2008-12-23 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 在事奉上忠心 粵語 國語 第23天 讀經：   歌羅西書四章16至18節 保羅在第17節提及的亞基布究竟是誰？我們對他認識很少。他可能是腓利門和亞腓亞的兒子，在老底嘉教會擔任牧者一職。有人曾經說過：「經文沒有明確指出亞基布的事奉崗位；因此，對他的提醒，便可概括地應用在所有人的身上。」 保羅為甚麼叫人給他這句傳話呢？也許他知道亞基布容易流於安逸和處事輕忽。保羅一向喜歡激勵信徒，要抓緊每個機會去為主作工。 亞基布聽見保羅叫人這樣提醒自己，必定會大吃一驚。他的第一個反應，會是生氣，還是醒覺到自己需要別人提醒呢？這句說話會對他有何影響？會不會使他的靈命得著更新？ 你有甚麼事奉呢？講道？探訪？關心有需要的家庭？幫助別人？你是否熱誠地投入事奉？在事奉的時候，有否懷著一顆喜樂和禱告的心？請記著，這是你的事奉，不是其他人的事奉。 保羅提醒他要「盡」自己的職分。「盡」有倒滿的意思。我們嘗試把每個事奉機會視為一個器皿，我們便將我們生命中的一切，我們的整個人傾進去一樣。許多時候，我們都是半心半意地事奉基督；但基督想要的，卻是盡心盡意的事奉。 我們是否懶惰或做事輕忽？我們是否開始追求安逸？或是我們容讓其他許多事情擠壓著我們，以致我們不能全心全意地事奉基督？哪究竟是甚麼？保羅給亞基布的那句話，是否同樣提醒我們？ 請再讀第17節，求主幫助你能盡心盡意地事奉。我們要記著，我們是「在主裡」事奉。那就是說，我們是為著祂的榮耀，靠著祂所賜的能力來事奉祂。請翻閱哥林多前書十五章58節，願「你們的勞苦，在主裡面不是徒然的」這句話，深深地激勵我們。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAITHFUL IN OUR MINISTRY Day 23 Bible Reading:   Colossians 4:16-18 Who was Archippus, mentioned in verse 17? We are not told very much about him. He may have been the son of Philemon and Apphia. He possibly was the pastor of the church at Laodicea. Someone has said 'The exact ministry of Archippus is unknown, and therefore the lesson of his life is directed to everyone because it includes everyone'. Why did Paul write in this way? Perhaps he knew that Archippus had a tendency to settle down in comfort and to take things easy. Paul very often stirred people to get on with their work and to be active for Christ while there is time. It must have been quite a shock for Archippus to hear his name mentioned in this way. Did he react first of all in anger or did he realise his need of this word? What was the result? A renewing in his own soul? What is your ministry? Is it preaching? Is it visiting? Is it caring for the family? Is it one of helping? How energetically are you working? How cheerfully? How prayerfully? Remember it is your ministry, not someone else's. Paul says 'fulfil it'. The word means to fill it full. Look at the opportunity for service which you have and consider it a cup or a vessel and pour into it all your life, all your being, all your being's ransomed powers. We are so half-hearted in our service for Christ. Christ wants wholehearted, brimful service, and overflowing faithfulness. Are we lazy or careless? Have we begun to settle down and to do as little as we can? Have we allowed other things to crowd out our wholehearted service for Christ? Business, home, sport, friends or what? Do we need to take notice of the blunt words which Paul wrote to Archippus? Read verse 17 again and ask the Lord to help you fulfil your ministry to the utmost. Remember our service is 'in the Lord'. It is by his power, for his glory, with his strength that we are to serve him. Read 1 Corinthians 15:58 and be encouraged today that your labour is never in vain in the Lord.

