那一场风花雪月的事

列王纪上十1-13

示巴女王来访所罗门王

在古阿拉伯半岛西南部，今天的Yemen一带，有个大国叫示巴。这里是由一位女王统治。这位女王风闻以色列的王—所罗门智慧渊博，就带了许多随从和贵重的礼品，长途跋涉到耶路撒冷去拜访他。

所罗门王年轻的时候做了一个梦，神问他要求什么? 

王没有祈求钱财、健康、女人或国土；他只求聪明智慧，为了可以明辨是非，好治理百姓。神就非常喜悦所罗门王，除了给他智慧，连他所没有求的富贵和尊荣也加给他。

在所罗门王的治理下，国家进入强盛的黄金时期。

示巴女王来到耶路撒冷，终于见到所罗门王。女王就出了许多难题来考他。所罗门王真的为女王解答了所有的难题。这些难题可能是包含许多的谜语。女王被所罗门的智慧所折服。女王诧异到神不守舍。

所罗门又让女王看见以色列宫殿的华丽，粮食的丰富和满朝文武百官盛况。所罗门在圣殿献祭的庄严穆肃也震慑到女王。

女王不禁对所罗门赞叹的说：『我先前不信那些赞扬你伟大的话，现在我亲眼看见了，才知道人所告诉我的，还不到一半我所听见的。你的臣子、仆人和凡听你智慧话的是有福的。耶和华你的神是应当称颂的。他喜悦你，立你为王，使你秉行公义。』

接着，女王和所罗门就互相馈赠了许多贵重的礼品。

之前在三章16-28记载所罗门王接触到两位妇人。有两位妓女同住一房，二人拥有自己的孩子。其中一为妇人夜间睡觉时候不小心压死了自己的儿子，就把对方的孩子调换了。最后这案子来到王的跟前。

王判决说，用刀把孩子劈成两半，个人分一半。当中一位妇人大力反对，王就说，这位妇人不忍心孩子被劈开，因为她就是孩子的生母。

这让我们看见所罗门不单接触尊贵的女王，叫她折服而荣耀神的名，他也以智慧服务低下层的老百姓秉行公义。

你也可以拥有所罗门王的荣美     

今天我们基督徒是神的儿女，拥有王者的身份，乃是君尊的祭司。我们也可以向神求智慧，靠着神赐给我们的智慧，可以在世上各个领域取得骄人的成绩，展示『所罗门王的荣美』。

世界的『示巴女王』就会被吸引，千里迢迢的来到访问我们，想要了解我们的荣美, 进而认识到恩待我们的神，接受福音。我们来向神求智慧去经营事业，求学和服侍神。

我们不是贪图一己的富贵和不劳而获。所罗门就不是这种人。我们乃是要实实在在苦干，服务人群，为这社会带来公义和医治。在我们的个别工作领域，要取得好成绩，回馈社会。这样的信仰生命才是荣神益人的蒙福生命!

『内在的生命』胜过『外表的宏伟』

示巴女王见识到所罗门王朝的荣美就称颂耶和华的名，但是她没有因此皈依耶和华神，敬拜祂。女王瞻仰到神的作为的荣美，却没有在属灵的层面降服于祂。她只是把耶和华神尊为伟大的以色列的神或所罗门的神。

今天信徒有钱了，教会强大了，建筑物也宏伟了，然而那只是外表的宏伟，内里，教会的属灵生命还在吗？教会的服侍，还带着圣灵的权能吗？教会还在服侍有需要的人？还带领罪人来到耶稣的十架前认罪悔改吗？教会还在教导，传扬神的话语吗？教会还在培育与产生强劲的『基督文化』，与俗世或异教的文化抗衡吗？

教会历史上最强盛的时代是在中古时期(middle age五世纪~十五世纪)，不是现在。那时候的欧洲是最黑暗的时代，教会权倾一时，但却是堕落至愚昧、迷信、独裁和压迫异己的地步。

我们又看见许多几百年历史的宏伟教堂，今天一一被变卖，甚至被改成舞厅。外面的宏伟，若没有内在属灵的荣美，其实是一副白骨，了无生气，不能够造就人。赚取人生的荣华富贵是没有错的，但是若贪爱虚荣，活着只是为了财富就是罪。

提摩太前书六6-12：『然而敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。因为我们没有带什么到世上来，也不能带什么去。只要有衣有食就当知足。但那些想要发财的人，就陷在迷惑，落在网罗，和许多无知有害的私欲里，叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。贪财是万恶之根。有人贪恋钱财就被引诱离开了真道，用许多愁苦把自己刺透了。但你这属神的人，要逃避这些事，追求公义、敬虔、信心、爱心，忍耐、温柔。你要为真道打那美好的杖，持定永生。你为此被召，也在许多见证人面前，已经作了那美好的见证。』

所罗门自己年老了时候，如此说：『贪爱银子的，不因得银子知足。贪爱丰富的，也不因得利益知足。这也是虚空。』（传道书五10）

有民间智慧说：『拥有金钱买到的东西是好的，但条件是你不要失去金钱无法买到的东西，譬如：真爱，平安，喜乐，基督的救恩。』

论到所罗王的荣美，耶稣说：『何必为衣裳忧虑呢，你想野地里的百合花，怎么长起来，他也不劳苦，也不纺线，然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的还不如这花一朵呢！你们这小信的人哪，野地里的草，今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，神还给他这样的装饰，何况你们呢！』（马太福音六28-30）

