Monthly Archives: November 2024

2024年11月17日 牧者之言

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第二篇灵修
——2024 年 11 月 7 日小石城以马内利华语浸信会晨祷会

范杰瑞和范玛丽莲

  • 诗歌
  • 感谢你们给予我今早与你们一起祈祷的机会
  • 我们如何才能让“传道人”所相信、教导、实践以及在他的书的封底上所写的东西永远在祈祷中实现——成为我们自己的？
  • 约翰福音 14:13-14 说：“你们奉我的名无论求什么，我必成就，叫父因儿子得荣耀。”

“奉耶稣的名祷告”是指：
1. 如此依赖他，与他如此合一
2. 愿他的意念成为我的意念，
3. 他的愿望成为我的愿望，
4. 他的生命成为我的生命，
5. 他的本性就是我的本性，
6. 他的祈祷就是我的祈祷，
7.我的祈祷就是他的祈祷。”

  • 如果我们研究保罗在腓立比书中所写的内容，我们可能会对上述内容如何在我们的生活中实现有所了解（腓立比书 3:10 AMPC）
  • 保罗被关押在罗马的监狱里，我们参观了人们认为关押他的监狱：
  • 我 (杰瑞) 第一次参观监狱是在 1974 年 2 月，我想让玛丽莲看看保罗被关押的地方，所以在我们一次海外门徒旅行中，我们经过罗马回来并遇到了我们的朋友迈克尔·斯坦丘，他曾住在罗马，他带我们回到了保罗的监狱和罗马的许多其他景点。
  • 我记得那是地下室里的一个圆形小房间，直径大约 20 到 25 英尺。保罗在那里的时候，没有窗户也没有门，所以囚犯是通过天花板上的一个洞被放进房间的。囚犯进入地下室后，洞口上会盖上一块钢板，这样囚犯就无法逃脱。如果钢板是实心钢，保罗唯一的光源就是烛光。
  • 地下室里有一根钢柱，保罗可能被锁在上面。
  • 保罗在罗马的时候，那里有露天下水道，这意味着城市的污水顺着街道的路边流下来，当下大雨时，污水就会流入老鼠出没的地下室。
  • 我们大多数人可能都曾祈求上帝让我们摆脱这些可怕的境况。
  • 但保罗却没有这样做，他决定利用这段时间比任何人都更了解他的主和救主耶稣基督。事实上，在那座监狱里，他写下了“因为我设定了的目标就是要认识他。”[腓立比书 3:10 AMPC ]。
  • 保罗已经写下了哥林多前书 1:9 “神是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子我们的主耶稣基督，一同得分。”
  • 我们与主和救主耶稣基督的团契取决于我们自己以及我们培养这种团契的意愿。我们是被呼召加入这个团契的，而不是被迫的。
  • 但当我们得救（重生——相信耶稣并接受他作为我们个人的主和救主）时，我们就与上帝建立了牢固的关系，因为他应许“他永远不会离开我们或抛弃我们”。 [希伯来书 13:5]
  • 当耶稣来到世上时，“他到自己的地方来，自己的人倒不接待他。凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄，作神的儿女。” [约翰福音 1:11-12]
  • 他的子民不接受他是弥赛亚，也不相信他。这是他们的选择。
  • 因此，他们不是上帝的孩子。
  • 但我们是上帝的孩子，因为我们相信他并接受他作为我们的主和救主。
  • 我们神圣、公义的上帝永远不会抛弃我们——他的子民。
  • 然后在（以赛亚书 41:10）中，他给了我们几个宝贵的应许。
  • 帮助我们感到更安全。
  • “不要怕，我与你同在”
  • “不要惊慌（困惑），因为我是你的上帝”
  • “我必坚固你”
  • “我必帮助你”
  • “我必用我公义的右手扶持你。”
  • 我们与我们的主和救主耶稣基督的关系是牢固的，因为它取决于上帝的信实，要持守他的应许，并牢记上帝不会说谎。
  • 我们被召唤与耶稣团契，但我们的责任是培养这种团契，因为这是上帝赐予我们的礼物。
  • 但我们与上帝的关系是绝对牢固的。
  • 团契和关系之间存在很大差异，而这两者都是我们需要的。
  • 腓立比书 3:10 AMPC :

