（詩篇一百三十六篇 Psalm 136）
有一首詩歌名為「數算主恩」，提醒我們要常常數算主的恩典。歌詞說，我們數算主的恩典時，要仔細地一樣樣地數算，不應含糊敷衍了事。
我把這一個月定為感恩月，也是因為十一月是感恩節的日子。我們要回顧過去一年，數算神在我們身上所給予的各種恩典，並向祂表達我們的愛與敬拜。
在下一個主日崇拜中，我們會一同數算主恩。我們會在敬拜中向主感恩，仔細把祂在過去十個月中向我們所施的恩典一一數算。我們要回去把主的恩典列出來，下主日我們會在敬拜中，在神的殿中作見證。
每一個人都有一點時間來數算主恩，在主面前獻上感恩的祭。我希望弟兄姊妹不要單單數算神給你的好處，或幫助你解決了什麼困難之類的感恩。這些固然很好，的確要感恩。我希望大家能數算在屬靈的操練上，神對你的提醒和教導。這些恩典是我們不能忘記的。我也希望你能分享神並沒有答應你的祈求，但卻安慰了你，給予你更大的信心和盼望。許多時候神不答應我們所求的，才是神要賜給我們最大的恩典。我們要懂得分辨神的祝福，也要為神賜給我們的一切來感恩。
這一週的屬靈功課就是數算主的恩典，把今年領受的各種各類的恩典寫下來，列一個明細表，並預備在下週敬拜時與大家分享，獻上感恩的祭。
There is a very beautiful hymn named “Count the Blessings”, and it reminds us to count the blessings always. The lyric says that we should count the blessings and name them one by one. When we count the blessings we should do it sincerely.
I want to use this month to be a thanksgiving month, since we are going to celebrate Thanksgiving soon. Let us look back to the past, and count the blessings that God has given us, and we will offer Him the thanks offering in love and worship.
In the following Sundays, we will count the blessings together in our worship services. In the worship services, we will name all the blessings one by one to show our gratitude to the Lord. It is also our witness to the Lord and His love to us.
The church will give everybody some time to count the blessings and offer your thanks offerings. I pray that we will not only count those material blessings or blessings of delivery from our difficult life situations, but also the blessings of some spiritual disciplines and the lessons we have learned from His teachings. Those are the blessings we should not forget. I also pray that you will count the blessings of the unanswered prayers that God did not give what you wanted but gave comfort and peace to substitute them. Let us count the blessings of faith and hope that God has given us instead of fulfilling our requests and desires, for those blessings are the biggest blessings we can get from God. May we know how to recognize the true blessings from God and give Him our deepest gratitude.
Let us work on our spiritual homework in this coming week, and list out all the blessings. We are going to count the blessings and name them one by one in our coming worship service.
知足樂 The Joy of Being Content
（腓立比書 Philippians 4:10-13）
中國有句老話，說，「知足常樂」。我們都希望快樂，但知足卻並不容易。
什麼才是足夠呢？有一個小孩子，面對一大堆糖果，但媽媽說拿一點就夠了，不要多取。那小孩子感到很為難，什麼才是夠了呢？他有一雙小手，兩個口袋。他抓滿了一隻小手，卻覺得不夠，又抓滿了另一隻手，還是覺得好像不夠，於是把兩隻手滿滿的糖果放在兩個口袋裡，再抓滿兩隻小手。當媽媽催著要離去時，小孩的眼睛還盯著那堆糖果，很不甘心的被媽媽拖著走了。那堆糖果帶給他的並不是快樂，而是不甘心和不足夠的痛苦。
保羅為什麼能夠說，「無論在什麼景況，都可以知足」呢？而且他從知足中獲得「大大的喜樂」。保羅說，他可以在富足中知足，也可以在貧乏中知足。他在第十三節告訴我們那個讓他知足的原因：在基督裡的滿足。
保羅因為常常在基督裡，所以他有力量去適應任何環境，並且把所有的環境都轉變成為他事奉主的機會。當他富足的時候，他有更多的資源去事奉主，並且可以向那些富有的人傳福音。當他貧窮的時候，他可以進入貧窮人當中，與他們經歷神，安慰他們，帶領他們認識基督。他的名聲很好的時候，他可以在權貴人中做見證；他被捕坐牢的時候，就向獄卒和犯人分享耶穌。保羅在任何環境中，都得著滿足和喜樂，因為他以耶穌基督為最大的滿足。
經文默想
你在生活中滿足的時候多，還是不滿足的時候多？你為什麼滿足，又為什麼不滿足？你如何評價保羅的「知足常樂」的人生？請細讀腓立比書4:10～13，並默想保羅的秘訣。
There is an old Chinese saying, “contentment gives you joy”. We all want to have joy, but it is not easy to be content.
