MY Scripture Today 2012.1.18 Wednesday
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The Text: Mark 3:1-6.
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Jesus entered the synagogue. There was a man there who had a withered hand.
They watched him closely to see if he would cure him on the sabbath so that they might accuse him.
He said to the man with the withered hand, "Come up here before us."
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?" But they remained silent.
Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
The Pharisees went out and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against him to put him to death.
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My Reading Notes
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This can explain many things. One is the law. The other is the heart. Due to the hardness of their heart, they had insisted the law.
Should one save life against the law?
It needs a higher level of viewpoints to see that.
2012年1月17日 星期二
2012年1月1日 星期日
Is it a fairy tale?
My Sunday Scripture 2012.1.1.
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The Text: Luke 2:16-21.
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So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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My Reading Notes:
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Is it a fairy tale or true story? It is the most difficult part for us believers.
I believe in Jesus. But this story is so fairy like, I cannot keep thinking to myself, I prefer to accept its inner meaning rather then the story itself.
In deed, there was a man named Jesus born on earth somewhere, sometime, bringing to us the messages from God.......
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The Text: Luke 2:16-21.
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So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
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My Reading Notes:
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Is it a fairy tale or true story? It is the most difficult part for us believers.
I believe in Jesus. But this story is so fairy like, I cannot keep thinking to myself, I prefer to accept its inner meaning rather then the story itself.
In deed, there was a man named Jesus born on earth somewhere, sometime, bringing to us the messages from God.......
2011年12月24日 星期六
Life is Light
My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.25
The Text: John 1:1-18.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'"
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.
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My Reading Notes:
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It is always a puzzle to me, how can a "word' become God. However,
I can understand there are limitation to the human understanding, so I will not argue about this. With my limited brain power, I know I can not understand all things.
And the second difficult point is: life is light. And the still more interesting part is that darkness can not overcome life. That gives us hope.
It is important to have hope, as hope produces strength. And with strength, we can do what God commanded us to do.
The Text: John 1:1-18.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man's decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.'"
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him.
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My Reading Notes:
-----------------
It is always a puzzle to me, how can a "word' become God. However,
I can understand there are limitation to the human understanding, so I will not argue about this. With my limited brain power, I know I can not understand all things.
And the second difficult point is: life is light. And the still more interesting part is that darkness can not overcome life. That gives us hope.
It is important to have hope, as hope produces strength. And with strength, we can do what God commanded us to do.
2011年12月17日 星期六
You are to conceive a son by God
My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.18
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The Text: Luke 1:26-38
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26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'
29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,
30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David;
33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'
34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'
35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.
36 And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month,
37 for nothing is impossible to God.'
38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.
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My Reading Notes:
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No matter how strange this story is, that we must believe, that indeed everything was from God. If there is no God, there will be no nothing. This is the real meaning of the Scripture here.
Now that God had sent us Jesus by Mary.
It meant that God had sent us LOVE. That was the major teaching from Jesus, which is quite different from the Old Testaments.
God's will did change through the ages. It must be different in the Old Testaments and the New.
But the beauty did not change.
It was so beautiful that Mary answered God: 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.'
(King James Version: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.)
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The Text: Luke 1:26-38
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26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 He went in and said to her, 'Rejoice, you who enjoy God's favour! The Lord is with you.'
29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean,
30 but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.
31 Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David;
33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.'
34 Mary said to the angel, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?'
35 The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.
36 And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month,
37 for nothing is impossible to God.'
38 Mary said, 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.' And the angel left her.
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My Reading Notes:
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No matter how strange this story is, that we must believe, that indeed everything was from God. If there is no God, there will be no nothing. This is the real meaning of the Scripture here.
Now that God had sent us Jesus by Mary.
It meant that God had sent us LOVE. That was the major teaching from Jesus, which is quite different from the Old Testaments.
God's will did change through the ages. It must be different in the Old Testaments and the New.
But the beauty did not change.
It was so beautiful that Mary answered God: 'You see before you the Lord's servant, let it happen to me as you have said.'
