还我伊甸的丰荣

还我伊甸的丰荣                        

创世记二8-17

二8：『耶和华神在东方的伊甸栽了一个园子，把他所塑造的人安置在那里。』

伊甸园即是乐园，里头有活水的泉源，流出四道河，滋润大地，好叫生命和树木可以生长。园子里有各样的树木，长出果子作食物，也很美味。园子中间有生命树，又有善恶知识树。园子里还布满了金子、珍珠和红玛瑙（10-14节）。

如此画面往后也出现在会幕或圣殿（出25-27），以及新天新地（结二十八13；启二十一18-21）。这表示伊甸园是圣殿的原型，一个神与人同在之地。耶和华神在伊甸园预备了人心里渴望的一切美好和丰盛，包括神的荣耀同在。

创世记第一章讲述一位超越的“神”，以话语“创造”宇宙万物，包括照着他的形象造男造女（1章27节）。第二章7-8节，作者从另外角度描述一位临在的“耶和华神”，就是与以色列立约的那位神，他亲手以地上的尘土“塑造”了人。然后，耶和华神把人安置在伊甸园里。

安顿下来吧！

二15：『于是耶和华神带了那人来，把他安顿在伊甸园，叫他耕种并看守它。』

这里的『安顿』不同于二章8节的『安置』。希伯来文，『安顿』这字是休息或安定的意思，也有献在神面前的意思（出十六33-34；利十六23；民十七4；申二十六4，10）。亚当被安顿在伊甸，休息，不是不做事情，而是表示在神的同在里得安息和保障，以及与神团契（三8）。

还有，神指定亚当在伊甸园的责任是『耕种看守』，也译作『修理看守』。

『耕种/修理』在希伯来文是服事或敬拜。这字在摩西五经常常出现，特别是用在利未人要服侍神、敬拜神的经文里面。『看守』有遵守、保守和看管的意思，特别是指遵守神的律法典章。

结论是：神非常体恤人，关爱人。他为始祖预备了伊甸园和其中的一切，让人在此乐土居住。而伊甸园仿似圣殿，一个神与人同在的地方。亚当就好像祭司，敬拜服侍神和听从神的话，以及照顾这神圣之地，杜绝不洁净和罪进入。

除此之外，因着神命令人要生养众多，遍满全地，以及管理大地（一章28节），亚当也有责任把伊甸园的疆界扩张到全地。

应用：

今天神也在不同的时间和地点，安顿我们在各个地方或岗位，为了成就他在我们身上的目的。无论我们被神安顿在何处，我们的使命也是『修理看守』，以敬拜神和祈求神来工作，在那地方得享神同在的安稳，为那地方谋求福利。

这安定不是指没有困难，神会帮助我们克服困难，来成就他的旨意。这样我们每天的生活作息都是在敬拜神，而且是享受在其中。我们不应该看工作为咒诅和厌恶性差事，却是神透过我们的工作来赐福社群。

今天神把你安顿在哪里呢？

·        若神把我们安置在家里，我们当以顺服的心态，忠心地照顾年长的父母，耐心教养小孩，使我们的家成为温暖的安乐窝。

·        若我们被安置在职场某个岗位，我们当把神托付我们的职责，忠心地完成，遵行《圣经》的道德与行为，并且获得同事和老板的赞赏与祝福。我们在职场与人分享神的爱，为人代求，求神赦免人的罪，感动人归向他。

·        我们被安顿在教会里，也当『修理看守』，参与各样服侍，而不是袖手旁观。我们更加不应该任意而行，不顺服牧者的带领，以致神的教会和牧者都受到伤害。

神要求每位天国的子民，基督的门徒，活出一个敬拜与使命人生。我们不要继续浑浑噩噩，漫无目的，得过且过，活在自我封闭的世界。这是在虚度光阴，消耗神赐给我们的诸般资源。