How can a person be content? Once there was a child who was tempted by a big amount of candy, but his mom told him not to take more than he needed. The child felt very difficult for he did not know how much was enough. He had two little hands and two pockets. He grasped a handful of candy with one hand, but he did not feel it was enough. He grasped another handful of candy with the other hand. He did not want to stop for he still was not content with what he got, so he filled his two pockets full of the candy he grasped with his two little hands. He then grasped two more handfuls of candy with his hands again. When his mom told him that they had to leave, the child left the candies discontentedly. To this child candies did not give him any joy, but only discontent and pain.
How could Paul say he was satisfied with what he had? He also said that from this contentment he had great joy. Paul said that he was satisfied with too much as well as too little. Verse 13 tells us the reason of his contentment: the contentment in Christ.
The reason for Paul’s strength in facing all conditions, and transforming them into opportunities to serve the Lord, was his constant abiding in Christ. When he was rich, he had more resources to serve the Lord, and was able to reach out to the rich people. When he was poor, he could go to the poor to help them experience the presence of God in poverty and sadness. He could lead the poor to Christ. When he was highly esteemed he took the chance to witness to the nobilities and authorities. When he was arrested he preached to jailers and prisoners. Paul was content and had joy in all circumstances, because the joy he had in Christ had surpassed everything.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Do you have more joy in life or less? Why are you content? If you are not content, why are you not? How are you going to evaluate the contentment of Paul? Please read Philippians 4:10~13 carefully, and meditate on Paul’s secret.
中國有句老話，說，「知足常樂」。我們都希望快樂，但知足卻並不容易。
什麼才是足夠呢？有一個小孩子，面對一大堆糖果，但媽媽說拿一點就夠了，不要多取。那小孩子感到很為難，什麼才是夠了呢？他有一雙小手，兩個口袋。他抓滿了一隻小手，卻覺得不夠，又抓滿了另一隻手，還是覺得好像不夠，於是把兩隻手滿滿的糖果放在兩個口袋裡，再抓滿兩隻小手。當媽媽催著要離去時，小孩的眼睛還盯著那堆糖果，很不甘心的被媽媽拖著走了。那堆糖果帶給他的並不是快樂，而是不甘心和不足夠的痛苦。
保羅為什麼能夠說，「無論在什麼景況，都可以知足」呢？而且他從知足中獲得「大大的喜樂」。保羅說，他可以在富足中知足，也可以在貧乏中知足。他在第十三節告訴我們那個讓他知足的原因：在基督裡的滿足。
保羅因為常常在基督裡，所以他有力量去適應任何環境，並且把所有的環境都轉變成為他事奉主的機會。當他富足的時候，他有更多的資源去事奉主，並且可以向那些富有的人傳福音。當他貧窮的時候，他可以進入貧窮人當中，與他們經歷神，安慰他們，帶領他們認識基督。他的名聲很好的時候，他可以在權貴人中做見證；他被捕坐牢的時候，就向獄卒和犯人分享耶穌。保羅在任何環境中，都得著滿足和喜樂，因為他以耶穌基督為最大的滿足。
經文默想
你在生活中滿足的時候多，還是不滿足的時候多？你為什麼滿足，又為什麼不滿足？你如何評價保羅的「知足常樂」的人生？請細讀腓立比書4:10～13，並默想保羅的秘訣。
There is an old Chinese saying, “contentment gives you joy”. We all want to have joy, but it is not easy to be content.
