3 月 26 日 预苦期第三周 星期三

(邱品尧牧师 佳恩堂)

经文-哥林多前书 10：1-13

10 弟兄们，我不愿意你们不晓得：我们的祖宗从前都在云下，都从海中经过， 2 都在云里、海里受洗归了摩西， 3 并且都吃了一样的灵食， 4 也都喝了一样的灵水；所喝的是出于随着他们的灵磐石，那磐石就是基督。 5 但他们中间多半是神不喜欢的人，所以在旷野倒毙。 6 这些事都是我们的鉴戒，叫我们不要贪恋恶事，像他们那样贪恋的。 7 也不要拜偶像，像他们有人拜的，如经上所记：“百姓坐下吃喝，起来玩耍。” 8 我们也不要行奸淫，像他们有人行的，一天就倒毙了二万三千人。 9 也不要试探主[a]，像他们有人试探的，就被蛇所灭。 10 你们也不要发怨言，像他们有发怨言的，就被灭命的所灭。 11 他们遭遇这些事都要作为鉴戒，并且写在经上正是警戒我们这末世的人。 12 所以，自己以为站得稳的须要谨慎，免得跌倒。 13 你们所遇见的试探，无非是人所能受的。神是信实的，必不叫你们受试探过于所能受的，在受试探的时候，总要给你们开一条出路，叫你们能忍受得住。

经文反思

旧约的以色列人，在摩西的带领之下，经过了红海，在云柱火柱的引导之下，在旷野中行走。这些旧约的行动，使徒保罗解释，以色列人在旷野的行动就是在云里，海里受洗归入了摩西。这些都是预表将来，新约的子民，透过耶稣宝血的救赎，受洗归入基督。使徒保罗解释，这盘石就是在预表基督。虽然以色列人都在旧约时代，归于摩西，神与摩西和百姓立约。以色列人都是吃了吗哪，天上来的食物，他们都是喝了摩西击打盘石出来的水。但是，他们所作所为，犯罪得罪神，惹动神的愤怒，结局就是在旷野死亡，不能进入神所应许的迦南美地。

保罗提醒我们，不可以贪恋恶事，不可以拜偶像，不可以行奸淫，不可以试探神，不可以发怨言。每一项得罪神的事，都有神的处罚。都是我们今日圣徒的鉴戒。我们不要以为自己已经因信称义了，我们已经做到神所要求的，我们就可以把神的恩典视为理所当然。我们以为自己已经有得救的确据，进入天堂，我们就停止追求主，自满自足。

世界，魔鬼和肉体的私欲，不断地在试探我们，但是，神会为我们开一条出路，使我们能够忍受试探，并且不犯罪，得胜有余。

祷告

施行拯救的主啊，你与我们立约，为了要拯救我们，使我们能够脱离罪和死亡的辖制。我们已经蒙了大恩，得着你的拯救，我们却常常违背你的心意，掩住耳朵不听你的劝诫。我们常常试探你，贪恋恶事，在我们心中设立各式各样有形无形的偶像，我们心思意念不洁净，我们以为信了主，就可以不断地犯罪，试探神，我们发怨言，对你全权的安排，充满了不满。

主啊，求你赐给我们紧紧倚靠你的心。我们可以靠着你的恩典，胜过试探，持守圣洁生活，奉主耶稣基督的名求，阿门！

应用

回想过去的生命经历，有哪些人事物的出现，让你觉得神对你不公平，神让你被亏待，因此觉得不满意，心生怨言？

将这些经历写下来，向神认罪。相信神的带领不会错，相信神的带领，叫爱神的人得益处，相信神有测不透的美意。为生命中每一个令你抱怨的人事物，向主献上感恩和赞美，因为神的良善，我们必能靠着神的恩典，生命不断地长进，不断地发出基督的荣美，叫爱神的人得着益处。

22. 26 March The Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent

(Rev Samuel Chiu Redeemer Methodist Church)

Scripture: I Corinthians 10:1–13

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up toplay.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has

overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Reflections on the Scripture

In the Old Testament, the Israelites, under Moses' leadership, crossed the Red Sea and journeyed through the wilderness, guided by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. The apostle Paul explains that these actions symbolized how the Israelites were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. These events foreshadowed the future redemption of the New Testament believers, who, through the precious blood of Jesus, are baptized into Christ.

Paul further explains that the rock in the wilderness was a representation of Christ. Though the Israelites in the Old Testament belonged to Moses under the covenant God made with him and the people, and though they all ate the manna from heaven and drank the water that flowed from the rock Moses struck, they still sinned against God. Their rebellion provoked God's anger, and as a result, they perished in the wilderness, never entering the promised land of Canaan.

Paul warns us not to crave evil things, not to worship idols, not to commit sexual immorality, not to test God, and not to grumble. Every act of sin was met with God's judgment, serving as a warning for us today. We must not assume that, just because we are justified by faith, we can take God's grace for granted. If we believe that our salvation is secure and that we are guaranteed entry into heaven, yet we stop pursuing the Lord and become complacent, we fall into danger.

The world, the devil, and the desires of the flesh constantly tempt us. But God is faithful—He will provide a way out so that we can endure temptation, avoid sin, and walk in victory.

Prayer

O Lord, our Savior, You have made a covenant with us to deliver us, setting us free from the bondage of sin and death. We have been saved by Your grace, yet we often rebel against Your will, shutting our ears to Your admonition.

We frequently test You, covet evil things, and set up both visible and invisible idols in our hearts. Our thoughts are impure, and we deceive ourselves into thinking that because we believe in You, we can continue sinning and testing You. We grumble and are filled with dissatisfaction toward Your sovereign plans.

Lord, we ask You to grant us hearts that rely on You wholeheartedly. By Your grace, may we overcome temptation and remain steadfast in a holy life. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

Application

Looking back on your life experiences, are there people, events, or situations that made you feel that God was unfair to you? Have there been moments when you felt wronged and became dissatisfied, leading to complaints in your heart?

Write these experiences down and confess them before God. Trust that His guidance is never mistaken. Believe that His leading works for the good of those who love Him and that His purposes are beyond our understanding, yet always good.

For every person, event, or circumstance that has caused you to complain, offer thanksgiving and praise to the Lord. Because of His goodness, we can rely on His grace to continually grow, reflect the beauty of Christ, and bring blessings to those who love Him.