你有在哪里安顿下来吗？不要在流离浪荡了！

人不会找到安稳、意义和喜乐，直到他按神的引领安顿下来。别在犹豫，你现在就安顿下来吧！神会帮助你，与你同在……

扩张界限，不是越过界限

亚当在伊甸园修理看守，必须服从神的命令。他是伊甸园的管家，祭司，不是主人。神才是主人。神给亚当随意吃，以及不可以吃的禁令。

耶和华神吩咐那人说：『园子里各样的树木所出的，你尽管吃。但善恶知识树所出的，你不可以吃，因为在你吃的那天，你一定死！』（16-17节）

这禁令不是剥夺了人什么，相反是扩张人的潜力。亚当若遵守神给他的界限，就得与神保持亲密关系，并且生命越加蒙福和愉快，而伊甸的丰美疆域，乐土的界限，得以扩张到全地。

这是神创造的本意，就是与人同在，授命人将邪恶与罪驱逐，建立神掌权的国土，使到神的国涵盖全地。

亚当可以随意，尽情地吃神给他预备所有的果子，除了善恶知识树上的果子。若亚当吃了这果子，就会面临肉身的死亡，也包括灵性上的死亡。

创世记第三者记载，亚当与夏娃受到魔鬼的引诱而背叛神。他们吃了分别善恶树的果子。他们吃后没有立刻死，但与神的密切团契破裂了。他们被神赶出伊甸园，失去了原初的祝福，最终还是肉身死了。

亚当和夏娃根本没有需要吃善恶知识的果子。他们应该把狡猾的蛇赶出园子，这是他们做祭司的职责。很可惜，他们却堕入蛇的引诱，吃了那颗树的果子，背叛了神。

神看他的创造是好，是非常的好！唯有神懂得什么是好。神看亚当独居是为，不好！唯有神懂得什么是不好。亚当和夏娃吃了禁果，乃是选择了不依赖神来决定善与恶，好与不好。他们要自主，用自己的智慧来抉择好与坏，不理会神的命令和神认为的好。他们看自主权，更加重要过生命。

亚当和夏娃不敬畏神，悖逆神的话，导致犯罪堕落，叫受造界从此沦落苦痛的深渊，失去神创造的美意和祝福。然而，在基督里，我们得蒙救赎。

耶稣基督就仿似那颗生命树的果子，为我们掰开，递过来给我们吃。我们凭信心吃了主的身体，喝了主的血，就与神回复了关系。我们重新被神赋予永生，并且安顿在他丰盛的同在里。

应用：

今天神也给每位相信耶稣的人立下界限和标准，都写在圣经里。神知道什么对我们好，什么对我们不好。我们遵从这些界限去修理看守神托付我们的伊甸园，我们也会享受神的祝福和丰盛。

我们也可以好像所罗门王那样，向神求智慧和明辨的心（王上三章）。神就按他的意思赐给我们这个恩赐。若我们坚持以本身有限和受罪污染的眼光，去决定善恶的标准，这等同亚当夏娃那样，看自己高于神，怀疑神的美意，自由选择吃了善恶知识果子，犯罪背叛神。

错误的选择叫我们陷入罪中受苦。既然错误的选择带来了恶果，我们就当立刻悔改，从错误中得到教训，不要一错再错。神知道我们每个人的需要，他会采取行动用他的方式来解决我们的需要。

我们不能口头说很爱神，却不遵守他的吩咐。我们当严肃看待神话，谨慎地作出每一个抉择，确保不越过神设下的界限。我们应专心信靠神，顺服神，与神同工，在自己的岗位上实践他的旨意，使伊甸园丰美的界限扩张到地极。

爱主不是请客吃饭

 

路加福音7:36-50

有罪的女人用香膏抹耶稣                  

耶稣经常与罪人一起吃饭，突显他接纳和肯定罪人，以及宣示神的救恩临到这些罪人。这次有一位法利赛人，名叫西门。他听闻耶稣是一位先知，就邀请耶稣来吃饭。在那个时代，有权势、地位和财富的人请客吃饭，是藉此炫耀地位、财富和能力。耶稣接受了西门的邀请，进入他的家坐席。

当时城里有一个女人，是个罪人 ，很可能是一位妓女。她冒着被羞辱也鼓起勇气不请自来。她还带了一个盛了香膏的玉瓶来。

当时人们在餐桌前的坐姿，身体是保持半躺卧的倾斜姿态，双腿稍微伸向后侧。女人就站在耶稣后面，挨在他的脚边哭。她用泪水沾湿耶稣的脚，用自己的头发擦干，并且连连亲吻他的脚，又抹上香膏（37-38节）。

西门看见就心里说：『这人若是先知，就早应该知道摸他的是谁，是个怎样的女人；她是个罪人啊！』（39节）

耶稣真是先知，而且是拯救罪人的弥赛亚基督，而这女人是一位蒙赦免的罪人。

耶稣就向西门讲了一个比喻。耶稣说：『有两个人欠了债主的钱，一个欠五百个银子，另一个欠五十个银子。他们都无力偿还，债主就开恩免了他们。这样，他们哪一个会更爱那个债主呢？』（41节）

