Tuesday, 31 August 2021
Title: God Is At Work
By: Amanda Foo

Today marks the 64th year of Malaysia’s independence. It is probably difficult for many of us to take pride in our country right now, especially when we look at the state of our politics. In the span of three years, we’ve had our premiership changed thrice; leaving many of us disenchanted.

Yet, Romans 13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” According to Paul, our rulers have been put in place by God for His good purposes, and to rebel would be to disobey God’s authority and ultimately, oppose God. This can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when our country’s leaders are far from ideal.

However, notice that Paul does not say that those who occupy positions of authority are good people. Rather, Paul is saying that God is working through human government, and this can sometimes mean evil men being appointed to leadership positions so that God’s good purposes can be accomplished.

Take Nebuchadnezzar for example. He was not a “good” man, but God made him the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord’s “servant”, was used to bring down Israel, take Israel captive and hold the nation as slaves for 70 years. It must have been difficult for Israelites to decipher God’s agenda at that time. Nonetheless, God’s purpose was still being carried out. Without their temple, the Israelites learned that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). They learned the importance of obeying God’s commands. During this time, the Israelites were able to renew their faith. They returned from Babylon with a renewed focus on being faithful to God (see below for Ezra’s prayer of confession).
Now, our God, what can we say in light of this? For we have abandoned the commands you gave through your servants the prophets, saying “The land you are entering to possess is an impure land. The surrounding peoples have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness by their impurity and detestable practices…” After all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt – though you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have allowed us to survive – should we break your commands again and intermarry with the peoples you commit these detestable practices? Wouldn’t you become so angry with us that you would destroy us, leaving neither remnant nor survivor? Lord God of Israel, you are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence because of this.” Ezra 9:10-11, 13-15 (CSB).

Let us not lose hope. It’s hard to see it now, but God has a plan for Malaysia. And it is playing out as He has willed it to be. As for us – let us shine the light of God’s love during this turbulent time. As far as it depends on us, let us live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:18) and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

Prayer: Dear God, just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are Your ways higher than our ways, and Your thoughts than our thoughts. And so, we commit our country to You today. Though Malaysia is far from perfect, we want to thank You for the nation that You’ve given us. Thank You for the abundance and peace that You’ve blessed us with. Thank You that the national vaccination program is progressing well. We pray for Your intervention Lord, that the pandemic will be contained soon so that lives may go on. As for Your servants, help us to live at peace with everyone and give us the strength and courage to overcome evil with good. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

班底浸信教会
每日灵粮
星期二，2021年8月31日
标题：上帝在动工
作者：符伟敏姐妹
翻译：陈晓佩姐妹

今天是马来西亚独立64周年。我们当中许多人或许现在很难为我们的国家感到自豪，尤其是当我们看到我们的政治状况时。在三年的时间里，我们三次更换了首相；让我们不敢再抱有幻想。

然而，罗马书13:1说：“在上有权柄的，人人当顺服他，因为没有权柄不是出于神的。凡掌权的都是神所命的。” 按照保罗的说法，我们的统治者是上帝为祂的美好旨意而设立的，反叛是违背上帝的权柄，最终是与上帝为敌。这是必须接受的严酷事实，尤其是当我们的国家领袖远非理想的时候。

然而，注意保罗并没有说那些占据权威地位的人是好人。相反地，保罗是说上帝通过人的政府来运作，有时候意味着邪恶的人被任命为领袖，以成就上帝美好的旨意。

以尼布甲尼撒为例。他并不是一个 “好” 人，但是上帝使他成为巴比伦王。尼布甲尼撒是上帝的 “仆人”， 被用来攻下以色列，俘虏以色列人，奴役以色列人70年。当时的以色列人必定很难理解上帝的计划。尽管如此，上帝的旨意仍然实行了。没有圣殿，以色列人学到听命胜于献祭（撒母耳记上15:22），他们学会了遵守上帝诫命的重要性。在此期间，以色列人得以更新他们的信心。他们从巴比伦回来，重新专注在忠于上帝（见下文以斯拉的认罪祷告）。

我们的神啊，既是如此，我们还有什么话可说呢？因为我们已经离弃祢的命令，就是祢借祢仆人众先知所吩咐的说：“你们要去得为业之地是污秽之地；因列国之民的污秽和可憎的事，叫全地从这边直到那边满了污秽。。。” 神啊，我们因自己的恶行和大罪，遭遇了这一切的事，并且祢刑罚我们轻于我们罪所当得的，又给我们留下这些人。耶和华——以色列的神啊，因祢是公义的，我们这剩下的人才得逃脱，正如今日的光景。看哪，我们在你面前有罪恶，因此无人在祢面前站立得住。【以斯拉记9:10-11，13-15】（和合本）

让我们不要失去盼望。现在很难看到，但是上帝在马来西亚有一个计划；它正在按照祂的意愿行事。至于我们 － 让我们在这动荡的时期闪耀上帝之爱的光。这取决于我们，让我们和所有人和平相处（罗马书12:18）并以善胜恶（罗马书12:21）。

祷告

亲爱的上帝，正如天高过地，祢的道路高过我们的道路，祢的意念高过我们的意念。因此，我们今天将我们的国家交给祢。 虽然马来西亚远非完美，但是我们要感谢祢赐给我们这个国家。谢谢祢赐福予我们的丰盛和平安，谢谢祢让国家的疫苗计划顺利地进行。主啊，我们祈求祢的介入，好让大流行疫情将很快受到控制，以便我们的生活可以如常。至于祢的仆人，求祢帮助我们与每个人和平相处，并给我们力量和勇气以善胜恶。我们奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。