2008-12-22 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 保羅的外邦人朋友 粵語 國語 第22天 讀經：   歌羅西書四章12至15節 昨天我們認識三位幫助保羅的猶太人朋友；今天，我們將認識他的三位外邦人朋友。保羅有很多不同國籍的朋友。這正好顯明基督的大能，使到一個偏狹的民族主義者，變成一個具備國際視野的佈道家。 以巴弗是歌羅西的信徒，所以他深知歌羅西教會的情況和需要。他沒有祈求神供應他們的物質需要；反之，他祈求神使他們在靈命上成長。以巴弗最渴望的，是歌羅西信徒能在基督裡得以長大成熟，能夠確知他們在基督裡的身份。我們最熱切祈求的是甚麼？是朋友是肉身需要，抑或他們的屬靈成長？ 接著，我們便看見忠心的朋友路加，和背棄他的底馬。 保羅稱路加是「親愛的醫生」。保羅擁有治病的恩賜，但他仍然要一位醫生與他同行。可想而知，當保羅生病的時候，他是準備接受醫生的診斷和一般的藥物治療。 至於底馬，保羅在此沒有特別談論他。可是，在提摩太後書四章10節，保羅則指出底馬因貪愛世界而離開他。這是甚麼意思呢？他是否太顧惜生命，以致不願意為基督犧牲？或是他被羅馬的繁華所吸引，以致離棄信仰？ 我們不能對底馬過於苛責，因為我們豈不也是一樣，經常重視世界甚於基督，重視錢財的保障甚於屬靈的能力？但願我們都以他為鑑。 他們是保羅的其中一些朋友，我們從保羅在信末的幾句簡單問候，便可見保羅如何珍惜朋友。我們對朋友又怎樣呢？我們關心朋友嗎？我們會為朋友禱告嗎？願我們都反省自己對待朋友的態度，並且求神幫助我們能愛護和珍惜朋友。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PAUL'S GENTILE FRIENDS Day 22 Bible Reading:   Colossians 4:12-15 Yesterday we noticed three Jewish friends who helped Paul. Today we look at three Gentile friends. Paul had a great capacity for friendship no matter what their nationality was. What a great illustration of the power of Christ which I transformed a narrow-minded Jew into an international evangelist. Epaphras came from Colosse so he knew the circumstances of the church and its need. He did not pray for material blessings for them but pleaded with God for their spiritual development. Epaphras longed that the Colossian Christians might fully develop in Christ and become mature Christians, absolutely certain of their position in Christ. Which do we pray for the most? The physical health of our friends or their spiritual development? Then there were Luke and Demas-the faithful friend and the unfaithful one. Paul called Luke the beloved physician. Paul had the gift of healing yet he had a medical doctor travelling with him. Paul was prepared to use ordinary means and trained personnel when this was needed. What about Demas? What happened to him? We would love to know more. Paul says nothing about him here. Is that silence significant? In 2 Timothy 4:10 Paul says that Demas J deserted him, having loved this present world. What does he mean? Did he love his own life too much to lay it down for Christ? Did the worldly attractions of Rome prove too much for him? We must not be too hard on Demas. All too often we ourselves put this world before Christ and put material possessions before spiritual power. Let Demas be a warning to us all. These were some of Paul's friends. Notice how much they meant to him. What about our friends? How many do we have? How much time do we spend with them? How often do we pray for them? Think over again the whole matter of friendship and ask God to make you the kind of friend he wants you to be.

2008-12-21 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 主內知己 粵語 國語 第21天 讀經：   歌羅西書四章7至11節 保羅有許多攻擊他的敵人，但他也有很多愛護他的朋友。他們與他一起同行上路，照顧他的需要，甚至與他一同被囚。他們是他宣教隊伍的成員。你曾否數算過保羅在他的書信中，曾經提及多少位朋友呢？ 保羅在這段經文中提及了誰人？推基古究竟是誰？他是亞洲人(徒二十4)，負責送信到歌羅西。保羅似乎給他很高的評價，稱他為「親愛的弟兄」和「忠心的執事」。 推基古對保羅可謂至死忠心。保羅分別在提多書三章12節和提摩太後書四章12節提到他。我們不要忘記，保羅當時已是囚犯，更是被判了死刑的死囚，要做一個死囚的朋友，實在是相當危險。可是，推基古因著對基督的愛，以及對保羅的真摯友誼，所以一直在他身邊支持著他。我們是否這樣忠心對待自己的朋友呢？ 阿尼西母將會與推基古同行。我們會稱阿尼西母是「出走的僕人」，但保羅卻從來不會這樣稱呼他。他同樣稱他是「親愛忠心的兄弟」。我們豈不經常將某些人標籤化，例如說：「那個人從前是個酒鬼；那個女人從前是吸毒的」之類？我們總喜歡記著別人的不光彩往事，但保羅卻總是記著其他信徒的好處。 接著，他提到三位猶太人的朋友：亞里達古、馬可和猶士都。亞里達古是來自馬其頓的猶太人(徒二十4)。當保羅置身於各種艱難的困境，例如在以弗所的暴動，以及被押送往羅馬的途中，亞里達古都一直在保羅身邊。 馬可這位年青人曾經令保羅失望，但後來他已經變好；保羅在這裡便親切地讚賞他。猶士都只在這裡被提及，所以我們對他認識不多。事實上，在神的嘉許冊上有許多這類人名：我們雖不認識，卻是神所愛和深得朋友讚賞的。