Posted on Jul 3, 2017 in 2 Corinthians, Devotions |
Scripture Reading : 2 Corinthians 3
Theme : Superiority of the New Covenant
False teachers have infiltrated the Corinthian church, teaching that rituals and ceremonies of the old covenant were prerequisites for salvation. To boost their own credibility with the Corinthians, they not only attacked Paul’s integrity, but also his competency as a minister.
- The Competent Minister (3:1-6). Unlike the false apostles who had to rely on deceptive letters of commendation to gain acceptance by the Corinthians, Paul does not need these to prove his credibility because the Corinthians already had firsthand knowledge of his virtuous, godly, sincere life and powerful preaching (cf. Acts 18:11). His authenticity as a true servant of Jesus Christ was evident in the transformed life of the Corinthians through his ministry. The confidence that God had called him to ministry and his humble dependence on God’s power also distinguished him from the false apostles who were self-confident and arrogant, fully trusting in their own cleverness.
- The Glory of the New Covenant (3:6-18). The false teachers affirmed that salvation was through faith in Christ plus keeping the Mosaic Law. True ministers, however, are servants of a new covenant, which is far more superior than the old covenant because it gives life (v.6), produces righteousness (v.7-9), is permanent (v.10-11), brings hope (v.12), make truth clear (v.13-14a), is Christ-centered (v.14b-16), is energized by the Spirit (v.17), and is transforming (v.18). Though the Law had the glory of God by revealing His holiness and justice, the new covenant reveals God’s glory in a fuller manner because it not only reveals His holy nature, but also manifests His compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness (cf. Ex. 34:6-7).
Praying the Scripture
- God does not look for the mighty and the noble according to human standards when He chooses men for the ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26). As advised by the godly Scottish pastor, Robert Murray McCheyne, to a young minister, “It is not great talents God bless so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” Let’s pray that we will not rely on our natural abilities to carry out any ministry in church, but to rely on the Spirit’s power to make us effective.
- The Christian life is a continual process of growing into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, ascending from one level of glory to another. That is also our goal in this life – to be like the Lord. The process of being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ will culminate in believers’ glorification, which is only possible through the new covenant. Let’s pray that we will not depend on rituals and ceremonies to be sanctified, but look to Scriptures for the glory of God reflected in the face of Jesus and be transformed into His image through the powerful internal work of the Spirit (cf. Eph. 3:16).
经文：哥林多后书3
主题：新约的优势
假教师已潜入哥林多教会，并教导他们守旧约的礼仪和仪式是得救的必要条件。为要在哥林多人面前显出自己是可信的，他们不但冤枉保罗不诚实，还质疑他作执事的资格。
- 有资格的执事（3:1-6）。为得到哥林多教会的接纳，假使徒必须依赖虚拟的推荐书，但保罗不需多此一举，因为哥林多人与他敬虔、有品德、真诚的生活和强而有力的教导有亲身经历（参：徒18:11）。藉着他的事工，哥林多人的生命有了转变，而那就是他身为耶稣基督真实仆人的最佳凭据。保罗有神呼召他作执事的信心，并常常谦卑依靠神的大能；假使徒却是自以为是，骄傲自大，完全依靠自己的智慧行事。
