To be anxious about nothing, pray about everything

Numbers 13:26-33
26 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. 28 But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." 30 Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." 31 But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." 32 And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. 33 We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

26 到了巴蘭曠野的加低斯，見摩西、亞倫，並以色列的全會眾，回報摩西、亞倫，並全會眾，又把那地的果子給他們看；27 又告訴摩西說：「我們到了你所打發我們去的那地，果然是流奶與蜜之地；這就是那地的果子。28 然而住那地的民強壯，城邑也堅固寬大，並且我們在那裏看見了亞衲族的人。29 亞瑪力人住在南地；赫人、耶布斯人、亞摩利人住在山地；迦南人住在海邊並約旦河旁。」30 迦勒在摩西面前安撫百姓，說：「我們立刻上去得那地吧！我們足能得勝。」31 但那些和他同去的人說：「我們不能上去攻擊那民，因為他們比我們強壯。」32 探子中有人論到所窺探之地，向以色列人報惡信，說：「我們所窺探、經過之地是吞吃居民之地，我們在那裏所看見的人民都身量高大。33 我們在那裏看見亞衲族人，就是偉人；他們是偉人的後裔。據我們看，自己就如蚱蜢一樣；據他們看，我們也是如此。」

• 初看這段經文總是覺得這班人沒有信心，神不是應許這地賜給他們嗎？為甚麼還是猶疑不決呢？抵他們激到神發怒，一律不可進應許之地，只有約書亞和迦勒有信心的資格。
• 這不正是我的寫照嗎？不知是否學歷知識太豐富，做每件事都要計算代價，計算是否值得。風險太大不做，回報少不做，沒有著數不做，要犧牲現有的不做 ... 在日常屬世的事是這樣，屬靈的事更小心奕奕，以為這樣就是一個沒過沒失，風平浪靜的基督徒。一條船永遠泊在港彎裡，從不出海，不能知道此船能否經歷驚濤駭浪。
• 信心的功課很難！我們有太多的憂慮，太多的如果，太多的可能。我們往往看到那些Impossible Things but not Impossible God。探子看到只是那裡的人，是巨人，是偉人，看不到流奶與蜜之地，因為對方的強壯正是他們的死穴，他們所懼怕的。今天撒但常用我們的懼怕去攻擊我們的信心，而正正神要我們在這些懼怕，無助中去倚靠祂，相信祂，這就是信心。神啊！真是很難的功課，但求祢幫助我看到祢過去在我身上的作為，保護，保守。當我懼怕那些「沒可能」的事情，想想你卻是那位「萬事都能」的神！
• 主耶穌亦曾告訴我們要「計算代價」。若只在屬世之事計算代價，而忽略了最重要那天上的事，那代價就太大了！The Cost of not following Jesus is far more than the cost of following Jesus.

A true disciple is someone who does what Jesus says

Luke 14:26-33

26 If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. . . . 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

26人到我這裡來、若不愛我勝過愛自己的父母、妻子、兒女、弟兄、姐妹和自己的性命、就不能作我的門徒。27凡不背著自己十字架跟從我的、也不能作我的門徒。…33這樣、你們無論甚麼人、若不撇下一切所有的、就不能作我的門徒。

• 「真門徒」是甚麼？就是要「愛」主耶穌，「跟從」主耶穌，和「撇下一切」。
• 甚麼是「愛」祂？單一愛祂，勝過一切，包括自己的性命，這不是容易。我能否拋下我擁有的，我所愛的家人呢？祂不是要我放棄denounce他們，祂不是要我不享受世間的東西，而是要我作出比較，甚至偏心地愛祂最多。到要面臨抉擇，任選其一時，我會選擇主耶穌，甚至犧牲最寶貴的，好像自己的生命。
• 甚麼是「跟從」祂？以祂為我生命的頭，元帥，祂要我何往必去，不是盲目的跟從，而是深知祂帶領我之時，那麼終點一定是最美好的，可能過程會艱辛。這種「跟從」是要脫去重擔，纏累我們的罪，要輕省地才可跟得上。但另一方面，是要背起十字架來跟從祂，又一點也不輕省，甚至可說是滿有困難，想想主耶穌主上髑髏地時要背著自己的十字架，有多麼的辛苦！我想信主耶穌要讓我知道這條路不好走，但終極會是美麗的！
• 甚麼是「撇下一切」呢？要所有的，包括我的驕傲，我的才能，我的財物，這是要我知道自己在主面前是一文錢也不值，這才可讓主用我，讓主陶造我。就如那個故事：「若不放開雙手抓著的東西，那能抓著主的手呢？」