『五百个银子』是当时一个工人两年的薪水。耶稣身处贫富悬殊的社会，穷人欠下富人巨款是常事。

西门回答：『是那个蒙债主免了较多债的。』

耶稣说：『你判断得正确。』

耶稣接着转身向着女人，对西门说：『你看见这女人吗？我进了你的家，你没有给我水洗脚，她却用泪水沾湿我的脚，又用自己的头发擦干。你没有亲我，她却在我进来之后，就不停亲吻我的脚。你没有用油抹我的头，她却用香膏抹我的脚。因此告诉你，她爱得多，证明她许多的罪已经赦免了；那爱得少的，证明他已得赦免的也少。』（44-47节）

耶稣对那女人说：『你的罪已经赦免了。』

席上的宾客心里说：『这个人是谁，竟然赦免人的罪？』

耶稣对那女人说：『你的信心救了你，平安的回去吧。』

法利赛人与宾客们认为唯有神可以赦免罪人，耶稣没有权柄赦免罪的。他们不知道耶稣真的是神，成了肉身住在人间。耶稣当然有权柄赦免罪。

解经：

耶稣当众指出西门的缺失，却赞赏女人的举动。西门与有罪的女人成了鲜明的对比：

法利赛人	有罪女人
西门	无名
没有提供洗脚水	眼泪
没有纸巾	手、头发
没有友善的吻	亲吻
没有油	香膏
有敬虔外表	不洁净、有罪、被鄙视
请客吃饭	感恩图报，献上最好

当时社会价值观认为眼泪是软弱者的表征、女人的散发是淫荡符号、亲吻是不合体统、香膏是奢侈浪费、有罪的身份是卑贱的。这女人被看为不洁净、受到鄙视、被视为软弱。然而，在耶稣眼中，『眼泪、手、头发、亲吻、香膏』乃是一位女人本身最宝贵，最珍惜的东西。

这女人深知自己是个众人鄙视的罪人，但是耶稣赦免了她的罪，接纳她进入神的救恩宴席里。她对耶稣心怀极度的感恩，因此给耶稣献上最好的。

今天我们把什么献上给主耶稣？是把不要的，琐碎的献给主吗？是把诸多抱怨献给主吗？或者是将我们最好的，最珍惜的献给主？

西门疏忽了当时人们非常注重款待客人的文化。当时路上尘土飞扬，客人的脚沾了尘土，进门时仆人要为客人洗脚。主人亲吻客人的脸颊是迎接客人的礼仪。为客人的头膏油表示尊重客人。

显然，西门给予耶稣只是一般的“请客吃饭”，轻而易举的事。他轻蔑耶稣，也不觉得自己是从耶稣得到罪得赦免的一个罪人。

这女人没能力请客吃饭、没有跳舞、以及没有歌声，却是沉默无声献上自己罪宝贵的东西来接待耶稣。她如此不寻常的表现，表示她对主耶稣深厚的爱与感恩，因为她领受了主的赦罪之恩。她表现的爱与她所经验的赦免是成正比的。她领受了主极大的赦免，就爱主极大。而那少得赦免的，表示的爱也少。

耶稣当面斥责西门的虚伪、自我中心和不款待客人（inhospitable）。耶稣却公开赞扬女人的行为。女人没有错，西门对客人的怠慢才是真的犯了社会禁忌。

这位女人深刻了解自己是个蒙恩的罪人，就竭力尊耶稣为救主。『信心』不单是头脑相信有神。真正的信心是当人与耶稣相遇时候，就承认自己的罪，并且接受神赐予白白的赦罪之恩，接着以感恩和爱来回应神的恩典。

应用：

这女人已经接受了主耶稣给予白白的赦罪之恩，但这白白的恩典不是廉价恩典，而是无价的恩典，因为耶稣—神的独生儿子，成了肉身住在我们中间。他为了我们经历痛苦和死亡—被钉死在十字架上。他代替我们罪人受惩罚，好叫我们能从永远的灭亡中拯救出来。这是神给我们何等大的牺牲的爱！

这女人把最好的做在主耶稣身上，显出一位罪人对耶稣的无价的恩典作出感恩回应。相反的，若人给耶稣“请客吃饭”，乃是当耶稣的恩典是廉价的恩典！

今天你体会到自己的罪孽深重和无能自救而必须依靠耶稣吗？你了解耶稣的赦罪之恩是多么广大吗？不论我们是多么奸恶，或许是多么善良，在圣洁的神面前，我们都是该灭亡的罪人！然而，耶稣可以拯救我们。