(King James Version: And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the Angel departed from her.)
2011年11月26日 星期六
He will baptise you with the holy spirit
My Sunday Scripture 2011.12.4.
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The Text: Mark 1:1-8
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1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you.
3 A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
6 John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.
7 In the course of his preaching he said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals.
8 I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'
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My Reading Notes
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To be baptised with the Holy Spirit is totally different from Water.
One should have a totally different mind and character when he had the insight of God, or, the insight of seeing through a whole scenery of everything.
It is like an electric shock, or the re-format of the mind. And it is just like seeing from blindness. Before that, you are blind, now you are opened with an eyesight. It is a pity that few could admit his blindness.
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The Text: Mark 1:1-8
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1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 It is written in the prophet Isaiah: Look, I am going to send my messenger in front of you to prepare your way before you.
3 A voice of one that cries in the desert: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John the Baptist was in the desert, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins.
6 John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey.
7 In the course of his preaching he said, 'After me is coming someone who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals.
8 I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.'
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My Reading Notes
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To be baptised with the Holy Spirit is totally different from Water.
One should have a totally different mind and character when he had the insight of God, or, the insight of seeing through a whole scenery of everything.
It is like an electric shock, or the re-format of the mind. And it is just like seeing from blindness. Before that, you are blind, now you are opened with an eyesight. It is a pity that few could admit his blindness.
2011年11月19日 星期六
Where is God?
My Sunday Scriture 2011.11.20
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The text: Matthew 25:31-46
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31 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.
32 All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,
36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."
37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"
40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."
44 Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?"
45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."
46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.'
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My Reading Notes:
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This is very important message from God.
He told us where we could find Him.
He is not in the altar, he is not in the church. But he is in a place in need.
That is where he is.
My question is: Is this true? Is this the reality of the "locations" of God, or is it simply a "teaching"?
To my humble knowledge, I can not tell. But I prefer both.
It is a teaching, and it is true.
Where is God?
Its answer is in the minds of those who have asked.
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The text: Matthew 25:31-46
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31 'When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory.
32 All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
34 Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome,
36 lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."
37 Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you?
39 When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?"
40 And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me."
41 Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me."
44 Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?"
45 Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."
46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.'
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My Reading Notes:
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This is very important message from God.
He told us where we could find Him.
He is not in the altar, he is not in the church. But he is in a place in need.
That is where he is.
My question is: Is this true? Is this the reality of the "locations" of God, or is it simply a "teaching"?
To my humble knowledge, I can not tell. But I prefer both.
It is a teaching, and it is true.
Where is God?
Its answer is in the minds of those who have asked.
2011年11月18日 星期五
Why should I stay awake? What is the meanig of staying awake?
My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.27
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The Text Matthew 13:33-37
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33 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn;
36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.
37 And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!'
My Reading notes
There are always unknown factors ahead waiting. We never can be sure where we are, and what we are going to do, or where we are going.
Being awake is to aware the route always. One can always going on and on and on, every day is just like yesterday. But the world had secretly changed, without telling us.
Keep asking, keep reading, keep eyes open. Do not let the railway track betray you.
There are no fixed tracks ahead, and you should always search your way.
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The Text Matthew 13:33-37
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33 'Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come.
34 It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from his home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own work to do; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake.
35 So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow or dawn;
36 if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep.
37 And what I am saying to you I say to all: Stay awake!'
My Reading notes
There are always unknown factors ahead waiting. We never can be sure where we are, and what we are going to do, or where we are going.
Being awake is to aware the route always. One can always going on and on and on, every day is just like yesterday. But the world had secretly changed, without telling us.
Keep asking, keep reading, keep eyes open. Do not let the railway track betray you.
There are no fixed tracks ahead, and you should always search your way.
2011年11月10日 星期四
Am I an eating machine?
My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.13
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The Text Matthew 25:14-30
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14 'It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.
16 The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.
17 The man who had received two made two more in the same way.
18 But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."
21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
22 Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."
