於2010-01-09發佈
2010年將是我們生命與世界最重要的一年,正如我多年前曾說,從現在開始的每一次選舉,都比上次更為重要,因為我們所進入的時候實在迫切。我認為到目前為止我們這麼說都是千真萬確的,不論相信與否,就算2010年沒有總統大選,都比2008年的選舉更為重要。因為時候迫切,我們的選擇將放大後果─這對國家、世界與我們個人生命而言都是真實的。

儘管我們所做的決定將放大後果,但我們做決定的時間也將越來越少,那即是何以我們現在所能做的最重要決定,就是尋求主超越一切,更加認識祂與祂的道路,更緊密地與祂同行。真正的基督徒生命不單是認識正確的教義,更是跟隨與順服主的生命。正如主清楚說,我們可以詳知一切教義,但我們若不順服祂,我們在審判的日子不會好過,我們這一生也不可能好過的。

跟隨主與行祂的旨意有兩個方面:一個始於喜愛真理到來尋求祂的話,另一個則是認識祂的聲音。甚至在舊約,我們都一再看見以色列被要求順服祂的命令、留意祂的聲音。這從沒改變,我們需要認識並留意祂經上寫的話並順服祂的聲音,正如在整本新約所聲明的,我們隨後會談到。

因此,每週一話今年的研讀目標在於更加認識經上寫的話與祂的聲音。在帖撒羅尼迦後書二章10節告訴我們,單認識『真理』不代表我們在這些時候不會被欺騙─我們必須擁有『愛真理的心』。倘若我們真愛真理,我們就會殷勤地追求它。顯然您正在追求真理,否則您就不會閱讀像每週一話這類的文章。讓我們都定意更擅於追求主與祂的真理。

凡在任何領域擅長者必然將基礎做到最好;做到最好的人都是經由不斷複習與練習基礎,我們的基礎越穩固,我們所建造的也越穩固,我們在其上所建造的也越大。

正如我們曾討論過的,調查顯示美國有百分之八十的人宣稱自己是基督徒,這些人多半宣稱自己是重生的基督徒,卻不到百分之十擁有聖經的世界觀。我們的世界觀是我們如何來看這世界,神將聖經賜給我們,好讓我們能夠觀看世界與生命就像神所觀看的。用神以外的方式來看世界便是基本的蒙蔽,行在真理中必須成為基督徒生命的基本目標。

是什麼塑造了我們的世界觀?是新的媒體?世俗的教育?他人的看法?我們個人的看法?聖經?還是從充滿知識的好牧師而來的教導?我們的世界觀可能是以上的綜合,但我們主要的考量在於它是真實的,唯有從神的角度來觀看才是真實的。

真正的基督徒生命是成為基督的門徒,此意味我們應該效法祂與祂的道路,藉此我們應該經由祂的眼睛來看世界。倘若連道成肉身的耶穌受到挑戰時都站立在『經上記著說』,我們豈不應該更這樣做嗎?因此,身為門徒的基本委身在於認識聖經。毫無疑問,這是項艱鉅的任務,但跟隨基督也是如此。祂從來沒有說那很容易─祂只說那很值得。

閱讀聖經會很有幫助,我推薦每一位基督徒都要這樣做。俯瞰神整體計畫對瞭解聖經不同面貌是很重要的,包括瞭解我們所在的時候。我已經讀過幾十遍的聖經,尚未找到其中任何矛盾之處,非信徒卻不斷宣稱聖經裡面充滿矛盾。當然,當我們斷章取義時會出現一些矛盾,但當我們開始看整個畫面時就彼此相容。事實上,要對那些只有表面知識的人澄清看似矛盾的事物,無疑需要有超越人類智慧的深奧智慧。

聖經也充滿完全應驗的預言,耶穌的到來與一生早被許多先知在四千年間預言,而祂應驗了所有預言。佛陀的一生可不像這般被預言,穆罕默德的一生也沒有這樣被預言。沒有任何其他歷史人物有如此的資格證明,毫無疑問,只有耶穌被預言來到地上。祂完成所有祂來完成的事,歷史上沒有任何其他人的信息更值得我們信任。認識祂與祂的信息,因而成為祂的見證,是我們這一生所能擁有最重要的努力。

今年我們研讀的首要擺上在於:認識主與祂的信息,能夠更好的應用在我們的時候─建立並鞏固我們的聖經世界觀。從這觀點,我們想要能夠分辨時候,並能夠完成我們在其中的目的。為此緣故,我們也會提出一些我們時候的重大事件與勢力。

