Beautiful Creation

Psalms 33:14-16 From the place where he sits enthroned,he looks down upon all who live on earth.The one who formed their hearts understands everything they do. No king achieves a victory with a large army. No warrior rescues himself by his own great strength.

The prophet Isaiah states theses things about God's perspective of us, as well as our relationship with Him:

• The Lord made you, formed you in the womb
• He will help us
• He will not forget us
• He is the one and only Lord, there is no other
• He formed the earth and made it
• He formed the earth to be inhabited
• He formed the earth to be enjoyed
• He set up the world
• Don't be afraid
• We will praise Him

Knowing all this is the truth - let's apply this to a deeper level.  God created the world.  He formed it to be inhabited.  At the beginning of creation we are told there was chaos.  God reached into the chaos and created order. He stated it was good - and we know this is "True Beauty"

God created us.  He formed us to be inhabited with life.  There is chaos all around and in us.  He reaches into the chaos and  creates order.  This order is there just as it was when He believed, accepted and received it.  When we agree that his ways are good, believe and have faith - this too is "True Beauty"

All through the bible you see when there is chaos a mob mentality forms in individuals and communities.  This is where the battle ground or spiritual warfare is ensuing.  Keep these things in your mind as we continue journeying down the Deeply road.

Today continue pondering "Who Am I?" Think about this:

You are the beautiful creation God intended you to be!

Individual beauty does not have to be "re" created, it already exists within you.  "True Beauty" is intangible, intrinsic - it is a quality which delights the senses.  It is perceived in the mind.  Until we can embrace our individual uniqueness with the understanding and appreciation of God's love, for us "True Beauty" is unattainable.

I pray that the eyes of your heart be enlightened so that you will know the depths, the width and the heights of His love this day.

With the love of Christ,
Candace

2005© Candace Huffmaster All Rights Reserved

Movers and Shakers...Among the Daisies

If you are just joining us, welcome.  We are continuing on with the pieces of what God has planted or our puzzle pieces.  Let's water those seeds today and just lay in the warmth of His sun light. Soon everyone will be able to see the daisy He has been tending.

Yesterday we stopped with Luke 10:38-42 Martha was irritated that she had company and no help.  That is not really very hospitable.  A guest does not come into our homes for the W Hotel treatment.  They come to visit, to deepen relationship.  We forget that most of the time.  If what someone desires is a B&B with you "B-ing" the employee of the month, then maybe you should give them the number and directions to the W. 

All kiding aside, and back on track now - Christ had quiet a day, the day He walked into Martha's house.  He had been traveling, teaching, casting out demons.  All along His road He was looking for people that would listen and learn.  If it had of been me I would have been a bit tired - but God is so patient and Christ exemplified this when the diciples were still needing to grow up a bit.  They desired to get everyone to stop "acting" like they were part of their God team when they in deed were not.  However, Christ corrected their view of things. He told them his fathers' moto: "If  they aren't against you, they are for you." This did not mean that those individuals come come with them on their journey though.

Christ needed the ones that were willing to be in His shadow.  The "rebels with a cause" could not come.  It seems many wanted to be part of the "Jesus Train", to be part of the "Movers and Shakers" of their times.  But Gods agenda had to have those that when they had done all to stand  - and the shakin' started - they would not move away. 

"So who are you? Are you a "Mover and Shaker" or are you a "Shaken and not Moved"?

Moving on....This same day atleast 3 men were shaken....Christ kept moving down the road.  He didn't stop.

He was walking toward Mary and Martha's house with His disciples talking about the things that were to come.  This is the conversation they were having:

(GWT)Luke 10: 1- 8 After this, the Lord appointed other disciples to go ahead of him to every city and place that he intended to go. They were to travel in pairs.

He told them, “The harvest is large, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord who gives this harvest to send workers to harvest his crops. Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a wallet, a traveling bag, or sandals, and don’t stop to greet anyone on the way. Whenever you go into a house, greet the family right away with the words, ‘May there be peace in this house.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your greeting will be accepted. But if that’s not the case, your greeting will be rejected. Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another. Whenever you go into a city and the people welcome you, eat whatever they serve you. Heal the sick that are there, and tell the people, ‘The kingdom of God is near you!’