真正的荣美是来自内心的。彼得劝勉姐妹们说：『你们不要以外面的辫头发、戴金饰，穿美衣为装饰。只要以里面，存着长久温柔，安静的心为装饰。这在神面前是极宝贵的。』（彼得前书三3-4）

如果我们需要依靠越多外在的东西来衬托出本身的荣美、尊贵和价值，这就越发反映出自己内在的贫乏、丑陋和不安全感。

耶稣说：『若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为凡要救自己生命的必丧掉生命。凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什么益处呢！人还能拿什么换生命呢！人人子要在他父的荣耀里，同着使者降临。那时候，他要照个人的行为报应个人。』（马太福音十六24-27）

今天你的『所罗门王的荣美』包含着『内在的丰美』吗? 当你被外在的荣美所震撼时,你有得到神属灵的福气、喜乐、平安？你是否传扬基督，充满圣灵的权能去服侍这破碎的世界呢？

渴望永生，与主同在的福乐

示巴女王对所罗门赞叹说：『以前我风闻你的智慧和财富，现在我亲眼看见。原来以前听到的，还不到你真正的一半!』(6-7节)

新约圣经里，耶稣论及那些不信的犹太人时候，曾经提到所罗门。他说：『当审判的时候，南方女王 (示巴女王)要来定犹太人的罪，因为她从地极而来听所罗门王的智慧语言。然而，耶稣比所罗门更大!』(马太福音十二42)

耶稣是永恒的神子。他也是肉身上所罗门的后裔。他的身份地位比所罗门更加荣美和尊贵千百倍! 法利赛人，文士以及许多人却不承认和接受耶稣。今天许多世上的人也是如此的错过了耶稣。

耶稣因为爱世上的罪人，就舍身死在十字架上救赎世人。他赐给给我们作神儿女的权柄，能够承受永生。他现在去了，为我们在乐园预备地方。

有一天主耶稣要迎接我们回天家。我们见主面时，也会赞叹说:『以前我们尝到救恩的华美和甜，原来还不如真正乐园里一半的福气和荣耀!』

现在我们是如何的活出信仰的生命呢？我们是抓紧『耶稣救恩的荣美』还是『属眼目情欲的荣美』？我们是否遇见挫折或逼迫就灰心丧志，选择离开主耶稣？

让我们坚持信靠主，服侍主。那忍耐到底的将会进入永恒的福乐得安息。做个智慧人，不要执着短暂的光辉或一时的快意而放弃那永恒的, 超乎想象的荣美。

跨越界限的服侍 - （东岭神学院）

马可福音7:24-30

叙利亚腓尼基的外邦妇人

耶稣面对的世界是布满洁淨或污秽的界限。在地域上：圣殿，耶路撒冷是最圣洁的，一直外延到外邦人的地方，离开圣殿越远就越不圣洁。在宗教文化上：法利赛人，祭师是圣洁的，然后到一般犹太人，延伸到麻风病人，残废人，税吏，一直到外邦人，越被看为不圣洁。

这些界限造成许多人受到压制，权利被剥夺。人们以为把神和子民规定在界限内，与外界隔离，就能够保持圣洁。然而，耶稣带来全新气象。他领受了圣灵的恩膏，就得着力量跨越界限。

耶稣触摸那些不圣洁的人，而自己不会因此成为不洁净。相反使到那不洁净的，得到洁净和完全，成为圣洁。耶稣触摸死人，带来复活和生命、触摸血漏病女人和麻风病人，给他们得医治。他还以唾沫医好瞎子，又接触税吏，妓女和外邦人。

耶稣和门徒去到推罗，外邦人聚居的地方。一位外邦妇人还是找到他。这妇人俯伏在耶稣的跟前，要求他赶出她的女儿身上的污鬼。

耶稣说了一句不寻常的话：『让儿女们先吃饱，不好拿儿女的饼丢给狗吃。』（27节）

妇人的回答令人惊讶。她没有生气变脸，反而机智的回答：『主啊，不错！但是狗在桌子底下也吃孩子们的碎渣儿。』（28节）

耶稣对她说：『因这句话，你回去吧！鬼已经离开你的女儿了。』妇人回家去，见小孩子躺在床上，鬼已经出去了（30节）。

耶稣最终冲破『犹太人－外邦人』的界限。神的子民得以从邪灵压制得释放，现在也赐给了外邦人，既有的界限和禁忌被冲破。

耶稣的事奉开始于约旦河受洗。当时天裂开，圣灵降下，充满他。本来天和云，是神的界限，现在裂开了，天父首先冲出界限，进入人间。圣灵膏抹耶稣，赐力量给他，催使他跨越界限，进入旷野，也就是魔鬼的领域。

耶稣在旷野里接受魔鬼的试探，最后他战胜了魔鬼。耶稣死的时候，至圣所的幔子裂开，神的同在冲破界限，跑出来，进入到人群中。这都在于指出一点，我们做神的工，是从『跨越界限』开展！