How can a person be content? Once there was a child who was tempted by a big amount of candy, but his mom told him not to take more than he needed. The child felt very difficult for he did not know how much was enough. He had two little hands and two pockets. He grasped a handful of candy with one hand, but he did not feel it was enough. He grasped another handful of candy with the other hand. He did not want to stop for he still was not content with what he got, so he filled his two pockets full of the candy he grasped with his two little hands. He then grasped two more handfuls of candy with his hands again. When his mom told him that they had to leave, the child left the candies discontentedly. To this child candies did not give him any joy, but only discontent and pain.
How could Paul say he was satisfied with what he had? He also said that from this contentment he had great joy. Paul said that he was satisfied with too much as well as too little. Verse 13 tells us the reason of his contentment: the contentment in Christ.
The reason for Paul’s strength in facing all conditions, and transforming them into opportunities to serve the Lord, was his constant abiding in Christ. When he was rich, he had more resources to serve the Lord, and was able to reach out to the rich people. When he was poor, he could go to the poor to help them experience the presence of God in poverty and sadness. He could lead the poor to Christ. When he was highly esteemed he took the chance to witness to the nobilities and authorities. When he was arrested he preached to jailers and prisoners. Paul was content and had joy in all circumstances, because the joy he had in Christ had surpassed everything.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Do you have more joy in life or less? Why are you content? If you are not content, why are you not? How are you going to evaluate the contentment of Paul? Please read Philippians 4:10~13 carefully, and meditate on Paul’s secret.
心存溫柔 To Have a Gentle Heart
（腓立比書 Philippians 4:1-9）
保羅從勸勉兩位爭吵的領袖要在主裡同心，到鼓勵我們心存溫柔（謙讓的心），到要求我們常常靠主喜樂；他為何把這些表面看來各不相關的東西串連在一起呢？
原來我們的喜樂都是從人際關係中來的。我們與人處不來，就不會有喜樂。但是要如何幫助人建立和諧的人際關係呢？保羅提出一個最有效，也最基本的方法，就是有基督耶穌的心腸。如果兩個人都同有基督耶穌的心腸，他們就能化解矛盾，可以相親相愛，享受和諧健康的人際關係，生活就必然充滿喜樂。
基督耶穌的心是什麼心呢？耶穌說，祂的心是柔和謙卑的心（太11:29）。這是一種什麼心呢？它所指的並不單是我們所理解的溫柔的言語和體貼待人的態度，當然這些都包括在內，而且是有了基督溫柔的心所必然產生的效果。耶穌基督的柔和謙卑是向著父神的，因為祂對父神和祂的旨意非常敏銳，而且充滿愛慕和順服。祂體會父神差祂來到人間的心意，甘心樂意體現神寬恕人的大愛，並為此而犧牲祂自己。這就是耶穌的柔和謙卑，也是保羅要求我們要有的基督的心，或在基督裡同心，而這樣的同心就會體現了基督的溫柔，有基督柔和謙卑的心。所以，保羅不是要求我們尋求人與人之間的同心，或同一的想法。這是很難的，是不可能的，也是不需要的。誰應放棄他的思想呢？誰有權要求別人放棄他的想法、委屈他的需要，來滿足另一個人的想法和需要呢？但是我們自己可以作出這樣的要求，要求自己放棄自己的思法，放棄尋求滿足自己的需要。然而這樣做實在太難，幾乎沒有人會願意這樣做的，因為所有人都是自私的，都是極自我中心的。
保羅不是向我們講人的道德和人的道理，他乃是要求我們被耶穌救贖的人，去體會耶穌的心，去體會神的愛。讓耶穌的生命影響我們的生命、讓耶穌溫柔的心成為我們溫柔的心。保羅說，我們當以耶穌的心為心（2:5）。
經文默想
當你重讀這主日的經文時，請你檢查自己的人際關係：在誰身上你是最缺乏基督的心的？保羅的教導能否幫助你有更多基督的心？
From urging two quarrelling people to have same mind in Christ, to encouraging us to be gentle, to urging again us to have joy in the Lord; why Paul had put three totally different things in one essay to teach the Christians in Philippi?
There is no surprise to know that our joy comes from our relationship with others. If we always have problem to relate to people, our life will be miserable. But how can we help people build good and healthy relationship? Paul told us a very effective and fundamental way, and it is to have the same heart of Christ. If two people have the heart of Jesus, they can resolve conflict and love each other again. Their relationship will be healthy and their lives will fill with joy and happiness.