- 新约的荣耀（3:6-18）。假教师一再强调救恩是同时靠基督里的信心及守摩西律法。属实的执事则是新约的仆人；新约远超越旧约，因为它给予生命（6节），叫人称义（7-9节），是永恒的（10-11节），带来盼望（12节），阐明真理（13-14节），是围绕基督的（14-16节），是由圣灵发动的（17节），并能使人转变（18节）。虽然律法因显示神的圣洁与公义而有荣耀，新约更能展示神的荣耀，因为它不仅启示了神的圣洁，还彰显神的慈悲、怜悯、恩惠与饶恕的性情（参：出24:6-7）。
用经文祷告
- 当神拣选人作祂的执事时，祂并不根据人的标准选择有能力及有尊贵的（参：林前1:26）。如一位敬虔的苏格兰牧师麦进益（Robert Murray McCheyne）劝诫一位年轻执事时说：“神所祝福的不是大才能，而是有耶稣的大样式。一个圣洁的执事在神的手里是个极大的器皿。”让我们祷告我们不会依靠自己的天赋执行教会里的事工，而是依靠圣灵的力量使我们有效行事。
- 基督徒生命是个延续的成长过程，叫我们更能有主耶稣基督的样式，使我们荣上加荣。这也就是我们这一生中的目标：要像主。转变成耶稣基督样式的过程，高潮就在信徒的荣耀日里， 而这也只能是藉着新约才能有的。让我们祷告我们不会依靠仪式或礼仪成圣，而是钻进经文寻找神反映在耶稣颜面上的荣耀，并藉着圣灵在内心的有力工作，转变成耶稣的样式（参：弗3:16）。
Posted on Jul 3, 2017 in 2 Corinthians, Devotions |
Scripture Reading : 2 Corinthians 2
Theme : Forgiveness and Encouragement in Christ
Paul hoped that the sinful issues he confronted in his letters would be settled before he visited Corinth again. In this passage, he urged the Corinthians to forgive one of their numbers and also displayed his deep love and concern for them.
- Forgiving the sinner (2:1-11). The individual to be forgiven had apparently verbally and publicly assaulted Paul during his “painful visit” to them. Following Paul’s instructions, the Corinthian church disciplined the sinning member and put him out of the fellowship. He had since repented, and now not only did Paul forgive him, but he also instructed the Corinthians to do so too in order to show mercy (v6), restore joy (v7), affirm love (v8), prove obedience (v9), restore fellowship (v10) and thwart Satan (v11).
- Concern for the Corinthians (2:12-17). The serious riot in Ephesus (Acts 19:23-41) may have prompted Paul’s departure for Troas. But more importantly, Paul hoped to meet Titus (whom he sent to Corinth) there in order to find out how the Corinthian church had responded to his letters. Fearing the worst, Paul’s heart was so heavy with concern that he found it difficult to focus on the open door of ministry at Troas. However, Paul did not look to his circumstances for comfort, joy and encouragement, but took his focus off his difficulties and turn to God. Here, Paul lists five privileges in which he was spiritually triumphant in spite of his circumstances: being led by a sovereign God (v14a), having the promised victory in Christ (v14b), to be an influence for Christ (v14c), to be pleasing to God in Christ (v15-16a) and having the power to serve in Christ (v16b-17).
Praying the Scripture
- The apostle Paul understood the importance of forgiveness. Though he was sorrowed by the offender who assaulted him, he refused to take it personally or carry a grudge against the offender. This is how Paul exemplified the forgiveness that Jesus commanded (Matt 18:21-22). Let’s pray that we will follow Paul’s example in forgiving others for their offences against us.
- Paul was no stranger to discouragement in his ministry, yet he continued to persevere until the end of his life (2 Tim 4:7).The cure to Paul’s discouragement is to focus on his privileges instead of his problems. The contemplation of those privileges – of being associated with the King of kings in His Triumph, of influencing people for eternity, of pleasing God, and of having His power undergirding his ministry – healed his broken heart and restored his joy. Let’s pray that we too will focus on the privileges in Christ whenever we are discouraged in the course of our ministry.