还有，我们能够跨越界限，成就神的工，是因为圣灵的恩膏，已经给了我们，叫我们接触到他人时候，带来医治、完全与服从神的管制。没有任何障碍可以拦阻耶稣的救恩临到渴慕他的人，不论是食物、传统、宗教、种族、国籍或性别，都不能拦阻耶稣要给人神国的福气。

我们依靠圣灵的能力使到那不圣洁的，受邪灵捆绑的，得释放，成为圣洁。我们都来祈求得着圣灵的恩膏，传福音给家人、朋友、同事、同学、甚至给孤儿、残障者、店员、外劳、异乡客、边远地区的人、囚犯……。

透过广传福音，神的国建立，就是神的管治遍满全地，终结撒旦的捆绑，叫人得释放、医治、平安、喜乐，拥有幸福完满的生命。

Forgetting What is Behind, Press On Toward the Goal

Philippians 3:5-16

Press on Toward the Goal

Often when we reflect upon our lives, we will naturally come to ask ourselves, “What is my life goal? What is the meaning and purpose of my life? Am I satisfied with my life?”

Often we make up our mind to follow the Lord, and we set our heart to do something for God. But we always give up halfway. It would really be wonderful if we could keep on moving towards our goals.

In the book of Philippians 3:12-14, Paul said something like this:

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

It seemed that Paul was never satisfied with his ministry because his goal seemed to be always ahead of him and that required him to press on to attain it. We all are to have goals, and God wants us to reach the goals. Yet in reality it is as if we will never attain our goals. It is so contradicting.

In fact, this is not the real contradiction. This is known as unity of opposites in dialectical reasoning.

Paul’s discontentment is one kind of non-satisfaction in the midst of his contentment. It differs from the discontentment that worldly people are dissatisfied over their discontentment.

The worldly people’s world view of contentment depends largely on their achievement. Therefore, man can never be satisfied for no worldly achievement could truly satisfy man.

But Paul was unsatisfied over this contentment, and his contentment was not built upon his worldly achievement.

Paul was very successful even before he became a Christian.

He said in verses 5-6, that he was “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”

Hence, Paul was more knowledgeable than the apostles of Jesus. However, he told us that he only gained his real satisfaction when he gained Christ.

Paul continued his statement in verses 7-8. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.”

Paul was contented with Christ, but he was unsatisfied at the same time as he had yet to receive the reward from Jesus Christ. He was already contented in Christ, but he wanted to be gotten hold by Christ. That will make him more satisfied.

Paul was in his condition of contentment, yet he continued to grow in it.

This is to say that we are to feel unsatisfied on one hand and seek to pursue growth because we have yet to attain our goal. On the other hand, we are to be satisfied with the level we have achieved so far. This is exactly what Paul is talking about, “Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:16)

“Only let us live up to what we have already attained” is about being satisfied with what we have now. Yet we press on toward a higher goal and this expresses a kind of non-satisfaction.

Therefore, we have a goal to strain for, yet we are contented in the midst of our pursuit. This is Paul’s attitude in serving: “Unsatisfied over contentment and contentment over non-satisfaction”.

When we are able to accept whatever stage God has allowed us to reach thus far, we will be joyous and contented with the current achievement we have attained before the Lord, even if we have encountered difficulties along our serving journey and the goal ahead of us seems unlikely to be reached at the moment.

It’s like If your church has a hundred people and you would like forty of them to attend the prayer meeting, and you try your best to encourage others to come for prayers, but it ends up only ten of them turning up!

Or if your church has a hundred people and you wish that there are twenty who will join the choir team. But there are fewer than that in the choir team. Will you be joyous and contented to serve under such conditions?

Paul taught us that the goal might be very high, but we have to rejoice and be contented in whatever level we have reached. We have to accept where we are, and to move on according to that level.

This is not to say that we do not seek to progress, but it is because we have set a very high goal that we have to press on toward it with a lifetime effort.

This is a spiritual paradox. There is no perfect church in the world, and there is always an unreached goal in our journey of serving. However, we have to be grateful and contented with our current situation and to keep on striving for better to attain our goal.

We just need to do our part well and do what we are supposed to do in our serving journey. God will be responsible for the level of our advancement. Hence, we are able to be contented in whatever state we are in with the achievement given to us by God.

In reality, the real satisfaction in our ministry has nothing to do with the number of people attending prayer meetings or joining choir team. If our satisfaction lies on something like this, we are indeed “satisfied over our own ambition”. Such serving attitude is no different from the way people work in the market place.

“I have achieved something and I am satisfied.” This kind of serving attitude is building our own kingdoms.

Paul had a different attitude. He had forgotten what was behind him and he strained for what was ahead of him, by pressing on toward his goal.  He was very successful in the eyes of others, but he felt unsatisfied before God. Hence, he purposed to forget what was behind and strained toward what was ahead of him.

Paul’s contentment is a sense of “non-satisfaction over contentment”. It is when we are contented in the midst of our non-satisfaction, and unsatisfied over our contentment, that we have real kingdom ministry.

What is our goal in serving? Is it to satisfy our own ambition or to be contented over the things God wants us to attain? Everyone who serves God must ask himself/herself such a question before Him.