We must trust God when he calls us to sacrifice

Genesis 22:1-13
1 After these things God tested Abraham . . . . 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering." . . . 9 Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.

1這些事以後、神要試驗亞伯拉罕…2神說、你帶著你的兒子、就是你獨生的兒子、你所愛的以撒、往摩利亞地去、在我所要指示你的山上、把他獻為燔祭。…9他們到了神所指示的地方、亞伯拉罕在那裡築壇、把柴擺好、捆綁他的兒子以撒、放在壇的柴上。10亞伯拉罕就伸手拿刀、要殺他的兒子。11耶和華的使者從天上呼叫他說、亞伯拉罕、亞伯拉罕、他說、我在這裡。12天使說、你不可在這童子身上下手、一點不可害他．現在我知道你是敬畏神的了、因為你沒有將你的兒子、就是你獨生的兒子、留下不給我。13亞伯拉罕舉目觀看、不料、有一隻公羊、兩角扣在稠密的小樹中、亞伯拉罕就取了那隻公羊來、獻為燔祭、代替他的兒子。

• 當神說要我們奉獻一切給祂時，要的不是我們也不稀罕的東西，祂要的是我們看為最寶貴的，就如亞伯拉罕要獻的是他的獨生子以撒，不是他的財富，不是他的牛羊。我相信這是最難學的功課，但神真的要以撒嗎，不是，祂只要試驗亞伯拉罕的信心，神已預備一隻公羊代替以撒了。但如果亞伯拉罕不願意奉獻自己的兒子，相信整本聖經都要改寫，他亦不是信心之父，不是神選民的祖先。今天，願意我以亞伯拉罕為鑑戒，提醒自己一切是神所賜的，若祂要拿取任何東西，祂會以自己來代替。
• 創世記廿二章之前，亞伯拉罕還一無事處，娶夏甲，騙埃及王，嬉笑神的應許，那有「信心之父」的影子？但自從以撒出生後，我相信他已看到神的大能，將不能變可能，他的信心會大大增長。感謝神讓我看到聖經的人物都與我們一樣，有退後，畏縮之時，但看到神能力彰顯時，人可以做就是俯伏在祂腳前全然獻上，求神用亞伯拉罕的改變提醒我，今天我得著神的恩典何奇多，我願否拿少少奉獻神呢？
• 這段經文亦預表主耶穌基督為我贖罪，代替我們被釘死在十架上，讓我們不用死（永死）而生（永生）。感謝主耶穌，願每時刻提醒我這極大的恩典，不可輕看它，這生都活在祂的恩典下。

As lambs, we need to listen to our Shepherd

Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1耶和華是我的牧者．我必不至缺乏。2他使我躺臥在青草地上、領我在可安歇的水邊。3他使我的靈魂甦醒、為自己的名引導我走義路。4我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷、也不怕遭害．因為你與我同在．你的杖、你的竿、都安慰我。5在我敵人面前、你為我擺設筵席．你用油膏了我的頭、使我的福杯滿溢。6我一生一世必有恩惠慈愛隨著我．我且要住在耶和華的殿中、直到永遠。

