 Time is precious. Once gone, it can’t be recovered, and we are never guaranteed more of it. Though we see no signs of approaching death, today may be our last (Job 16:22, 9:25-26; James 4:14). Nothing is more precious than time, and yet we waste it like nothing else.
Don’t waste time because God is near (Isaiah 55:6, 2 Corinthians 6:2). Don’t waste time on meaningless or useless things. Don’t be lazy and merely talk, having nothing to share with those in need. (Proverbs 19:15, 23:21, 14:23, 18:9; Ephesians 4:28). Don’t spend time on evil things, hurting yourself and others, increasing eternal misery and damnation. Don’t spend time only in worldly pursuits, neglecting your soul and eternity. What do we really gain from pursuing the world? This time is for the eternity that follows it. Our welfare depends on how wisely we use our time. Have we filled our time with eternal good? We are accountable to God for our words, deeds, and how we have used our time, because we are God’s servants (Matthew 12:36). When God asks for an account of our time, what can we give? Have we made the best use of it for God and for our soul? So, hasten and don’t delay obeying God (Psalm 119:60). Make the most of our opportunities, particularly those more important for our eternal life. This includes Sunday public worship in communion with God and His words. We should use time not just for ourselves, but also to rescue others from their evil ways. So, God may defer anger, allowing such people to be redeemed from destruction. Work is good, but so is rest and recreation. Use them to refresh for the work you are called to do. In any case, we may have already wasted a lot of our time. As we get older, our opportunity, availability, and ability to do good diminish. It will be too late if our eyes are finally opened on our death beds. Even worse, if after death we end up in the fire of hell, then we will be left only with sorrow and regrets. Whether we are young or old, we should diligently redeem time. Make the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:16). Use time to prepare for our eternity. Beware that the day of judgment is coming soon (Revelation 10:5-6). Summary of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt6XUf5ikfQ 赎回时间 时间宝贵，一去不复返。 无人能确定自己还有明天。虽然没有看到死亡濒临的迹象，但今天可能就是最后的一天 (约伯记 16:22, 9:25-26; 雅各书 4:14). 没有什么比时间更为宝贵，然而浪费最多的就是时间。 不要浪费现今的时光, 亲近上帝吧，因为我们能与祂相近 (以赛亚书 55:6, 哥林多后书 6:2)。 不要把时间浪费在无意义或无用之处。 不要懒惰，不要嘴上多言浪费时间，以致没有什么可以与有需要的人分享 (箴言 19:15, 23:21, 14:23, 18:9; 以弗所书 4:28)。 不要把时间花在邪恶的事情上：不要伤人害己为自己增加永恒的痛苦和诅咒。 不要只把时间花在世俗的追求上而忽视自己的灵魂和永恒。从世俗追求中真正得到什么呢？如今的时光当为以后的永恒来准备。 人的福祉取决于如何智慧地使用时间。将时间投资倾注在永恒的事物上了吗？ 每个人都要为自己的言行和如何利用时间向上帝负责，因为我们是祂的仆人 (马太福音 12:36)。当上帝要求对过去的时间交代时，如何回答呢？是否为了上帝和自己的灵魂充分地利用好时间呢? 所以要快快地遵守上帝的命令，不要再拖延 (诗篇 119:60)。充分利用现今宝贵的机会，尤其那些对自己永生更为重要的机会，包括与上帝和祂的话语相交的主日敬拜。 不仅将时间用于自己身上，还应该用时间将他人从邪恶中拯救出来。 这样上帝就可以延迟祂的忿怒，使这些人有机会从毁灭中得到救赎。 工作固然是一件美事，但也需要休息和娱乐。 让休息和娱乐使我们重新得力，去做蒙召要做的事。 可能已经浪费了很多时间. 随着年龄增长，每个人的机会、可用的时间和作善工的能力也不断地减少。 如果在临终前才睁开眼睛领会明白那就太晚了。更糟糕的是如果死后最终落入地狱之火中，剩下的只有永远的悲伤和遗憾了。 因此无论年轻还是年老，殷勤努力地赎回时间吧。 当爱惜光阴，利用尚存的时间为永恒作准备(以弗所书 5:16)。留心审判的日子即将来临 (启示录 10:5-6)。  What does it mean to offer ourselves to God, as stated in Romans 12:1?