What kind of heart did Christ have? Jesus said that he was gentle and humble in spirit (Matt 11:29). What does it mean to be gentle and humble in spirit? It does not only imply to soft words and compassion, of course they are included, but more important to a sensitive heart toward God and the obedience to His will. Jesus was so sensitive to God and filled with the Father’s love, that he could submit to God wholeheartedly with no reservation. His life was a manifestation of the forgiving love of God through His sacrifice. This is the gentleness of Christ that Paul urged us to imitate. This is the meaning of having the same mind or heart of Christ. Paul wanted us to have the same heart of Christ, so that we will also become a manifestation of Jesus’ gentleness. Paul did not mean that we should unify our thinking and needs, for it is not possible and unnecessary. Who has the right to overrule others thought and needs? Only we can ask ourselves to sacrifice for others, but not vice versa. But still it is too difficult to give up our perspectives and needs, because we are too selfish and self-centered.
Paul did not argue with us from morality or reason. He asked us, as a redeemed race, to have the same heart of Jesus to be sensitive to God’s love for people. Let Jesus’ life transform us to have the same compassion He has for others. Paul said that our hearts should be the same as that of Jesus (2:5).
Meditation on the Scripture:
When you reread the Scripture passage of this Sunday, please look into your relationships to find out to whom you have less Christ like compassion. Will this Bible passage help you to have the same mind of Christ?
保羅從勸勉兩位爭吵的領袖要在主裡同心，到鼓勵我們心存溫柔（謙讓的心），到要求我們常常靠主喜樂；他為何把這些表面看來各不相關的東西串連在一起呢？
原來我們的喜樂都是從人際關係中來的。我們與人處不來，就不會有喜樂。但是要如何幫助人建立和諧的人際關係呢？保羅提出一個最有效，也最基本的方法，就是有基督耶穌的心腸。如果兩個人都同有基督耶穌的心腸，他們就能化解矛盾，可以相親相愛，享受和諧健康的人際關係，生活就必然充滿喜樂。
基督耶穌的心是什麼心呢？耶穌說，祂的心是柔和謙卑的心（太11:29）。這是一種什麼心呢？它所指的並不單是我們所理解的溫柔的言語和體貼待人的態度，當然這些都包括在內，而且是有了基督溫柔的心所必然產生的效果。耶穌基督的柔和謙卑是向著父神的，因為祂對父神和祂的旨意非常敏銳，而且充滿愛慕和順服。祂體會父神差祂來到人間的心意，甘心樂意體現神寬恕人的大愛，並為此而犧牲祂自己。這就是耶穌的柔和謙卑，也是保羅要求我們要有的基督的心，或在基督裡同心，而這樣的同心就會體現了基督的溫柔，有基督柔和謙卑的心。所以，保羅不是要求我們尋求人與人之間的同心，或同一的想法。這是很難的，是不可能的，也是不需要的。誰應放棄他的思想呢？誰有權要求別人放棄他的想法、委屈他的需要，來滿足另一個人的想法和需要呢？但是我們自己可以作出這樣的要求，要求自己放棄自己的思法，放棄尋求滿足自己的需要。然而這樣做實在太難，幾乎沒有人會願意這樣做的，因為所有人都是自私的，都是極自我中心的。
保羅不是向我們講人的道德和人的道理，他乃是要求我們被耶穌救贖的人，去體會耶穌的心，去體會神的愛。讓耶穌的生命影響我們的生命、讓耶穌溫柔的心成為我們溫柔的心。保羅說，我們當以耶穌的心為心（2:5）。
經文默想
當你重讀這主日的經文時，請你檢查自己的人際關係：在誰身上你是最缺乏基督的心的？保羅的教導能否幫助你有更多基督的心？
From urging two quarrelling people to have same mind in Christ, to encouraging us to be gentle, to urging again us to have joy in the Lord; why Paul had put three totally different things in one essay to teach the Christians in Philippi?
There is no surprise to know that our joy comes from our relationship with others. If we always have problem to relate to people, our life will be miserable. But how can we help people build good and healthy relationship? Paul told us a very effective and fundamental way, and it is to have the same heart of Christ. If two people have the heart of Jesus, they can resolve conflict and love each other again. Their relationship will be healthy and their lives will fill with joy and happiness.