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 1, 2010)

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预备时候-之1 雷克乔纳

2010年将是我们生命与世界最重要的一年,正如我多年前曾说,从现在开始的每一次选举,都比上次更为重要,因为我们所进入的时候实在迫切。我认为到目前为止我们这么说都是千真万确的,不论相信与否,就算2010年没有总统大选,都比2008年的选举更为重要。因为时候迫切,我们的选择将放大后果─这对国家、世界与我们个人生命而言都是真实的。

尽管我们所做的决定将放大后果,但我们做决定的时间也将越来越少,那即是何以我们现在所能做的最重要决定,就是寻求主超越一切,更加认识祂与祂的道路,更紧密地与祂同行。真正的基督徒生命不单是认识正确的教义,更是跟随与顺服主的生命。正如主清楚说,我们可以详知一切教义,但我们若不顺服祂,我们在审判的日子不会好过,我们这一生也不可能好过的。

跟随主与行祂的旨意有两个方面:一个始于喜爱真理到来寻求祂的话,另一个则是认识祂的声音。甚至在旧约,我们都一再看见以色列被要求顺服祂的命令、留意祂的声音。这从没改变,我们需要认识并留意祂经上写的话并顺服祂的声音,正如在整本新约所声明的,我们随后会谈到。

因此,每周一话今年的研读目标在于更加认识经上写的话与祂的声音。在帖撒罗尼迦后书二章10节告诉我们,单认识『真理』不代表我们在这些时候不会被欺骗─我们必须拥有『爱真理的心』。倘若我们真爱真理,我们就会殷勤地追求它。显然您正在追求真理,否则您就不会阅读像每周一话这类的文章。让我们都定意更擅于追求主与祂的真理。

凡在任何领域擅长者必然将基础做到最好;做到最好的人都是经由不断复习与练习基础,我们的基础越稳固,我们所建造的也越稳固,我们在其上所建造的也越大。

正如我们曾讨论过的,调查显示美国有百分之八十的人宣称自己是基督徒,这些人多半宣称自己是重生的基督徒,却不到百分之十拥有圣经的世界观。我们的世界观是我们如何来看这世界,神将圣经赐给我们,好让我们能够观看世界与生命就像神所观看的。用神以外的方式来看世界便是基本的蒙蔽,行在真理中必须成为基督徒生命的基本目标。

是什么塑造了我们的世界观?是新的媒体?世俗的教育?他人的看法?我们个人的看法?圣经?还是从充满知识的好牧师而来的教导?我们的世界观可能是以上的综合,但我们主要的考虑在于它是真实的,唯有从神的角度来观看才是真实的。

真正的基督徒生命是成为基督的门徒,此意味我们应该效法祂与祂的道路,藉此我们应该经由祂的眼睛来看世界。倘若连道成肉身的耶稣受到挑战时都站立在『经上记着说』,我们岂不应该更这样做吗?因此,身为门徒的基本委身在于认识圣经。毫无疑问,这是项艰巨的任务,但跟随基督也是如此。祂从来没有说那很容易─祂只说那很值得。

阅读圣经会很有帮助,我推荐每一位基督徒都要这样做。俯瞰神整体计划对了解圣经不同面貌是很重要的,包括了解我们所在的时候。我已经读过几十遍的圣经,尚未找到其中任何矛盾之处,非信徒却不断宣称圣经里面充满矛盾。当然,当我们断章取义时会出现一些矛盾,但当我们开始看整个画面时就彼此兼容。事实上,要对那些只有表面知识的人澄清看似矛盾的事物,无疑需要有超越人类智慧的深奥智慧。

圣经也充满完全应验的预言,耶稣的到来与一生早被许多先知在四千年间预言,而祂应验了所有预言。佛陀的一生可不像这般被预言,穆罕默德的一生也没有这样被预言。没有任何其它历史人物有如此的资格证明,毫无疑问,只有耶稣被预言来到地上。祂完成所有祂来完成的事,历史上没有任何其它人的信息更值得我们信任。认识祂与祂的信息,因而成为祂的见证,是我们这一生所能拥有最重要的努力。

今年我们研读的首要摆上在于:认识主与祂的信息,能够更好的应用在我们的时候─建立并巩固我们的圣经世界观。从这观点,我们想要能够分辨时候,并能够完成我们在其中的目的。为此缘故,我们也会提出一些我们时候的重大事件与势力。

(摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 1, 2010)
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Prepared for the Times, Part 1
Week 1, 2010

This coming year is going to be one of the most important years of our lives and the world. As I began saying years ago, every election in the U.S. from now on will be more important than the last one, because we are entering times of such intensity. I think we can say this has been accurate so far, and believe it or not, even though the 2010 elections will not include a Presidential election, they will be even more important than the 2008 election. Because of the intensity of the times, our choices will have magnified consequences—this is true in the nation, the world, and our individual lives. 