We have our own laziness and many times we feel like slowing down, and we will not set higher goals again because we want to live in our comfort zones and lead our mediocre lives. But this is not a serving attitude that pleases God.

In contrast to this, someone might seek to do great things and he/she might be ambitious to achieve great feats. This does not seek to satisfy God but instead ourselves.

Let’s pay attention to Paul’s words, “to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Our goal is to take hold of what God has for us.

If I have the thought of holding a high position, and I consider myself indispensable, I am not seeking what God wants to take hold of me.  Or in other words, if I pursue nothing and just live a mediocre life, I am also not taking hold of what God has taken hold of me.

Therefore, our contentment or discontentment has to be defined by God. We are to seek to finish the race God has for us and our goal should be determined by Him. Our responsibility is to finish the race, and it is not about doing more or less, with big or small achievements. It is about us finishing our race well.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7, that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Neither did Paul say that he was the champion, nor did he said he fought a better fight than others. But he said he had fought and he had finished the race. He had finished the race God set forth for him.

Serving God is liken to running a Marathon. Comparing it with the Olympic Games, there is something very different in Marathon.  There are gold, silver and bronze medal prepared for normal games, but not so in Marathon.

All the people who finish their races will get souvenirs as an encouragement to them. Of course, there are more rewards given to the first three winners, but it is finishing the race that is the goal of Marathon.

We are not striving to run to get the first three places in the race of ministry. It is all about whether you have finished your race and whether you have travelled your journey. God has given each one of us a very different goal and path, and we have to finish the race in order to take hold of what God has taken hold of us.

If we run with such an attitude, our lives will be filled with a sense of non-satisfaction over our contentment, as well as a sense of contentment over our non-satisfaction. This is indeed a joyous and contented life, filled with gratefulness to God and to people around us.

Conclusion

We cannot control our future. We truly dare not ask God to allow us to do something. Whatever our journey maybe in future, we have to submit to God’s arrangement. Only then are we able to make what the Lord Jesus has taken hold of us to be our very real goal.

We are not to make and write down our own resolutions and then take it before the Lord Jesus to ask for His signature in agreement. Instead, we are to sign first on the paper and present it to the Lord Jesus for Him to fill up the blanks.

We will make the Lord Jesus our surpassing worth and our contentment in all ministerial situations when we possess such an attitude. We seek not the glory and praises for ourselves, but we seek to accomplish things that Jesus Christ has entrusted to us.

Hence, we shall be fully contented in Christ, and with God’s presence, we will be extremely peaceful in whatever circumstance we are in. By then, we are truly in Christ and are taken hold by Him.

革金牛犊的命

出埃及记三十二15—35

以色列人敬拜金牛犊受惩罚

摩西在西乃山上接受上帝颁下十诫，逗留了四十天，迟迟未下山。百姓在山下彷徨不安，以为摩西遭到不测，不会回来了。他们就動手铸造看得见，摸得着的偶像来代替那看不见的上帝。

当时, 第二号领袖亚伦也向群众屈服，为他们铸了一个金牛犊，号称那是帶領他們出埃及的上帝。这行動显然干犯了十诫的第二诫（二十4）。

上帝非常愤怒，要將以色列百姓滅絕，然后从摩西和他的后裔中另外兴起一个民族。然而，摩西恳求上帝饶恕百姓的罪。最后上帝垂听摩西的祈求而改变心意。无论如何，还是有三千个为首的叛徒被击杀了。

偶像是人内心欲望的投射

摩西在山上和上帝对话。上帝要透过摩西將律例典章指示给百姓，好让这些百姓能行他所喜悦的事。耶和华上帝是那位施行许多神迹，领他们出埃及的永生神，但是日子将近四十天了，百姓在山下等到不耐烦，就铸一个人手所造的金牛犊来做他们的神。

摩西在接受神颁下十诫命，子民同时在触犯了神刚刚赐下的诫命：『你们不可以为自己雕刻偶像，也不可做什么形象，仿佛上天、下地和地底下，水中的百物』（出埃及记二十4）。

作者是在强调以色列人從頭一天開始就無法守約，遵守神的律法。日後他們世世代代還是困在敬拜偶像的網羅中，直到他们从被掳巴比伦归回之后，才完全与偶像崇拜根绝。

为何人倾向敬拜人手所造的偶像？我们将耶和华上帝与金牛犊做个对比：

上帝正在山上和摩西沟通，金牛犊在山下能够和百姓沟通吗？上帝能够颁布律例典章，金牛犊能够吗？很明显，金牛犊乃是人手所造的偶像，它不能和人沟通，也不能对人有所要求。

社会学家和心理学家指出，偶像其实是人本身的欲望投射出来的产物。人知道自己内心的需要，然后亲手造了偶像，膜拜偶像，叫偶像帮助自己去实现内心所求的。

偶像不能对人有所要求，反而是人操纵偶像。这是人的自欺行为！难怪摩西命令把金牛犊熔掉，磨成粉，撒在水里，叫百姓喝进肚子里。最终偶像回归人身体内，与人合二为一！

拜偶像仍然是我们难以抗拒的大试探。许多人不喜欢亲近上帝，不祷告，不渴慕更加认识他，因为这样做会叫人面对上帝的挑战和要求。人选择鸵鸟式地把自己关闭起来，为自己打造出无数的偶像，然后说这就是上帝，召之则来，挥之则去。