23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
24 Last came forward the man who had the single talent. "Sir," said he, "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered;
25 so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."
26 But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered?
27 Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest.
28 So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has.
30 As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
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My Reading Notes
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This is a concept we must take it as the basic principal of life. That life is productive. The non-productive life is meaningless, and will be punished.
However, some people are very aware of their productivity, while others do not.
And the difference lies in the question:
Am I an eating machine?
Do I have a real goal about the future?
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The Text Matthew 25:14-30
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14 'It is like a man about to go abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them.
15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one, each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out on his journey.
16 The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more.
17 The man who had received two made two more in the same way.
18 But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.
19 Now a long time afterwards, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them.
20 The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made."
21 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
22 Next the man with the two talents came forward. "Sir," he said, "you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made."
23 His master said to him, "Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have shown you are trustworthy in small things; I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master's happiness."
24 Last came forward the man who had the single talent. "Sir," said he, "I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you had not sown and gathering where you had not scattered;
25 so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back."
26 But his master answered him, "You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered?
27 Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have got my money back with interest.
28 So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the ten talents.
29 For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but anyone who has not, will be deprived even of what he has.
30 As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
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My Reading Notes
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This is a concept we must take it as the basic principal of life. That life is productive. The non-productive life is meaningless, and will be punished.
However, some people are very aware of their productivity, while others do not.
And the difference lies in the question:
Am I an eating machine?
Do I have a real goal about the future?
2011年11月1日 星期二
She was sitting at the door......
My Sunday Scripture 2011.11.6
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The Text: The Book of Wisdom 6:12-16
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12 Wisdom is brilliant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seek her, she is readily found.
13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.
14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but will find her sitting at the door.
15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon be free from care.
16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.
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My Reading Notes:
==================
This is the most beautiful verse I had read recently. She is like a girl, sitting at your door steps already. You need only to wake up and seek.
Yes this is the most important element of any culture. Wisdom is what we need.
======================================
The Text: The Book of Wisdom 6:12-16
======================================
12 Wisdom is brilliant, she never fades. By those who love her, she is readily seen, by those who seek her, she is readily found.
13 She anticipates those who desire her by making herself known first.
14 Whoever gets up early to seek her will have no trouble but will find her sitting at the door.
15 Meditating on her is understanding in its perfect form, and anyone keeping awake for her will soon be free from care.
16 For she herself searches everywhere for those who are worthy of her, benevolently appearing to them on their ways, anticipating their every thought.
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My Reading Notes:
==================
This is the most beautiful verse I had read recently. She is like a girl, sitting at your door steps already. You need only to wake up and seek.
Yes this is the most important element of any culture. Wisdom is what we need.
2011年10月25日 星期二
They do not practise what they teach
get away from them
My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.30
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The Text: Matthew 23:1-12
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1 Then addressing the crowds and his disciples Jesus said,
2 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.
3 You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!
5 Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader headbands and longer tassels,
6 like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues,
7 being greeted respectfully in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
8 'You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers.
9 You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.
11 The greatest among you must be your servant.
12 Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.
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My Reading Notes:
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The most difficult part being a Christian is that you must have direct access to God, forgetting the "agents of God" for they are Pharisees sometimes. The chair of Moses was occupied by them.
Away from the Pharisees, they are evil. Pharisees cannot lead you to Heaven, but the other way. Away from them. What they promised are material entertainments only and that is the way to seek devil.
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The Text: Matthew 23:1-12
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1 Then addressing the crowds and his disciples Jesus said,
2 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses.
3 You must therefore do and observe what they tell you; but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practise what they preach.
4 They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!
5 Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader headbands and longer tassels,
6 like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues,
7 being greeted respectfully in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
8 'You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers.
9 You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ.
11 The greatest among you must be your servant.
12 Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.
------------------
My Reading Notes:
------------------
The most difficult part being a Christian is that you must have direct access to God, forgetting the "agents of God" for they are Pharisees sometimes. The chair of Moses was occupied by them.