• 靈修書曾說為甚麼聖經總是以羊來形容世人，而不是其他的動物。想深一層，我們不是如羊一樣無助，軟弱，自以為甚麼也曉，其實一翹不通？不倚靠主耶穌牧羊人的保護，撒但就如豺狼般的侵食我們。但看看自己，多少時候是用自己努力，自己的智慧，相信人定勝天的道理去處理自己的生命，但碰壁了，失敗了，遇上困難了，就大聲問，神祢在那裡？這不就是人的悲哀嗎？求神讓我知道生命的牧人是誰，知道我要跟隨祢才能到安歇的青水邊。
• 詩篇23太熟了，我怎能在這篇詩篇中找到新的領受呢，怎能應用在這萬變的世界裡呢？這篇詩篇如何更新我的生命、生活、工作、事奉及家庭呢？
  1) 既然神是我的牧者，他一定不會指條黑路我行，他最想看到的是他的羊都肥肥白白，安安全全，我只要相信這點，我還需要拼命”ware”嗎？
  2) 青草地，水邊是羊最需要的，不是沙難，瀑布。今天我要相信神供應的是我需要的，那些無謂的不要求，神亦不會給，就算給也會自討苦吃。
  3) 第三節的形容不單只是對羊了，讓我想起以前未信主的靈是沉睡的，現在神讓他甦醒了，但我若不警醒alert，可能好容易就睡著。義路人人都喜歡走，但義路可能亦是窄路，我願不願意付上這代價呢？
  4) 死蔭的幽谷最可怕是不知幾時是盡頭，不知何時會有攻擊，突然出來嚇你。但是神幫我去擋，祂幫我去開路，我就不用這麼擔驚受怕了。
  5) 神為我在敵人面前「曬命」，我們在享受豐筵，祂更用油膏我的頭，令敵人牙癢癢，多麼有趣的圖畫！
  6) 我願意一生一世與主在一起嗎？不是一帆風順時才做，而是在死蔭幽谷時亦願意。求神讓我時常記著這首詩篇。

Jealousy for someone's best is godly; Jealousy of someone's best is sin

1 Samuel 18:5-9
5 David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” 8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

5掃羅無論差遣大衛往何處去、他都作事精明．掃羅就立他作戰士長、眾百姓和掃羅的臣僕、無不喜悅。6大衛打死了那非利士人、同眾人回來的時候、婦女們從以色列各城裡出來、歡歡喜喜、打鼓擊磬、歌唱跳舞、迎接掃羅王。7眾婦女舞蹈唱和、說、掃羅殺死千千、大衛殺死萬萬。8掃羅甚發怒、不喜悅這話、就說、將萬萬歸大衛、千千歸我、只剩下王位沒有給他了。9從這日起、掃羅就怒視大衛。

• 這裡明顯在講Jealousy，掃罪見到大衛得的稱讚多於自己，於是心存嫉妒，初看亦無可厚非，掃羅是王，大衛最多是個軍兵，怎可與王比呢？就算是我都可以發怒，但這並不重要，而是要怎樣面對自己的emotion，若然停止怒氣及求神寬恕，我相信每個人都會發怒，但是發怒後而演變成犯罪，例如嫉妒之下要那人最好死的話，這就不得了。掃羅就是這樣，後來的追殺大衛，不是由現在的嫉妒開始嗎？神啊，我知道發怒是可以，但因怒而犯罪是祢不喜悅的，求神憐憫。
• 我們每人都有些地方特別出眾的，得人的讚賞，自自然然相信這是我的強項，我的優點。但是要知道一山還有一山高，這個世界沒有別人比你強嗎？當那人出現時，特別在一些你認為是強項，是恩賜的事奉上好過你，強過你，你怎辦？妒忌？開心？這真是一樣最難學的功課，求神給我力量去做，給我一顆寬容，接納的心去對待比我強的人。
• 再看看那班婦女們，一句一句的讚頌，一聲一聲的鼓舞，都看得出是真心的，但所謂「言者無心，聽者有意」，一句「掃羅千千，大衛萬萬」的結果是讓大衛要逃避掃羅多年。雖然說人要為自己的行動負責任，掃羅的嫉妒不關別人事，但撒但往往用一些言語去令別人犯罪，舌頭真能成為可怕的工具。求神勒住我的舌頭，不令人跌倒，不讓人犯罪，讓我的舌頭只去說稱讚，造就人的美句。
• Jealousy亦用在形容神的。出埃及記20:5就說「神是忌邪的神Jealous God」。多處聖經更提到神是「Jealous for發熱心」。”Jealousy of someone is a selfish, envious desire for what that person has or possesses. Jealousy for someone is a selfless, loving desire for that person to have and be the best.”

