Monday, 11 May 2020

PROVERBS 11

1 The LORD detests dishonest scales,
but accurate weights find favor with him. (NIV)

1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight. (NKJV)

Honesty and integrity are not easy subjects to put a handle on nowadays. The marketplace has become increasingly more complex, especially that which has been digitalised. Therefore, unless one is an expert, an obtuse technical report or dialogue can easily hide or mask disclosure and total truthfulness. Transparency is an ideal, yet in the public arena, it is not always forthcoming.

For those who confess Christ as Lord, though, the standards are clear: the pursuit of holiness is an expectation and total integrity and honesty is the goal. The test is simple, ”Was the speaker totally honest?”, ”Was there an intention to deceive or conceal?”, ”Was there less than full disclosure?” Leviticus 19:11 commands that we are not to lie to one another.

Because God is holy, He can never excuse or overlook any sin we commit, however small it may seem. Repentance and confession (1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness) after one realises he has committed a sin, is necessary. Sometimes it will be before the aggrieved party or before caring brothers or sisters who help hold us accountable.

It is a journey, no doubt, and the expectation is not perfection by any means. But because God is holy, He hates sin. Hate is such a strong word and some may dislike its tone.

That is where verse 1 comes in. It tells us an aspect of God’s character. In short, it reads:

The LORD detests dishonesty (NIV)

Dishonesty (is) an abomination to the LORD (NKJV)

This word, abomination is the most widely used word in the various translations I looked at.

We should hate the sin of dishonesty or, as some may call it, shading the truth if it is an issue in our lives. It might be a habit which we find hard to shake. But God can and will help us overcome it if we are willing. Identify it. Admit it. Ask Him for the strength and desire to honour Him with a life of total integrity. With the enabling of the Holy Spirit, you can emerge victorious in this battle.

7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
all the promise of their power comes to nothing. (NIV)

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes. (NKJV)

His expectation will perish: The wicked man or woman often expects blessing and goodness, but that expectation will perish when they die and face the judgment to come to all men and women (Hebrews 9:27). Whereupon was that hope placed? Mere mortals.

The hope of the unjust perishes. The hopes of the wicked end up only being wishes and wishes that are bitterly disappointed.

Upon whose promises have you placed your hopes for spiritual salvation? Do you abound in that hope? Be very sure that your hopes are not based on hearsay or wishful thinking. The consequences will be everlasting.

Those who believe in Christ look forward to the day when Christ shall return to wipe every tear from our eyes and put an end to evil and suffering (Revelation 21:4).

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is our real hope. He is the one who has conquered the problems of sin and death that plague humankind—by defeating these at the cross and by His resurrection. Let us look to Him and be encouraged even as the storm gathers. He has overcome the world.

John 16:33 – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

PRAYER

Our Gracious Heavenly Father

Let our souls rise up to meet You,
as the day rises to meet the sun.

Psalm 9
1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

19 Arise, O LORD,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men.
Selah

We thank you Lord, that you are a righteous judge and that the upright and honest have no reason to fear you. We are grateful that you are our rock and fortress, our refuge and redeemer. You will not go back on your promises, on Your Word; you will never forsake us.

Father, grant us perseverance and steadfastness as our nation enters four more weeks of conditional MCO. We pray the risks identified with the ‘red zones’ will be well under control by the end of this period. We pray also that other potential clusters will be dealt with promptly by the authorities. We pray for the families undergoing additional hardship in these areas.

We commit the well-being of our PBC worshippers and friends to you. For those who do not know the Lord Jesus, speak to them, O Lord, in the clearest way possible. May they discover new life in Christ that leads to life everlasting during this difficult time.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ps Cheng Cheung

xxx

每日灵粮
11/5/20
作者：张祯祥传道
箴言11: 1

诡诈的天平是耶和华所厌恶的，
准确的法码是他所喜悦的。

诚实和正直都是现今不容易掌握的课题。 市场变得越来越复杂，尤其是数字营销。 因此，除非一个人是专家，否则愚钝的报告或人与人之间的对话很容易隐藏、掩盖或披露真理。 透明度是一种理想，但在公共舞台上，它并不常发生。

对于那些认基督为主的人，标准是明确的：追求圣洁是一种期望，完全正直和诚实是目标。 测试很简单：”说话的人是否完全诚实？”，”有没有意图欺骗或隐瞒？”，”有没有完全揭发？”利未记19:11命令我们不要彼此说谎。

因为上帝是圣洁的，他永远不能原谅或忽视我们犯下的任何罪，无论它看起来多么小。当一个人意识到自己犯了罪，悔改和认罪是必要的 （约翰一书1:9我们若承认自己的罪，　神是信实的、公义的，必定赦免我们的罪，洁净我们脱离一切不义。） 有时我们要在受害人面前认罪，或者是在关怀及帮助我们承担责任的弟兄姐妹姐妹面前悔改。

毫无疑问，这是一段旅程，我们的期望不该是奢望十全十美。 但因为神是圣洁的，他恨恶罪。 仇恨是一个如此强烈的词，有些人可能不喜欢它的语气。这就是11章第1节。 它告诉我们神属性的一方面。简而言之，它的意思是：“耶和华憎恶诈骗”

这个词，憎恶是我看过的各种翻译中使用最广泛的词。我们应该厌恶不诚实的罪。不诚实就像有些人所说，如果我们生活中有问题，那就遮蔽真相。 这可能是一种常犯的习惯，很难改变。 但如果我们愿意，上帝可以并且会帮助我们克服它。 先找出错误，再认罪。 祈求他给力量和赐你意愿以正直的生活荣耀他。 随着圣灵的大能，你可以在这场战斗中取得胜利。

箴言 11:7
恶人一死，他的希望就幻灭；
有能力的人的盼望也消灭了。

他的期望会幻灭：邪恶的男人或女人常常期许祝福和良善，但是当他们死了，面对审判，这种期望会灭亡（希伯来书9：27）。 那盼望寄存在哪里呢？ 只不过是凡人。

恶人的希望会幻灭：恶人的希望最终只是愿望，而且是令人极度失望的愿望。

你把属灵的救赎希望寄存于谁呢？你满有盼望吗？ 你要非常肯定你的希望不是基于道听途说或一厢情愿的想法。 后果将是永恒的。
“他要抹去他们的一切眼泪，不再有死亡，也不再有悲哀、哭号、痛苦，因为先前的事都过去了。” (启示录21:4）。

主耶稣基督才是我们真正的希望。 透过十字架和他的复活，他战胜了困扰人类的罪和死亡的问题。即使风暴来临，让我们仰望主也备受鼓舞，因他已经战胜了世界。

约翰福音16:33″我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。”

今日祷告

我们感谢你主，你是一个公正的审判官，正直和诚实的人没有理由畏惧你。 我们感恩，因你是我们的磐石和山寨，我们的避难所和救赎主。 你不会违背你的诺言和你的话。你永远不会离弃我们。

父啊，请帮助我们有坚定的毅力，因为我们全国将进入第四个星期的‘有条件’行管令。 我们祈祷在这一期结束后，”红色区域”所确认的风险能够得到控制。 我们也祈求有关当局能够迅速处理潜在的病毒感染集群。 我们为在这些地区经历困难的家庭祷告。

我们为PBC崇拜者的健康代求。 对于那些不认识主耶稣的，哦主，让他们清楚地听到你说的话。在这艰难的时刻， 愿他们发现在基督里带来永恒的新生命。

巫惠如译