[“我设定了的目标就是] 我要认识基督——我可以逐渐地，更加深入地、更亲密地开始认识他；更强烈、更清晰地察觉、认识，明白 [他的奇妙) ；并且以此来晓得从他的复活之中所流出的大能[这大能影响遍及所有信徒]，由此可以知道同他一同受苦，并持续地被改变， [盼望]能在灵里[甚至在“向着自己死”的方面 ]更加像他。

  • 我们相信，这个盼望是一个（有信心的期望） 我们将复活，与上帝（圣父、圣子、圣灵）一起生活，永远在天堂。

这就是保罗一生“设定了的目标” ——真正认识耶稣基督，而不只是知道有关他的事情。
这节经文可以分解如下：

  • “逐渐地更加深入、更加亲密地认识耶稣”。
  • “逐渐”意味着我们成为基督徒的那一刻，我们还没有完全成熟，但正如保罗所说，“他向着标竿直跑”。在地上，我们永远不会完全成熟，但当我们到达天堂时，我们就会完全成熟。赞美上帝！
  • “察觉、认识并明白耶稣属性的奇妙。”
  • 我们的天父知道他儿子耶稣基督的每一个细节，认为他顺从、奇妙、完美。甚至到了履行天父的计划的地步，即耶稣为了我们的罪死在十字架上——因为有人必须为我们的罪付上代价，那就是耶稣。
  • 经历“耶稣复活所流露出的能力”（神的超自然能力）
  • 在这些时候，我们会在生活中感受到复活的力量：
  • 当我们接受耶稣基督作为我们个人的主和救主时。
  • 当上帝使用我们引导某人信耶稣作为他们个人的主和救主，我们在他们的生活中看到了成果。
  • 当上帝使用我们去训练某人时，他们就会领悟到训练门徒的愿景。 这会导致信耶稣的灵魂倍增，这是接触世界的最快方式。
  • “分享耶稣的苦难，以便在灵性上不断地转变为耶稣的形象。”
  • 不断改变心灵的目的是变得像他（耶稣），顺服他的意志和他的道路。就是愿意为了上帝的荣耀——圣父、圣子和圣灵——而忍受苦难：
  • 变得像耶稣是我们的目标之一。
  • 无数的基督徒每天都在受苦，因为他们渴望变得更像耶稣。
  • 问题与解答：
  1. 我为什么需要如此依赖和与耶稣合一呢？
  • 回答 –
  • 因为我希望今天比昨天更像耶稣——成为像他一样的人！（罗马书8:29 LBT ，哥林多后书 3:18 (简体中文和合本)
  • 我想实现上帝对我一生的美好计划，因为这是一个“美善而非邪恶的计划，给你（我们）一个未来和希望”（对未来充满信心的期待）。[耶利米书 29:11和合本]
  • 因为我们的主和救主耶稣说过：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。所以，你们要去，使万民作我的门徒，奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的，都教训他们遵守（辨别），我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了。”[马太福音 28:17-20 NKJV ]
  1. 我为什么要希望耶稣的思想成为我的想法？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。
  1. 为什么我应该渴望耶稣的愿望成为我的愿望？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。
  1. 我为什么希望耶稣的生命成为我的生命？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。
  1. 我为什么希望耶稣的本性成为我的本性？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。
  1. 我为什么希望耶稣的祈祷成为我的祈祷？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。
  1. 我为什么希望我的祈祷成为耶稣的祈祷？
  • 回答 –
  • 与上面的#1相同。

SECOND DEVOTIONAL
Early PRAYER Meeting
At Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church
NOVEMBER 7, 2024

Jerry & Marily Fine

  • Thank you for the privilege of SHARING this PRAYER TIME WITH YOU THIS MORNING
  • How do we make the things that “Preacher” believed, taught, lived by AND WROTE on the back cover of his book ALWAYS IN PRAYER –

our own?

  • JOHN 14:13-14 Says – “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”

“TO PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS” IS TO BE:

  1. SO ATTACHED TO HIM, SO UNITED TO HIM

2. That His thoughts become my thoughts,
3. His desires become my desires,
4. His life becomes my life,
5. His nature becomes my nature,
6. His prayers are my prayers,
7. and my prayers are His prayers.”