When we make sin our choice, we cross the line

Hebrews 10:26-31
26 If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins … 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

26 因為我們得知真道以後、若故意犯罪、贖罪的祭就再沒有了…29何況人踐踏神的兒子、將那使他成聖之約的血當作平常、又褻慢施恩的聖靈、你們想、他要受的刑罰該怎樣加重呢。30因為我們知道誰說、『伸冤在我、我必報應。』又說、『主要審判他的百姓。』31落在永生神的手裡、真是可怕的。

• 究竟「故意犯罪sinning deliberately」是甚麼呢？很喜歡這句說話：「When I could choose to do right and I choose to do wrong instead」，這就是故意犯罪了。這亦代表了故意犯「大」罪和故意犯「小」罪是一樣的，我們可能很多時不會故意犯很大的罪，但知道要靈修，祈禱而不做；知道要事奉而用諸多藉口推躺，知道要關心人但說這不是我的恩賜，知道要傳福音卻說自己不夠訓練等等…都是故意犯罪，神啊，求祢鑒察我，知道我的心思，試驗我，知道我的意念，看在我裡面有甚麼惡行沒有，引導我走永生的道路。
• 在經文提及故意犯罪是：「人踐踏神的兒子，將那使祂成聖之約的血當作平常，又褻慢施恩的聖靈。」這是何等重的說話！不要看輕犯罪，更不要明知故犯，亦不可當神冇到，更不可認為神的恩典永遠會寬恕你。其實當我們犯罪不但傷了神的心，而是踐踏主耶穌基督，當祂是地底泥，這是我最不想發生的。況且我們都知道有些罪是會慣性的，最後已經麻木，不當是一回事。神啊，求祢鑒察我，知道我的心思，試驗我，知道我的意念，看在我裡面有甚麼惡行沒有，引導我走永生的道路。

If God uses you, it’s still all about Him

1 Samuel 17:32-37
32 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

32大衛對掃羅說、人都不必因那非利士人膽怯．你的僕人要去與那非利士人戰鬥。33掃羅對大衛說、你不能去與那非利士人戰鬥．因為你年紀太輕、他自幼就作戰士。34大衛對掃羅說、你僕人為父親放羊．有時來了獅子、有時來了熊、從群中啣一隻羊羔去。35我就追趕他、擊打他、將羊羔從他口中救出來．他起來要害我、我就揪著他的鬍子、將他打死。36你僕人曾打死獅子和熊．這未受割禮的非利士人向永生神的軍隊罵陣、也必像獅子和熊一般。37大衛又說、耶和華救我脫離獅子和熊的爪、也必救我脫離這非利士人的手。掃羅對大衛說、你可以去罷．耶和華必與你同在。