Away from the Pharisees, they are evil. Pharisees cannot lead you to Heaven, but the other way. Away from them. What they promised are material entertainments only and that is the way to seek devil.
2011年10月23日 星期日
Two Commandment
My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.23.
---------------------------
The Text: Matthew 22:34-40.
----------------------------
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them (a scholar of the law) tested him by asking,
Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?
He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandment
----------------------
My Reading Notes
----------------------
I shall love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind.
I shall love neighbor as myself.
---------------------------
The Text: Matthew 22:34-40.
----------------------------
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together,
and one of them (a scholar of the law) tested him by asking,
Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?
He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandment
----------------------
My Reading Notes
----------------------
I shall love God with all my heart, my soul, my mind.
I shall love neighbor as myself.
2011年10月9日 星期日
What shall we pay to God?
My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.16
-----------------------------
The text: Matthew 22:15-21
-----------------------------
15 Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap him in what he said.
16 And they sent their disciples to him, together with some Herodians, to say, 'Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in all honesty, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because human rank means nothing to you.
17 Give us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'
18 But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, 'You hypocrites! Why are you putting me to the test?
19 Show me the money you pay the tax with.' They handed him a denarius,
20 and he said, 'Whose portrait is this? Whose title?'
21 They replied, 'Caesar's.' Then he said to them, 'Very well, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and God what belongs to God.'
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
We all know what is the thing for Ceasar. But do we know, what is the thing belongs to God?
What shall we pay to God?
Please tell me, if you can.
-----------------------------
The text: Matthew 22:15-21
-----------------------------
15 Then the Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap him in what he said.
16 And they sent their disciples to him, together with some Herodians, to say, 'Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in all honesty, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because human rank means nothing to you.
17 Give us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?'
18 But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, 'You hypocrites! Why are you putting me to the test?
19 Show me the money you pay the tax with.' They handed him a denarius,
20 and he said, 'Whose portrait is this? Whose title?'
21 They replied, 'Caesar's.' Then he said to them, 'Very well, pay Caesar what belongs to Caesar -- and God what belongs to God.'
-------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------
We all know what is the thing for Ceasar. But do we know, what is the thing belongs to God?
What shall we pay to God?
Please tell me, if you can.
2011年10月2日 星期日
those who were invited proved to be unworthy
My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.9.
--------------------
The Text:
Matthew 22:1-14
--------------------
1 Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again,
2 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding.
3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come.
4 Next he sent some more servants with the words, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, my banquet is all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding."
5 But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business,
6 and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.
7 The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town.
8 Then he said to his servants, "The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy,
9 go to the main crossroads and invite everyone you can find to come to the wedding."
10 So these servants went out onto the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment,
12 and said to him, "How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?" And the man was silent.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
14 For many are invited but not all are chosen.'
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
"those who were invited proved to be unworthy".....
Some people were chosen. And They are proved to be unworthy.
Then, What next?
Were The Choice wrong? It is because humans are free. They have a free choice. Even the chosen people can do bad things. And we can not say, the choice was wrong. We can only say, some people are unworthy of God's kind blessing.
--------------------
The Text:
Matthew 22:1-14
--------------------
1 Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again,
2 'The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding.
3 He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come.
4 Next he sent some more servants with the words, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, my banquet is all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding."
5 But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business,
6 and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them.
7 The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town.
8 Then he said to his servants, "The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy,
9 go to the main crossroads and invite everyone you can find to come to the wedding."
10 So these servants went out onto the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment,
12 and said to him, "How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?" And the man was silent.
13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth."
14 For many are invited but not all are chosen.'
---------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------
"those who were invited proved to be unworthy".....
Some people were chosen. And They are proved to be unworthy.
Then, What next?
Were The Choice wrong? It is because humans are free. They have a free choice. Even the chosen people can do bad things. And we can not say, the choice was wrong. We can only say, some people are unworthy of God's kind blessing.
Which nation will be the next Israel?
My Sunday Scripture 2011.10.2.