  • IF WE EXAMINE WHAT PAUL WROTE IN PHILIPPIANS, WE MIGHT GAIN SOME INSIGHT INTO HOW THE ABOVE CAN BE TRUE IN OUR LIVES (Philippians 3:10 AMPC)
  • PAUL WAS IN PRISON IN ROME, AND WE HAVE VISITED THE PRISON WHERE THEY BELIEVE HE WAS HELD:
  • My (Jerry’s) first visit to the prison was in February 1974, and I wanted Marilyn to see where Paul was held in prison so on one of our Discipleship trips overseas, we came back through Rome and met our friend Michael Stanciu, who had lived in Rome, and he took us back to Paul’s prison and many other sights in Rome.
  • As I recall it was a small circular room in a basement maybe 20 to 25 feet in diameter. There were no windows or doors when Paul was there, so the prisoner was lowered into the room through a hole in the ceiling. Once the prisoner was in the basement a steel plate was secured over the hole so the prisoner could not escape. If the plate was solid steel the only light Paul would be candlelight.
  • There was a steel post in the basement to which Paul might have been chained.
  •  And at the time Paul was there Rome had open sewers which meant that the sewage of the city ran down the curbs of the streets and when it rained hard the sewage would flow into the rat-infested basements.
  • Most of us might have been asking God to get us out of those terrible conditions.
  • BUT not Paul, he decided to use that time to get to know Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior better than he knew anyone else. In fact, in that Prison was where he wrote “For my Determined Purpose is that I may know Him.” [Philippians 3:10 AMPC].
  • Paul had already penned 1 Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ.”
  • Our FELLOWSHIP with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ DEPENDS ON US AND OUR WILLINGNESS TO CULTIVATE THAT FELLOWSHIP. WE WERE CALLED INTO THIS FELLOWSHIP AND NOT FORCED.
  • BUT WHEN WE ARE SAVED (BORN AGAIN – BELIEVE IN JESUS AND RECEIVE HIM AS OUR PERFSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR WE HAVE A SECURE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BECAUSE HE HAS PROMISED THAT “HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US.” [Hebrews 13:5]
  • WHEN JESUS CAME TO EARTH “HE CAME TO HIS OWN (HIS OWN PEOPLE) THEY DID NOT RECEIVE HIM. BUT AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, TO THEM HE GAVE THE RIGHT (AUTHORITY) TO BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.” [John 1:11-12]
  • HIS POPLE WHO WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIM AS THE MESSIAH WOULD ALSO NOT BELIEVE IN HIM. IT WAS THEIR CHOICE.
  • THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT GOD’S CHILDREN.
  • BUT WE ARE GOD’S CHILDREN BECAUSE WE HAVE BOTH BELIEVED IN HIM AND HAVE RECEIVED HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
  • AND OUR HOLY RIGHTEOUS GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US, HIS CHILDREN.
  • AND THEN IN (Isaiah 41:10) HE GIVES US SEVERAL PRECIOUS PROMISES.
  •  TO HELP US FEEL MORE SECURE.
  • “FEAR NOT FOR I AM WITH YOU”
  • “BE NOT DISMAYED (CONFUSED), FOR I AM YOUR GOD”
  • “I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU”
  • “YES, I WILL HELP YOU”
  • “I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.”
  • Our RELATIONSHIP with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is secure because it DEPENDS ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO KEEP HIS PROMISES and remember God cannot lie.
  • WE ARE CALLED TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS BUT IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CULTIVATE IT, BECAUSE IT IS A GIFT OFFERED TO US BY GOD.
  •  BUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS ABSOLUTELY SECURE.
  • THERE IS A BIG DIFFERRENCE BETWEEN FELLOWSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP AND WE NEED BOTH.
  • Philippians 3:10 AMPC:

[“FOR MY DETERMINED PURPOSE IS] THAT I MAY KNOW HIM – THAT I MAY PROGRESSIVELY BECOME MORE DEEPLY AND INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM, PERCEIVING AND RECOGNIZING AND UNDERSTANDING [THE WONDERS OF HIS PERSON) MORE STRONGLY AND MORE CLEARLY. AND THAT I MAY IN THAT SAME WAY COME TO KNOW THE POWER OUTFLOWING FROM HIS RESURRECTION [WHICH IT EXERTS OVER BELIEVERS], AND THAT I MAY SO SHARE HIS SUFFERINGS AS TO B E CONTINUALLY TRANSFORMED [IN SPIRIT INTO HIS LIKENESS EVEN] TO HIS DEATH, IN THE HOPE” (OF THE RESURRECTION).