我们要为耶稣的救赎而感恩，让他成为我们生命的主。我们来穷一生人经历主的恩典和被主的爱所塑造。我们要时刻住在基督里，与他保持感恩和爱的关系。

圣经没有告诉我们这女人的名字，但请客吃饭的主人名叫西门，又是社会宗教领袖—法利赛人。然而，这女人的热情款待耶稣，使她从无名，有罪，受鄙视中受到耶稣公开的称赞，并且当众宣告罪得赦免。耶稣叫这女人的生命得逆转和高升！

于此相反，西门随意，敷衍和骄横的请客吃饭，表示他不降卑自己，不认同自己是个罪人。他与耶稣的赦罪救恩擦肩而过。

这女人从边缘移到中心，西门却移到边缘。她获得身份，他失去面子。她被突显在前，他被隐没在后。她受到世代传颂，他被后世羞辱。

法利赛人—西门被耶稣责备后，如何反应呢？路加刻意留白，为了把答案交给我们作为读者的自行了断。若你是西门，你如何回应耶稣的责备呢？

那位声名狼藉的女人，生命经历了逆转，我们也能够经历到。耶稣的恩典是够我们用的。他赦免了我们的罪，叫我们的生命得到逆转：从失败到成功、从软弱，疾病和贫穷到刚强和丰盛、从哀伤到喜乐。

现在耶稣就跟我们一起坐在救恩的餐桌上，我们来爱主多一点，认真的款待主耶稣，给他献上最好的。我们以基督的爱来爱身边的人，赦免他们的过犯正如基督赦免我们的过犯。

Babies, Rich Ruler and Blind Beggar

 Luke 18:15-30; 35-43

Babies, Rich Ruler, Blind Beggar

In the preceding text, Luke 17:20-21, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus answered them, ‘the kingdom of God is in the midst of you (or in your heart).”

By this, Jesus meant that the kingdom of God; ‘the age to come’ was breaking in; the powers of the new age are already at work. Wherever Jesus is, people are received into God's kingdom; they are healed, and given a new life which truly anticipates the total healing and joy that are due to be fulfilled in God’s final new day (consummation).

Luke continues in 18:1-14 tell the parables of the Persistent Widow and the prayer of the Pharisee and tax collector. By this, Luke tells us that God’s kingdom embraces those powerless and underserved people. Jesus is the central figure of God’s kingdom, yet we see that he was also marginalised, persecuted, rejected, suffered and died on the cross.

Jesus Christ is a saviour who suffers with the people. He identifies with the vulnerable and the lowly. He walks through sufferings with the oppressed and wounded. And together they shall overcome in the end.

Today’s passage, Chapter 18, verse 15 onwards, Luke continues to delineate the characteristics of people belonging to God’s kingdom, and also the nature of God’s kingdom itself:

God's People Can Lose Everything but Cannot Lose God, the Heavenly Father

18:15-17 says that people were bringing babies to Jesus for him to place His hands on them. The disciples forbade the people for doing so sternly. But Jesus received them, “let the children come to me, God’s kingdom belongs to the ones like these. I am telling you the truth: anyone who does not receive God’s kingdom like a child will never get into it.”

Luke emphasises ‘babies’. The focus is not about humility, but something about the helplessness of children, and their complete trust of those who love and care for them.

Jesus sees deep into the heart of what it means to receive God’s kingdom; it is like drinking one’s mothers’ milk, like learning to see, and to smile, by looking at one’s mother’s eyes and face. The vulnerable babies grab tightly to their parents even at the cost of putting down their favourite toys.

There is nothing that we can rely on in order to enter the kingdom, neither own religious effort nor merits, but solely on God, our heavenly Father.

Today are you clinging solely to God now? Can you let go of those things or habits that are displeasing to God for the sake of entering God’s kingdom?

You may have just lost your loved ones or experienced a setback in your career or business. As God’s people, we can lose everything but we cannot lose God! Holding onto God, pray to him, serve him unceasingly, He will help you to sail through the dark valleys and make a successful twist.

The following text, verses 18-23 goes on to say:

There is a ruler asked Jesus: ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life (the life of the age to come)?’

Jesus said to him, “Why call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Don’t commit adultery, don’t kill, don’t steal, don’t’ swear falsely, honour your father and mother.”

He said, “I have kept them all since I was a boy.”

