QT 13/02/2024 Tuesday Mark 9. Healthy surgery. 健康的手术。

QT 13/02/2024 Tuesday Mark 9
http://www.esvbible.org/mark9

Let's be practical and concise.

1. The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13) discloses the Father's direction to Jesus' followers to "LISTEN to him", i.e. Jesus (Mark 9:7).

REFLECTION (1): Are you doing so? Following Jesus faithfully and are focused?

1. The DOUBLE OBSTACLE of "did not understand" and "were afraid to ask" (Mark 9:32) prevented the disciples from sharing in the heartbeats of Jesus and the Father, even though the disciples had already seen other witnesses like Moses and Elijah.

REFLECTION (2): You may have been with us for some years now, but do you share our heartbeats? Perhaps you have not understood something but are afraid to ask what our church-heart beats for? Don't be afraid to seek help before your problem becomes too entrenched in your mind. After that, no matter what others say, you would always rebut - no longer teachable.

1. PRIDE potentially BLINDS you to many things (Mark 9:33-37). Instead, adopt SERVANTHOOD (Mark 9:35) and a CHILD-LIKE mentality (Mark 9:37). WATCH OUT when your actions cause one of these CHILD-LIKE believers to sin or stumble.

REFLECTION: Is there any ungodly behaviour in us (e.g. pride, quarrels, compromise in holiness, backbiting or hypocrisy) that may cause a new believer among us to doubt, "Is THIS the temple of the Holy God, the God which I just believed?"

Jesus says "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea (Mark 9:42).

On the contrary, accept and undergo the radical refinement that God has for believers in this life to purge sin. It might even "costs" us a hand or a foot (Mark 9:43-47).

God is free to use the tools of hardship and suffering for this "reconstructive surgery" to purge sin or dismantle our over-inflated ego. Be prepared.

星期二 2024年2月13日 今日读经：马可福音9章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mak/9/

让我们实际些精准些。

1. 耶稣的变象 (可9:2-13)揭开了天父对耶稣门徒的吩咐“你们要听他”，这个他指的就是耶稣。(可9:7)

反思(1): 你听从了吗？你忠心、专注地跟随耶稣吗？

1. “不明白”和“不敢问”这双重障碍(可9:32)让门徒无法传杨耶稣和父的心意，虽然门徒在这之前已见过其他见证人如摩西和以利亚。

反思(2):你或许和我们在一起已有好几年了，但你的心跳和我们的心跳是否一致？或许你有一些东西不甚明白却不敢问，我们教会的心为什么而跳？在你的问题还没盘踞在你心中时，不要害怕去寻求帮助。若思想僵硬之后，无论其他的人如何劝你，你都会很抗拒并拒绝任何的劝勉，变成不受教。

1. 骄傲能够让你在许多事情上盲目(可9:33-37)。相反的，应该拥有做仆人的心志(可9:35)和小孩的心态(可9:37)。要当心，尤其当你的行为使到其中一个像小孩一样的信徒犯罪或跌倒时。

反思：在我们里面可否有任何不讨神喜悦的行为(如骄傲、争吵、与圣洁妥协、谗言或虚伪)，让在我们当中的初信者存疑:“这我刚信的那位神，圣洁的神的圣殿吗？”

耶稣说：“如果有人使一个信我的小弟兄犯罪，倒不如在他的颈项上拴一块大磨石投在海里。”(可9:42)

相反的，接受并经历神的炼净，这是祂所要的，祂要每个信徒在这一生中去除罪。这或许会让我们“失去"一只手或一只脚(可9:43-47)。

神在这“重建手术”中可以选择用苦难和痛苦为工具来扫除罪或拆除我们那过渡膨胀的自我。预备好你的心。