  • AND WE BELIEVE THAT THIS HOPE IS A (CONFIDENT EXPECTION THAT WE WILL BE RESURRECTED TO LIVE WITH GOD (THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT IN HEAVEN FOREVER).

THIS WAS PAUL’S “DETERMINED PURPOSE” IN LIFE – TO REALLY KNOW JESUS CHRIST, NOT JUST TO KNOW ABOUT HIM.
This verse can be broken down as follows:

  • To “progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Jesus.”
  • “Progressively” means that the moment we become a Christian we are not fully mature, but as Paul said, “he was pressing toward the mark (Goal). Here on earth, we will never be totally mature, BUT when we get to heaven we will. Praise God!
  • “perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of Jesus’ person.”
  • Our heavenly Father knows every detail about His Son Jesus Christ, and sees Him as obedient, wonderful and perfect. Even to the point of living out the Fathers plan of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins – because someone had to pay for our sins and that was Jesus.
  • To experience “the power outflowing from Jesus’ resurrection” (God’s supernatural power)
  • There are these times when we experience the power of the Resurrection in our lives:
  • When we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.
  • When God uses us to lead someone to Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and we see fruit in their lives.
  • When God uses us to Disciple someone and they catch the vision of making disciples who make disciples. Which leads to the multiplication of souls for Jesus which is the fastest way to reach the world.
  • To “so share Jesus’ sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into Jesus’ likeness.”
  • The goal of being continually transformed in spirit is to become like Him (Jesus) YIELDING TO HIS WILL AND HIS WAY. It is to be willing to go through suffering for the glory of God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
  • To Become like Jesus is one of our Goals.
  • Multitudes of Christians suffer every day because they have a passion to become more like Jesus.
  • Questions & Answers:
  1. Why do I need to be so attached and united to Jesus?
  • Answer –
  • Because I want to be more like Jesus today than I was yesterday – TO BECOME LIKE HIM! [Romans 8:29 LBT,

2 Corinthians 3:18 LBT]

  • I want to live out God’s good plan for my life because it is a “plan for good and not evil to give you (us) a future and a HOPE” (CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF WHAT IS TO COME.)

[Jeremiah 29:11 LBT]

  • Because Jesus our Lord and Savior said, “All authority has been given to ME in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe (discern) ALL THINGS I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; and lo I am with you always; even to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:17-20 NKJV]
  1. Why should I want Jesus’ thoughts to become my thoughts?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.
  • Why should I desire that Jesus’ desires become my desires?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.
  • Why should I want Jesus’ life to become my life?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.
  • Why should I want Jesus’ nature to become my nature?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.
  • Why should I want Jesus’ prayers to become my prayers?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.
  • And why should I want my prayers to become Jesus’ prayers?
  • Answer –
  • Same as # 1 above.