• 看見掃羅與大衛的分別就再次提醒我，今天我是掃羅抑或是大衛？大衛對神的信心是單純simple，充份信賴trustworthy，但掃羅卻畏首畏尾，要想過度過才做。我的生命是否這樣，我的抉擇，我的事奉，是否都是用自己意思想過度過，然後才做，抑或倚靠神的帶領供應，深信祂做事的pattern永不改變，祂如何在以前帶領我，引導我，現在難道不會一樣嗎？
• 看見大衛對神的信心，真是非常羡慕，那像小孩子的信心亦是神最想看到的。我們可能會問，他曾打死獅子和熊又如何，現在是要打非利士人，不是隻動物，非利士人善戰，好勇鬥狠，可能又有很厲害的武器，怎能與野獸比呢？大衛不是naive，而是他堅信神在他身上的作為從來不變，神昔日保守，難道今天不會一樣嗎？更可況他對付的是「未受割禮，向永生神的軍隊罵陣」的非利士人呢？求神藉大衛提醒我今天對神的信心，若昔日神在某小事上帶領保守，難道今天我將要經歷的大事，神不保守引領嗎？
• 大衛及聖經的偉人是否和平常人不同？如果不是為甚麼有這麼多不平凡的事發生在他們身上呢？今天我這個平凡人就不能像他們一樣了？但想深一層，他們是這樣不平凡嗎？不是，他們每一個都與我們一樣，是個平凡人，是因為不平凡的神在一個平凡人身上作工，他就變為不平凡了。Ordinary People with Extraordinary God。讓我這個平凡人的平凡生命能經歷神的不平凡。

Jesus died to make His enemies His friends

Romans 5:6-11
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! 10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

6因我們還軟弱的時候、基督就按所定的日期為罪人死。7為義人死、是少有的、為仁人死、或者有敢作的。8惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死、神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。9現在我們既靠著他的血稱義、就更要藉著他免去神的忿怒。10因為我們作仇敵的時候、且藉著神兒子的死、得與神和好、既已和好、就更要因他的生得救了。11不但如此、我們既藉著我主耶穌基督、得與神和好、也就藉著他、以神為樂。

• 這是一段很熟識的經文，其中的金句已背誦了很多年，但多少時候我們真是appreciate當中的真義呢？基督是為一個不值得愛的人，與神隔絕的人去死，目的是要我們得生命，祂並不需要這樣做，為甚麼呢？就是因為祂愛我們。
• 許多時這愛對我們已經麻木了，我們很緊要別人的愛和接納，拍拖時對方要百分之百愛我，結婚後丈夫要愛我多過我愛他，為甚麼呢？這無非是自己的私慾，渴求丈夫，家人，朋友要無條件的愛我。但人的愛有限，自己亦不會愛對方多於愛自己，所以每每在當中會痛苦，沮喪，失望，但對基督無私的愛卻那麼不上心，take it for granted。求神讓我多思想神的愛，提醒我要感恩、報恩，因這是我白白得來，我就要白白地給予別人，就好像那首歌一樣：Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give。

To know God’s will, know Him well

Romans 12:1-6
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

1所以弟兄們、我以神的慈悲勸你們、將身體獻上、當作活祭、是聖潔的、是神所喜悅的．你們如此事奉、乃是理所當然的。2不要效法這個世界．只要心意更新而變化、叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全可喜悅的旨意。3我憑著所賜我的恩、對你們各人說、不要看自己過於所當看的．要照著神所分給各人信心的大小、看得合乎中道。4正如我們一個身子上有好些肢體、肢體也不都是一樣的用處。5我們這許多人、在基督裡成為一身、互相聯絡作肢體、也是如此。6按我們所得的恩賜、各有不同．或說豫言、就當照著信心的程度說豫言．

• 神的旨意是good, pleasing and perfect。這是我所知道的，但當因某事件要尋求神心意時，往往將此拋諸腦後，懼怕神的心意不是我的心意，用己意來成就或促成，讓這金句常在我心裡，在我的生命裡，成為我一生的座佑銘。
• 神的旨意不是要我們要讀甚麼課程，嫁甚麼人，找甚麼工作，祂的旨意在聖經裡是非常簡單的：1)行善以堵住糊塗無知人的口(彼前2:15) ，2)在何環境中都存感恩的心，3)成為聖潔，遠避淫行(帖前4:3)。若我們能遵行這些，相信在任何事上都能明白祂的旨意。
• 英文聖經比較易明：Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind。當被這世界的一切洪流所吞沒時，最緊要知道自己的心思意念仍是更新的，這是說在主裡更新，主的話語，向主的禱告所更新變化的，那麼就不會走向世界，遠離神了。
• 「合乎中道」，這包括看自己和看別人。知道自己的限制，弱點，但又不是貶低自己的價值。對別人要寬容，要求不能過高，但亦要相信他們有與自己一樣或甚至高過自己的能力。

