生命像騎車
讀經: 希伯來書 11 : 32~40 Hebrews 11 : 32~40
11:32 我又何必再說呢？若要一一細說，基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳，和眾先知的事，時候就不夠了。
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
11:33 他們因著信，制伏了敵國，行了公義，得了應許，堵了獅子的口，
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
11:34 滅了烈火的猛勢，脫了刀劍的鋒刃；軟弱變為剛強，爭戰顯出勇敢，打退外邦的全軍。
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
11:35 有婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑，不肯苟且得釋放（原文是贖），為要得著更美的復活。
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
11:36 又有人忍受戲弄、鞭打、捆鎖、監禁、各等的磨煉，And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
11:37 被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，受試探，被刀殺，披著綿羊山羊的皮各處奔跑，受窮乏、患難、苦害，
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
11:38 在曠野、山嶺、山洞、地穴，飄流無定，本是世界不配有的人。(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
11:39 這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得著所應許的； And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
11:40 因為 神給我們預備了更美的事，叫他們若不與我們同得，就不能完全。
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. provided: or, foreseen
全年讀經: 撒迦利亞書13-14章 啟示錄21章
在寫給兒子愛德華的信裡，愛因斯坦這麼說：「人生就像騎自行車，為了要保持平衡，必須持續前進。」這位偉大的科學家給了一個實際又明智的忠告。
這個忠告也可以運用在基督徒的生命中。許多基督徒因著相信上帝，在任何困難的情況和環境下，都勇往直前。但是，當他們經歷了道德上的挫敗時，就會失去平衡跌倒。他們後悔莫及，並認為自己不配得上帝的寬恕。他們無法重新站起來，靈命生活也就停滯不前。
聖經裡提到幾個人生命中所犯的嚴重錯誤：亞伯拉罕向法老王撒謊，說妻子撒拉是自己的妹妹
創世記 12 : 11-17 Genesis 12 : 11-17
12:11 將近埃及，就對他妻子撒萊說：「我知道你是容貌俊美的婦人。And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
12:12 埃及人看見你必說：『這是他的妻子』，他們就要殺我，卻叫你存活。
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
12:13 求你說，你是我的妹子，使我因你得平安，我的命也因你存活。」
Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
12:14 及至亞伯蘭到了埃及，埃及人看見那婦人極其美貌。And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.
12:15 法老的臣宰看見了她，就在法老面前誇獎她。那婦人就被帶進法老的宮去。
The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
12:16 法老因這婦人就厚待亞伯蘭，亞伯蘭得了許多牛、羊、駱駝、公驢、母驢、僕婢。
And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
12:17 耶和華因亞伯蘭妻子撒萊的緣故，降大災與法老和他的全家。And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife.
雅各為了得到屬於頭生子以掃的祝福而哄騙父親
創世記 27 : 18-29 Genesis 27 : 18-29
27:18 雅各到他父親那裡說：「我父親！」他說：「我在這裡。我兒，你是誰？」
And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son?
27:19 雅各對他父親說：「我是你的長子以掃；我已照你所吩咐我的行了。請起來坐著，吃我的野味，好給我祝福。」
And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
27:20 以撒對他兒子說：「我兒，你如何找得這麼快呢？」他說：「因為耶和華─你的 神使我遇見好機會得著的。」
And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son? And he said, Because the LORD thy God brought it to me. to me: Heb. before me
27:21 以撒對雅各說：「我兒，你近前來，我摸摸你，知道你真是我的兒子以掃不是？」
And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.
27:22 雅各就挨近他父親以撒。以撒摸著他，說：「聲音是雅各的聲音，手卻是以掃的手。」
And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
27:23 以撒就辨不出他來；因為他手上有毛，像他哥哥以掃的手一樣，就給他祝福；
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
27:24 又說：「你真是我兒子以掃嗎？」他說：「我是。」And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am .
27:25 以撒說：「你遞給我，我好吃我兒子的野味，給你祝福。」雅各就遞給他，他便吃了，又拿酒給他，他也喝了。And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.
27:26 他父親以撒對他說：「我兒，你上前來與我親嘴」。And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son.
27:27 他就上前與父親親嘴。他父親一聞他衣服上的香氣，就給他祝福，說：我兒的香氣如同耶和華賜福之田地的香氣一樣。And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:
27:28 願 神賜你天上的甘露，地上的肥土，並許多五穀新酒。
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine:
27:29 願多民事奉你，多國跪拜你。願你作你弟兄的主；你母親的兒子向你跪拜。凡咒詛你的，願他受咒詛；為你祝福的，願他蒙福。
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
摩西違背上帝，用杖擊打磐石而不是以口吩咐
民數記 20 : 7 -12 Numbers 20 : 7 -12
20:7 耶和華曉諭摩西說：
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
20:8 「你拿著杖去，和你的哥哥亞倫招聚會眾，在他們眼前吩咐磐石發出水來，水就從磐石流出，給會眾和他們的牲畜喝。」
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
20:9 於是摩西照耶和華所吩咐的，從耶和華面前取了杖去。And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
20:10 摩西、亞倫就招聚會眾到磐石前。摩西說：「你們這些背叛的人聽我說：我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎？」
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
20:11 摩西舉手，用杖擊打磐石兩下，就有許多水流出來，會眾和他們的牲畜都喝了。
And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also .
20:12 耶和華對摩西、亞倫說：「因為你們不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖，所以你們必不得領這會眾進我所賜給他們的地去。」
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
但是，儘管這樣，我們從聖經得知：「這些人都是因信得了美好的證據。」
希伯來書 11 : 39 Hebrews 11 : 39
這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得著所應許的； And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
這些聖經的人物被當成楷模，是因為當他們跌倒時，他們轉向上帝並且再一次地追隨祂。你是否因犯罪而使靈命陷入低谷，無法站起來呢？要真心悔改，並且再次跟隨這位賜給我們第二次機會的上帝。HDF
天父我曾走迷遠離祢，
也曾不順服祢的話語；
如今我心悔改轉向祢，
助我選擇遵行祢旨意。D. De Haan
我們的上帝是給予人第二次機會的上帝。
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