被押送到羅馬途中經過革哩底。很可能，他後來曾帶同提多到過該處，還將他留下，要他完成工作。 留意保羅在第1節形容自己是「神的僕人」。他是神的奴僕；他要完完全全聽命於神。保羅在哥林多前書六章20節同樣教導我們，我們不是屬自己的人，因基督已用重價將我們買來；我們必須時刻緊記這點。 保羅也稱自己是「耶穌基督的使徒」。他正是以使徒的權柄，來與提多談論革哩底教會的會眾和情況。我們今天再沒有像保羅那種身份的使徒；但「使徒」一詞相當於「被差者」的意思，就這一意義而言，我們都是基督差派去為祂作見證的僕人。 英文的引伸版聖經（Amplified Version）為第1節下半節提供的意譯，很值得我們用心揣摩。它說：「激發和強化神選民的信心，引導他們正確分辨、認識和熟悉真理，就是那屬乎敬虔、等同敬虔和催化敬虔的真理。」讓我們細味這句意譯的含意。第一句特別強調我們對初信者的責任，提醒我們要悉心餵養和扶立這些屬靈的初生嬰孩。 你身邊有沒有一些信徒，需要你去「激發和強化信心」的呢？當你嘗試去激發別人的時候，自己也必深受激勵。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAUL'S GREETINGS TO TITUS Day 1 Bible Reading:   Titus 1: 1-4 Last month we looked at Paul's two letters to Timothy. It is generally thought that this letter to Titus was written between 1st and 2nd Timothy, possibly after Paul's first imprisonment. We have no certain details of a visit by Paul to Crete, except that his ship touched there on his journey to Rome. He must have gone there later with Titus whom he left behind to complete the work begun during his visit. Notice how Paul describes himself in verse1, "A bond-slave of God." He was God's slave. God owned every part of him in total commitment. Paul said it again in 1 Corinthians 6:20. We are not our own, we have been bought by Christ, something we need to recognise continually. "Being an apostle of Jesus Christ," Paul has the authority to speak plainly concerning the church members and the situation in Crete. There are no similar apostles today. The word "apostle" does mean a "sent one" and in that sense we have been sent by Christ as His witnesses. Following Paul's thought of being sent by Christ, the Amplified Version has a very interesting paraphrase of the remainder of verse1, "to stimulate and promote the faith of God's chosen ones and lead them on to accurate discernment and recognition of and acquaintance with the Truth which belongs to and harmonizes with and tends to godliness." Read that paraphrase again slowly and take in the meaning of it. The first part of it could really describe our responsibility toward new Christians. Often they are neglected when as babes in Christ they should be carefully nurtured. Is there someone you can help now? Could you "stimulate and promote their faith" ? It can mean very much to them and you yourself will only benefit.

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