Devotion

QT 22/01/2024 Monday Matthew 19. What's driving you? 是什么在驱使着你？

QT 22/01/2024 Monday Matthew 19. What's driving you? 是什么在驱使着你？

QT 22/01/2024 Monday Matthew 19
http://www.esvbible.org/matt19

References to original intention of God's creation was made by Jesus on the issue of marriage and divorce (Matt 19:4), even though the Pharisees could point out Moses' concession given in the context of the Ancient Near East's practices (Matt 19:7).

Genesis to Deuteronomy (The Pentateuch) could be viewed from the angle of "What It Should Have Been?"  Stories of damaged relationships are prevalent then (Old Testament times) and even now. Be it relationships between God and Man, or between 2 persons both made "in the image of God".

REFLECTION: Think of how it "should have been beautiful", "good", "very good" (Gen 1 etc) and work towards it (whatever issues).

Once again, the child-like hearts (Matt 19:13-15) are contrasted with the self-justifying heart of the wealthy man (Matt 19:16-22). The unseen matters of the heart come into view again.

In these passages, Jesus asks for PRIORITY in your life, over ALL and EVERYTHING else. Putting Jesus FIRST is somehow expected to be EXPRESSED in our daily lives in the following area:-

  1. Over "Wealth" (Matt 19:21-26);
  2. Over "everything" (Matt 19:27);
  3. Over "houses" (Matt 19:29);
  4. Over "brothers or sisters" (Matt 19:29);
  5. Over "father or mother" (Matt 19:29);
  6. Over "children" (Matt 19:29);
  7. Over "lands" (Matt 19:29).

But anyone who "has left" these and put Jesus first will receive "a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life" (Matt 19:29). On THAT DAY, there will be surprises - there would be unexpected "lasts" while those considered "last" become "first" (Matt 19:30).

APPLICATION: Ask God to lead you to EXPRESS these priorities by AMENDING your CONCEPT, CALENDAR & CASHFLOW etc where necessary. Do consider the inputs from those in your caregroup.

星期一 2024年1月22日 今日读经：马太福音19章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mat/19/

耶稣在针对结婚和离婚的课题时(太19:4)，以神当初创造人的本来用意作为参考来回应法利赛人,因为法利赛人指出摩西在当时的古代近东在这事上做出了让步(太19:7)。

从创世记到申命记(摩西五经)，我们可以用“这原本该是怎样的？”一种角度去看。破碎的关系处处可见(旧约时代),即便是现在也如此，无论是神与人的关系，或两个按着“神的形象”所造的人的关系。

反思：思想它“该是多么美”、“好”、“甚好”(创1等)并朝着它努力(无论是什么问题)。

再次地，那像孩子一样的心(太19:13-15)被用来对比那富裕的人自以为公义的心(太19:16-22)。那内心看不见的事又再次曝光了。

在这些篇章里，耶稣要求你把祂摆在你生命的第一位，在所有一切事情之上。把耶稣放在第一也应当表现在我们日常生活里以下的几方面：-

  1. 在“财富”之上(太19:21-26);
  2. 在“一切”之上(太19:27);
  3. 在“房屋”之上(太19:29);
  4. 在“弟兄或姐妹”之上(太19:29);
  5. 在“父亲或母亲”之上(太19:29);
  6. 在“儿女”之上(太19:29);
  7. 在“田地”之上(太19:29)。

但若有人“撇下”这些并把耶稣摆在第一位，必得到“要得着百倍，并且承受永生”(太19:29)。到那日，必会有惊喜--会有意想不到的“在后”，而那些“在后的将要“在前”(太19:30)。

应用：求主带领你，在你考虑你的优先顺序时，无论是在你的信念上、日历上和资金流动上，都在必要时做出调整。同时也可参考你小组的建议。

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