靈命日糧 - 2005年4月9日
讀經: 馬可福音11章1-11節

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金句: 「看哪，你的王來到你這裏！他是公義的，並且施行拯救，謙謙和和的騎著驢。」（撒迦利亞書9章9節）

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全年讀經: 撒母耳記下19-21章  

在棕樹節的那天，以色列人的王－－－主耶穌騎著驢子來到耶路撒冷。祂如果是騎著威風凜凜的馬，會讓祂看起來更像王。然而，祂像先知撒迦利亞所預言一般，以謙卑的方式行事。
為什麼是驢子呢？東方的王在和平出使的過程中騎驢子，而馬是用來征戰的。

群眾想要從羅馬政府中得到世上所謂的財富與自由，因此他們喊道：「高高在上和散那」（馬可福音11章10節）！幾天後，群眾的呼喊變成：「把他釘十字架」（馬可福音15章13節）！

有一些自稱耶穌的追隨者並不瞭解耶穌是罪人的救贖者。罪的問題若不被克服，我們內心最深處的需要就不能被滿足。為了這個原因，耶穌騎著驢子，面朝十字架進入耶路撒冷，並完全瞭解祂將在十字架遭受到的恥辱與死亡的痛苦。此刻，祂為人類的罪所付上的代價，使祂被提升到上帝的右手邊，並將以萬王之王、萬主之主的身份再來。在披戴冠冕的榮耀之前，祂先承受了十字架的痛苦。

如果我們想要成為天國的一份子，現在就必須相信祂是我們的救主。HVL


你想在天國戴冠冕，
並獲得明確的勝利；
請宣稱耶穌是救主，
以祂的名得到救贖。Anon.


如果沒有耶穌在地上背十字架，就不會有在天上所戴的冠冕。
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The Cross And The Crown



Read:Mark 11:1-11
Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey. —Zechariah 9:9


Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 19-21

On the day we call Palm Sunday the Lord Jesus presented Himself to Israel as their King when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Had He been astride a spirited horse, He would have looked more kingly. But Zechariah had prophesied He would come in the humble way that He did.

Why? Kings of the East rode donkeys when on errands of peace. The horse was used as a charger in war.

The multitudes thought in terms of earthly prosperity and freedom from Rome. So they cried, "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:10). Yet a few days later, the shouts of the crowd became: "Crucify Him!" (15:13).

Some who declare themselves admirers of Jesus do not recognize Him as the Savior of sinners. But our deepest need cannot be met until our sin problem is overcome. For this reason Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey with His face set toward the cross, knowing full well the shameful and painful death He would suffer there. Now, having paid the price for human sin, He is highly exalted at God's right hand and will come again as King of kings and Lord of lords. His cross had to precede His crown.

If we want to be part of His heavenly kingdom, we must trust Him as our Savior now. —Herb Vander Lugt


If in heaven a crown you'd wear
And bright palms of victory bear,
Christ the Savior you must claim;
Find redemption in His name. —Anon.

There would be no crown-wearers in heaven had Christ not been the cross-bearer on earth.


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放開你的汽球！


靈命日糧 - 2005年4月10日
讀經: 撒母耳記下22章1-8節

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金句: 「耶和華啊……稱謝你，歌頌你的名。」（撒母耳記下22章50節）

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全年讀經: 撒母耳記下22章24節  

內布拉斯加州的一間教會在舉辦研習會時，發給會眾一些充滿氦氣的汽球，並告知他們：當他們在崇拜中想表達他們心中的喜樂時，就可以釋放手中的汽球。整個崇拜的過程中，汽球一個接一個地升起。但是當崇拜結束後，卻有三分之一的人手裏還握著汽球。我猜想，是不是他們真的找不到任何理由來感謝上帝。
就如撒母耳記下22章所記載的，當大衛王唱起讚美耶和華的詩歌時，他就一定會放開他手中的氣球。上帝就把他從一切的仇敵手中拯救出來（1節），早些時候，當大衛在岩石沙漠躲避掃羅時，就已經瞭解真正的安全只有在上帝那裡才可找到（撒母耳記上23章25節）。大衛發自內心的「感恩」並「頌讚」，因為耶和華是他的巖石、山寨、救主、高臺、避難所（撒母耳記下22章2-3、50節）。

在你的生命中上帝為你做了什麼？混亂中賜下平安？失落中賜下安慰？過犯中賜下寬恕？困難中賜下力量？

拿出一張紙，列出你該感恩的項目。然後，花點時間為上帝及祂為你所做的一切而讚美祂。

放開你手中的汽球吧！AMC


發自內心，讚美父上帝，
祂的祝福，溢滿我生命；
我要高聲，把救主頌揚，
祂是恩典，慈愛的陽光。Hess


讚美是從充滿喜樂的心裏溢出的。
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Let Your Balloon Go!



Read:2 Samuel 22:1-8
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, . . . and sing praises to Your name. —2 Samuel 22:50


Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 22-24

The participants at a conference in a church in Nebraska were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at a point in the worship service when they felt like expressing their joy. All through the service, balloons ascended one by one. But when the meeting was over, one-third of the people had not released their balloons. I wonder if they couldn't think of any reason to praise God.

King David would have let go of his balloon when singing his song of praise recorded in 2 Samuel 22. God had delivered him from all his enemies (v.1). Earlier, when hiding from King Saul in the rocky desert, he had learned that true security is found only in God (1 Samuel 23:25). David's heart had to "give thanks" and "sing praises," for the Lord had become David's rock, fortress, deliverer, stronghold, refuge, and Savior (2 Samuel 22:2-3,50).

What has the Lord been for you throughout your life? Your peace in a chaotic time? Your comforter amid loss? Your forgiver of a sinful choice? Your strength in a difficult task?

Take out a piece of paper and write down your list of thanks. Then take time to praise God for all He is and all He has done.

Let your balloon go! —Anne Cetas


From your heart give God your praise
For His blessings all your days;
Lift your voice to God above—
God of mercy, God of love. —Hess

Praise is the overflow of a joyful heart.