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOW MANY FRIENDS DO YOU HAVE? Day 21 Bible Reading:   Colossians 4:7-11 Paul had many enemies but he also had some very wonderful friends. They travelled with him. They cared for him and even went to prison with him. They were part of his evangelistic team. Have you ever tried to count up the total number of friends Paul mentions in his epistles? Who does Paul name here in this passage? Who was Tychicus? He was from Asia (Acts 20:4) and he carried this epistle to the church at Colosse. He seems to have meant a lot to Paul. He calls Tychicus a 'beloved brother' and a 'faithful servant'. Tychicus remained faithful to Paul to the very end. Paul speaks of this in Titus 3:12 and in 2 Timothy 4:12. Remember it was dangerous in those days to be a friend of a prisoner, especially one condemned to death. But love for Christ and the genuineness of Christian friendship kept Tychicus at Paul's side right through. How faithful are you to your friends? Onesimus was going to travel with Tychicus. We call him the 'runaway slave' but Paul never called him that. He said 'our faithful and beloved brother'. Do we too often identify someone like this 'You know-the fellow who was the drunkard, the alcoholic or the woman who used to be on drugs'? Why don't we forget the past? Paul always said the very best he could of any fellow-Christian. Then he mentions three Jewish friends, Aristarchus, Mark and Justus. Aristarchus was a Jew from Macedonia (Acts 20:4) who was faithful under difficult circumstances, as in the riots in Ephesus and when Paul sailed as a prisoner to Rome. Aristarchus shared with Paul in all the experiences on the way to Rome and even in prison. Mark was the young man who finally made good. Here Paul warmly commends him. Justus is unknown to us except for this reference. God's honour roll has many such names, unknown to us but known and loved by God and by a few of the Lord's people.

2008-12-20 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 信徒的教會生活 粵語 國語 第20天 讀經：   歌羅西書四章2至6節 來到書信的尾聲，保羅諄諄勸勉歌羅西的信徒要謹守幾件事：恆切禱告；行事要有智慧；珍惜光陰；說話要溫文有禮。 保羅的書信，沒有一封是沒有提到禱告的。由此可見，他極之重視禱告，而每個基督徒都應該以他為榜樣。我們若要每天與主同行，就不能不禱告；唯有藉著禱告，我們才能親近祂，和明白祂的心意。有些時候，我們會感到禱告不蒙應允，我們的祈求似乎不能上達於天，因而感到灰心。然而，正是在這個時候，我們要堅持禱告，不可放棄。 對於禱告，保羅還教導我們要「保持儆醒，時常感恩，為別人代禱，以及確切祈求。」 好了，行事要有智慧又是甚麼意思呢？保羅的意思是要指出，我們必須留意自己在信徒面前的言行舉止，否則我們的輕率無禮，很可能會成為他們信主的絆腳石。我們每天都需要主賜下智慧，來幫助我們有美好的品行。不要忘記，我們是世人眼中的「聖經」，他們在主動看聖經之前，總是先觀察我們的行為來評價我們的信仰。 愛惜光陰相當於「抓緊時機」。不要忘記，我們要得著任何東西都要付上代價。當機會出現，可能是我們最不方便的時候；我們便要衡量輕重，作出取捨。我們可能要為了服侍主而付上代價，我們很容易會推說：「我近來很忙，不能為主作工」；然而，到我們有時間的時候，機會卻消失了。 我們的說話談吐，同樣要見證基督。如果我們的話嚴苛、尖酸刻薄、喜歡挑剔批評，又怎能見證基督呢？雖然在某些時刻，我們可能要用堅定的語氣說話，但這並不表示要充滿怒氣。基督要我們持守的準則，就是「在愛中說誠實話」。 我們的言行舉止，是否符合以上的標準呢？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ STANDARDS FOR CHURCH MEMBERS Day 20 Bible Reading:   Colossians 4:2-6 Now near the end of his epistle Paul has a few commands for the church members. Here are four of them: 1. Continue in prayer; 2. Walk in wisdom; 3. Redeem the time; 4. Speak with grace. Paul never wrote a letter without speaking about prayer. It was very important to him and it ought to be just as important I in the life of every Christian. To maintain our daily walk with Christ we need that time of prayer. These moments spent with him somehow keep us in touch with him and what he wants us to do. Praying is not always easy. Sometimes our prayers seem unanswered and our words don't seem to be reaching heaven. But that is the time to continue, rather than stop praying. Paul adds several words concerning prayer in these verses. He says 'Be alert or wide awake. Be thankful. Pray for others. Ask for definite requests.' Now, what does walking in wisdom mean? Paul is saying we need to be careful how we act and how we react in front of non-Christians. It is so easy for us to do the wrong thing and perhaps put a stumbling block in