------------------------
The Text:
Matthew 21:33-43
------------------------
33 'Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyar
34 When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce.
35 But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a d; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad.
third.
36 Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.
37 Finally he sent his son to them thinking, "They will respect my son."
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, "This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance."
39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'
41 They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him at the proper time.'
42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing and we marvel at it?
43 'I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
God is expecting us to do something always. He expected humans to work on the field and have some harvest.
Now the Israel is producing no harvest.
Which nation will be the next Israel? To produce enough fruit for the Kingdom of God?
------------------------
The Text:
Matthew 21:33-43
------------------------
33 'Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyar
34 When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce.
35 But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a d; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad.
third.
36 Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way.
37 Finally he sent his son to them thinking, "They will respect my son."
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, "This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance."
39 So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?'
41 They answered, 'He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him at the proper time.'
42 Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the Lord's doing and we marvel at it?
43 'I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'
----------------------
My Reading Notes:
----------------------
God is expecting us to do something always. He expected humans to work on the field and have some harvest.
Now the Israel is producing no harvest.
Which nation will be the next Israel? To produce enough fruit for the Kingdom of God?
2011年9月25日 星期日
Did you go?
My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.25.
--------------------------
The Text: Matthew 21:28-32
--------------------------
What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
---------------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------------
The most important things here is the action, not the words.
It does not matter if he say yes or no, but whether you have go.
And that is the difference between a true Christian and a false Christian.
And the question is: Did you really go? Did you performed yourself in your life?
Did you live your life?
--------------------------
The Text: Matthew 21:28-32
--------------------------
What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
He said in reply, 'I will not,' but afterwards he changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, 'Yes, sir,' but did not go.
Which of the two did his father's will?" They answered, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him.
---------------------------
My Reading Notes:
---------------------------
The most important things here is the action, not the words.
It does not matter if he say yes or no, but whether you have go.
And that is the difference between a true Christian and a false Christian.
And the question is: Did you really go? Did you performed yourself in your life?
Did you live your life?
2011年9月18日 星期日
What is the meaning of first and last
My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.18
---------------------------
The Text: Matthew 20:1-16a
---------------------------
1 'Now the kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.
2 He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day and sent them to his vineyard.
3 Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place
4 and said to them, "You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage."
5 So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same.
6 Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing around, and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?"
7 "Because no one has hired us," they answered. He said to them, "You go into my vineyard too."
8 In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first."
9 So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each.
10 When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each.
11 They took it, but grumbled at the landowner saying,
12 "The men who came last have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day's work in all the heat."
13 He answered one of them and said, "My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius?
14 Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the lastcomer as much as I pay you.
15 Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why should you be envious because I am generous?"
16 Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.'
-------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------------
I will learn not to worry if i am the last. For I know that God had given me enough to live for. In that case, first and last are the same. What not the same is my effort. If i have dedicate enough, i will be with God.
---------------------------
The Text: Matthew 20:1-16a
---------------------------
1 'Now the kingdom of Heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard.
2 He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day and sent them to his vineyard.
3 Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place
4 and said to them, "You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage."
5 So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same.
6 Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing around, and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day?"
7 "Because no one has hired us," they answered. He said to them, "You go into my vineyard too."
8 In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, "Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first."
9 So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each.
10 When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each.
11 They took it, but grumbled at the landowner saying,
12 "The men who came last have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day's work in all the heat."
13 He answered one of them and said, "My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius?
14 Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the lastcomer as much as I pay you.
15 Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why should you be envious because I am generous?"
16 Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.'
-------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------------
I will learn not to worry if i am the last. For I know that God had given me enough to live for. In that case, first and last are the same. What not the same is my effort. If i have dedicate enough, i will be with God.
2011年9月10日 星期六
none of us
My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.11
----------------------------
The Text:
----------------------------
---------------------
Reading 2, Rom 14:7-9
---------------------
7 For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself;
8 while we are alive, we are living for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord: and so, alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
9 It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
-----------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------
Paul said: "For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself";
Take note on the word: "None". He is searching the basic element of mankind.