2024年11月10日 牧者之言

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2024 年 11 月 6 日

小石城以马内利华语浸信会晨祷会
第一篇灵修

范杰瑞和范玛丽莲

•    诗歌 — 主祷文
•    早上好！ 我们很高兴今天早上能和你们一起参加这个特别的祈祷时间。
•    我们想以一个人的故事开始，上帝通过他的讲道和教导祈祷来改变我们的生命。
•    他是俄克拉荷马州诺曼市第一浸信会的牧师。
•    他的名字是 EF Hallock，他喜欢被称为“传道人”。
•    “传道人”去了自由派神学院，那里的教义非常自由，不相信神迹或童女生子等，但他认为圣经中有许多好故事，他可以去教导和宣讲。
•    传道 7 年后，他邀请了一位布道家来 他的教会。
•    布道家宣讲福音，第一天晚上“传道人”深陷悔恨，整夜挣扎。
•    第二天晚上，“传道人”鼓起勇气走在自己教堂的过道上说： “我从来没有相信耶稣是我个人的主和救主。” 但 那天晚上他确实这么做了。
•    从那天晚上起，他开始吞噬上帝的话语——我们的意思是——他
o    诵读，
o    研读，
o    背诵，
•    经过默想后，他说： “我开始掌握圣经，但我很快发现圣经正在掌握我。”
•    通过说他对此进行了默想，我们相信：
•    他沉思上帝的话语——他认真思考上帝对他说的话。
•    他在脑海里描绘出当时的场景或情况——并问自己，我在画面中自己是谁
•    他按照自己在圣经中所经历的去祈祷——向上帝虔诚的祈祷。
•    和你可以从他的讲道中看出来。
•    每年至少读一次到四次圣经，从创世纪 1:1 到启示录 22:21
•    永远记住圣经是为你写的：
•    罗马书 15:4 NKJV – “从前所写的圣经，都是为教训我们写的，叫我们因圣经所生的忍耐（或毅力） 和安慰，可以得着盼望。我们将盼望视为（对未来的信心期待）
•    “传道人”每周讲道三次，每次讲道至少包括以下其中一项：
•    不住地祈祷。
•    用上帝的话语充实我们的生活。
•    持守上帝的应许——一般的和具体的、个人的应许。
•    事实上，传道人写了一本关于“时刻祈祷”的小书，在这本书的封底他写道：
•    “奉耶稣的名祷告就是：
*如此地依赖于他，如此地与他合一：
*他的思想成为我的思想；
*他的愿望成为我的愿望；
*他的生活成为我的生活；
*他的本性成为我的本性；
*他的祈祷就是我的祈祷，我的祈祷就是他的祈祷。”
•    以弗所书 6:18a 说“靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求…”
•    今天，我们想要留给你们的灵修思想是“传道人”在他的书的封底写的——时刻祈祷——这意味着每天为生活中的一切祈祷：
•    例子：
*杰瑞 – 当我出去修剪草坪时，我祈祷上帝，让割草机今天早上启动
*玛丽莲——昨天醒来时唱着主祷文，并祈求上帝让在我们教堂音乐会上的那位男士唱主祷文并演奏出来，事情正如她祈求的那样发生了。

•    罗马书 12:12 “在盼望中要喜乐，在患难中要忍耐，祷告恒切。”
•    明天早上，我们将与您分享如何让“传道人”在书的背面写下的想法成为你自己的想法，以便其他人也可以对你谈论这些事情

FIRST DEVOTIONAL
Early PRAYER Meeting

At Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church
NOVEMBER 6, 2024

Jerry & Marily Fine

  • Song – The Lord’s Prayer
  • GOOD MORNING! We are excited to be with you this morning for this special PRAYER TIME.
  • We want to start with a story of a man that God used to CHANGE our lives THROUGH HIS PREACHING & TEACHING ON PRAYER.
  • HE WAS THE PASTOR OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA.
  • His name was E. F. Hallock, who liked to be called “Preacher.”
  • “Preacher” went to a MODERNISTIC  Seminary WITH VERY LIBERAL TEACHINGS and did not believe in miracles or the Virgin birth etc. but he thought that the Bible had good stories that he could TEACH & PREACH.
  • After preaching for 7 years, he invited an Evangelist to preach in his church.
  • The evangelist preached the Gospel and the first night “Preacher” was under conviction and struggled all night.
  • The next night, “Preacher” had the courage to walk down the aisle of his own church and say, “I’ve never trusted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior,” BUT he did that night.
  • From that night forward he devoured the Word of God – BY THAT WE MEAN – he
  • read,
  • studied,
  • memorized,
  • AND MEDITATED ON IT he said, “I set out to MASTER the Bible, BUT I soon found it was MASTERING me.”
  • By saying he meditated on it, we believe:
  • He PONDERED the word of God – he thought seriously about what God was saying to him personally.
  • He PICTURED the scene or situation in his mind – and ask himself who do I identify with in the picture
  • He PRAYED what he experienced in the Word – A PRAYER OF DEVOTION TO GOD.
  • and YOU COULD TELL IT IN HIS PREACHING.
  • He read Bible completely through – at least once a year to 4 times a year from GEN 1:1 to REV 22:21
  • Always remember the Bible was written for you:
  • Romans 15:4 NKJV – “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience (OR PERSERANCE) and COMFORT of the Scriptures might have HOPE and we see HOPE AS A (confident expectation of what’s to come) 
  • EVERY MESSAGE “Preacher” preached WHICH WAS 3 TIMES PER WEEK was on AT LEAST ONE, of the following:
  • Always in Prayer.
  • Saturating our life with God’s Word.
  • Living by God’s Promises both – General and Specific, Personal Promises.
  • In fact, Preacher wrote a little book on ALWAYS IN PRAYER, and on the back cover of this book he wrote:

