Love and Obey

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (NLT) "So commit yourselves wholeheartedly 
to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on 
your forehead as reminders. 19 Teach them to your children. Talk 
about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you 
are going to bed and when you are getting up. 20 Write them on the 
doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 so that as long as the sky 
remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land 
the Lord swore to give your ancestors."  
 
Faithfully Obey. Note how intimately this chapter links 
remembering and responding. Again and again Moses reminded his listeners of 
what God had said and done. On this basis he called on Israel to 
"love the Lord your God and keep His requirements" (v. 1), to "observe 
therefore all the commands" (v. 8), to "faithfully obey the commands" (v. 
13), to "be careful" to worship God only (v. 16), and to "carefully 
observe all these commands I am giving you to follow--to love the Lord 
your God, to walk in all His ways and to hold fast to Him" (v. 22). 
Yet Moses did more than appeal to the past to show the value of 
obedience. He looked ahead as well, and linked the divine promise of future 
blessing to loving and serving God. In remembering God and how He had 
dealt with His people Moses was "setting before you today a blessing 
and a curse--the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your 
God... the curse if you disobey." What God has done, He will do. For 
God is faithful and consistent. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary] 
 
God asks that His people obey Him because their obedience is 
their strength and life (vv. 8-9). They could not prosper in the land 
without God's constant care and blessing (Matt. 8:33). The Word in the 
heart will control the hand, the eyes and the tongue and will protect 
and direct the household (vv. 18-19).  His "I will" is all the 
promise we need! If we choose to obey, God will bless, even though we 
may experience trials and burdens. If we choose to disobey, God will 
still keep His promise and chasten us. If we love Him (vv. 1, 13, 22), 
we will obey Him, and in that obedience is life.

Just Professing or Really Living For The Lord?

Luke 6:46 (NLT) So why do you call me 'Lord,' when you won't 
obey me?  

True obedience is not just words but deeds, and it involves 
hearing the Word and doing it (1 Thess. 2:13). Judas knew the 
vocabulary, but he did not do the will of God; and when the storm came, his 
house fell. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re 
Luke 6] 
 
   It is not enough to say, "Lord, Lord." The person who has 
actually experienced forgiveness is the one who comes to Christ, who 
hears Christ's words, and who puts them into practice. In other words, 
when that inner transformation has well and truly taken place we will 
be drawn to Jesus, continually looking and turning to Him. We will 
be eager listeners to His Word. And we will be obedient 
practitioners of His Word. 

And, when the storms come, the cloak of the one who pretends 
to have faith, whose commitment is merely intellectual, and who 
enjoys dabbling in Christianity as long as he isn't forced to take it 
too seriously, will be stripped away. He and all around will 
suddenly realize what God knew all the time--that his claim to belong to 
God was empty and insincere..... The storms of life will come. But 
when they do the relationship that we have built with Jesus Christ 
will enable us not only to survive, but to triumph. And in that 
triumph we will not only witness to the reality of the forgiveness we 
enjoy, but will also bring glory to our God. [Victor Bible Background 
Commentary] 
 
Missing Heaven by 18 Inches
   Does this title startle you?
   How can anyone get so close and yet in the end hear the Lord 
say, "I never knew you: depart from me''? 
   However, this will be the terrible result of many in our 
churches today who are professing Christians, often with responsible 
positions, but who have had only a head acceptance of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. Tragically enough, even teachers, preachers and religious 
workers are not exempt from the possibility of this chilling 
indictment. 
   The distance between the head and the heart is 18 inches. 
Unfortunately, a head--intellectual--knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, fully 
knowing and giving mental assent to the plan of salvation, without also 
a heart acceptance that brings the personal relationship that the 
Bible demands, avails nothing to any man. 
   Listen to Paul's heart cry concerning Israel as he spoke 
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, " For I bear them record that 
they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." He was 
speaking about misdirected efforts, energies expended in the strength of 
the flesh but not under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The lack 
of power today in many of our churches as well as the lack of power 
today in the lives of many professing Christians can be laid directly 
to this. 
   It is only as we see ourselves in the mirror of God's Word as 
without excuse and without hope, utterly lost and undone, that the truth 
of the Scriptures convicts us, for the Bible clearly reveals that 
this is how God sees man. 
   Then, when the glorious truth of the gospel brings us to 
recognition of our own sinfulness, and in true repentance we cry out to God 
asking forgiveness and help, asking Him to come into our hearts, not 
our heads, we experience the new birth. 
   Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no 
man cometh unto the Father, but by me." 
   The Bible also tells us that "He that hath the Son hath 
[eternal] life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.'' 
   Furthermore, the Bible promises "That if thou shalt confess 
with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that 
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the 
heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession 
is made unto salvation." 
   Christ wants your heart, not just your head because "The Lord 
seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but 
the Lord looketh on the heart." 
   It is vitally important that you make sure it is not just 
head knowledge and mental assent you have given to Jesus Christ. He 
needs the complete surrender of your heart and life so that you may be 
truly born again. 
   Eighteen inches can mean an eternity with Christ or an 
eternity without Christ. Are you sure of your personal relationship to 
Him? Why not settle the question in your heart once and for all right 
now? Paul W. Empet, American Tract Society, P. O. Box 462008, 
Garland. Texas 75046 
 