As if Jesus' day had not been long enough, He then bumps into a religious expert who had something to prove.  So Christ took the time to speak a tale to Him.  He didn't stop though..He finally reached the door of Martha's house.

Look how God had gone before them all day long...planting those seeds.  He watered them, nurtured them, protected them.  This one day He planted so many seeds He could have a very fragrant center piece from the daisies if they desire to flower.  He is doing His work, that of a diligent farmer.  He also knows where to send His workers so that they will be most productive at working what has been planted.

He scatters and tells us to do as He does..not to stop.  He tell people my workers are coming back in before me.  Be prepared!  Accept them as My Fathers workers.  He tells us that we are to greet people with a blessing of peace.  The rest He is aware of and has provided.  He does not desire for us to be in lack of provision.  This is the reason He says not to stop until you get to where you are to be going. He tells us not to hop around like we are chasing after the wind, but to stay until our work is done.  He moves us.  Mary understood this.  Martha was unsettled and working in her own understanding.  Christ cared so He shared some really good news with her.  He told her Martha, it's okay...take a break.  I just want to be "with you".  I don't have a need for a B&B.  My Father has taken care of all my needs.  Just "B" with me.  Nothing else need be added.

This day, I pray that you just B.  Be...Cause.

As KB understands, there is only One Cause and that is Love....Love makes everything beautiful.  I pray that you flower..... as He made you to flower. 

With love and mercy...shine of His glory today,
Candace



 

Ministry in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 4

爱是一件美事 – 第四篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

耶稣说：由他罢！为甚麽难为他呢？他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。他所作的，是尽他所能的；他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们，普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。



Continued from Part 3

上接第三篇



Jesus said that the woman had done “a beautiful thing” to Him, and that she poured perfume on His body beforehand to prepare for His burial. Her single impulsive, extravagant act out of her love for Christ now became part of Jesus’ story of salvation for the world. Without knowing this herself, this woman was sharing Jesus’ ministry of redemption. Jesus said that “wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

耶稣说这妇人在他身上做了「一件美事」，她是为耶稣安葬的事把香膏预先浇在他身上。她出于对基督的爱的一个冲动奢侈的行动现在成为耶稣救世的故事之一部份。不自觉地这妇人参与耶稣的救赎事工。耶稣说「普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。」



APPROPRIATE FAITH IN ACTION

Helping the poor is a good thing. It was obviously something the disciples often did as a group (Jn 13:29). This the disciples did dutifully for the poor yet this woman did a beautiful thing lovingly for Jesus. What the disciples did dutifully for the poor, feeding and clothing them, is compassionate charity concerning men’s bodies. What the woman did lovingly for Jesus, preparing for His burial, is redemptive ministry concerning men’s souls. Jesus didn’t say we should not feed the hungry or clothe the naked, instead He pointed out the importance of being abandoned to Him, and the priority of love over duties to God.

救济穷人是一件好事，很明显这是门徒共同常作的事〔约13:39〕。这是门徒尽责地为穷人做而这妇人却亲切地为耶稣做了一件美事。门徒尽责地为穷人做的，给他们饭吃给他们衣服，关乎人的肉体的同情慈善工作。这妇人亲切地为耶稣做的，为耶稣安葬的事准备，是关人的魂的救赎事工。耶稣没有说我们不应该给饥饿的饭吃给赤身露体的衣服穿，而是指出他舍己重要和爱神比对神的义务的优先。



Today we are placing a lot of emphasis on teaching the truth, the right doctrines, and right relationship with God. This is important because our faith must be true, otherwise we fall into heresies. We are placing a lot of emphasis also on the right relationship with others. This is also important because we need to live in the world yet are not of the world. But like the church in Ephesus in the Book of Revelations, we could be so concerned with the right beliefs and right deeds that we have lost our first love (Rev 2:1-4). We may believe the right things and behave the right way without the passion for Christ. We may feel spiritually dry and distant from God. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:6) Having Christ means having not only the way and the truth, but also the life. And it is an abundant life that we have. For Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (Jn 10:10) Jesus did come and He did die on the cross to give us a new and abundant life. We are also commanded to love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our strength (Dt 6:5). That means we should believe correctly in our heart and behave properly with all our strength, and also love emotionally with all our soul.