“To pray in the name of Jesus is:

  • to be SO attached to Him, SO united to Him:
  •  that His thoughts become my thoughts;
  • His desires become my desires;
  • His life becomes my life;
  • His nature becomes my nature;
  • His prayers are my prayers, and my prayers are His prayers.”
  • Ephesians 6:18a says “praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit…”
  • The devotional thought WE want to leave with you today is what “Preacher” wrote on the back cover of his book – ALWAYS IN PRAYER – Which means pray about everything in your life every day:
  • EXAMPLE:
  • JERRY – When I go out to mow our lawn – I pray Lord, let the lawn mower start this morning
  • MARILYN – Woke up yesterday singing the Lord’s Prayer & asked God to let the man who was in a Concert, at our church, to sing and play the Lord’s prayer & it happened as she had asked.
  • And Romans 12:12 “Rejoicing in HOPE, patient in TRIBULATION, continuing Steadfastly in PRAYER.
  • Tomorrow morning, we will discuss with you how to make the thoughts “Preacher” wrote on the back of his book – YOUR OWN so that others might say these things about you.

2024年11月3日 牧者之言

Posted on

时间、才干和财富的管理

所求于管家的是要他有忠心。

—哥林多前书 4:2

        基督徒的管家职责基于这样的信念：上帝是我们所有和所有事物的源泉，我们要对如何使用这些恩赐向他负责。因为“地和其中所充满的都属耶和华”，我们应该张开双手，心甘情愿地与他人分享我们的资源。
        我们是时间的管家。以弗所书 5:16 说：“要爱惜光阴，因为现今的世代邪恶。”我们在世上的时间短暂而易逝。我们是在用它来取悦上帝还是为自己服务？
        我们是自己能力的管家。我们不应该用这些能力来获得个人的认可或晋升，而应该用来祝福他人，建立基督的教会。即使我们的才干似乎微不足道，机会有限，我们也应该找到自己的位置，忠实地为上帝的荣耀尽我们所能。我们想听到主人的话：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人”（马太福音 25:23）。
         我们是财宝的管家。如果我们真正认识到上帝是合法的主人，而我们只是金钱和财产的看管者，我们就会明智地使用它们。耶稣说我们不应该在地上积攒财宝，而应该在天上积攒财宝，“天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷”（马太福音 6:20）。

         积攒天上财宝的一种方法是，用真正的基督徒之爱的言语和行为，以实际的方式回应我们周围的需要。每个人都应该“照上帝所赐给他的”自由地奉献（哥林多前书 16:2），无私地分享，利用他的地上资源来推进上帝的国度。我们的造物主值得我们作为他丰厚礼物的管家，谦卑地、感恩地赞美他。


马克·克罗普夫 – 俄勒冈州哈尔西

你们白白的得来，也要白白的舍去。 – 马太福音 10:8

引自 8月3日的《溪水旁》，阿米什人的灵修

Stewardship of Time, Talents, and Treasure


         Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Christian stewardship is based on the conviction that God is the source of all we have and all we are, and that we are accountable to Him for how we use these gifts. Since “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” we should hold our resources with an open hand and share them willingly with others.
       We are stewards of our time. Ephesians 5: 16 says, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Our time on earth is short and fleeting. Are we using it to please God or to serve ourselves?
       We are stewards of our abilities. We should use these not to gain personal recognition or advancement, but to benefit others and build Christ’s church. Even if our talents seem small and our opportunities limited, we should find our place and faithfully do what we can for God’s glory. We want to hear the words of our Master, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25: 23).
        We are stewards of our treasure. If we truly recognized that God is the rightful owner and that we are but caretakers of our money and possessions, we will use them wisely. Jesus said we should lay up treasures not on earth but in Heaven, “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6: 20).
        One way of storing up heavenly treasure is to respond in practical ways to the needs around us, with words and deeds of genuine Christian love. Each person should give freely “as God hath prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16: 2), sharing unselfishly and using his earthly resources to advance God’s kingdom. Our Maker is worthy to receive humble, thankful praise from us as stewards of His bountiful gifts.

                 Mark Kropf – Halsey, OR
Freely yet have received, freely give. – Matthew 10: 8
Cited from Aug. 3, Beside the Still Water, Amish Devotion.