灵命日粮 - 2005年4月9日
读经: 马可福音11章1-11节

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金句: 「看哪，你的王来到你这里！他是公义的，并且施行拯救，谦谦和和的骑着驴。」（撒迦利亚书9章9节）

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全年读经: 撒母耳记下19-21章  

在棕树节的那天，以色列人的王－－－主耶稣骑着驴子来到耶路撒冷。祂如果是骑着威风凛凛的马，会让祂看起来更像王。然而，祂像先知撒迦利亚所预言一般，以谦卑的方式行事。
为什么是驴子呢？东方的王在和平出使的过程中骑驴子，而马是用来征战的。

群众想要从罗马政府中得到世上所谓的财富与自由，因此他们喊道：「高高在上和散那」（马可福音11章10节）！几天后，群众的呼喊变成：「把他钉十字架」（马可福音15章13节）！

有一些自称耶稣的追随者并不了解耶稣是罪人的救赎者。罪的问题若不被克服，我们内心最深处的需要就不能被满足。为了这个原因，耶稣骑着驴子，面朝十字架进入耶路撒冷，并完全了解祂将在十字架遭受到的耻辱与死亡的痛苦。此刻，祂为人类的罪所付上的代价，使祂被提升到上帝的右手边，并将以万王之王、万主之主的身份再来。在披戴冠冕的荣耀之前，祂先承受了十字架的痛苦。

如果我们想要成为天国的一份子，现在就必须相信祂是我们的救主。HVL


你想在天国戴冠冕，
并获得明确的胜利；
请宣称耶稣是救主，
以祂的名得到救赎。Anon.


如果没有耶稣在地上背十字架，就不会有在天上所戴的冠冕。
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The Cross And The Crown



Read:Mark 11:1-11
Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey. —Zechariah 9:9


Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 19-21

On the day we call Palm Sunday the Lord Jesus presented Himself to Israel as their King when He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Had He been astride a spirited horse, He would have looked more kingly. But Zechariah had prophesied He would come in the humble way that He did.

Why? Kings of the East rode donkeys when on errands of peace. The horse was used as a charger in war.

The multitudes thought in terms of earthly prosperity and freedom from Rome. So they cried, "Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11:10). Yet a few days later, the shouts of the crowd became: "Crucify Him!" (15:13).

Some who declare themselves admirers of Jesus do not recognize Him as the Savior of sinners. But our deepest need cannot be met until our sin problem is overcome. For this reason Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey with His face set toward the cross, knowing full well the shameful and painful death He would suffer there. Now, having paid the price for human sin, He is highly exalted at God's right hand and will come again as King of kings and Lord of lords. His cross had to precede His crown.

If we want to be part of His heavenly kingdom, we must trust Him as our Savior now. —Herb Vander Lugt


If in heaven a crown you'd wear
And bright palms of victory bear,
Christ the Savior you must claim;
Find redemption in His name. —Anon.

There would be no crown-wearers in heaven had Christ not been the cross-bearer on earth.


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放开你的汽球！


灵命日粮 - 2005年4月10日
读经: 撒母耳记下22章1-8节

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金句: 「耶和华啊……称谢你，歌颂你的名。」（撒母耳记下22章50节）

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全年读经: 撒母耳记下22章24节  

内布拉斯加州的一间教会在举办研习会时，发给会众一些充满氦气的汽球，并告知他们：当他们在崇拜中想表达他们心中的喜乐时，就可以释放手中的汽球。整个崇拜的过程中，汽球一个接一个地升起。但是当崇拜结束后，却有三分之一的人手里还握着汽球。我猜想，是不是他们真的找不到任何理由来感谢上帝。
就如撒母耳记下22章所记载的，当大卫王唱起赞美耶和华的诗歌时，他就一定会放开他手中的气球。上帝就把他从一切的仇敌手中拯救出来（1节），早些时候，当大卫在岩石沙漠躲避扫罗时，就已经了解真正的安全只有在上帝那里才可找到（撒母耳记上23章25节）。大卫发自内心的「感恩」并「颂赞」，因为耶和华是他的岩石、山寨、救主、高台、避难所（撒母耳记下22章2-3、50节）。

在你的生命中上帝为你做了什么？混乱中赐下平安？失落中赐下安慰？过犯中赐下宽恕？困难中赐下力量？

拿出一张纸，列出你该感恩的项目。然后，花点时间为上帝及祂为你所做的一切而赞美祂。

放开你手中的汽球吧！AMC


发自内心，赞美父上帝，
祂的祝福，溢满我生命；
我要高声，把救主颂扬，
祂是恩典，慈爱的阳光。Hess


赞美是从充满喜乐的心里溢出的。
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Let Your Balloon Go!



Read:2 Samuel 22:1-8
I will give thanks to You, O Lord, . . . and sing praises to Your name. —2 Samuel 22:50


Bible In One Year: 2 Samuel 22-24

The participants at a conference in a church in Nebraska were given helium-filled balloons and told to release them at a point in the worship service when they felt like expressing their joy. All through the service, balloons ascended one by one. But when the meeting was over, one-third of the people had not released their balloons. I wonder if they couldn't think of any reason to praise God.

King David would have let go of his balloon when singing his song of praise recorded in 2 Samuel 22. God had delivered him from all his enemies (v.1). Earlier, when hiding from King Saul in the rocky desert, he had learned that true security is found only in God (1 Samuel 23:25). David's heart had to "give thanks" and "sing praises," for the Lord had become David's rock, fortress, deliverer, stronghold, refuge, and Savior (2 Samuel 22:2-3,50).

What has the Lord been for you throughout your life? Your peace in a chaotic time? Your comforter amid loss? Your forgiver of a sinful choice? Your strength in a difficult task?

Take out a piece of paper and write down your list of thanks. Then take time to praise God for all He is and all He has done.

Let your balloon go! —Anne Cetas


From your heart give God your praise
For His blessings all your days;
Lift your voice to God above—
God of mercy, God of love. —Hess

Praise is the overflow of a joyful heart.