front of unsaved friends. We need the Lord's wisdom day by day to behave as we should. Remember we are the 'world's Bible'. They don't read God's Word but they do watch us. , Redeeming the time is another way of saying 'Buy up every opportunity'. But remember buying includes payment. Often an opportunity comes when it is really inconvenient. Part of the cost of serving Christ may be found here. It is so easy to, say 'I haven't the time right now'. When we do have the time the opportunity may be gone for ever. Our speaking too should reflect Christ. If our language is harsh or bitter or critical it will not speak of Christ. Sometimes we will have to speak firmly, but that does not mean with anger. Speaking the truth in love is the standard Christ wants us to follow. How do we match up to this checklist for church members?

2008-12-19 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 基督徒在家中和工作中的表現 粵語 國語 第19天 讀經：   歌羅西書三章18節至四章1節 除了基督徒的事奉之外，新約書信最常論及的主題，就是基督徒的婚姻及家庭關係。基督徒的家庭不單是一個見證福音的地方，更是一個相交、禱告和學習相愛的地方。 家庭之中最基本的人倫關係當然是夫妻關係。倘若夫妻二人沒有按照基督的教導來彼此相待，他們的家又怎能有基督徒的氣息？任何一方若是執著自我，就很難建立基督徒的家庭。丈夫在家中擔當了領導角色，卻不表示他可以任意而行，不顧及家人的需要。 「兒女」不單指到兒童，還包括已成年的子女。基督徒透過敬愛父母，便最能顯示出對主的愛了。父母同樣有他們的責任。他們既不應管教過嚴，也不該忽略管教子女，父母的責任是要訓練和鼓勵子女。訓練包括了管教，甚或在有需要的時候作出處罰。馬丁路得說過：「要一手拿著杖來管教兒女，一手拿著蘋果來?勵他們。」 此外，保羅還教導作僕人和主人的，我們可以把它理解為今天的僱員和僱主關係。保羅強調基督徒必須勤奮工作，因此，我們應該成為一個勤力的僱員。我們不可因為自己是基督徒而偷懶，反之，要更加勤力。而且，我們還可透過做事的方式來表明我們是屬乎基督的。 作僱主的，同樣要緊記自己要向基督交賬。他們不可按照信主之前的方式來做生意。基督已作了他們的主人，因此，他們也要向主人負責。這包括他們對待僱員的態度和營商的方式，都要合乎基督的教導。 這就是基督徒的生活方式，你是否覺得標準過高？只要基督住在我們心裡，加力給我們，我們就必能達到。 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE CHRISTIAN AT HOME AND AT WORK Day 19 Bible Reading:   Colossians 3:18 - 4:1 The New Testament has more to say about the Christian home than about any other subject except the Christian ministry. The home is to be a place of witness, a place of fellowship, a place of prayer and much more. It ought to be a show piece for the gospel. The basic relationship in a home is, of course, between husband and wife. If these two do not act in the way Christ wants them to, how can there be any Christian atmosphere? Any marriage where one partner is selfish or self-centred is not fulfilling the pattern of Christian marriage. The position of leadership for the husband does not mean he pleases himself with no concern for his family. 'Children' includes all ages up to adulthood. One of the best ways Christian children can show their love for the Lord is by their attitude toward their parents. Parents have their responsibilities too. They must neither over-discipline nor neglect their children. The duty of a parent is to train and encourage. Training includes discipline or even punishment when needed. Martin Luther said 'Use the rod but keep an apple alongside it for when your child does well'. Paul also has a word for slaves and masters. We would say employees and employers. Paul insists that a Christian must be conscientious in his work. Christianity ought to make us a better and more efficient typist, clerk, labourer, farmhand or whatever. Being a Christian does not let us avoid hard work, it should make us work harder. Even in the way we work we can show that we belong to Christ. Employers, too, need to remember that they are accountable to Christ. They cannot run their business any way they want to. They are responsible to Christ as their own master. This includes the way they treat their employees as well as show they manage the whole business. All these are ways in which our Christian life is to be lived and how it should be seen by the world around. Too high a standard ? Not if Christ is with us to help us reach it.