爱财的人就造出一位财神爷的上帝；放纵不顺服的人就造出一位永远不发怒，只有祝福人的上帝；不甘寂寞，一昧追求亢奋经历的人，就造出一位终日施行神迹奇事的上帝！

相反来讲也是对的，你若敬拜财神爷，你就变得越加贪婪；你若敬拜放纵情欲的偶像，你就会变得放纵情欲；你若敬拜标榜亢奋或自残的偶像，你就变得亢奋和情绪化。简单来说，你会越加变得像你所敬拜的对象！

耶稣和保罗引用旧约先知所说，神给那些敬拜偶像，内心顽梗，执意抗拒神的人一个麻木的灵，使他们有眼睛却看不见，有耳朵却听不到。这些人变成了偶像一样，有眼看不见，有耳听不到（罗马书十一8）。

难怪百姓造了金牛犊，敬拜偶像当中，就坐下来吃喝和起来玩乐。百姓的『玩乐』在原文里乃是指一些淫邪的玩乐（6节）。古今中外，偶像敬拜往往是牵涉纵欲或不道德的行为。

今天你心目中的上帝是怎样的上帝呢？你认识圣经里所启示的上帝吗？

偶像会使我们看不见慈爱和引领我们前路的神。我们就无法领受他厚厚浇灌在我们身上的大爱，因而招来他的愤怒。当我们将别的人，事物高举过于神的时候，他就不能在我们身上工作了。

上帝不是偶像，不是我们心里需要所投射出来的产物。相反地，上帝随时都在挑战你的思维，在信仰伦理上对你有所要求。上帝是人的主，人却是偶像的主。

当你在信仰上必须作出取舍、牺牲或舍己的挣扎，你才是在敬拜一位又真又活的神。你的信仰路程若常年都是舒舒服服，毫无挣扎，极可能你离开神很远，因你是在敬拜自己，以自己的意念为主人。

我们来省察一下：今天你是在敬拜上帝或是偶像？你是以上帝为主，或是以你自己为主？在你的生命中有哪些假神成为障碍，使真神很难活在你的心中？

我们要马上把这些『偶像』除去。我们来降服在主的宝座前敬拜他，顺服他的话语而活。主的道路走向生命，偶像的道路走向灭亡。

『属灵领袖』可能成为我们的偶像

当摩西迟迟还没回来，百姓就想到为自己铸偶像，来代替一向来为他们引路的上帝。他们不能接纳一位没有形象的上帝。百姓当时的信仰光景是非常的不成熟。他们对上帝的认识和顺服，仿佛因着摩西的缺席，就支持不住而倒塌了！

难道上帝不是曾经一路上与他们同在，施行许多神迹来拯救他们的吗？摩西不是他们的上帝啊！他们虽然不知道摩西的情况，上帝并没有离开他们。有上帝的同在，有没有摩西又有什么关系呢？为何他们不能耐心地等候上帝呢？

今天你对上帝的认识到什么程度呢？你究竟认识上帝，认识上帝的话语 （圣经）或只是认识你心目中某一位属灵领袖？今天你相信耶稣和敬拜他，因为你跟他建立了关系，或是因为某一个人？若那个人不在你身边了，你就远离耶稣了吗？

今天你必须严肃的对待你跟耶稣的关系，就是真正与耶稣建立个人关系，一生跟从他和服侍他，不是为了任何人，单单是因为耶稣是你的救赎主，你爱他而跟从他。

在山上时，上帝说过要灭绝以色列人，而兴起摩西和他的后裔。这其实是一个叫人心动的建议。然而，摩西拒绝牺牲百姓以图自己的利益。他不是建立自己的名，也不是建立自己的王国。摩西是一位好牧者，好的属灵领袖。

今天一些人为了巩固自己领袖的地位和有效地推动群众，可能有意无意把自己制造成一位 『魅力领袖』。这种领袖，不鼓励会众在神学上进深，禁止他们接触各种不同的信仰传统，也禁止他们采取开放，多元的信仰反思。