Life itself is not life. You need to have a reborn, then you will know what is life. To reborn, is to know the real meaning of life, is to know life is not only flesh, but the fighting spirit inside. It is this spirit that lives, the body is helping the spirit to work. It is important to have the spirit enlightened---that we could say, is re-born.
----------------------------
The Text:
----------------------------
---------------------
Reading 2, Rom 14:7-9
---------------------
7 For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself;
8 while we are alive, we are living for the Lord, and when we die, we die for the Lord: and so, alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
9 It was for this purpose that Christ both died and came to life again: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
-----------------------
My Reading Notes:
-----------------------
Paul said: "For none of us lives for himself and none of us dies for himself";
Take note on the word: "None". He is searching the basic element of mankind.
Life itself is not life. You need to have a reborn, then you will know what is life. To reborn, is to know the real meaning of life, is to know life is not only flesh, but the fighting spirit inside. It is this spirit that lives, the body is helping the spirit to work. It is important to have the spirit enlightened---that we could say, is re-born.
2011年9月3日 星期六
They might be wrong
My Sunday Scripture 2011.9.4.
The Text: Matthew 18:15-20
15 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge.
17 But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.
18 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'
My reading Notes
the message to day is only one line:
They are human, and they might be wrong.
The Text: Matthew 18:15-20
15 'If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.
16 If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain the charge.
17 But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a gentile or a tax collector.
18 'In truth I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 'In truth I tell you once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them.'
My reading Notes
the message to day is only one line:
They are human, and they might be wrong.
2011年8月27日 星期六
Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
My Sunday Scripture 2011.8.28.
--------------------------------
The Text: Matthew 16:21-27
--------------------------------
21 From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day.
22 Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.'
23 But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.'
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?
27 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour
-------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------------
This is a very basic teaching of Jesus Christ.
Any one who wants to keep his life will lose it, and any one who gives his life may have it.
Why?
And this is very very special among all other religion teachings, and even some Christians may have difficulties understanding it.
The point is: How do you "use" your life?
Do you want to use it, or do you want to waste it?
And what is waste?
just like candle burning.
Those who are willing to burn himself may have life. And those who refuse to burn, will have no life. Its simple and clear, however, not easy for many.
--------------------------------
The Text: Matthew 16:21-27
--------------------------------
21 From then onwards Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day.
22 Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. 'Heaven preserve you, Lord,' he said, 'this must not happen to you.'
23 But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do.'
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 What, then, will anyone gain by winning the whole world and forfeiting his life? Or what can anyone offer in exchange for his life?
27 'For the Son of man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will reward each one according to his behaviour
-------------------------
My Reading Notes:
-------------------------
This is a very basic teaching of Jesus Christ.
Any one who wants to keep his life will lose it, and any one who gives his life may have it.
Why?
And this is very very special among all other religion teachings, and even some Christians may have difficulties understanding it.
The point is: How do you "use" your life?
Do you want to use it, or do you want to waste it?
And what is waste?
just like candle burning.
Those who are willing to burn himself may have life. And those who refuse to burn, will have no life. Its simple and clear, however, not easy for many.
2011年8月20日 星期六
Who is Jesus?
My Sunday Scripture 20110821
--------------------------------
The text: Matthew 16:13-20
--------------------------------
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?'
And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'
'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?'
Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'
Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to say to anyone that he was the Christ.
My Reading Notes:
Who is Jesus? Is he God himself, or is he only a very talented man?
I believe he is God. I believe God had sent different messages to human beings through the ages, including Egypt and China, etc. But this time is the only time God had send himself to the earth, trying to give us some extra message.
--------------------------------
The text: Matthew 16:13-20
--------------------------------
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?'
And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'
'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?'
Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'
Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.
So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.'
Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to say to anyone that he was the Christ.
My Reading Notes:
Who is Jesus? Is he God himself, or is he only a very talented man?
I believe he is God. I believe God had sent different messages to human beings through the ages, including Egypt and China, etc. But this time is the only time God had send himself to the earth, trying to give us some extra message.
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