The Old Testament instructed the Jews to give 10 percent to support the Levites. The New Testament does not teach tithing. Instead, the New Testament teaches that we should offer our whole bodies to God, in view of God’s mercy (Romans 12:1). God has given us so much. Our body was bought by God at a great price. It is also the house of the Holy Spirit, received from our heavenly Father (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We should present our bodies to God, repent from our past ignorance (Acts 17:30), and use our bodies to honor Him. This is our worship. Offering our bodies to God can be like the burnt offering in Leviticus 1, where an animal was cut up into pieces and offered to God. Now, we offer every part of our body as a living sacrifice, not a dead one. For example, give our eyes to God, instead of greedily yearning for other’s property, or looking at things God does not like. Our tongue is not our own anymore. Our ears should not be eagerly listening to gossip. Our hands should do things that honor God. We can make our bodies do what they should through the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 9:27). We can remove bad habits and discipline ourselves. For example, we should control our appetite, instead of letting our appetite control us. Otherwise, we will live as enemies of Christ (Philippians 3:18-19). Fasting can get rid of intense passion for food and help us understand hunger. Similarly, keep sex within the limits that God has ordained (1 Corinthians 6:12-13). Peter asked Christ what they would get for giving up everything to follow Him. Christ seemed to respond they should not expect to get more than those who followed Him right before death (Matthew 19:21-20:16). Our heavenly Father has already given us His beloved Son so we can have everlasting life. Similarly, if we serve anyone in need, we do it for Christ (Matthew 25:34-40). Do not expect gratitude from them. To conclude, in view of God’s mercy, we should offer our whole bodies to God. Summarized from a sermon by Zac Poonen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve4c5xSx1eU&feature=youtu.be 罗马书12章 罗马书12：1中所讲的将身体献给上帝是什么意思呢? 旧约教导什一奉献支持利未人。新约没有教导什一奉献, 而是教导在上帝的怜悯下将整个身体献给祂(罗马书12：1)。 上帝赐给信徒丰丰富富。信徒的身体是祂付出了极大的代价买赎回来的。 身体也是圣灵的殿, 从天父那里得到的 （哥林多前书6：19-20）。 应该将身体献给上帝, 从过去的无知中悔改 (使徒行传17:30)，并且用身体尊荣上帝，这就是我们的敬拜。 将身体献给上帝就好像利未记一章中的献燔祭, 在那里动物被切成碎片献给上帝. 现在将身体的各部分作为活祭献给上帝. 例如当将目光投向上帝，不要贪婪地看着他人的所有，也不要看上帝不喜欢人所看的事物；舌头不再属于自己的；耳朵不应该急于听无聊的八卦新闻；并且手应该做荣耀上帝的事。 依靠圣灵使身体做該做的事 （哥林多前书9:27）。消除不良习惯，节制自律。当控制食欲，不被食欲所控制，否则就将成为基督的仇敌 （腓立比书3：18-19）。禁食可以消除对食物的嗜好，并帮助人了解饥饿。同样地，保持性行为在上帝规定的范围内 （哥林多前书6：12-13）。 彼得曾问基督放弃一切跟随祂将有何回报。 基督的回应似乎是不应指望得到比临死前才跟随祂的人更多 （马太福音19：21-20：16）。 天父已经赐下爱子基督，使人可以因信祂得永生。 同样地，如果服事有需要的人，就是为基督而做 (马太福音25:34-40)。不要期待人的回谢。 总而言之，在上帝的怜悯下将身体作为活祭献给祂吧。  Christ said that we are the salt and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). What does that mean?
