Scripture Reading : Acts 1:1-11
Theme : The Hope of Christianity
- Our hope is based on Jesus’ teaching. The Book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus’ life and teaching. Jesus chose the Apostles, who taught the things that they heard from Jesus, with the help of the Holy Spirit, who also inspired them to write down these things in the Bible. The Bible that is in our hands today (accurate translations based on the original manuscripts) is the first hand account of the Apostles, and our hope is built on the teachings of Scripture, which is the teaching of Jesus.
- Our hope is based on Jesus’ resurrection. After Jesus was resurrected, He “presented Himself alive to them… by many proofs”. The Apostle Paul later wrote that “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:14) Jesus’ resurrection shows that He has victory over sin and death, and those who hope in Him will one day be resurrected to eternal glory with Him in heaven. There is no Christianity without the resurrected Christ.
- Our hope is based on Jesus’ kingdom. The Apostles asked Jesus if He was going to “restore the kingdom to Israel”. There will come a time when Jesus will rule the world together with the saints. However, His kingdom on earth has already begun spiritually in the hearts of man. At this stage of God’s kingdom, the responsibility of Christians is to be Jesus’ witnesses “to the end of the earth.” It is because of the hope in Jesus’ eternal kingdom that we continue to be witnesses for Him, to spread the Gospel. When Jesus comes again from heaven, “in the same way” that He was taken up, He will establish His kingdom on earth and rule with His saints.
Praying the Scripture
- Many people claim to believe in Jesus but they do not read the Bible. This is what the Apostle Paul described as “another Jesus” (2 Cor. 11:4), who is not the Jesus of the Bible. True Christianity must be based on God’s Word (the Bible). Let us pray that we will be diligent to study Jesus’ teaching that has been recorded for us in the Bible, so that we will know the true Jesus, the Son of God.
- The Apostle Paul also wrote, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Cor. 15:19) Our hope is in the resurrected Christ, and His promise of eternal life for those who repent from their sins and believe in Him. Let us pray that we will fix our eyes on eternity and heavenly riches, rather than believe in Jesus for earthly benefits such as health and wealth.
- Jesus said that it is not for us “to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.” (Acts 1:7) Rather, we should fulfil our responsibility now, which is to be witnesses for Jesus as He establishes His kingdom in the hearts of man. Pray that we will live holy and sanctified lives, in order to be good witnesses, and also pray that we will be bold in proclaiming the Gospel to people around us.
经文：使徒行传1:1-11
主题：基督徒的盼望
- 我们的盼望就建立在耶稣教导的基础上。使徒行传是路加福音的续集；路加福音记载的是耶稣的生活和教训。耶稣拣选了使徒，使徒则在圣灵的帮助下教训人有关耶稣所说的话，并得到圣灵的默示写下了圣经的内容。我们今日手上的圣经（圣经原稿的准确翻译）是众使徒的亲身经历，而我们的盼望是建立在圣经的教导上，也就是耶稣的教训。
- 我们的盼望就建立在耶稣复活的基础上。耶稣复活之后，祂“用许多的凭据将自己活活地……向他们显现”。使徒保罗后来写道：“基督没有复活，我们所传的便是枉然，你们所信的也是枉然。”（林前15:14）耶稣的复活表明祂胜过了罪恶与死亡，且凡信靠祂的也将来日复活，与耶稣在天上得享永恒荣耀。倘若基督没有复活，今日就没有基督教了。
- 我们的盼望就建立在耶稣国度的基础上。使徒们问耶稣祂是否即将“复兴以色列国”。有朝一日，耶稣将与众圣徒统治世界。然而，祂在地上的属灵国度已在人心中展开了。在神国度的这一个特定阶段中，基督徒的责任是要见证耶稣“直到地极”。我们之所以能继续作耶稣的见证，能继续传福音的原因是因着自己在耶稣永恒国度里的盼望。当耶稣同往天上去的方式再度来到这世间时，祂将在地上建立自己的国度，与圣徒一同统治。
用经文祷告
- 许多人自称相信耶稣，但他们不读圣经。这就是使徒保罗所形容的另一个耶稣（林后11:4），因为那不是圣经中的耶稣。真实基督教信仰是基于神之道的（圣经）。让我们祷告我们会殷勤学习耶稣在圣经里为我们所记的教训，叫我们真知道神的圣子耶稣。
- 使徒保罗也曾写道：“我们若靠基督只在今生有指望，就算比众人更可怜！”（林前15:19）我们的盼望是在复活的基督里，并祂对凡从罪中悔改信靠祂的人所应许的永生。让我们祷告我们会定睛在永恒并属天的富足上，而不是因着地上的利益如健康与财富相信耶稣。
- 耶稣说道：“父凭着自己的权柄所定的时候、日期，不是你们可以知道的。”（使1:7）因此，我们当完成至今的责任，也就是当耶稣在人心中建立祂的国度时为祂作见证。让我们祷告我们会活出圣洁与成圣的生活以作好见证，也祈求我们有胆量向周遭的人宣扬福音。
