约翰福音1:1-51

从本章一节的“太初有道”到十八节的“只有在父怀里的独生子，将他表明出来，”这18节经文是约翰要写给普世读者看的一部伟大史诗的序曲，为他所记耶稣的一生揭开序幕，铺成主题。
耶稣是那宇宙的主宰，是这本福音书的中心人物。

没有世界以前就有了他；从宇宙的创始他就在那里工作，他成为人身，把神为世人所定的计划，向我们充充足足的显明。
他象晨曦驱散了黎明前的黑暗，照亮了整个世界。耶稣这来自天上的光，在人类历史的地平线上出现，要照耀黑暗掌权的世间一切受造的万物，他是那生命，要在这已经被罪充满的人间驱逐死亡，引入一个有永生盼望的新时代。

约翰是耶稣肉身的表兄，他是神預先拣选的。
他在母腹里就已经被圣灵充满，他就能够认出圣母玛利亚的声音；他在成年以后，也成为耶稣的开路先锋，并为耶稣作见证。
他说，耶稣是在他以后来的，反而在他以前，因为耶稣本来就在他以前。
他還說，“我曾看見聖靈彷彿鴿子從天上降下，住在他身上，我以前不認識他，只是那差我來用水施洗的對我說，‘你看見聖靈降下來住在誰的身上，誰就是用聖靈施洗的’，我看見了，就證明這是神的兒子。”
安德烈和他的兄弟西门彼得成为耶稣的门徒，也是因为施洗约翰做见证的结果。           —- Jenny Yang

出埃及记40:1-38  诗篇20:1-9

出埃及记40章是出埃及记的最后一章，记载了耶和华会幕的建立与神的同在。

25章到40章对于我来说是挺不容易读的，在幔子、钩子、柱子、扣子、环、卯、座、板……里读得晕乎乎的。整个会幕的建造细节不可谓不繁琐，然而我注意到40章里反复出现的一句话是——“是照耶和华所吩咐他的”。读的人尚且觉得耐心不够用，建造的人却仔仔细细，事无巨细做得一丝不苟，都“是照着耶和华所吩咐他的。”摩西的顺服令我动容。

回想起出埃及记开头，摩西刚被神呼召要带领以色列人出埃及的时候，他是推三阻四的，犹犹豫豫的。然而到了书卷末尾，我看到的是一个对神的吩咐并无二话，顺服回应呼召的摩西。是什么引起了他的改变？回想起出埃及记中间的记载，我想是摩西在高高低低中经历了神，从而对神的认识也不断加增。愈发了解到神是如何一位充满大能大力、慈爱、公义、忌邪、信实、圣洁的神以后，他对神的信心、爱心、敬畏的心也随之加增，以致于他自己的生命也被神改变，在神面前谦卑顺服，无论大事小事都“照耶和华所吩咐他的”。

论到耶和华的吩咐，我想很多时候我们都很容易说“我在等候神的旨意，不管神怎么带领我我都愿意顺服”。然而却很容易忽略，神的吩咐，神的旨意，绝大部分都已经赐下给人了，我们需要的解答与指引，绝大部分我们都可以在神的话语也就是圣经里找到。所以，如果我们没有每天领受神的话语，那我们该错过了多少神的带领呢？爱慕神的心乃是神的恩赐，而我们要做的只是向他张口，等待祂给我们充满。求神帮助我们，赐给我们一颗敬畏祂、渴慕祂话语的心。

就像摩西经历神得着生命的改变一样，我想我们也需要更多经历神才能更多认识神，更多认识神才能带来生命的更新。每一个暴风雨、每一个流泪谷，都是我们经历神的机会，但我们自己必须选择是不是要把主权交给神，让祂带领我们走过。

我们可以“有人靠车”，可以“有人靠马，”总之是靠着自己去试图突破一切。有的时候我们得到了我们想要的结果，有的时候失去得更多。但我们终究是失去了这一个经历神的大能，得着祂的祝福与恩典而更新生命的机会。下一次面对风雨，我们还是会很辛苦，不管我们再怎么逞强说着要自立自强，人定胜天，我们都无法应付更大一些的环境改变，比如生老病死，更不用说对付我们心里的罪，使我们不愿意去做的，偏偏要去做。

我们也可以“提到耶和华我们神的名”。邀请神进入到我们当前的环境，承认自己的软弱，坦然无惧地来到施恩宝座前，让神做我们随时的帮助，然后用一颗在信心中等候的心，只管看神怎样得胜，“用右手的能力救护”我们，使我们“起来，立得正直”。这一个选择，把神的祝福满满地带入到我们的生命中，环境虽不一定改变，但我们的心也会得着从神而来的真平安、真喜乐。有人说，痛苦的环境不改变，那有什么用？可是我想，我们想要脱离痛苦的环境，因为那环境令我们痛苦，可是如果神挪去了那痛苦，环境改变与不改变还重要吗？

神的作为实在是奇妙可畏的，愿我们每一个属神的人都在每一个低谷时刻说“有人靠车，有人靠马，但我们要提到耶和华我们神的名。”

祂是我们的神，我们也是属祂的。神若帮助我们，世界能拿我们怎么样呢？           —- Yona Zhang

Exodus 39:1-43

Today we see the Israelites making garments for ministering in the Holy Place for priests, and they made the garments exactly how God commanded them to (v. 1, 43).

