QT 07/01/2024 Sunday Matthew 6

QT 07/01/2024 Sunday Matthew 6
http://www.esvbible.org/matt6

REFLECTION: Is my heart "poor in spirit" (Matt 5:3) and not be proud nor conceited? Is it "mourning", "meek", "hungry for righteousness", "merciful" and "inclined towards peace" (Matt 5:2-10)?

Why must we be "light to everyone in the house" (Matt 5:16) and not say things that put ourselves and those around us into "darkness", especially the younger ones in our immediate family and the spiritual family at S-Word?

It is a torment to live in darkness. A tormented heart does not rest, keeps on worrying, forever fearful, gropes in the darks, walks and falls frequently. It prevents you from enjoying the community and friendship with brothers and sisters at S-Word.

REFLECTION: Do we engage in the mere rites of religious activities (Matt 6:16ff) but miss out on the focus of our faith - our relationship with our "Father" in heaven (Matt 6:18)?

This was a main point of the Old Testament Prophets' preaching and their polemics against "Old Israel". The "New Israel" must be different, they were to be a light to the ends of the earth and trust the heavenly Father, putting Him as priority.

IMPLICATIONS: Christians of the New Israel who now believe in Jesus should not "be anxious about your life ... eat or drink... about your body, what you will put on" (Matt 6:25) but should instead "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matt 6:33).

星期日 2024年1月7日 今日读经：马太福音6章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mat/6/

反思：我的“心灵”是否贫乏(太5:3)，不骄傲也不自大？它是否“哀痛”、“温柔”、“渴慕公义”、“怜悯”并且“使人和平”(太5:2-10)？

为什么我们的“光要照在人前”(太5:16)，不说那些让自己和身边的人陷入“黑暗”的话，尤其是我们直系亲属和为道属灵家庭成员里年轻的一辈？

活在黑暗是一种折磨。被折磨的心无法停息、它会一直担忧、永远惧怕、在黑暗中摸索、行走且时常跌倒。它会让你无法享受在为道这个属灵群体中与弟兄姐妹的美好情谊。

反思：我们是否仅仅投入于形式上的宗教活动(太6:16ff)但却失去了我们信仰的中心--我们与在天上的“父”的关系(太6:18)?

这是旧约先知对“旧以色列”在讲道时的重点和论调。“新以色列”必须与之不同，他们必须成为地极的光并倚靠天上的父，尊祂为最大。

进深思考：新以色列信耶稣的基督徒无需“为生命忧虑吃什么喝什么，也不要为身体忧虑穿什么”(太6:25)而是应当“先求他的国和他的义”(太6:33)。