Palabas lamang
Ito ay isang larawang nag-uumapaw ng pag-ibig at debosyon. Madaling makita kung bakit ang larawang ito ay nanalo ng Gantimpalang Pulitzer noong 1973. Bumalik si Bob Stirm, isang piloto ng Hukbong Himpapawid, sa Estados Unidos matapos ang lima’t may kalahating taong bilanggo ng digmaan sa Hilagang Vietnam. Ang mga taong ito ay puno ng tortyur […]
Success in Fishing Doesn’t Come Free
One of the characteristics of Free Grace Theology is that it makes a distinction between a believer and a disciple. A believer is somebody who has believed in Jesus for eternal life. They receive it as a gift. Works play no part in it whatsoever. A disciple is a believer who follows Christ in obedience. […]
The Job of the Disciple
In Mark 6:12-13, Jesus sends the twelve disciples to the nation of Israel. It would have been very exciting to be a part of that group. They preached the same message that John the Baptist and the Lord had preached. Jesus was the Christ. Those who believed in Him for it would receive eternal life. […]
The Warts on Our Heroes (Mark 14:71)
If you want to be impressed, read the story of Dieter Dengler, one of the only thirty-three prisoners of war who escaped during the Vietnam War. I guarantee you’ll say, “I could never do what he did.” His story is the stuff of legend, especially among those who have served in the military. Dengler grew […]
Listening to People of Grace (Luke 6:45)
In Luke 6, the Lord gives a sermon called the Sermon on the Plain. In it, He refers to a tree that produces good fruit and a tree that produces bad fruit (6:43). Even though many think He is talking about how we recognize a believer, that is not the case. Instead, the Lord refers […]
盯紧奖赏（《马太福音》6：22-23）
在英语中，我们有这样一个习语：“盯紧球（Keep your eye on the ball）”。作为母语者，我们知道这句话的意思。“球”是最重要的。这个习语告诫我们不要分散主要目标。例如，如果一位政治家正在竞选公职，他的工作人员会提醒他盯紧球。目标就是当选。竞选中可能会发生很多不重要的事情。不要纠结于那些不会影响赢得竞选的事情。 在《马太福音》6:22-23 中，主使用了一个基本意思相同的短语。祂说，眼睛是 “身体的灯”。我认为，如果我们说基督是在谈论我们的眼睛所关注的东西，我们就会明白祂在这里教导的要点。我们的眼睛能照亮什么？祂说我们的眼睛可以是 “好的”，也可以是 “坏的”。我们可以关注好的，也可以关注坏的。 用我们的英语习语来说，主是说我们的眼睛应该盯着的球，是祂称之为 “好 ”的东西。但什么是 “好 ”呢？ 我想在福音派的世界中大多数人都会说是 “上天堂”。这应该是我们关注的焦点。我们不应该让任何事情分散我们对这个目标的注意力。 这当然是不对的。信徒已经知道他将进入神的国度。没有必要把它作为我们的目标。 更符合《圣经》的是，有些人认识到，主在告诉门徒们要为即将到来的世界而活。他们不应该为这个世界的事忧虑，因为这个世界的事已经过去了。这显然是上下文的意思。在前面的经文中，耶稣告诉我们不要在地上积攒财宝（第 19-21 节）。在接下来的经文中，祂告诉我们不要爱现在的世界（第 24 节）。换句话说，耶稣说我们的重点应该放在即将到来的世界。这才是我们应该盯着的“球”。 虽然这些都是事实，但我认为其本质上太笼统了。主告诉我们的不仅仅是这个世界是暂时的，我们将生活在一个永恒的国度里。我相信主非常明确地告诉我们什么是好 “球”。那就是奖赏。 这些经文出自《登山宝训》（《太》5：1-7；27）。讲道的主要目的之一（如果不是主要目的的话）是教导信徒关于即将到来的国度中的奖赏。讲道以这一思想开始（5:3-12）。讲道以同样的主题结束（7：24-27）。讲道的大部分内容都在描述当主降临时会得到极大奖赏的那种生活。 主希望也必将奖赏那些忠心顺服祂的信徒。他们将在祂的国度里大有作为。这是主希望我们盯着的目标。 可悲的事实是，包括信徒在内的大多数人都拒绝接受这一点。他们说，我们应该忠于主，只是因为我们爱祂。这应该就是我们所需的全部动力。而为奖赏而活被认为是自私的。天国里不会有奖赏。 大多数人会补充说，即使天国里会有奖赏，这也不是一个重要的话题。然而，在《登山宝训》中，主却强调了这些奖赏。祂告诉门徒要积攒财宝在天上（第 20 节）。他们不要把财宝积攒在地上（第 19 节）。他们应该着眼于为即将到来的世界积攒多少财宝。这才是他们应该关注的（第22-23节）。 如果你是一个不相信在即将到来的国度中会有奖赏的人，那么你的目光就会离开球。我们都希望听到主说我们是祂忠实的仆人。所有的信徒都将与基督同住。我们也应该希望与祂一同掌权。 祂说——如果我可以换句话来说的话：“你们要在我的国里积攒财宝！寻求从我而来的奖赏。”祂在许多地方都这样教导。在《太》6:22-23，祂近乎说明了信徒如何才能“盯住球！”
Drži svoje oči usmjerene prema nagradama (Matej 6:22-23)
Na engleskom jeziku imamo izraz “Keep your eye on the ball.” Kao izvorni govornici, znamo što to znači. “Lopta” je ono što je važno. Izraz nas upozorava da ne smijemo odvlačiti pažnju od glavnog cilja. Na primjer, ako se političar kandidira za dužnost, njegov će ga tim podsjetiti da drži fokus na lopti (cilju). Cilj […]
Stai cu ochii pe răsplată (Matei 6:22-23)
În engleză, avem expresia „Ține-ți ochii pe minge” (Concentrează-te pe obiectiv). Ca vorbitori nativi, înțelegem ce înseamnă. „Mingea” reprezintă obiectivul principal. Expresia ne avertizează să nu ne abatem de la acest obiectiv. De exemplu, dacă un politician este în campanie, echipa sa îi va reaminti să fie „cu ochii pe minge”. Obiectivul principal este să […]
Nagrody są logiczne
W 2000 roku ukazał się film Gladiator, rozgrywający się pod koniec II wieku. Russell Crowe zagrał Maximusa Meridiusa. Stał się on tragicznym bohaterem po tym, jak odniósł wielki sukces jako generał w armii rzymskiej. Film rozpoczyna się u szczytu jego osiągnięć. Maximus prowadzi swoich żołnierzy w bitwie przeciwko pogańskim plemionom germańskim. W umysłach Maximusa, jego […]
The Resurrection and Good Works (Mark 12:23)
As an Army chaplain, I heard a wide spectrum of theological perspectives. For example, I worked with chaplains who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. One was even a Southern Baptist. He once said in a sermon that the only resurrection we will ever see is the smile on a child’s face. […]