Even though the decisions we make will have magnified consequences, we also will be given less and less time to make them. That is why the most important decision we can make by far is to seek the Lord first above anything else, getting to know Him and His ways better, and walking with Him more closely. The true Christian life does not just know accurate doctrines, but is a life of following and obeying the Lord. As the Lord made clear, we can know all doctrines well, but if we do not obey Him, then it will not be good for us on that great Day of Judgment, and it will not likely go well for us in this life either. 

There are two aspects to following the Lord and doing His will. One begins with loving the truth enough to seek it in His Word. The other is to know His voice. Even under the Old Covenant, we see repeatedly that Israel was required to obey His commandments and to heed His voice. This has not changed. We need to know and heed His written Word and obey His voice, as is declared throughout the New Testament, which we will cover. 

Therefore, a goal of this year in our Word for the Week study will be to know His written word better, and to know His voice better. As we are told in II Thessalonians 2:10, just because we know the “truth” does not mean that we won’t be deceived in these times—we must have a “love of the truth.” If we truly love the truth, we will pursue it diligently. Obviously, you are in pursuit of truth or you would not be reading something like this Word for the Week. Let us all resolve to excel more and more in our pursuit of the Lord and His truth. 

Those who excel in any field are inevitably those who do the basics the best. The best will be found with a devotion to continually reviewing and practicing the basics. The stronger we are in the basics, the stronger all that we build upon them will be, and the greater what can be built upon them can be. 

As we have discussed, studies have shown that about 80 percent of Americans claim to be Christians, and a large percentage of these claim to be born-again Christians. Yet less than 10 percent have a biblical worldview. Our worldview is how we see the world. The Bible was given to us so that we could view the world and life as God views it. To see the world in any other way than how the Lord sees it is a basic deception. A basic goal of the Christian life must be to walk in truth. 

What has shaped our worldview? The news media? A secular education? The opinions of other people? Our own opinions? The Bible? Sound teaching from a good and knowledgeable pastor? Our worldview can be a combination of these, but our main concern is that it is true. It is only going to be true to the degree that we view the world as God does.

The true Christian life is to be a disciple of Christ. This means that we should learn of Him and His ways, and by this, we should also view the world through His eyes. If Jesus, who was The Word, would take His stand on “it is written” when challenged, how much more should we have to do this? Therefore, one of our basic devotions as a disciple must be to know the Bible. Without question, this is a daunting task, but so is following Christ. He never said it would be easy—He just said it would be worth it. 

Reading through the Bible can be very helpful, and I recommend that every Christian do this. An overview of the whole plan of God is crucial for understanding the different aspects of it, including the times in which we live. I have read through the Bible several dozen times, and I am yet to find a single contradiction in it, yet unbelievers constantly declare it to be filled with them. Granted, some things can appear at first to be contradictions when we take it out of context, but when we start to see the whole picture, it all fits together. In fact, the clarifying of some things that appear to be contradictions to those with superficial knowledge is done with such a profound wisdom that it is no doubt beyond human wisdom. 

The Bible is also filled with prophecies that have come true exactly as stated. The coming and life of Jesus was prophesied by dozens of people over a four thousand year period, and He fulfilled them all. The life of Buddha was not foretold like that. The life of Muhammad was not foretold like that. No one else in history has ever had such credentials. Without question, Jesus is the One who was foretold to come. He accomplished all that He came to accomplish, and there is no one else in all of history whose message we can trust more. Knowing Him and His message, and thereby becoming His witness, is the most important endeavor we can have in this life. 

Our primary devotion for this study this year will be the following: knowing the Lord and His message and being able to apply them better to our own times—establishing, and/or strengthening our biblical worldview. From this perspective, we want to be able to discern the times and to be able to better accomplish our own purpose in them. For this reason, we will also address some of the major current events and forces in our times.