What kind of heart did Christ have? Jesus said that he was gentle and humble in spirit (Matt 11:29). What does it mean to be gentle and humble in spirit? It does not only imply to soft words and compassion, of course they are included, but more important to a sensitive heart toward God and the obedience to His will. Jesus was so sensitive to God and filled with the Father’s love, that he could submit to God wholeheartedly with no reservation. His life was a manifestation of the forgiving love of God through His sacrifice. This is the gentleness of Christ that Paul urged us to imitate. This is the meaning of having the same mind or heart of Christ. Paul wanted us to have the same heart of Christ, so that we will also become a manifestation of Jesus’ gentleness. Paul did not mean that we should unify our thinking and needs, for it is not possible and unnecessary. Who has the right to overrule others thought and needs? Only we can ask ourselves to sacrifice for others, but not vice versa. But still it is too difficult to give up our perspectives and needs, because we are too selfish and self-centered.
Paul did not argue with us from morality or reason. He asked us, as a redeemed race, to have the same heart of Jesus to be sensitive to God’s love for people. Let Jesus’ life transform us to have the same compassion He has for others. Paul said that our hearts should be the same as that of Jesus (2:5).
Meditation on the Scripture:
When you reread the Scripture passage of this Sunday, please look into your relationships to find out to whom you have less Christ like compassion. Will this Bible passage help you to have the same mind of Christ?
不要專顧地上事 Set Our Mind on No Earthly Things
（腓立比書 Philippians 3:17-21）
聖經常常用地上的事、世界的事，或情慾的事，來分別天上的事和屬靈的事。什麼是地上的事呢？地上的事跟天上的事應如何分別呢？
有人以為凡是屬於權力、名利、娛樂等東西就是屬世的。相反地，凡是教會的事，或傳福音佈道等，都是屬靈的事。其實這種劃分法不一定對的，也太簡化了實際的生活。固然在教會事奉神，做教會的事，或傳福音，或栽培信徒等，都是跟屬靈的事有關的，但也不能就確定這些事是屬靈的。尋求權力、追逐名利，或享受娛樂等，看來都是很世俗的，但也不一定跟屬靈的事全不相關。
其實，屬靈或屬世，不是事情本身，乃是做事的人的態度，和做事的目的。有人以做生意的才幹作為神賜給他的恩賜，以他的生意和其中的利潤來服事神。也有人為了天國的事工爭取一些權力，使工作能更有果效。另一方面，卻有人在教會中爭權奪利，以事奉佈道來滿足自己的名利慾。
那麼，是否屬地或屬天，應如何劃分呢？凡是為神做的，不是為了自己的，都是屬靈的。這是一種態度，不是所做的事的本身。這就是保羅前面說的，「活著就是基督」的意思。我們活著所做的任何事情，都是為了基督的，都是為了別人的得救或靈命成長的，不管我們是做生意賺錢，去教書或做研究，或與朋友消閒娛樂，都是屬靈的事，天上的事。
我們可以說，是屬靈的人把地上的事轉變成天上的事。保羅要求我們不要專注自己和自己的需要，要把頭抬起，把眼睛望向神，去做神喜歡的事，可以榮耀祂的事。
經文默想
請把這主日的經文重讀一遍，並檢查自己的生活是否太專注於地上的事呢？你如何才能把專注於地上的心態，轉成專注於天上的呢？
Earthly things, worldliness, or fleshly wishes are concepts that the Bible usually uses to separate from heavenly things or spiritual concerns. We may ask what exactly do those terms mean. What are the differences we can tell from these terms?
Some one may think that things that involve power, fame, money and pleasure are secular. On the other hand, whatever the church does is spiritual, especially if things are related to missions and evangelism. As a matter of fact, this division is not totally correct, and may oversimplify the case. Even though serving God in His church and doing ministry or sharing Jesus and training disciples are spiritual endeavors, they may not be spiritual to people with the wrong attitude. However, if we seek power, make money and participate in some entertainments for the Lord and His kingdom, they will not be as secular as they look.