To get rid of a problem, first admit you have it

1 John 1:1-9
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. . . . 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1論到從起初原有的生命之道、就是我們所聽見所看見、親眼看過、親手摸過的．（這生命已經顯現出來…）3我們將所看見、所聽見的、傳給你們、使你們與我們相交、我們乃是與父並他兒子耶穌基督相交的．4我們將這些話寫給你們、使你們〔有古卷作我們〕的喜樂充足。5神就是光、在他亳無黑暗．這是我們從主所聽見、又報給你們的信息。6我們若說是與神相交、卻仍在黑暗裡行、就是說謊話、不行真理了．7我們若在光明中行、如同神在光明中、就彼此相交、他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。8我們若說自己無罪、便是自欺、真理不在我們心裡了。9我們若認自己的罪、神是信實的、是公義的、必要赦免我們的罪、洗淨我們一切的不義。

• 我們當然知道神就是光，在祂裡頭沒有黑暗。但許多時仍犯罪，行在黑暗中，滿以為所做的一切神不會知道，這是自欺欺人的說話。每天都可帶假面具做人，沒有人能察覺，但神呢？求神用這段經文教導我要時刻行在光明中，對人對神都是無愧。
• 能與人有好的相交，要先與神有相交，這是不可改變的先後次序。行在光明中才能與神相交，有了這相交後才能與人相交。今天，我就算與弟兄姊妹有多親密的關係，若當中沒有神，那麼這關係只維持到世俗的關係，不是靈裡的親密關係，求神讓我追求更多裡的關係。
• 一章九節再次提醒我神的慈愛，就算有多少的罪，只要真心悔改，神必寬恕，神必洗淨，但亦告訴我神的公義，帶罪的心是不能到神面前，他所作的在神眼睛盡都徒然。

We look on the outside—God looks on the heart

1 Samuel 16:1-7
1 The Lord said to Samuel, . . . “I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king. . . . 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?” 5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1耶和華對撒母耳說、…我差遣你往伯利恆人耶西那裡去、因為我在他眾子之內、豫定一個作王的。…3你要請耶西來喫祭肉、我就指示你所當行的事、我所指給你的人你要膏他。4撒母耳就照耶和華的話去行．到了伯利恆、那城裡的長老都戰戰兢兢的出來迎接他、問他說、你是為平安來的麼．5他說、為平安來的．我是給耶和華獻祭．你們當自潔、來與我同喫祭肉．撒母耳就使耶西和他眾子自潔、請他們來喫祭肉。6他們來的時候、撒母耳看見以利押、就心裡說、耶和華的受膏者必定在他面前。7耶和華卻對撒母耳說、不要看他的外貌和他身材高大、我不揀選他、因為耶和華不像人看人、人是看外貌、耶和華是看內心。

• 看到撒母耳的舉動，真是會心微笑，原來他和平常人沒兩樣，都是以外表作為判定人的第一印象，他看見利押就以為他必是受膏者。我們何嘗不是這樣，以貎取人，忽略了身邊不起眼的人，他們的需要，他們的努力，可能因我的忽視或莫視而受到傷害，神啊，讓我更多關心那些無言的朋友，就算他們沒有主動親近我，我亦要主動親近他們。
• 當神是看內心，不是看外貎時，更加警愓我所做的每件事不是取悅人，做了基督這麼多年，很容易將「事奉」做得很perfect，得人的稱讚，人們還以為我很多恩賜，多麼屬靈，但自己知自己事，神亦知道我的靈命道行，我的忠心，我擺上的時間，讓我的事奉，我對別人的關心，我帶領的聚會是用「心」去做，不論「表現」如何，而不是用「表現」去做，一點「心」也沒有！