他们是怕一朝会众变得更聪明，更成熟，那便不利于领导了！这样不知不觉地，『魅力领袖』就变成会众的偶像了！一天当这位领袖倒下去时，整个团体就会倒垮！

一位真正成功，负责任的属灵领袖，不单止有效的推动会众，更应该做到提升会众，好让他们更成熟，更认识上帝，直到一天能够自力更生，开支散叶！

属灵领袖的责任是提升会众的信仰成熟度，把他们带到上帝那里；不是朔造一群服从，有效率，但是不能独立思考的会众。

耐心等候耶稣再来

摩西上山去见上帝，领受上帝的话语。百姓却在山下等到不耐烦，为自己打造偶像，尽情跳舞和狂欢作乐。这四十天的等候，对百姓来说可能是太久了！

这让我们想起主耶稣也是正在父上帝那里，为我们代求和预备地方。他说一天将回来审判世界和迎接信徒到天家。然而，两千年过去了，会不会也是叫人等太久了？

你相信耶稣是信实的主，他会再来吗？你有没有等得不耐烦了？或者你已经忘记了耶稣曾答应过再来？

今天我们是儆醒祷告，守着信仰的忠贞，坚定的事奉主？或者是尽情放纵，狂欢玩乐？

耶稣说：『我是起初的，也是末后的。』

世界被造前，耶稣已经存在了。世界的终末，他也已经到了。人类历史将来到终末的一天，耶稣在那天回来迎接众圣徒进入上帝完全实现的国度里。你相信有这一天的来临吗？

耶稣在呼召一切相信的人，等待新天新地来到的人，今天就开始努力地打造上帝的国在地上。不要再为了一些琐碎的，个人的得失而纠缠不清！诚然，人如何看待命运的终结，将影响到他今天的生活态度。上帝如何吩咐摩西下山，同样，耶稣也一定再回来。

我们来反省，今天在我们在世上有多少的打拼是为了神的国的实现？为了福音广传？为了上帝的名得荣耀？或者我们活着有如世人一般，终日思量为的是累积更多的财宝，享用更多的荣华富贵，为自己打造各式各样的偶像呢？

求主怜悯，圣灵感动我们的心思意念，叫我专心等候主，跟从主的脚踪，以及做主工。

Transforming Fate into Destiny

Luke 3:1-22

Jesus Was Baptized by John the Baptist

All four Gospels record the event of Jesus’ baptism in Jordan River. Jesus’ baptism is very important and to a certain extent, it represents the turning point for him, from common countryman to a public figure. Since then, people got to know his identity and his mission.

What is your turning point in life?

Jesus was born in the era when Jews in Palestine were ruled by a super power — the Roman Empire. The Jews were anticipating God to send them the Messiah to deliver them from the hand of Romans and to restore the kingdom of Israel.

Jesus was born in a typical poor family and grew to become a typical young Jew. He once as a child, stayed in the temple of Jerusalem and debated with some religious leaders of his day. This amazed his parents and his countrymen.

Some years later, we found him appearing in the wilderness near the Jordan River. Here came the voice of John the Baptist, a man with a strong personality and stand. He proclaimed the message of baptism of repentance, and he rebuked people harshly without favouritism.

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptised by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?  Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ 

For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Interestingly, the more John rebuked others, the more people were drawn to him and he spurred them into repenting of their own sins and receiving salvation.

People were wondering if John was the Messiah who was supposed to deliver them. John denied it indefinitely, and he introduced them someone who was much more powerful than him, someone who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Then we saw Jesus came forward as an adult about 30 years old. He came to the wilderness to be baptized by John the Baptist. And as he was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven.

Matthew records, it said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” It was as though God was speaking to the audience.  But in the books of Luke and Mark, the voice was speaking to Jesus. It said, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

God the Father highlighted an intimate and unique relationship with Jesus. How is it that Jesus is so unique?

We can interview Mary, the mother of Jesus. She would never forget the time when she carried Jesus in her arms and entered the temple of Jerusalem. There they met an old man, Simeon. Luke 2:34-35, Simeon blessed them and said to the mother of the child, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

So, Jesus was unique because he had a special task to perform, and his life journey would be uniquely tough! What will you do if the voice of heaven were to tell you today that “you are unique”? You might question God, “Why am I chosen?”  You might point to the person next to you. “Why not choose him instead? He is more unique!”

Frankly speaking, every one of us does want to lead a comfortable life. It is reasonable to desire so. While Jesus lived on earth, he was fully human with sweat and blood, then with all his physical existence, would possibly also question himself. “Have I got it wrong? Can I not be the Son of God but just a common man? Why should I go through such a hardship?”

We also observe there were doubting voices surrounding Jesus, saying: “If you were the Son of God/Christ/the King of Jews, you should be able to do this and that.”

But Jesus firmly refused to yield to those voices. He set his heart to assume his mission as the Son of God. Why did he choose such a hard way for himself?

It is true that there are many naïve, young people who seemed to live in their own world and consider themselves suffering for a righteous cause, an ideal world—rebel with a cause or being unique with a cause!

However, a careful study of Jesus’ life helps us realize that he was not ignorant of the possible tragic consequences. Luke has spent a long passage writing about Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51–19:44).

Jesus restated his destiny twice before embarking his journey. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” (Luke 9:22; also refer to 9:44-45).

When he was about to end his journey, Jesus further indicated that his death by persecution would be a fulfilment of the prophecies (Luke 18:31–34).

What does it mean when he said he “must” suffer, and that prophecies “must” come to pass, and that God’s will “must” be fulfilled?

Jewish history shows us that many rebel leaders have had appeared to be messiah. But they without fail had been crushed ruthlessly by the authority. Jesus was aware of the consequences, yet he went on fearlessly embracing the oppressed people and confronting those in power. At the end, the Jewish and Roman authorities had to take action against him in order to keep peace in a vulnerable situation.

Hence, it was not an impulsive or stubborn act when Jesus highlighted the need of his suffering. He was in fact recognising the loving relationship in his life - between him and his heavenly Father, and between him and the others.

It was love that drove Jesus in his struggle. Jesus was determined to move on against all odds and adversities because of his love for God and for the people. To Jesus, “you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” is not an order to force him to take up the task of saving the world, but it is a call of love!

