成为天国的好公民 Good Citizen Mordecai

作者:每日箴言   来源:普世佳音

那些抵挡魔鬼,以及在世界各地为基督受苦的人,都是神国的好公民。神亦应许,衪会加添我们力量和赐勇气给我们,去面对我们前面的道路。

“末底改坐在朝门 ...... 。” - 帖 2:19

  在路得和以斯帖的年代,百姓们喜欢在城门口聚集,听取意见,解决诉讼,或寻求智慧之言。因为这样,那里也成为新闻和闲话流传的地方。末底改也喜欢在那里流连。有一天他在那里偷听到有人刺杀王的阴谋,在他的慬慎智慧的处理下,末底改救了王的性命。末底改堪称是一个好公民。

  哈曼是宫廷新贵,是波斯国中第二位最有权力的官员,但末底改拒绝在朝门向他下跪。哈曼是亚玛力王亚甲的后裔,神在很久以前已经宣告亚玛力人是与祂为敌的,因为当衪的子民在旷野时,亚玛力人曾趁他们无力脆弱之时攻击他们(出埃及记 17:8-16; 申命记 25:19)。末底改和以色列第一任君王扫罗同出一族,所以末底改拒绝顺服神的宿敌。

  使徒彼得教导我们,要为主的缘故顺服人的权柄(彼得前书 2:13-17),事奉主的人要遵行这诫命,争取做所在国家的好公民。然而,彼得也警戒我们,要防避神的宿敌魔鬼,因它矢志要毁灭我们。那些抵挡魔鬼,以及在世界各地为基督受苦的人,都是神国的好公民。神还应许,衪会加添我们力量和勇气,去面对前面的道路(彼得前书 5:8-10)。

祷告

主啊,当我在世上努力更有智慧地生活时,求祢坚固我,叫我成为天国的好公民。奉耶稣的名祷告,阿们。

 

以斯帖记 2:17-3:6 Esther 2:17-3:6

17王爱以斯帖过于爱众女,她在王眼前蒙宠爱比众处女更甚。王就把王后的冠冕戴在她头上,立她为王后,代替瓦实提。
18王因以斯帖的缘故给众首领和臣仆设摆大筵席,又豁免各省的租税,并照王的厚意大颁赏赐。
19第二次招聚处女的时候,末底改坐在朝门。
20以斯帖照着末底改所嘱咐的,还没有将籍贯宗族告诉人;因为以斯帖遵*末底改的命,如抚养她的时候一样。
21当那时候,末底改坐在朝门,王的太监中有两个守门的,辟探和提列,恼恨亚哈随鲁王,想要下手害他。
22末底改知道了,就告诉王后以斯帖。以斯帖奉末底改的名,报告于王;
23究察这事,果然是实,就把二人挂在木头上,将这事在王面前写于历史上。
1这事以后,亚哈随鲁王抬举亚甲族哈米大他的儿子哈曼,使他高升,叫他的爵位超过与他同事的一切臣宰。
2在朝门的一切臣仆都跪拜哈曼,因为王如此吩咐;惟独末底改不跪不拜。
3在朝门的臣仆问末底改说:“你为何违背王的命令呢?”
4他们天天劝他,他还是不听,他们就告诉哈曼,要看末底改的事站得住站不住,因他已经告诉他们自己是犹大人。
5哈曼见末底改不跪不拜,他就怒气填胸。
6他们已将末底改的本族告诉哈曼;他以为下手害末底改一人是小事,就要灭绝亚哈随鲁王通国所有的犹大人,就是末底改的本族。

 

Good Citizen Mordecai

"Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate . . . . "— Esther 2:19

英语音频 English audio

In the days of Ruth and Esther people went to the city gate for advice, for legal decisions, for wisdom. All the worthwhile news and gossip were available there also. Mordecai spent time sitting at the king’s gate, and while he was there, he overheard plans to assassinate the king. Because he let the right people know about this plot, Mordecai saved the king’s life. Good citizen Mordecai.

At this gate Mordecai also refused to kneel to Haman, the newly elevated, second most powerful official in Persia. Haman, we learn, was a descendant of Agag, an Amalekite king, and God had declared the Amalekites his enemy long ago because they had attacked his people when they were weak and vulnerable in the desert (Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 25:19). We also know that Mordecai was from the same clan as Saul, Israel’s first king. Mordecai refused to honor God’s ancient enemy.

The apostle Peter teaches us to honor human authorities for the Lord’s sake (1 Peter 2:13-17). Servants of the Lord who live by these instructions are good citizens. But Peter also warns against God’s ancient enemy, the devil, who seeks to destroy us. Servants of God who resist the devil, along with others around the world who undergo suffering for Christ, are good citizens of the kingdom of God. And God promises that he will strengthen us and give us courage to face what lies ahead (1Peter 5:8-10).

Prayer

Strengthen me, Lord, to be a good citizen of heaven as I seek to live wisely here on earth. Amen.

 

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳


发布日期:2017-01-11