When Jesus heard it, He said to the ruler, “there is just one thing you are short of. Sell everything you own, and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”

When the rich ruler heard it, he turned very sad because he was extremely wealthy.

Jesus looked at the ruler, and He said, “How hard it is for those with possessions to enter God’s kingdom! Yes, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.” (Vv.24-25)

Jesus is not against rich people, but against “people who obtain security from the many possessions they have’. Their sense of security comes from possessions like, ‘wealth, fame, status, serving experience, and knowledge of the law.”

The rich ruler belonged to this group who are so confident, so well organized, so determined, even looking into the face of the one he calls ‘good’, but eventually had to turn away feeling sad.

This kind of people refuses to submit to God’s command, because that would demand them to effectively depend on God solely rather than their possessions.

Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” (v.26)

The answer is: When we realize that we are helpless, weak and fragile like babies, and we humble ourselves to solely relying on God’s grace, grab hold on God, we will enter into God’s kingdom and receive the life of the kingdom.  

Let’s grab hold unto God, find refuge in Him and be obedient to his will. We will once again mount up like an eagle!

God's People Are to Freely and Joyfully Follow Jesus

The following text verses 35-43, says that as Jesus and disciples were approaching Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, he was begging. When he heard that Jesus is coming by, he shouted out, ‘Jesus—son of David, have mercy on me!’

The people told him to be silent, but he yelled out all the more, “son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. When he came up, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

He said, “Master, I want to see again.” Jesus said, ‘see again, your faith has saved you.” At once he received his sight again, and he followed Jesus, glorifying God. When all the people saw it, they too gave praise to God.

Let’s compare 'babies brought to Jesus "and "blind beggar brought to Jesus”.  They both wish to come to Jesus but are hindered by the people. But Jesus clears the way for them to come to Him and receive salvation. They are helpless, deprived groups but Jesus helps them to enter the kingdom of God.

One thing different in the blind beggar compared to the babies, is that he has faith in Jesus. He trusts Jesus so completely that, when offered the chance to ask for money or food, he asks for his sight back again. And he received his sight, and then he followed Jesus, glorifying God, praising Him.

The blind beggar’s reaction is a sharp contrast to the rich ruler who had to turn away very sad!

We notice there is a 'sandwich' structure where ‘the rich ruler’ was inserted in the between ‘babies’ and ‘blind beggar’. Luke's purpose is to emphasise the characteristics of God‘s people, that is ‘grab hold unto God alone’ and ‘follow Jesus joyfully and praising God’.

I pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us all, empowering us to follow Jesus joyfully and praising God every day!

God’s People Make Up a Wonderful New World of Love with Shared Abundance

After hearing Jesus’ illustration of the characteristics of people who enter God’s kingdom, Peter said, ‘Look here, we have left everything and followed you.’ (v.28)

Jesus said, “I am telling you the truth, everyone who has left his house or wife or brothers or parents or children, because of God’s kingdom, will receive far more in return in the present – and in the age to come they will receive the life that belongs to that age.” (Vv.29-30)

By this, Jesus indicates that, in the present time, this new age of God’s kingdom already breaks into our sad old world. Followers of Christ are to leave behind the old ways to form a new community. This community comprises new homes, new families, new fellowship based on mutual love and shared abundance with one another, and all kinds of new possibilities will be opening up for them.

The church is called in every age to be this sort of community, to be a living example of “the age to come”. In this sort of selfless and trusting, living the common life, the world around is attracted to this community and join in.

The community of God’s people can now glimpse at what God’s final new world is like, and learn to live out the characteristics of God's kingdom more and more.

Some people may doubt if this wonderful new world does happen in our midst: “It is just a utopia! The socialists or communists have tried but they also failed.” Or “It is not happening here at this church, but happening at the other church.”

The whole Bible actually challenges us not to doubt God’s kingdom bursting in our midst, but rather to ask a different question, “When this wonderful new world breaks in, where are you? Are you participating in it? Or are you contributing a part to make it happen?”

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, we are all citizens of God’s kingdom: We may be in a season of experiencing setbacks now, having lost some things or some loved ones, but we must not lose God, our Heavenly Father. Hold onto God tightly, glorify Him and joyfully follow Jesus closely.

The Holy Spirit’s empowering presence is with us to heal and to bless. There is excitement, heartfelt praise, and celebration of God’s kingdom here and now. Let’s participate in and share with one another the abundance of God’s blessings here! Let’s make ourselves available now as God’s kingdom is breaking in here and now!