When Jesus said that God’s will must be done, and that his prophecies must be fulfilled and that he must head towards his destiny on the Cross, it didn’t mean that he had to accept his fate passively. It is not something fated, so to speak.

But it did reveal to us that Jesus was aware of his life’s purposes. It was his love for God and for his people that drove him to a path of no return. It was truly a choice made by his own will.

Like many characters of classical stories, they become outstanding figure because of the choices they made. The Son of God opted resolutely for the Cross which appeared to be the most painful, the weakest and the most humiliated place. He changed everything including the destiny of the world by taking that journey.

Human is endowed with the ability to make choices, and his real choices shouldn’t be just about good food and fun, but on deciding what kind of person he would like himself to be. And the prerequisite of making your choice is: find out what are the “musts” in your life and question yourself truthfully. “What am I living for?”

Many might think that we are just ordinary people. We are helpless and vulnerable before the adverse environment, let alone making good choices. Don’t be too idealistic but look at the realities!

Yes, we acknowledge that different people have different problems and we all have our very own burdens and limitations to bear! This is something real. We know how we have been trapped in them. It is something undeniable.

To break free from the constraints, some people like to champion the idea of “positive thinking”; others insist something perverted to be something good. Some will say we need to pray by faith, need to do this, need to that. Some even misunderstand us or slander us. Suggestions given by others can cause more pressure and increase a sense of helplessness on us.

In our everyday struggles today, whenever we face pain caused by those thorns in our flesh, those constraints and burdens on us personally. it is actually a heavenly voice telling us that, “You are unique.”

This voice invites us to look at our lives seriously and with an open heart, as well as the lives of others who also have suffered around us. What does the Gospel mean to them? Is it just a sharing of “Jesus saves “message then walk away?

For those who struggle daily over life predicaments, the most important thing for them is not an explanation or a guidance about life, but a way to keep their hope afloat amidst their problems; a way to face their limitation without yielding to fate; and striving to transform fate into destiny, making “no way out” to “walk a way out”! This is the power of faith!

Conclusion

The story of Jesus’ baptism reminds us that the call to ministry is not something we should receive passively. But we have to recognize all kinds of loving relationship in our lives and to respond courageously to God and to people around us.

Sometimes we are back to the reality of life and we feel as though we are walking towards a dead end. All relationship in life calls forth our attention, yet we might not be able to play our roles well. Some will force themselves into it while other will flee from it.

Nevertheless, the truth in life is, God will help us if we are willing to face it honestly and humbly and if we are willing to share our burden together. We do not rely on our own strength to live and to strive. But we rely on the grace of God! The grace of God is sufficient for us.

There was an important Person in the scene where Jesus was baptised. Till now we have not mentioned yet. He was the Holy Spirit.

After Jesus was baptised and while he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him with a bodily form like a dove (v21-22). Not only was Jesus baptized by the Holy Spirit, He promised to baptise his followers with the Holy Spirit and fire (v16).

We can see from The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles, its sequel, that there will be breakthroughs in people’s blind alleys when people live by the power of the Holy Spirit. It happened when Jesus was on the Cross and when the disciple encountered persecution.

It is the power of the Holy Spirit! Hence, Jesus never walks alone and those who follow Him shall not be lonely too. Indeed, Jesus has baptised us with the Spirit.

Who do we live for today? Whom shall we respond to? What are the things we must do in our lives? How shall we live our lives? Have we heard the voice of the Father? Or, are we willing to hear Him?

God continues to issue His invitation this day and he said to us, “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

How will you respond to Him? May the Lord lead and guide you.

Destined to Reign with Christ

1 Samuel 17:32-51

David Defeats the Giant Goliath

Israel and Philistine were in a confrontation. The Philistine warrior Goliath wore a full set of armour. For forty days, he stood in the valley of Elah, challenging the Israelites to a duel. No one in the Israelite army dared to step forward and answer the challenge, because they had been defeated by the Philistine repeatedly.

The Philistines were stronger than the Israelites because they had the technology to make iron weapons. The Israelites were terrified and dismayed in the face of this strong enemy.

It so happened that young David was visiting his brothers on the battlefield. He saw the terrible scene and so he volunteered himself to face Goliath. He said to King Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.”

King Saul agreed to let David go into battle. He dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armour on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened his sword outside the tunic and tried walking around, but he was not used to them.

King Saul had lost the favour from God, so how could his coat of armour be suitable for David?

David took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand and set off to approach the Philistine. This would be a very lopsided battle!

The giant Goliath kept coming closer to David. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.

He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!” (Verse 43-44)

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” (verse 45-46)

Goliath got up and staggered towards David.

David ran quickly towards the Philistine. You can imagine the wind catching his shepherd’s cloak, making David look very elegant. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and shot it at the giant.

The stone flew like a bullet and struck Goliath on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell face down on the ground.

But David did not have a sword in his hand, what to do next?

David ran and stood over the giant. He took hold of Goliath’s sword and drew it from the sheath and cut off his head.

When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. The men of Israel and Judah then pursued the Philistines and wiped them out.

Exposition

The focus of this narrative is not about securing victory in battle if we have faith in God’s authority and power. In fact, this narrative emphasizes God’s plan of sending a redeemer to battle on behalf of the people and to redeem them.