经文：哥林多后书2
主题：在基督里的赦免与勉励
保罗希望他在书信中所提到的罪恶情况能在他二次探访哥林多之前得以解决。在这段经文中，他鼓励哥林多教会要彼此饶恕，并向他们展现自己对他们的爱与关注。
- 饶恕罪人（2:1-11）。那位当被宽恕的人似乎在保罗的“忧愁”探访中曾诬告及公开攻击保罗。哥林多教会按保罗的指示，向那位犯罪的弟兄施行教会纪律，斩断交往。他从此悔改了，而保罗如今不但要饶恕他，还吩咐哥林多教会也要如此行，以展示怜悯（6节），恢复喜乐（7节），肯定爱心（8节），证明顺服之心（9节），恢复团契（10节），并阻扰撒旦（11节）。
- 对哥林多教会的关注（2:12-17）。以弗所一场严重的暴乱（徒19:23-41）或许迫使保罗离开往特罗亚去。但更重要的是，保罗希望在那里与提多（他差派去哥林多的人）相遇，好了解哥林多教会对他的书信有何回应。保罗因心里感到如此沉重，无法专注于神在特罗亚所开的门。然而，保罗并没从自己的境遇中寻找安慰、喜乐和鼓励，而是从困境中转移目光，眼向神。这里，保罗列出他在艰难境遇中在灵里得胜所拥有的五项特权：有主宰万物之神的带领（14节），有在基督里得胜的应许（14节），能为基督影响周围人（14节），在基督里讨神喜悦（15-16节），并有能力事奉基督（16-17节）。
用经文祷告
- 使徒保罗明白宽恕的重要性。虽然他因被人攻击而忧愁，但他拒绝把这事记在心里，或对那人怀恨在心。这就是保罗如何为耶稣所吩咐的宽恕（太18:21-22）作例证。让我们祷告我们会跟从保罗的榜样，宽恕他人对我们的过犯。
- 保罗在事工上常常遇到灰心事，但他继续忍耐，直到终了（提后4:7）。保罗对灰心的决策是将眼目放置在他的特权，而不是他所遇的问题。思想这些特权，如与万王之王在战胜中相连、为永恒影响人、讨神喜悦，及有神的能力守住他的事工，这一切治疗了他破碎的心，并恢复了他的喜乐。让我们祷告每当我们在事工上遇到灰心事时，也会注视基督。
Posted on Jul 3, 2017 in 2 Corinthians, Devotions |
Scripture Reading : 2 Corinthians 1
Theme : The God of Comfort
As mentioned in the introduction, Paul wrote 2 Corinthians to defend himself against the assaults of false apostles who sought to discredit Paul in order to replace the truth of God with their satanic lies.
- The comfort of God in trouble (1:1-11). The first section of this passage shows Paul’s defense against their false charge that his trials were God’s punishment for his sin and unfaithfulness. Here, Paul uses two OT titles of God – “the Father of mercies” (2 Sam 24:14; Ps 86:15; etc.) and the “God of all comfort” (Is 40:1, 51:3) to make the point that God was comforting him in his sufferings, not chastening him. God alone is the source of true comfort, which in turn gives us hope and strength amid the trial. Through God’s comfort in sufferings, we can then comfort others in their trials with the same comfort we receive.
- The testimony of the conscience against accusation (1:12-24). Not only that, the false apostles were also accusing Paul of being untrustworthy and fickle through a trivial evidence: a change in Paul’s travel plans. In his defense, Paul did not call on his friends to verify his integrity, but appealed to the highest human court: his own conscience. Because Paul’s fully informed conscience affirmed that his conduct had been in holiness and godly sincerity, it exonerated him from these false charges. After defending his integrity did Paul finally explain why he changed his travel plans: it was to give the Corinthians time to correct the problems he wrote of in 1 Corinthians in order to avoid another painful visit to them. This displayed his sensitivity towards his beloved church, not untrustworthiness and fickleness.
Praying the Scripture
- Many people today question why bad things happen to good people. But Scripture rejects the underlying assumption that people are truly good (Rom 3:10). Bad things happen to all people because they are sinners who live in a fallen, sin-cursed world. In the course of godly living and ministry, it is inevitable that believers will be afflicted (2 Tim 3:12). Yet in God’s providence, we have the promise of God’s comfort to strengthen us when we suffer for Christ. Are you discouraged by the various trials in your life? Know that those who experience the most suffering will receive the most comfort and those who receive the most comfort are thereby the most richly equipped to comfort others. Let’s pray that we will not be discouraged by trials, but to trust God for deliverance and comfort through trials.