These days, we worry about salt causing high blood pressure. But historically, salt was pivotal to the development of civilization. Salt could preserve foods. So, salt enables distribution, allowing them to have different types of food all year round from different regions of the world. In addition, salt makes food taste good. Like salt, we should help people flourish and enhance human relationships. Light helps us see. We should put it high up so everyone in the house can see. Like light, we should let our good deeds shine before others. Then they may see them and glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). Though we can be salt and light, others will still insult, persecute, and bear false witness against us (Matthew 5:11). Hopefully, these pains are not caused by our bad behavior or our trying to control others. If we suffer because of following Christ, then we should praise God (1 Peter 4:15-16). Christ, following the will of God the Father, came to Earth poor. He died on the cross to take away our curse and punishment. Because of Christ, we can be the blessed children of God, rich and fulfilled. In return, God the Father exalted Christ to the highest place. Billions of knees bow to Christ, and billions of tongues acknowledge Christ as Lord, to glorify God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). Follow Christ. Be like salt and light. Help others so they may give glory to God. If persecuted because of Christ, rejoice because of your great reward in heaven (Matthew 5:11-12). Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon: http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource 世上的盐和光 基督说我们是世上的盐和光（马太福音5：13-16）。 这是什么意思呢？ 现在人们担心盐会导致血压高，但从历史上看盐是人类文明发展的一个重要关键。盐可以保存食物，支持食品分销渠道，使人能够全年享用来自世界不同地区不同类型的食物。 此外盐也使食物味道佳美。 我们应该像盐一样，帮助人类蓬勃发展，增进人际关系。 光使人能看见。屋里的灯应该放在高处，使里面的每个人都能看见。像光一样，我们应将善行显现在人面前，让人看见就荣耀在天上的父（马太福音5：16）。 尽管我们可以是盐和光，但是其他人仍然可以辱骂、逼迫和捏造各样坏话毁谤我们 （马太福音5:11）。 希望这些痛苦不是因为坏行为或试图控制他人的结果。倘若因为跟随基督而受苦，就应该赞美上帝 （彼得前书4：15-16）。 基督遵循父神的旨意，成为贫穷来到地上，死在十字架上，带走诅咒和惩罚。因为基督的缘故，信徒成为上帝蒙福的儿女，生命丰盛。 父神因此将基督升到至高之处，让万膝敬拜，万口承认基督是主, 使父神得荣耀 （腓2：9-11）。 总而言之，跟随基督，做盐做光, 帮助他人, 使荣耀归与父神。如果因为基督受逼迫，就当欣喜，因为在天上有大赏赐为我们存留（马太福音5：11-12）。  Many consider life to be meaningless, full of despair and boredom, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. To fill the emptiness, some pursue happiness but can’t find it. What does the Bible say about happiness? Let’s look at Psalm 1.