Not that we win the battle but God’s redeemer wins the battle for us. We will explain this narrative according to the plots of the story.

There are two main plot or storylines that climaxed at the part where David cut off Goliath’s head.

Firstly, King Saul said to David, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.” (verse 34-36)

So, the narrator highlighted the fact that David was a good shepherd who put his life on the line to kill a lion or a bear to save his flock. Now, he stepped out to face Goliath under the full view of the Israelites. He killed Goliath and saved the people of Israel from their enemy.

The narrator actually wanted to proclaim the birth of God’s chosen king, the saviour of the people—David! David was the shepherd of the whole country, and the people were the king’s sheep.

The shepherd David put his life on the line to save the people of Israel. From then on, people would say, “Saul killed thousands, but David killed tens of thousands!”

Previously, Samuel had secretly anointed David as king in David’s home, but now David stepped out from all the Israelites with the royal demeanour of a saviour and redeemer.

Secondly, David defeated Goliath as a shepherd: he used a shepherd’s staff and a sling. This showed that David defeated Goliath as if he was a wild beast. The words of Goliath alluded this fact: “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” (V. 43)

The narrator was emphasizing that this saviour David had a different perspective from the ordinary people. They saw Goliath as a fearsome giant warrior, but David only saw him as a growling beast.

Besides, we also note that, David went into battle in a weak and powerless appearance of a shepherd, yet was able to defeat the giant and brought victory to the suppressed Israelites.

Jesus Christ is foreshadowed in these feats of David. David is a type of Jesus.

Jesus is our great shepherd. He died in a weakness and powerless state, to save us sinners. Yet his death on the cross defeated the devil and freed us from the wages of sin.

He sacrificed His own life on the cross in order to save us, and He will save us all the way to the end! As such, we live in the saving grace of our Lord, having victory over all difficulty and challenges.

We have hope in Christ for He has already defeated the devil. His victory is our victory. Now, we can face all the “giants” in our lives – suffering, sickness, failures, condemnation, difficulties. We do not have to be afraid in the face of the “giants”.

Application

First, we are to live a royal, honourable and victorious life.

When we are living in this world, we will certainly face challenges from all kinds of “giants”. They will frighten us, attack us, so that we will lose heart. However, Jesus already have victory over these “giants”, His victory is our victory.

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Corinthians 5:17 says that we are new creations in Christ. The old had gone, the new has come. So, we need to constantly depend on the Holy Spirit to renew us, so that we may grow in our lives, so that we will be holy and royal, being in the same state as a renewed creation.

We should not be belittled by the people of this world, but live an upright and honourable life as Christians, displaying the demeanour of a royalty. In the effect, we should have courage to proclaim that we are Christians in all situations. We do not have to be ashamed.

And, we are to partner with God, to resist evil, uphold justice, so that God’s will, righteousness and love may be done on earth as it is in heaven. We also should glorify God by doing the best and be victorious in all areas of life.

However, we do not need to despair if we should fail in some ways. This is because Jesus loves us and he has already received us to be children of God. He will forgive our weakness, failure and sins when we come to him in repentance.

So, we must put an end to the inferiority complex, murmuring and self-harming mentality. Jesus is our redeemer, his victory is our victory, and now we are joint heirs with the King of glory! We must take pride in this new status in Christ.

Second, we should have the perspective of a king.

As God’s royal priesthood, we should look at the world from the perspective of a king when we do battle with Jesus on this earth. This perspective transcends the perspective of the ordinary people of this world; it does not have the same value as this world has.

Businessmen, artists, environmentalists see different things when they look at a tree. This is because they have different perspectives.

The world admires strong people, strong nations and flatters them, thinking that strong people will surely win. However, Jesus’ disciples are meek and merciful to the weak, for we obtain victory through weakness; God’s strength is made perfected in our weaknesses.

Is your perspective today different from that of the world?

The devil attacks us through ways of either coercion or temptation. The devil wants us to compromise with evil, to forsake our stand of faith. We must not leave any foothold for the devil, nor consider anything gain or loss from the perspective of the world.

We must not bow down the devil’s pressure or be bought over by money and sell out our faith principles.

Money is like a venomous snake to the people of the world; it causes them to fall and commit crime. But we have the perspective of heaven, knowing that we are only stewards of God on this earth. Therefore, money and riches should not harm us like venomous snakes!

Our decisions are made clearer by looking at the problems in our lives through the principles of the Bible, law and authority of God.

Today, you may be facing “giants” before you. Do not cower, do not be afraid. May the Lord grant you a transcendent perspective, helping you see through the difficulties in front of you and also see through the devil’s tricks.

Jesus already has victory over the “giant”, His victory is your victory. May the Holy Spirit empower you to fight the battle and to have victory and do great things for Jesus. Have courage and move forward to resist and knock down the “giant”!

Now, get up and recap your identity of a royalty, broaden your perspective and live everyday with enthusiasm and without fear.

We are weak, but Jesus is rich and full of grace. Stand on the promises of the victory of Christ and you will be like David, knocking down all the “giants” in your lives and live a victorious and colourful life, for you are destined to reign with Christ.