- The conscience is a warning system, placed by God to warn of damage to the soul. But today’s culture aggressively tries to silence sin and guilt in the conscience as harmful to their self-esteem. However, those who attempt to do so face spiritual ruin (cf 1 Tim 1:19; 4:2; Titus 1:15). Though the conscience either affirms right behaviour or condemns sinful behaviour, it is not infallible. Therefore, believers need to set their conscience to the highest moral standard by submitting to all of God’s Word so that their conscience can call them to live according to that law. Do you have a clear conscience before God? At salvation, God cleanses the conscience from its lifelong accumulation of guilt, shame and self-contempt. It is now our responsibility to keep a clear or good conscience as commanded in the Bible (1 Peter 3:16). Let’s pray that we will be sensitive to any sins in our life by examining ourselves in light of Scripture and confess them quickly before our faithful and forgiving God.
经文：哥林多后书1
主题：赐安慰的神
如前言所介绍的，保罗书写哥林多后书的目的是要在假使徒的诬告中维护自己，因为他们试着销毁保罗的信誉，以便用魔鬼的谎言取代神的真理。
- 神在患难中赐予的安慰（1:1-11）。这段经文显示保罗被诬告说他所面对的试炼是神因着他的罪与不忠所实行的处罚，而保罗为此辩护。这里保罗使用了神的两个旧约称呼：发慈悲的父（撒后24:14；诗86:15等）和赐各样安慰的神（赛40:1,51:3），以强调神是在患难中安慰他，不是管教他。唯独神是真安慰的源头，而这在患难中给予我们盼望和力量。藉着神在患难中所赐的安慰，我们也能在他人的患难中给予他自己所曾领受过的安慰。
- 良心的见证与被受诬告（1:12-24）。不仅如此，那群假使徒也藉着一件微不足道的证据控告保罗是个不可信及善变的人，即保罗对他旅途计划的改变。在他的辩护中，保罗并没召他的朋友为他的诚信作证，而是向人类的最高法院作出请求：他自己的良心。由于保罗全然知情的良心确认他是在圣洁和敬虔的诚实中行事的，所以他不会被这些诬告缠累。维护他的诚信后，保罗最后解释他为什么要改变旅途计划：为要给哥林多教会时间改正他在哥林多前书所记下的问题，叫他不会再次“忧愁”地探访他们。这实际上展现了他对自己挚爱的教会的敏感之心，而不是他不可信又善变。
用经文祷告
- 许多人试问遭遇为何会发生在好人身上。然而，圣经拒绝其理论说人也有好的（罗3:10）。坏事发生在所有人身上，因为我们都活在一个堕落罪恶的世界里。在敬虔生活与事工中，信徒难免受会到逼迫（提后3:12）。可在神的供应中，神应许当我们为基督受苦时，祂的安慰会给予我们力量。你是否因生活所遇的各种试炼而灰心呢？要记得，经历最多苦难的人也将是领受最多安慰的，从而最有装备安慰他人。让我们祷告我们不会因试炼感到气馁，乃信靠神救我们，在试炼中赐安慰。
- 良心是神所安装的预警系统，避免灵魂受损。然而，今日的文化正积极地尝试按压良心的罪恶与愧疚感，说那对自尊有害。可是，试着如此行的人会面对灵里的毁害（参：提前1:19；4:2；多1:15）。虽然良心能肯定好行为，也能谴责坏行为，但它也能败坏的。因此，信徒必须顺服神完全的律法，将他们的良心以最高的道德品格为标志，使他们的良心能驱使他根据这个标准生活。你是否在神面前有无愧的良心？得救之时，神洁净一人的良心免去终生的愧疚和自我轻视感的积累。我们现在有责任保持一个清洁无愧的良心，如圣经所吩咐的（彼前3:16）。让我们祷告我们会对生活中的罪敏感，常常在经文的光照中审察自己，在我们信实与宽恕的神面前快速承认罪行。