Verse 1 says that happiness is not illusory. We could be blessed now and filled with joy. Happiness depends on whom we hang out with or belong to. Do not hang out with the wicked and mockers, lest they own or control us (v1). They will not give us happiness. Constantly think about and delight in the messages of the Bible. Think about how Christ became a man and died for us so we could be reconciled to God (v2). Then like a tree planted by streams of water, we will yield seasonal fruits, and our leaves will never wither (v3). “Seasonal” implies there will be periods of cold and desolate winters. Bad things will happen. Evils exist. We will experience seasons of pain, suffering, and grief. But even in deep distress, we can still rejoice (1 Peter 1:6) because we are God’s children forever. God constantly upholds us. So, whether our life is easy or full of suffering, God should be our center. Happiness is always a byproduct of something else. Don’t seek it. If we focus on a happy marriage, we will not get it. Christ taught us not to worry. First seek what is important to Him and live as He wants us to. Then we will have happiness (Matthew 6:25-33). In conclusion, bad people cannot bring us happiness. Instead, center on God. Constantly meditate on the messages in the Bible. Then we will yield fruits in season and our leaves will not wither. Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon, “Search for Happiness.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuLlePKzNQA 幸福快乐何处寻？ 许多人认为生活毫无意义，充满绝望和无聊，虽然充斥各样声音和愤怒, 却仍然是虚无虚空。为了填补空虚，一些人追求幸福快乐，却找不到。圣经对此的看法是什么？请来看诗篇第一篇。 第一节说幸福不是虚幻的，现在就可以蒙福，充满喜乐。 幸福取决于与谁在一起或属于谁。不要与恶人和亵慢人一起，以免被他们拥有或控制，这些人不会带来快乐（诗篇1：1）。 不断思想圣经的信息，以之为喜乐。思想基督如何降世为人，并为世人而死，使人可以与上帝和好 （诗篇1：2）。喜爱思想主话语的人就像一棵樹栽在溪水旁边，按時候結果子，叶子永远不枯干（诗篇1：3）。 “按時候” 意味着会有寒冷荒凉的冬季。坏事会发生，邪恶确实存在，人都会经历痛苦和悲伤的季节。 然而即使在极度痛苦中仍然可以大大喜乐（彼得后书1：6），因为我们永远是上帝的儿女。上帝不断地托住我们。因此无论生活轻松容易或充满痛苦，上帝都当是我们的中心。 幸福总是伴随其它事物而来，不要刻意寻求它。如果单单专注于幸福的婚姻，反将无法得到它。基督教导信徒不要担忧，当首先寻求对基督重要之事，并按照祂的要求生活，后幸福快乐就会接踵而来 （马太福音6：25-33）。 总而言之，与坏人结伴就没有幸福。相反地，以上帝为中心，不断默想圣经中的信息，就将按時結果子，叶子也不枯干。  If someone wanted to meet us in San Francisco, we would ask, “Why?” Shouldn’t we also ask where we want to go in life? So why live? Why get up in the morning?
We exist for a very short time. Then we die and rot. Why does it matter whether one goes down hugging or mugging, kind or cruel? Does anything we do matter? Why even try to do anything? In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is cursed to an eternity of rolling a large boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down. Some characterize hell as doing a pointless act, again and again, forever. Some believe in no god, no way to know god, no heaven, and no hell. Some also believe that there is no basis for wrong and right. If one assumes everything ending in nothing, then just following one’s own desire also does not give life any meaning. Some say that love, hate, and every emotion in us are just chemical reactions. But something inside tells us a human is different from a rock. Something inside tells us there is evil and good. Popcorn machines should not make turkey. A sailboat should not run down main street. If we want to live a full and satisfying life, we must know ourselves, learn our reason to exist, and follow it. According to Christianity, a designer designed and built the world. The designer came as a human being and lived among us, showing us His glory, grace, and truth. The designer loves us to the point of laying down His life for us (John 1:1-14). Our meaning in life is found in Christ, the designer of life. Know and love Christ. If we do so, we will “have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/a-reason-for-living-an-open-forum-8066/ 生存的意义是什么？ 如果有人想在旧金山见面，我们会问“为什么？” 那么，为何不问一问生命往哪里去？为什么要活着？为什么早上要起床？ 人生在世短暂，然后就死去腐烂。既然如此，用双手拥抱或抢劫，为人善良或残忍, 两者之间还有分别吗？人所做的任何事情还有意义吗？ 甚至为什么要尝试做任何事情？在希腊神话中，Sisyphus受到诅咒，每天都把一块巨石推上山，在几乎到达山顶之前那块巨石又滚下山坡来，如此循环往复，永无止尽。有人将地狱描述为必须永远一次又一次地做毫无意义的事。 有些人相信没有上帝，没有办法认识上帝，没有天堂，也没有地狱。有些人相信没有衡量是非对错的真理。 如果相信一切都是空虚, 遵循自己的愿望做事也不赋予生命任何意义。 有人说，爱恨以及所有其它的情绪都只是一个人身上的化学反应。 但内心深处有声音说人类与岩石不同，内心深处有良知讲世上有邪恶和善良。 爆米花机不应该用来烘烤火鸡，帆船不应沿着街道行驶。如果想要丰盛充实而心满意足的生活，必须认识自己，找出自我存在的理由，并遵循它而生活。 圣经启示有一位设计师设计并建造了这个世界。这位设计师成为一个人来到世人中间，展现祂的荣耀，恩典和真理。设计师爱世人至死，为人舍命十架 （约翰福音1：1-14）。 一个人生命的意义可以在基督这位生命的设计师中找到。 认识基督，热爱基督，如此行就会“得生命，並且得的更豐盛”（约翰福音10:10）。  Princess Diana and Mother Teresa died within days of each other. Mother Teresa is a hero we could learn from, but the outpouring of grief towards Diana far eclipsed that for Teresa. Some attributed this to people’s shallowness, but others found Diana to be more relatable and vulnerable. Some worship heroes and others distrust them. Let’s learn from Samson, a hero, in Judges 15:9-20.