These are some garments for priests to wear, to perform priestly duties on behalf of the Israelites to go before the Lord. Notice all of the materials used were all valuable possessions to the people, such as gold, purple, scarlet, etc. Due to limited technology and skills back then, purple and blue coloring were rare to come by in large quantities in nature, garments in those colors were considered valuable for their rarity; only the royals or the rich wear these colors.

Critical Thinking Questions

While we do not hold responsible to abide to and perform priestly duties now that we have direct connection with God, the Israelites still set an example for us. The Israelites collectively gave up their most valuable possessions to represent themselves before God; what are some things we are bringing to go before God as we gather to worship Him together?

The Israelites brought their valuables together to help their priests serve God the way He commanded. Notice the materials were not for the priest’s personal gain but used as a part of worshipping God. What have you done to help ministers serve according to the will of God?           —- Isaac Chang

Exodus 38:1-31

Chapter 38 is part of the record on how the Tabernacle was built according to what the Lord has commanded. In this chapter, Bezalel and team built the Altar, the Basin for Washing, and the Courtyard, with the summary of materials used. A few points to call out:

– They were all built seriously and also for mobility: The Israelites travelled with God; no matter where they go, they are to worship Him in a proper way.
– God planned and provided the materials: The metals and other materials did not show up by themselves miraculously in the middle of the desert. When the Israelites left Egypt with the wealth collected from Egyptians, it was planned that the Tabernacle would be built with the willing offerings and the skills of God’s people.
– The financials of building the Tabernacle was transparent and recorded by the Levites: The ‘operating capital’ of this building project is huge. However everything was itemized and clearly recorded. It was the dwelling of God, and a sanctuary for the public – the financials have to match up with the integrity and the intention.

May our Lord bless our church and her congregation that we are all body of Christ and set for His good use.        —- Ivy Lin

Exodus 36:1-38;  37:1-29

We read previously in Exodus 25-31,  that God gave Moses the tabernacle instructions.  Now, in Exodus 35 through 39:31, the construction of the tabernacle takes place.  Bezalel and Oholiab – who were chosen by God –  used the skills and wisdom God had given them to build the temple according to God’s instructions.  God also gave them the ability to teach others how to work on the tabernacle.

The workers and the people had something in common – willing hearts.  The workers built willingly; the people gave willingly (and generously).  In fact, the people gave so much that in 36:6, Moses gave an order for the offerings dedicated to the tabernacle to stop.  They had more than enough!

We can learn from this outpouring of giving – both of skills and of resources.  What has God given to each of us in talents and skills that we can share with the body of Christ?  How willing are we to give generously of our resources to the Kingdom of God?  Blessing always follows obedience.  May we give to God generously of our abilities and resources!           —- Mary Mauderer

出埃及记34:1-35
出埃及记20章所记载为适用于全人类的伦理十诫，本章所记为敬拜十守则，着重于敬拜神的律例，内容虽超过10条，但归纳后可以得出以下10个敬拜的原则：1，不可拜别的神；2，不可为自己铸造神像；3，凡头生的都是我的；4，不可空手朝见我；5 ，6日要工作，第7日要安息；6，一切男丁要一年三次朝见主耶和华以色列的—就是除酵节、七七节和收藏节；7，不可将祭物的血和有酵的饼一同献上；8，逾越节的祭物不可以留到早晨；9，地里首先初熟之物要送到耶和华你神的殿；10，不可用山羊羔母的奶煮山羊羔。
耶和华神是我们唯一要敬拜赞美的神，我们一不小心，就会把名和利当成神去追求；会把知识，爱情，子女，或财物当作偶像来敬拜。
我们是软弱的，所以时时刻刻要与神连接，要坚持参加聚会；坚持读经祷告，才能不致跌倒，灵命才能不断成长壮大。           —- Jenny Yang