   Sooner or later almost every person has at least one negative 
opinion about his or her boss. Some bosses definitely earn this 
reputation, while others come by it innocently through the instructions they 
give their employees. In this latter instance, it comes down to 
this:The boss has told you to do something, and you don't like it. What 
can you do?  
   You may have never thought of Jesus as a bosslike figure, but 
he was a leader while he was here on earth. This reading contains 
examples of his earthly leadership. Here he takes charge and gives 
orders, and gets flak for it-just as we might expect. As you read, watch 
Jesus lead, and learn from his example.  
   Read Luke 4:14-6:49 
   Many people think of Jesus as a nice man, even a great man, 
who taught great truths. But the problem is that these same people 
stop short of viewing Jesus as an authority figure. They don't think 
he has any right to influence even the most minuscule area of their 
lives. They don't understand that Jesus isn't just a nice teacher, a 
gentle giant, or a profound guru. He's the Creator and absolute ruler 
of the universe (see Colossians 1:16-20). He has all authority (see 
Matthew 28:18). He has the right to tell us how to live, and he has 
power over all forces in the universe-natural, physical, and 
spiritual.  
   Whenever you read Jesus' teachings, see them as your mandate 
for living. Read them as if they were directed right at you. Jesus 
didn't come just to inspire us, but to lay claim to us. Can you call 
him Lord, Master, King? [The One Year Through the Bible Devotional 
by Dave Veerman] 
 
Every person has a house, a life to build. How he builds his 
life determines his destiny, not just for this life, but for 
eternity.... There is only One foundation for every life: Jesus Christ (1 
Cor. 3:11). He is the Rock upon which both individuals and churches 
are to build (Matthew 16:18). Everyone either builds upon this world 
or upon Christ, [Preacher's  Outline & Sermon Bible] 
 
In every decision in life there is a short view and a long view... 
Happy is the man who sees things, not in the light of the moment, but 
in the light of eternity... [Barclay Commentary] 

http://www.aBible.com/devotions/ 

3月26号周六下午聚会

我要求父，父就另外赐给你们一位保惠师，叫他永远与你们同在。 就是真理的圣灵，乃世人不能接受的。 (约14：16-17)


亲爱的弟兄姐妹：

主内平安！

这个周六我们在ESG聚会,继续学习约翰福音第14章16-31节。

时间：15：00
地点：Jakob-Kaiser-Str. 26  ESG

愿主耶稣基督的恩惠，神的慈爱，圣灵的感动，常与你们众人同在。

CCF Bielefeld

Be Generous and Find Blessing or Be Stingy and Experience Loss

Proverbs 11:24 (NIV) One man gives freely, yet gains even more; 
another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.   

Generosity is the path to blessing and further prosperity. By 
contrast, the stingy person does not make any friends and hurts himself in 
the long run. [NIV SB] 
 
The sower multiplies his seed by casting it away. So it is with 
those who are faithful in distributing God's gifts. By imparting they 
increase their blessings. AA345 [Remnant SOP SB] 
 
Here is a paradox: we become richer by being generous. The world 
says to hold on to as much as possible, but God blesses those who 
give freely of their possessions, time, and energy. When we give, God 
supplies us with more so that we can give more. In addition, giving helps 
us gain a right perspective on our possessions. We realize they 
were never really ours to begin with, but they were given to us by 
God to be used to help others. What then do we gain by giving? 
Freedom from enslavement to our possessions, the joy of helping others, 
and God's approval. [Life Application SB] 
 
