QT 27/09/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 31. Wealth, culture & weaponry versus trust. 财富、文化和武器及信心。
QT 27/09/2024 Fri. Ezekiel 31. Wealth, culture & weaponry versus trust.
https://www.esv.org/Eze+31/
MEDITATION: The turning point was, not surprisingly, related to the matter of PRIDE again, "And its heart was proud of its height" (Ezek 31:10).
The example cited was the king of Assyria, portrayed as "a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade" (Ezek 31:3). But in spite of her beauty (Ezek 31:3-9), Assyria was now gone because "Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it" (Ezek 31:12).
This example warned the Egyptians and the audience of Ezekiel not to fall into the sin of pride, nor put wealth, culture and weaponry above trusting the LORD. Both "sin" and "pride" encompass the element "i" in the middle. The LORD has given us ample examples of the past to warn us. Have we taken these to heart?
REFLECTIONS: Beauty (Ezek 31:3,7,8,9), strength (Ezek 31:2,7,18) resources and abilities are naturally gifts from God. How we make use of them makes the difference. Are these used for Shepherding God's people with His Word, promoting Sanctification by God's Word and Sharing God's Word?
APPLICATION: Make a new resolution today to submit all that we have for the purpose of the LORD. Disclose your plans to a confidante or leader and request him or her to check on you, won't you?
星期五 2024年9月27日 今日读经：以西结书31章。财富、文化和武器及信心。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eze/31/
默想：关于骄傲这件事，其转折点并不令人感到惊讶，“它高大而心骄气傲”(结31:10)。
作者引述了亚述王为例，他被喻为“黎巴嫩的香柏树，枝条秀美，林影茂密，树身高大，树顶在茂密的枝叶之上”(结31:3)。但尽管秀美无比(结31:3-9)，亚述也已不在了，因为“外族人，就是列国中最强暴的，把它砍下丢弃”(结31:12)。
这个例子警告埃及人和以西结的听众，勿跌入骄傲的罪中，也勿把财富、文化和武器摆在倚靠耶和华之上。“我”字(英文字母I) 就在“罪”(sin)和“骄傲”(pride)的中间。神已透过许多以前的例子来告诫我们。我们谨记在心了吗？
反思：美貌(结31:3,7,8,9)、力量(结31:2,7,18)、资源和能力自然都是神的恩赐。我们如何利用这些恩赐是有差别的。这些恩赐是否用在神的话语上以牧养羊群、提倡顺服圣道，追求成圣和宣扬主道？
应用：今天就立志，都把一切都献给主求祂使用。何不把你的计划透露给你的知己或领袖，并请求他或她跟进呢？