今天我们很重视教导真理，正确的教义和与神正确的关系。这是重要的，因为我们的信仰一定要是真的，否则我们会陷入异端。我们也很重视与别人正确的关系。这也是重要的，因为我们须要活在世界里但又不属于世界。但正如启示录中的以弗所教会，我们可能太关心正确的信仰和正确的行为以至我们失去了我们起初之爱〔启2:14〕。我们可以相信对的东西和保持对的态度，但缺乏对基督的热忱。我们可能感到灵性乾涸和离神很远。耶稣说，「我就是道路、真理、生命」〔约14:6〕。得到基督就是不单得到道路与真理，而是还得到生命。而且我们得到的是丰盛的生命，因为耶稣说，「我来了，是要叫人得生命，并且得的更丰盛。」〔约10:10〕耶稣已来了并且死在十字架上来赐给我们新的和丰盛的生命。我们也被吩咐要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华我们的神。〔申6:5〕那就是我们须要尽心有正确的信念和尽力行为端正，又要尽性用感情去爱。



CONCLUSION

结论

Jesus Christ poured out His life for us on the cross. Because He loves us He did the most beautiful thing for us. Nothing is too precious for anyone to give Him in return. All He is asking is for us to give Him our best affections, our beautiful thing. Let’s learn from this woman to love Jesus Christ IMPULSIVELY with all the heart, soul and strength, to love Him EXTRAVAGANTLY with our sacrifices of commitment, services, praises, good deeds, and money, as well as to love Him APPROPRIATELY with our worship of Him as God and Savior. Our actions of love for Christ may sometimes be misunderstood as irrational, but Jesus knows our motivation. In fact He considers it appropriate that our piety to Him takes priority over our dutiful good deeds.

耶稣基督为我们在十字架上倒出他的生命。因为他爱我们他为我们行了最美的事，任何人可以回报他的东西都没有太宝贵的，他要求的只不过是要我们给他我们最大的爱慕，我们的美事。让我们向这位妇人学习冲动地尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶稣基督，奢侈地以委身、事奉、颂赞、善行和金钱的祭来爱他，并且恰当地以他为神与救主的敬拜来爱他。我们爱基督的行动有时可能会被误会是不理性的，但耶稣知道我们的动机。其实他认为我们对他的敬虔比我们负责任而做的善行优先是恰当的。



Let our love for God carry us beyond ourselves, for love is a beautiful thing!

就让我们对神的爱带我们超越我们自己，因为爱是一件美事！



Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9__

Ministry in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 3

爱是一件美事 – 第三篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
耶稣说：由他罢！为甚麽难为他呢？他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。他所作的，是尽他所能的；他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们，普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。

Continued from Part 2
上接第二篇

Let’s look at another Old Testament hero, King David’s son King Solomon. He loved God. He also loved God’s people that he asked for God’s wisdom for him so that he could govern his people properly. Out of this love for God he led his people to build the beautiful temple and dedicated it to the Lord. Out of this love Solomon acted extravagantly at the dedication ceremony of the temple, offering to God a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand cattle and one hundred-twenty thousand sheep and goats. Talk about a grand gesture of one’s love! Just imagine how many days it must have taken to just process these many animal sacrifices!

让我们看一下另外一位旧约英雄，大卫王的儿子所罗门王。他爱神。他也爱神的子民，因此他求神赐给他神的智慧让他可以好好地统治他的子民。因为他对神的爱他领导他的子民去建造华丽的圣殿来献给神。因为所罗门对神的爱他奢侈地举行献殿礼，献上二万二千条牛和十二万绵羊与山羊的祭。这是表达一个人的爱多伟大的恣态啊！单是屠宰这麽多的祭物就要好几天了！

Our willingness to sacrifice shows our love for God. The extent of our sacrifice tells much about our love for God. Today we don’t offer animal sacrifice because Jesus Christ was the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sin. Instead today the sacrifices expected of us are FIRSTLY our total commitment for Christ as we are called to deny ourselves and take up our crosses and follow Christ (Mt 16:24-25), SECONDLY our lives of service to God because we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God (Ro 12:1), THIRDLY our sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of lips that confess His name (Heb 13:15), FOURTHLY good deeds and sharing with others of God’s blessings (Heb 13:16), and FIFTHLY the offering of money for use in God’s work (Php 4:18). Today we can offer sacrifices of these kinds to God extravagantly!