We are here taught the great lesson, that to get, we must give; 
that to accumulate, we must scatter; that to make ourselves happy, we 
must make others happy; and that in order to become spiritually 
vigorous, we must seek the spiritual good of others. In watering others, 
we are ourselves watered. How? Our efforts to be useful, bring out 
our powers for usefulness. We have latent talents and dormant 
faculties, which are brought to light by exercise. Our strength for labour 
is hidden even from ourselves, until we venture forth to fight the 
Lord's battles, or to climb the mountains of difficulty. We do not know 
what tender sympathies we possess until we try to dry the widow's 
tears, and soothe the orphan's grief. We often find in attempting to 
teach others, that we gain instruction for ourselves. Oh, what 
gracious lessons some of us have learned at sick beds! We went to teach 
the Scriptures, we came away blushing that we knew so little of 
them. In our converse with poor saints, we are taught the way of God 
more perfectly for ourselves and get a deeper insight into divine 
truth. So that watering others makes us humble. We discover how much 
grace there is where we had not looked for it; and how much the poor 
saint may outstrip us in knowledge. Our own comfort is also increased 
by our working for others. We endeavour to cheer them, and the 
consolation gladdens our own heart. Like the two men in the snow; one chafed 
the other's limbs to keep him from dying, and in so doing kept his 
own blood in circulation, and saved his own life. The poor widow of 
Sarepta gave from her scanty store a supply for the prophet's wants, and 
from that day she never again knew what want was. Give then, and it 
shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and running over. 
[Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon re v. 11:25] 
 
ILLUSTRATION
 
   Three young men were once given three kernels of corn apiece 
by a wise old sage, who admonished them to go out into the world, 
and use the corn to bring themselves good fortune. 
   The first young man put his three kernels of corn into a bowl 
of hot broth and ate them.  
   The second thought, I can do better than that, and he planted 
his three kernels of corn. Within a few months, he had three stalks 
of corn. He took the ears of corn from the stalks, boiled them, and 
had enough corn for three meals. 
   The third man said to himself, I can do better than that! He 
also planted his three kernels of corn, but when his three stalks of 
corn produced, he stripped one of the ears and replanted all of the 
seeds in it, gave the second ear of corn to a sweet maiden, and ate 
the third. His one full ear's worth of replanted corn kernels gave 
him 200 stalks of corn! And the kernels of these he continued to 
replant, setting aside only a minimum for eating. He eventually planted a 
hundred acres of corn. With his fortune, he not only won the hand of the 
sweet maiden, but purchased the land owned by the sweet maiden's 
father. And he never hungered again. 
   God's law of sowing and reaping has never changed: What you 
sow, you will reap! [God's Little Devotional Bible] 
 
CLOSING THOUGHT
 
Admit it. You sometimes hesitate to give because you're 
skeptical about what you'll get in return. But God's Word promises a huge 
return on your investment: Give a lot and receive a lot; help someone 
and you'll be helped. Be a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) and 
see what happens. God promises you'll be blessed! [The 365 Daily 
Promise Bible By Barbour re. v. 11:25] 

A triplet of sonnets 三组十四行诗

I am the way to God: I did not come

To light a path, to blaze a trail, that you

May simply follow in my tracks, pursue

My shadow like a prize that’s cheaply won.

My life reveals the life of God, the sum

Of all he is and does.  So how can you,

The sons of night, look on me and construe

My way as just the road for you to run?

       My path takes in Gethsemane, the Cross,

       And stark rejection draped in agony.

       My way to God embraces utmost loss:

       Your way to God is not my way, but me.

Each other path is dismal swamp, or fraud.

I stand alone: I am the way to God.

我是通往上帝的道路：
我来（你们这里），不是为了
照亮一条路，标志一条道，
好让你们轻易地跟随我的足迹，
追寻我的影子，如同一块轻易获得的奖牌。
我的生命，显明了上帝的生命，
揭示了上帝是谁和他的所作所为的总合。
你们这些黑暗之子，
如何能够看待我并解释我的道路，
仅仅是一条供你们在其上奔跑的道路？
我的路，包括客西马尼园，十字架，
以及悬挂于极度痛苦中的完全被弃绝。
我通往上帝的道路包含了最大程度的牺牲：
你们通往上帝的道路并非是我的道路，
而是我。
任何其他的路或是黑暗的沼泽，或是欺骗。
我是独一无二，
我是通往上帝的道路。

I am the truth of God: I do not claim

I merely speak the truth, as though I were

A prophet (but no more), a channel, stirred

By Spirit power, of purely human frame.

Nor do I say that when I take his name

Upon my lips, my teaching cannot err

(Though that is true).  A mere interpreter

I’m not, some prophet-voice of special fame.

       In timeless reaches of eternity

       The Triune God decided that the Word,

       The self-expression of the Deity,

       Would put on flesh and blood — and thus be heard.

The claim to speak the truth good men applaud.

I claim much more: I am the truth of God.

我是上帝的真理：
我不是宣称，
我单单地讲出真理，
如同我是一个先知（但不再有），
一个纯人类框架下的管道，
被圣灵轻轻搅动。
我也不是说，
当我将他的名字放在我的嘴唇之上，
我的教导就不会有错误（即便那是真的）。
我不是一个纯粹的诠释者，
一些具有特别声望的先知的声音。
在无始无终的永恒中，
三位一体的上帝决定
他的道，自我表达的神性，
将要放在血肉之身上，从而被听到。
好人们为讲出真理的宣告而喝彩。
我的宣告较之更多：
我是上帝的真理。

I am the resurrection life.  It’s not

As though I merely bear life-giving drink,

A magic elixir which (men might think)

Is cheap because though lavish it’s not bought.