2008-12-18 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 新生活的守則 粵語 國語 第18天 讀經：   歌羅西書三章14至17節 一個沒有愛心的人(14節)，似乎不可能擁有保羅在第12和13節列出的美德。不過，保羅在哥林多前書十三章也曾經從另一方面指出，人可以有很偉大的表現，但他實質卻並沒有愛。 保羅在這幾節經文論到「愛的結連」。「結」可以將不可的東西連繫起來；同樣地，愛心也可以將教會的肢體連結起來。任何一個群體，早晚都會出現分裂的危機。唯有愛心，才能使到信徒即使意見不合，也繼續連結起來。 保羅再列出其他的三個方面，都是與基督徒生活息息相關的，它們分別是：基督的平安、基督的話語和基督的名。許多時候，基督都會以祂的平安來引導我們作決定。例如，我們可以反問自己：「我如果決定做這件事，我的內心是否有基督的平安？」若然沒有這分平安，我們的決定便可能是錯。 第16節提醒我們，基督徒應該非常熟悉神的話語，以致神的話語能經常引導他的生活。詩人說：「我將你的話藏在心裡，免得我得罪你」(詩一一九11)：「少年人用甚麼來潔淨他的行為呢？是要遵行你的話」(一一九9)。我們若然不認識神的話語，又怎能按照祂的心意來生活呢？ 保羅在第17節再次提到他主耶穌的名──就是他所愛慕的名。我們要測試自己做某件事是否正確，其中一個最佳的方法，就是反問自己：「我可否在做這件事的同時，祈求主耶穌的幫助呢？我能否將這件事帶進祈禱之中呢？」 基督徒生活的另一個重要特徵，是懂得凡事感恩。最容易導致教會分裂的，就如信徒之間彼此抱怨。最能夠吸引別人參與教會的，莫如信徒經常在一起向神快樂感恩。今天就嘗試懷著一顆喜樂感恩的心去過活吧！看看會有何不同？ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RULES FOR THE NEW LIFE Day 18 Bible Reading:   Colossians 3:14-17 It hardly seems possible that anyone could wear the new clothes Paul has been listing in verses 12 and 13 (see yesterday's reading) and yet have no love (v. 14). But in 1 Corinthians 13 we see what a Christian can do and still not show any love. Here he speaks about the 'bond of love'. The mortar or cement which holds bricks together is called the 'bond'. In the same way love is that which binds the Church together. The very real temptation in any group of people is sooner or later I to tear themselves apart. Love is the one bond which will hold them together even though they may not always agree in everything else. Paul touches on three other aspects of our Christian life; the peace of Christ, the word of Christ and the name of Christ. So often that peace which Christ gives can be the guide in making decisions. For example, we can ask 'Do I have peace in my heart in doing this or that?' Whatever disturbs the peace that Christ gives must be wrong and our decision must be against that particular action. Then the thought of verse 16 is that the Christian is to be so at home in the Word of God that it will flow freely through his life. What did the Psalmist say? 'Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee. How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy Word'. If we are strangers to the Word of God, we will never I live like he wants us to live. . In verse 17 Paul speaks again of the name he loves, the name of Christ. One of the best tests of our actions is 'Can I do this thing and at the same time ask for Christ's help? Can I say it and in the same breath speak of him?' Another great characteristic of the Christian life is gratitude or giving thanks to God. Nothing so divides a church as a spirit of complaint. Nothing so brings people together in one happy spirit as thanksgiving. Try it, and see what it will do today.