2016年4月1日
上帝的畫作The Gallery of God
读经: 詩篇100篇
Reading: Psalm 100
耶和華本為善，祂的慈愛存到永遠。-詩篇100篇5節
The Lord is good and his love endures forever. Psalm 100:5
全年读经: 士師記13-15章;路加福音6章27-49節
Bible in a Year: Judges 13–15; Luke 6:27-49
詩篇100篇像一幅畫，幫助我們讚美那位看不見的上帝。雖然我們看不見所敬拜的上帝，但祂的百姓能將祂描繪出來。
詩篇100篇的作者就像藝術家拿著畫筆和調色盤，在畫布上揮灑出繽紛的字句，呈現在我們眼前的一幕是「普天下」都向耶和華歡呼（1節）。我們歡呼是因為上帝樂於拯救我們脫離死亡，耶穌「因那擺在前面的喜樂」，便忍受了十架上的苦難（希伯來書12章2節） 。
當我們觀賞這幅畫作，首先映入眼簾的，是全球各地無數的合唱團「歡歡喜喜」地向耶和華「歡唱」（詩篇100篇2節，新譯本）。當上帝的子民敬拜上帝，尊崇祂奇妙的作為，上帝的心就歡喜。
接著，我們也從畫作中看到自己，我們是由造物主用塵土創造的，並如羊群被領到草場上（3節）。我們這些屬上帝的子民擁有一位慈愛的牧人！
最後，我們看到上帝偉大且榮耀的居所，祂所拯救的百姓通過大門，進到上帝的同在中，對他們看不見的上帝，獻上感恩和讚美（4節）。
這頌讚上帝的畫面多麼美妙！祂如此美善、慈愛又信實，難怪我們需要永恆的時間，享受祂的偉大和美好！
天父上帝，謝謝祢賜予生命、喜樂和護庇，
感謝祢應許永遠與我們同在。
幫助我們時刻牢記祢的偉大，活出討祢喜悅的生活。
如何讓你的教會成為歡迎罪人來認識耶穌的地方呢？
認識上帝是最棒的事！
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Psalm 100 is like a work of art that helps us celebrate our unseen God. While the focus of our worship is beyond view, His people make Him known.
Imagine the artist with brush and palette working the colorful words of this psalm onto a canvas. What emerges before our eyes is a world—"all the earth"—shouting for joy to the Lord (v. 1). Joy. Because it is the delight of our God to redeem us from death. "For the joy that was set before Him," Jesus endured the cross (Heb. 12:2 nkjv).
Our heavenly Father's heart is pleased when His people worship Him.
As our eyes move across the canvas we see an all-world choir of countless members singing "with gladness" and "joyful songs" (Ps. 100:2). Our heavenly Father's heart is pleased when His people worship Him for who He is and what He has done.
Then we see images of ourselves, fashioned from dust in the hands of our Creator, and led like sheep into green pastures (v. 3). We, His people, have a loving Shepherd.
Finally, we see God's great and glorious dwelling place—and the gates through which His rescued people enter His unseen presence, while giving Him thanks and praise (v. 4).
What a picture, inspired by our God. Our good, loving, and faithful God. No wonder it will take forever to enjoy His greatness!
Great God of heaven, thank You for life, for joy, for protection, and for promising us a future with You forever. Help us to live with thoughts of Your greatness always on our hearts and minds.
Nothing is more awesome than to know God.