The price of life was fully paid: I fought

With death and black despair; for I’m the drink

Of life.  The resurrection morn’s the link

Between my death and endless life long sought.

       I am the firstborn from the dead; and by

       My triumph, I deal death to lusts and hates.

       My life I now extend to men, and ply

       Them with the draught that ever satiates.

Religion’s page with empty boasts is rife:

But I’m the resurrection and the life.

我是复活的生命。
这并非如同我仅有赐生命的水，
一种魔术般的长生不老药，
人们可能认为不值钱，
因为即使大方也不能用钱买到。
生命的代价已经被全部偿还：
我与死亡并漆黑的绝望争战；
因为我是生命之水。
那个复活的清晨是一条连线，
将我的死亡与人们长久所追求的永生链接起来。
我是第一个从死亡里复活的；
通过我的胜利，我将欲望和仇恨置于死地。
如今我将我的生命延伸至人类，
供给使他们永远满足的汲取。
宗教的书面上到处都写满了空洞的自夸：
但我是复活，我是生命。

D. A. Carson, The Gospel according to John, Pillar (Eerdmans, 1991), 492-93.

Growing Repentance

Luke 3:8 (NIV) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do 
not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For 
I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for 
Abraham.   

COMMENTARY APPLICATION
 
Do not trust in your religious ancestry, however good it may be; 
you must personally have a right relation with God. [Ryrie SB] 
 
Many of John's hearers were shocked when he said that being 
Abraham's descendants was not enough for God. The religious leaders relied 
more on their family lines than on their faith for their standing 
with God. For them, religion was inherited. But a personal 
relationship with God is not handed down from parents to children. Everyone 
has to commit to it on his or her own. Don't rely on someone else's 
faith for your salvation. Put your own faith in Jesus, and then 
exercise it every day. [Life Application SB] 
 
Repentance opens the way for relationship with God. Repentance 
has two sides--turning away from sins and turning toward God. To be 
truly repentant, we must do both. We can't just say that we believe 
and then live any way we choose; neither can we simply live a 
morally correct life without a personal relationship with God, because 
that cannot bring forgiveness from sin. Determine to rid your life of 
any sins God points out, and put your trust in him alone to guide 
you. [Life Application SB] 
 
Faith naturally leads to action. Confession of sins and a 
changed life are inseparable. Faith without deeds is dead (James 
2:14-26). . . . Repentance must be tied to action, or it isn't real. 
Following Jesus means more than saying the right words; it means acting on 
what he says. [Life Application SB] 
 
The repentance God calls for will result in a change of behavior 
that is ongoing in one's life. [Andrews SB] 
 
Many have taken the position that they cannot sin because they 
are sanctified, but this is a delusive snare of the evil one. There 
is constant danger of falling into sin, for Christ has warned us to 
watch and pray lest we enter into temptation. If we are conscious of 
the weakness of self, we shall not be self-confident and reckless of 
danger; but we shall feel the necessity of seeking to the Source of our 
strength, Jesus our righteousness. We shall come in repentance and 
contrition, with a despairing sense of our own finite weakness, and learn 
that we must daily apply to the merits of the blood of Christ, that 
we may become vessels fit for the Master's use. ST05-19-90 
 
He who is truly penitent does not forget his past sins, and grow 
careless about them as soon as he has obtained forgiveness. On the 
contrary, the clearer the evidence he has of divine favor, the more he 
sees to regret in his past life of sin. He loathes, abhors, and 
condemns himself, and is more and more astonished  that he should have 
continued in rebellion so long. He renews his repentance toward God, while 
he grasps more decidedly the hand of Jesus Christ, and finds that 
repentance is a daily, continued exercise, lasting until mortality is 
swallowed up of life. He who thus repents, appreciates the righteousness 
of Christ as above silver and gold, above every earthly tie and 
affection. 

http://www.aBible.com/devotions/ 

3月19号周六下午聚会

耶稣说，我就是道路，真理，生命。若不借着我。没有人能到父那里去。(约14：6)

亲爱的弟兄姐妹：

主内平安！

这个周六我们在ESG聚会,继续学习约翰福音第14章1-14节。

时间：15：00
地点：Jakob-Kaiser-Str. 26  ESG

愿主耶稣基督的恩惠，神的慈爱，圣灵的感动，常与你们众人同在。

CCF Bielefeld