Israel was at a dangerous time. Philistines were assimilating them (v11), and many Israelites liked to be ruled by them. God used Samson to create a conflict with the Philistines. Samson killed a number of Philistines, doing to them what they did to him. Three thousand Jews went to confront him because they didn’t want Samson to disrupt their peace. Samson made them agree not to kill him, but to hand him to the Philistines. Then, using the jawbone of an ass, he killed a thousand Philistines and made a joke out of it (v16). Through one man, God saved Israel from losing their faith and culture. Samson led Israel for 20 years as a judge—not judicially, but as a hero-warrior. As a Nazarene, Samson couldn’t cut his hair. When pressed by Delilah, he let her do it. Samson thought his strength guaranteed his success, but he didn’t know the Lord had left him (Judges 16:20). Then the Philistines seized Samson, gouged out his eyes, and humiliated him. Later, Samson trusted in God’s sovereignty again. With his death, Samson killed more Philistines than in his lifetime because he wanted to “get revenge on the Philistines for [his] two eyes” (Judges 16:28). One main purpose of Samson’s life was to get even. In a similar way, the Jews also rejected Christ and handed Him to the Romans. But unlike Samson, Christ follows God the Father. Christ didn’t leave heaps of dead bodies. Instead, Christ forgave them, and many later became His followers. Through His death, Christ destroyed the power of sin and brought salvation. Learn from Christ. Don’t trust your abilities but depend on what Christ has done for us. Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/the-strength-of-samson-6516/ 观察参孙, 向基督学习。 戴安娜王妃和特蕾莎修女在几天内相继死亡。特蕾莎修女是人们学习的英雄，但哀悼戴安娜的人却远远超过哀悼特蕾莎的。有些人将此归于人性的浅薄，其他人则认为更容易与戴安娜认同，她的脆弱使人觉得更接近。 有些人崇拜英雄，而有些人则不信任他们。让我们一起来研读士师记 15：9-20中英雄参孙的故事。 当时以色列处于危险时刻。非利士人正在同化他们（士师记 15：11），许多以色列人也喜欢被非利士人统治。 上帝使用参孙使以色列人与非利士人发生冲突。 参孙以牙还牙，杀死了一些非利士人。三千名犹太人不想参孙破坏現有的平安，去以坦磐石的穴内找到他，参孙让这些人同意不杀死自己，而是将他交给非利士人。接着，参孙用驴腮骨杀死了一千多名非利士人，并作诗揶揄此事（士师记 15：16）。 上帝通过一个人，使以色列免于失去自己的信仰和文化。参孙作士师带领以色列二十年，不是作为一位司法者，而是一个英勇的战士。 参孙作为拿撒勒人是不能剪头发的。在大利拉多次施压后，参孙让她剪了自己的头发。参孙以为他总可以靠力大取胜，但不知道主已经离开他（士师记16：20）。非利士人抓住参孙，剜出他的眼睛，并羞辱他。 参孙再次信靠上帝的主权。他去世时杀死的非利士人比一生杀死的更多，因为他要报那剜他双眼的仇（士师记16：28）。参孙一生以复仇扯平为主要目标。 基督的故事一部分与此类似，犹太人也拒绝基督并将祂交给罗马人。基督与参孙其中之一的不同是祂一生跟随父神。基督没有留下敌人的尸体遍野。相反地，基督原谅了他们，当中很多人后来成为祂的追随者。通过祂的死，基督摧毁了罪的权势，为人类带来救恩。 总而言之，当向基督学习不要相信自己的能力，而要倚靠基督为我们所做的一切事。  Being down-to-earth with one’s feet on the ground is considered a good character trait. But Colossians 3:1-4 provides another point of view.