In fact, things in themselves are neither secular nor spiritual; it is the attitude of Christians to make them one or the other. Some one uses his business skill as gift from the Lord to serve Him in business. Others use their power to make ministry effective. On the other hand, however, there are people that fight for power and privilege in the church, and use ministry as a way to gain their fame.
How should we distinguish spiritual from worldly? We should say that whatever people do for God and not for self is spiritual. It is a matter of attitude. It was what Paul had mentioned previously; the attitude of “to live is Christ.” It does not matter if we do business, or teach, or study, or even have fun with friends, they are all spiritual if we do it for the Lord and to lead people to Christ.
We believe that only spiritual people make things spiritual. Paul urged us to look upward not downward, to please and glorify God with things that we do. We should not focus so much on ourselves or our needs.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please reread this Bible passage and reexamine our lives to see if we focus too much on the earthly things. How should we change our attention from the below to the above?
聖經常常用地上的事、世界的事，或情慾的事，來分別天上的事和屬靈的事。什麼是地上的事呢？地上的事跟天上的事應如何分別呢？
有人以為凡是屬於權力、名利、娛樂等東西就是屬世的。相反地，凡是教會的事，或傳福音佈道等，都是屬靈的事。其實這種劃分法不一定對的，也太簡化了實際的生活。固然在教會事奉神，做教會的事，或傳福音，或栽培信徒等，都是跟屬靈的事有關的，但也不能就確定這些事是屬靈的。尋求權力、追逐名利，或享受娛樂等，看來都是很世俗的，但也不一定跟屬靈的事全不相關。
其實，屬靈或屬世，不是事情本身，乃是做事的人的態度，和做事的目的。有人以做生意的才幹作為神賜給他的恩賜，以他的生意和其中的利潤來服事神。也有人為了天國的事工爭取一些權力，使工作能更有果效。另一方面，卻有人在教會中爭權奪利，以事奉佈道來滿足自己的名利慾。
那麼，是否屬地或屬天，應如何劃分呢？凡是為神做的，不是為了自己的，都是屬靈的。這是一種態度，不是所做的事的本身。這就是保羅前面說的，「活著就是基督」的意思。我們活著所做的任何事情，都是為了基督的，都是為了別人的得救或靈命成長的，不管我們是做生意賺錢，去教書或做研究，或與朋友消閒娛樂，都是屬靈的事，天上的事。
我們可以說，是屬靈的人把地上的事轉變成天上的事。保羅要求我們不要專注自己和自己的需要，要把頭抬起，把眼睛望向神，去做神喜歡的事，可以榮耀祂的事。
經文默想
請把這主日的經文重讀一遍，並檢查自己的生活是否太專注於地上的事呢？你如何才能把專注於地上的心態，轉成專注於天上的呢？
Earthly things, worldliness, or fleshly wishes are concepts that the Bible usually uses to separate from heavenly things or spiritual concerns. We may ask what exactly do those terms mean. What are the differences we can tell from these terms?
Some one may think that things that involve power, fame, money and pleasure are secular. On the other hand, whatever the church does is spiritual, especially if things are related to missions and evangelism. As a matter of fact, this division is not totally correct, and may oversimplify the case. Even though serving God in His church and doing ministry or sharing Jesus and training disciples are spiritual endeavors, they may not be spiritual to people with the wrong attitude. However, if we seek power, make money and participate in some entertainments for the Lord and His kingdom, they will not be as secular as they look.
In fact, things in themselves are neither secular nor spiritual; it is the attitude of Christians to make them one or the other. Some one uses his business skill as gift from the Lord to serve Him in business. Others use their power to make ministry effective. On the other hand, however, there are people that fight for power and privilege in the church, and use ministry as a way to gain their fame.
How should we distinguish spiritual from worldly? We should say that whatever people do for God and not for self is spiritual. It is a matter of attitude. It was what Paul had mentioned previously; the attitude of “to live is Christ.” It does not matter if we do business, or teach, or study, or even have fun with friends, they are all spiritual if we do it for the Lord and to lead people to Christ.
We believe that only spiritual people make things spiritual. Paul urged us to look upward not downward, to please and glorify God with things that we do. We should not focus so much on ourselves or our needs.
Meditation on the Scripture:
Please reread this Bible passage and reexamine our lives to see if we focus too much on the earthly things. How should we change our attention from the below to the above?
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