我们愿意牺牲就显出我们对神的爱，我们牺牲的程度很就很清楚显露我们对神的爱。今日我们不再献牲畜的祭因为耶稣基督是我们罪的完美的祭。今天神要求我们的祭首先是我们对基督的完全委身，因为我们受召来舍己背起我们的十字架来跟随基督〔太16:245〕，其次是我们对神服事的生命，因为我们要献上我们的身体作为活祭，是圣洁和讨神喜悦的〔罗12:1〕，第三是我们颂赞的祭，就是那承认主名之人嘴唇的果子〔来13:15〕，第四是行善和与人分享神的祝福〔来13:16〕，和第五是奉献金钱用在神的事工上〔腓4:18〕。今天我们可以奢侈地献这些祭给神！

SHE ACTED APPROPRIATELY
她恰当地行了

This woman acted IMPULSIVELY and EXTRAVAGANTLY in her surprise pouring of an expensive jar of perfume on Jesus’ head. She did it naturally out of her love for Jesus. Although others viewed her act as irrational, Jesus considered that she acted APPROPRIATELY in this incident.

这个妇人冲动、奢侈地出其不意浇了一瓶昂贵的香膏在耶稣头上。出于她对耶稣的爱她自然地这样做。虽然别人认为她的行动缺乏理性，耶稣却认为她在这事上做得很恰当。

She did not know it at the time, but Jesus was to be betrayed, handed over to the Romans, and crucified in a matter of days. Had she known that He was about to give Himself for mankind for their redemption,  wouldn’t she give Him her best gift? Of course she did it unknowingly, yet Jesus said she did it appropriately.

当时她并不知道耶稣就要被出卖，交到罗马人手上，几天内就被钉死在十字架上。如果她知道他快要为人类的救赎舍己的话，难道她不会给他她的最好的礼物吗？当然她不自觉做了，但耶稣仍说她做得很恰当。

We know she acted appropriately because Jesus said so. In light of some people rebuking her for her deed Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

我们知道她做得很恰当因为耶稣说是如此。因为有些人为她所行的责备她，耶稣就说：「由她罢！为甚麽难为她呢？她在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。她所作的，是尽她所能的；她是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们，普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。」

She acted appropriately because Jesus was far more precious than the most expensive perfume. Out of God’s love for her, He gave His only Son, His most precious. So it is appropriate that out of her love for Christ, she gave Him her most valuable gift. He gave himself also for you and me, won’t we give our utmost for Him? This woman’s most valuable gift, and our utmost, cannot compare with God’s gift of His Son to us. But they are acceptable to God. Jesus said the woman “did what she could.” That’s all God is
asking us to do. Just what we can!

她做得很恰当因为耶稣比最名贵的香膏还要宝贵。因为神爱她，神赐下他的独生子，他最宝贝的。所以出于妇人对基督的爱她献给他她的最宝贵的礼物是恰当的。基督赐他自己给你与我，难道我们能不竭力为他吗？这位妇人最宝贵的礼物和我们所有的力量都不能与他赐我们他的儿子相比，但神接纳我们这些所献的。耶稣说这妇人「所作的，是尽她所能的」，这就是神要求我们去做的，只是尽我们所能的！

To be continued next week.
下周待续。
May we express our love for God impulsively, extravagantly, and appropriately. May we love God offering our sacrifice with what we can do.
愿我们冲动地、奢侈地和恰当地表达我们对神的爱。愿我们献上尽我们所能的祭去爱神。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9

Ministery in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 2

爱是一件美事 – 第二篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
耶稣说：由他罢！为甚麽难为他呢？他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。他所作的，是尽他所能的；他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们，普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。

Continued from Part 1

上接第一篇

King David in the Old Testament was such a person. He had a personal relationship with God. He experienced God and His protection in his youth tending sheep, fighting off lions and bears. He experienced God and His power when he killed the nine-foot tall Philistine giant with one small stone. God called him a person after God’s own heart. He knew God in his mind, and he let his love for God carry him beyond himself when he brought the ark to Jerusalem!
旧约中的大卫王就是这样的一个人。他与神有一个个人的关糸。在他年青牧羊，赶走狮子和熊的时候，他经历到神与神的保护。当他用一粒小石头杀死九尺高的非利士巨人的时候，他经历到神与神的大能。神称他为合乎神自己心意的人。他心中认识神，当他把约柜运到耶路撒冷时他让他对神的爱带他到情不自禁的地步！