出埃及记33:1-23;. 詩篇19:1-14

诗篇19篇先是颂赞了神的荣耀与大能，接着立马以一段非常生动以致于令人心驰神往的的话语来描述了耶和华的律法，再然后就说到人愿守律法取悦神而不愿犯罪得罪神的盼望。

这个叙述顺序让我们看到作者大卫的思路——颂赞神，思想到神与人的关系，进而引出律法，思想律法的益处而歌颂神的公义，在律法之下降服，求神帮助脱离罪恶。

其中大卫对律法的描述非常的吸引人。

形容词——“全备”，“确定”，“正直”，“清洁”，“洁净”，“真实”，“全然公义”。

动词词组——“苏醒人心”，“使愚人有智慧”，“快活人的心”，“明亮人的眼目”，“存到永远”。

最后还有一个不得了的比喻——比金子和蜂蜜都更好！

我想这样对律法的描述形容是很罕见的，尤其是最后一句。如今谁会说法律比钱和美食更好呢？剖析世上法律的益处的文字比比皆是，但鲜有人会赞美到如此地步。诗人对神的律法的爱慕可见一斑，而他之所以如此喜爱神的律法，正是让我思想到神的律法与世俗的法律之不同。世俗的法律是为了维护社会安定，在各方利益中做平衡。而神的律法却使人大得益处，认识自己是罪人，意识到自己需要救恩，让人出黑暗入奇妙光明，认识到神的公义、怜悯、圣洁、慈爱，……当我们向神俯伏，神的律法就让人活得不再一样。

回过头来我们看到出埃及记里，32章神刚赐下律法，以色列人就得罪神，摩西“把两块版扔在山下摔碎了”。我看到那里都心疼，那是神用指头写的石版呀……而神不在乎这个表面的形式，33章里神与摩西有一段“朋友式的对话”。我读下来脑海中出现了一个小剧场（不代表神或摩西，只是我自己的联想）——

朋友A因为朋友B的家人的背信弃义生气了，对朋友B说我说好要带你去南边的小花园玩的，但你家人这样对我我不想去了，你自己带他们去吧。

朋友B说，你叫我带他们去，可是你没有说清楚怎么弄啊，你只说了你还满喜欢我的。你如果真的喜欢我，就告诉我怎么和你相处，这样我可以更了解你，不让你生气了。我的家人也是你的家人呀。

朋友A说，我去！我和你一起去，让你轻松一下吧。

朋友B说，你如果不去，那我们都不去。如果你不跟我们去，我们都不知道你在乎我们了，对我们和对别人不一样了。

朋友A说，没问题，谁叫我喜欢你呢。

朋友B说，那我就看你的啦~

朋友A说，我就是要对你好，就是要对你特别好。我会保护你安然无恙的！

朋友B……也太好了吧…………

律法虽极好，但人实在守不住，极轻易的就会犯罪得罪神。万幸的是，神并不指望我们靠自己守得住，如同大卫所说——“求你阻拦仆人不犯任意妄为的罪，不容这罪辖制我……”我们需要来到神面前，求神帮助我们不犯罪。而神的恩典实在是大的，即使我们软弱跌倒，祂也因为神儿子的名、就是要对我们特别好，保护我们，与我们同在。

“耶和华——我的磐石，我的救赎主啊，愿我口中的言语、心里的意念在你面前蒙悦纳。” .          —- Yona Zhang

 

Exodus 32:1-35

Today we see the famous story of how the Israelites rebelled against God while Moses was on the mountain meeting with God. In the beginning of the chapter we see that Moses has been on the mountain for some time. We know Moses went out to the mountain to meet with God quite often but this time instead out because Moses took longer than usual. So, what did the people do? They went up to Aaron to ask him to build an idol for them to worship (v. 1). Notice here it might seem like Aaron was just having a very casual conversation, but the original language used here could be translated to “going up against Aaron” (v. 1). In other words, not only were the Israelites petitioning with him but was going aggressively against Aaron, leaving him no choice but to follow the people’s will. And why did the Israelites fall into such rebellion?  Notice they just came from Egypt, a place they lived their whole life, in a nation where Idol worshiping was a norm. We clearly see the Israelites know of their God, but they are still influenced by the culture that is surrounding them. The Egyptians are closely tied to their idols in the society and would almost worship anything that helped the Egyptians. This behavior is now reflected on the Israelites in our passage today: the Israelites craved to worship God in a fashion they are comfortable with, instead of worshipping in the way God desires. Notice the Israelites did not see the golden calf as a different God, they still worshipped the Lord as they performed their rituals with the golden calf. In the end, many of those who performed these rituals were punished by death. And who survived? At least the sons of Levi, they are the people of Israel who are chosen to lead the whole Israelites to worship God.

Critical Thinking Questions

The Israelites who rebelled against God did what they did because they lost their faith in following God’s way, resulting in a punishment. The Levites were saved because they continued to trust God’s way. Were there times when you distrusted God and went on your way? Were there times when you take on your own method to go before Him to worship Him?

The Israelites rebelled partially due to their cultural influences from the Egyptians. Were there times during your walk of Faith that you fell into the trap of cultural influences or even traditions?        —- Isaac Chang