9/16/2013譴責與安慰

經文:彌迦書3－5章

中心思想:彌迦書3、5章

提要

        彌迦的信息內容可簡述如下：「我有個好消息和壞消息。」何謂壞消息？猶大昏庸的君王及貪婪的祭司，你們悲慘的下場必速速來到。「所以因你們的緣故，錫安必然耕種像一塊田，耶路撒冷必變為亂堆。」（彌3：12）何謂好消息？雖然這毀壞非常嚴重，但所剩的餘民能重得和平安全的祝福。「彌賽亞」將從一個伯恆利的小鎮出來，且在以色列中掌權（彌5：2），並要在公義之日發出無比的榮光。

每日與主同行

        「他能，為什麼我不能？」
        你一定常聽到這一類的話，或者你與所謂的大人物比較的時候，也曾說過這樣的話，法官接受賄賂，政客逃避重稅，牧師鬧緋聞，凡此種種惡行敗跡，見諸報端層出不窮，極易給我們誤導：「他能這麼做，為什麼我們不能？」
        但是來看看耶穌的榜樣，我們不是也可以這麼問：「祂能，為什麼我們不能？去探望病人、照顧窮人、關心有需要的人。」當你這樣做的時候，就要印證聖經的話：「人若說他住在主裏面，就該自己照主所行的去行。」（約壹2：6）
        在一張卡紙上寫下「祂能，為什麼我不能」，隨身攜帶，提醒你做個基督的好門徒。

默想

跟隨救主的腳蹤行──
        在卡片的背面寫下：「人若說他住在主（基督）裡面，就該自己照主所行的去行。」（約壹2:6）來提醒自己跟隨的對象。

金言

身教勝於言教。

Condemnation and Consolation

Scriptures:Micah 3-5

Heart of the Passage:Micah 3，5

Overview

        Micah might well have summarized his prophecy this way: "I have good news and bad news!" The bad news? Destruction of Judah's oppressive princes and greedy priests will he swift and terrible; Jerusalem, for her iniquity, will be "plowed [under] as a field, and ... become heaps" (3:12). And the good news? Though destruction will be fierce, a remnant will be spared to inherit blessings of peace and safety once again. From the obscurity of a village called Bethlehem will arise a Messiah who will be "ruler in Israel" (5:2) and will usher in a new day of righteous living and unparalleled glory!

Your Daily Walk

        "He did it—why shouldn't I?" No doubt you've heard that statement many times—and perhaps even used it a few times yourself in reference to the behavior of a public figure. The judge indicted for bribery, the politician cited for tax evasion, the preacher caught in adultery—almost any edition of your local newspaper will supply ample evidence of leaders "leading" in the wrong direction, thus making it easier for others to rush into the same sins, arguing, "He did it—why shouldn't I?"
        But took at the example of Christ, and those same words form a fitting question: "He did it—why shouldn't 7 ... visit I he sick ... care for the poor ... put the needs of others above my own?" Just as you ask the above question in relation to Christ, others will ask it of you, for "he that saith he abideth in [Christ] ought himself also so to walk, even as [Christ] walked" (1 John 2:6, see memory verse below).
        Write the first line of today's Daily Walk on a slip of paper or an index card. Post it on the dashboard of your car or carry it in your wallet or purse. That way you'll be frequently reminded to follow—and become—a good leader!

Insight

Walk the Way Your Savior Walked — 
        On the reverse side of your card, copy this verse as a reminder of whom you're walking with: "He that saith he abideth in [Christ] ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).

Adage

Man is a creature that is led more by patterns than by precepts.