Many believe this world is all there is, and that when they die, there will be nothing left. Such belief leads some to focus entirely on their own worldly gain, ignoring right from wrong and raping the environment for treasures. Christians believe that the world is not all there is. Many epic stories start with ordinary people going through larger-than-life events. After prevailing in a great battle over an evil empire against all odds, they return home. They live confidently and freely. Nothing at home could ruffle them. To them, their home is not all there is. Following His Father’s will, Christ came to Earth, lived a pure life, suffered, died a horrible death, and was resurrected. Christ substituted Himself for us, and His death broke the power of Satan. We and Christ are one. We died with Him and have been raised with Him (v1, 3). Now when the Father looks at us, He sees Christ. We have the greatness and honor of Christ, and we have the love from the Father to Christ. When Christ returns, we will appear with Christ in glory as God’s children (v4). Since we and Christ are one, we have been through what Christ went through. We have been through Christ’s epic battle. After going through such tragic and glorious events with Christ, nothing on Earth can ruffle us. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). There are wonderful things on Earth we cherish, but they do not dominate us or control us. Our life on Earth is not all there is. Focus on Christ. Constantly meditate on Christ and the Gospel. We must set our hearts and minds on things above (v1-2). This will help us live and do good on Earth with freedom and power. Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon: https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/christ-our-life-7362/ 当思念上面的事 为人行事脚踏实地通常都被认为是很好的品格。歌罗西书第3章1-4节提供了另一个思考的角度。 许多人相信这个世界就是一切，人一死就什么都没有了。这种信念使一些人只完全关注自己世俗的利益，无视对错，破坏和摧残环境。基督徒相信这物质世界并非一切所有。 很多伟大卓绝的故事往往开端于普通人生活在艰辛患难中的磨炼与挣扎。例如有些大能的勇士在不可能的情况下打败了邪恶的帝国，经历了一场可怕的战争后，返回家乡，充满自信而自由地生活。在家乡没有什么可以扰乱或者激怒他们。对他们来说家乡已经不是一切。 基督遵循天父的旨意来到世上，过着纯洁的生活，多受痛苦，常经忧患，在十字架上忍受苦难，为世人受死，三天以后复活。基督是世人的代罪羔羊，祂的代死打破了撒但黑暗的权势. 我们与基督同为一体，与祂同死同复活 (歌罗西书3:1，3:3)。现在每当天父看见我们，祂就看见基督。基督的伟大和荣耀与我们同在，父神对基督的爱也临到我们。当基督再来时，上帝的儿女，将与基督一同在荣耀里显现(歌罗西书 3:4)。 既然我们与基督一体，就经历了祂所经历的， 包括那场史诗般的争战。与基督一起经历如此的悲壮和光荣后，地上的任何事都不能让我们沮丧， “上帝若帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？”（罗马书8:31）。 珍惜地上美好的事物，但不被它们主宰或辖制。在世上的生活并非一切。定睛在基督身上，不住地默想基督和福音。 思念上面的事 （歌罗西书3：1-2）。如此，在世上就可以有力并自由地生活和行善。 |