第六章

¹³神應許亞伯拉罕的時候，因為沒有比自己更大的可以指著起誓，他就指著自己起誓，¹⁴說：“我必定賜福給你，必定使你的後裔繁多。”¹⁵這樣，亞伯拉罕耐心等待，終於獲得了所應許的。¹⁶因為人起誓都是指著比自己大的起誓。這誓言就了結了他們中間的一切糾紛，作為保證。¹⁷照樣，神定意向那些承受應許的人，更清楚地表明他的旨意是不更改的，就用起誓作保證。¹⁸這兩件事是不能更改的，因為神是決不說謊的。因此，我們這些逃進避難所的人，就大得安慰，抓緊那擺在我們面前的盼望。¹⁹我們有這盼望，就像靈魂的錨，又穩當又堅固，通過幔子直進到裡面。²⁰耶穌已經為我們作先鋒進入了幔子裡面；他是照著麥基洗德的體系，成了永遠的大祭司。

 

默想

1. 慢慢地出聲讀一遍這段經文。再讀一遍，留意經文對「應許」和「盼望」的強調。
2. 思想一下，我生命中是否充滿了盼望？若不是，盼望的相反就是沮喪、懷疑、憤世。這段經文怎樣說明盼望？
3. 再讀一遍這段經文。這些詞語當中：「保證、不更改、抓緊、盼望、又穩當又堅固」，是否有哪幾個詞句特別觸動我的？為什麼這個字或詞今天對我這麼特別？。
4. 今天，以一個極大期盼的態度——期待與信靠——來渡過，這就是在神國中，屬神的子女，每天的生活情況。

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

CHAPTER 6

¹³When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, ¹⁴saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”¹⁵And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

¹⁶Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. ¹⁷Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

MEDITATION

1. Slowly read the passage aloud twice, note the emphasis on “promises” and “hope”.
2. Reflect on the role of hope in my life.  The opposites of hope are despair, suspicion, doubt, and cynicism.  What does this passage tell me about hope?
3. Read the passage aloud one more time.  Among the phrases, such as “swear”, “unchanging”, “take hold of the hope”, “firm” and “secure”, what words or phrases stand out to me?  Why are they important for me today?
4. Walk through this day with an attitude of greater hope – expectancy, anticipation and trust.  This is what everyday life in the kingdom of God looks like.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the  “Spiritual Journal” book.