QT 02/01/2025 Thu. Nehemiah 2. Receiving More Than We Can Imagine. 获得超乎想象的惊喜.
QT 02/01/2025 Thu. Nehemiah 2. Receiving More Than We Can Imagine.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/neh2
We received more than we ever asked or even imagined in 2024, isn't it? Are you continuing to give thanks to God for what you have, at where you are? We commit our future to God because ... you might receive more!
The Nehemiah 2 is set in the month of Nisan, in the 20th year of Artaxerxes. This is no fairy tale.
LESSON 1: God's work in history is real and serious. We understand God better if we fully take note of His works in history. We have better confidence to face the future if we fully note His power of all, including your tomorrows.
The sad face of Nehemiah might be misunderstood as contemplating an evil plan against the king. Nehemiah displayed tact by referring to city where his ancestral grave lies in ruins. Any rebuilding work might be misunderstood as rebellion, as expectedly referred to by Nehemiah's opponents (2:19). Nehemiah prayed to "the God of heaven" (2:4) to resolve the current danger.
LESSON 2: While it is difficult to hide a worry or pain, Nehemiah was careful not to provoke the king or make the situation worse unnecessarily. Tactfulness and sincerity can co-exists, especially when Nehemiah showed respect to the the king ("if it pleases the king", 2:5). He was already the cupbearer (2:1) who have found favour in the king's sight.
Rebuilding "Jerusalem" would be a politically loaded topic and word that would spark more problems for Nehemiah's request. Therefore, Nehemiah chose not to highlight the term in his conversation with Artaxerxes even though both parties know which city they were referring to. There was also no need to bring out at this point the plan of God to raise a son of David that would eventually rule the whole world!
LESSON 3: Pursuing God's purpose in your lives necessarily involve reaching out to unbelievers and interacting with them as you preach the gospel contents to them. God's people must be honest and sincere in this process, rather than being abrupt, pushy and done right rude.
LESSON 4: However, honesty does not necessarily mean disclose to unbelievers every single bitsy detail of kingdom life—they cannot grasp all of the inside details from outside the kingdom. Use good judgment to decide WHAT to share and WHEN to share it. Opening the mouth to speak correct words at the wrong time can be as fatal as saying the wrong things!
There is no guarantee that God would give exactly what we ask. How God acts frequently look different from what we imagine. But as God's people align themselves with His will and His purposes revealed in Scripture, we pray and trust that the God of Nehemiah would also respond powerfully today again in your specific circumstances.
QT 02/01/2025 星期四. 尼希米 2. 获得超乎想象的惊喜
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/neh/2
在 2024 年，我们得到的比我们要求的甚至想象的都要多，不是吗？你是否在继续为你所拥有的一切感谢上帝？我们将未来交托给神，因为...你可能会得到比想象的更多！
《尼希米记 2》的事件发生在尼散月，亚达薛西二十年。这不是童话故事。
学习(1)：上帝在历史中的作为是真实而严肃的。如果我们充分注意到上帝在历史上的作为，我们就能更好地理解上帝。如果我们充分注意到神的大能，包括祂能掌管你的明天，我们就会更有信心面对未来。
尼希米愁眉苦脸的样子可能会被误解为在考虑针对国王的邪恶计划。尼希米提到了他祖坟所在的城市，显示了他的机智。任何重建工作都可能被误解为叛乱，尼希米的反对者也会这样说（2:19）。尼希米祈求 “天上的神”（2：4）化解当前的危险。
学习(2)：虽然忧虑或痛苦难以掩饰，但尼希米还是小心翼翼地避免激怒国王或不必要地使情况变得更糟。机智和真诚是可以并存的，特别是尼希米对国王表示尊重（“王若喜欢”，2:5）。他已经是国王看中的侍杯官（2:1）。
重建 “耶路撒冷 ”是一个会给尼希米的请求带来更多问题的政治话题和词语。因此，尼希米选择在与亚达薛西的谈话中不强调这个词，尽管双方都知道他们指的是哪座城。此外，也没有必要在这个时候提出上帝的计划，即培养一个大卫的子孙，最终统治整个世界！
学习(3)：在你们的生活中追求神的旨意，必然要接触非信徒，并在向他们传讲福音内容时与他们互动。在这个过程中，上帝的子民必须诚实和真诚，而不是唐突、咄咄逼人和粗鲁无礼。
学习(4)：然而，诚实并不一定意味着向非信徒披露神的国度内生活的每一个细枝末节--他们不可能从国度之外掌握所有国度的内部细节。要运用良好的判断力来决定分享什么以及何时分享。在错误的时间开口说正确的话和说错话或许是一样致命！
无人能保证神会完全满足我们的要求。神的行为常常与我们的想象不同。但随着神的子民与祂的旨意和祂在圣经中揭示的旨意保持一致，我们祷告并相信，尼希米的神今天也会再次在你的具体环境中做出强有力的回应。