Wisdom always looks ahead

Proverbs 1:20-33
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 22 “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. 24 But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, 25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. . . . 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”
20智慧在街市上呼喊、在寬闊處發聲．21在熱鬧街頭喊叫、在城門口、在城中發出言語．22說、你們愚昧人喜愛愚昧、褻慢人喜歡褻慢、愚頑人恨惡知識、要到幾時呢。23你們當因我的責備回轉．我要將我的靈澆灌你們、將我的話指示你們。24我呼喚、你們不肯聽從．我伸手、無人理會．25反輕棄我一切的勸戒、不肯受我的責備。26你們遭災難、我就發笑．驚恐臨到你們、我必嗤笑．27驚恐臨到你們、好像狂風、災難來到、如同暴風．急難痛苦臨到你們身上．...32愚昧人背道、必殺己身．愚頑人安逸、必害己命。33惟有聽從我的、必安然居住、得享安靜、不怕災禍。

• 很多時我不明白神的旨意，試圖用自己的能力去改變一切，或用自己的意思去做事，以致焦頭爛額。就算明知這是神不喜悅，仍照己意而行。但神說(v23)若我們對祂的責備(rebuke)有回應(response)，祂就會pour out His heart to me and made His thoughts known to me，祂會全心全意的讓我知道祂的心思意念。若神願意全心全意，難道我不是更要全心全意pour my heart to Him。願意這是我今天的禱告！
• 在v32的waywardness(背道)及complacency(安逸)都致令人走上滅亡之路。我由如何呢？Waywardness可作「任性」，我任性嗎？在事奉上我體貼自己的心意多於神的心意，一些事工的預備上我用自己的聰明智慧而不是跟從神的指示。我安逸嗎？當然！沒有逼迫，沒有衝擊，沒有難處，沒有經歷，信仰對我是否像白開水一樣淡然無味呢？神啊，求你挪走我的「任性」，拿取我的「安逸」，讓我不要與你的關係越來越遠！

Self-control works—fad diets don’t

1 Corinthians 6:12-14
12 “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By His power God raised the Lord from the dead, and He will raise us also.
12凡事我都可行．但不都有益處。凡事我都可行、但無論那一件、我總不受他的轄制。13食物是為肚腹、肚腹是為食物．但　神要叫這兩樣都廢壞。身子不是為淫亂、乃是為主．主也是為身子．14並且　神已經叫主復活、也要用自己的能力叫我們復活。

1 Timothy 4:1-5
1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3 They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.
1聖靈明說、在後來的時候、必有人離棄真道、聽從那引誘人的邪靈、和鬼魔的道理。2這因為說謊之人的假冒．這等人的良心、如同被熱鐵烙慣了一般。3他們禁止嫁娶、又禁戒食物、〔或作又叫人戒葷〕就是　神所造叫那信而明白真道的人、感謝著領受的。4凡　神所造的物、都是好的．若感謝著領受、就沒有一樣可棄的．5都因　神的道和人的祈求、成為聖潔了。

• 很多時因自己的性格喜歡我行我素，不太理會別人的感受，常常對自己說：「我不要強迫自己做不喜歡的事情。」也正因為這樣，我可以做了很多「可行」的事但並沒有「造就」人。求主警愓我，亦赦免我的不是。
• 食物對我好像不是一種引誘，但聖經竟然說在末後撒但用禁戒食物的技量來讓人離棄真道。「這等人的良心如同被熱鐵烙慣了一般」，我的心是否已沒有知覺？不懂得去愛神，還談甚麼去愛人呢？再沒有火熱的心去事奉主？神啊，求祢再重做我們心，當放在熔爐裡，那熾熱的感受，會再燃起！
• 在北美或在香港，瘦身大行其道，很多人都戒絕不同的食物，又有因為某種宗教原因，戒牛肉或其他。但凡神所造的都是好的，就存感恩的心領受。今天到超市食物種類的繁多是目不暇昅，但全世界有多少人是活在饑餓當中，在存感恩的心之際，亦不忘一杯涼水給這些小子們！