The ark was captured by the Philistines when Israel lost their battle back in Prophet Samuel’s childhood days. It was later returned to Israel by the Philistines. It was left in Abinadab’s house for decades. After David became king of all of Israel he decided to bring the ark to Jerusalem. David said to God in Psalm 18:1, “I love you, O Lord, my strength.” David loved God so much that “he danced before the Lord with all his might,” while he led the procession of bringing the ark to Jerusalem (2 Sa 6:12-15). He was not only dancing, but dancing with all his might, even though it might not be considered proper for a king to do that. He did that impulsively, with his love for the Lord carrying him beyond himself. Even his wife Michal, daughter of Saul, thought David’s action was out of line and she despised him for doing that. But David loved the Lord and all he cared was that he danced for the Lord.
在先知撒母耳童年时非利士人战败以色列并掳去约柜。非利士人後来把它送回以色列，几十年来留在俄别以东家中。大卫成为全以色列的王後他决定要把约柜搬到耶路撒冷。大卫在诗篇18:1对神说，「耶和华，我的力量啊，我爱你！」大卫爱神以至他在带队领约柜到耶路撒冷时「在耶和华面前极力跳舞。」〔撒下6:1215〕他不单只是跳舞，而是极力跳舞，虽然可能被认为是一件国王做来不体面的事。他一时冲动行了这事，他对耶和华的爱使他情不自禁。什至他的妻子，扫罗的女儿米甲，认为大卫的行为太过份因此轻视他。但大卫爱耶和华，他看重的就是他为神跳舞。

When we are deeply in love with God we could be carried away to do something for God not dutifully but impulsively. Not for any reason other than the fact that we love Him.
当我们深深地爱神我们可能情不自禁地为神做出一些事，并非出于责任感而是出于冲动的。只因为我们爱他，并没有其他理由。

SHE ACTED EXTRAVAGANTLY

她奢侈地行了

Not only did the woman acted IMPULSIVELY, she also acted EXTRAVAGANTLY. She broke the alabaster jar of VERY expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and poured it on Jesus’ head. She broke the jar; she didn’t just open it. She had decided to pour out the whole jar of perfume. Not quarter jar, half jar, or even three-quarter jar, but the whole jar of perfume. She emptied the jar, poured out every drop of perfume onto Jesus’ head. She didn’t save any for herself. And it was no ordinary perfume, but an expensive one. It cost a person over a year’s wage to buy it. Since women in those days were rarely able to earn much money, this expensive perfume might have been a family treasure passed down to her. So this was valuable to her and she knew it. But just like that, she used it all on Jesus. Just because she loved Jesus.
这妇人不单冲动而行，她也奢侈地行了这事。她打破一个玉瓶的非常昂贵真哪哒香膏，浇到耶稣头上。她打破瓶子，不只是打开它，她决定要倒出整瓶香膏。不是四分之一瓶，不是半瓶，不是四分之三瓶，而是一整瓶香膏。她倒空瓶子，浇了每一滴香膏到耶稣头上，她并没有为自己保留一些。那并非一般的香膏，而是一种很名贵的，需要一个人超边一年的工资才买到。因为在那时代妇人罕有赚钱的能力，这昂贵的香膏可能是她的家传宝物，所以她知道这是对她价值很高的。但就这麽简单的她全用在耶稣身上。就只因为她爱耶稣。

We must realize that we can bring to God things which are of value to Him. There are many things that we may do that are dear to His heart. Not great and marvelous things but ordinary, simple human things; things that give evidence to God that we are abandoned to Him, something straight from our hearts to touch His heart. Just like this woman did.
我们必须知道我们有能力献给神对他有价值的东西。有很多事情我们可能做到而又是神所爱的。不是伟大了不起的事，而是普通，简单，人做的事，一些向神证明我们为他舍己的事，一些直接出于我们的心来感动他的心的事。就如这妇人所作的一样。

To be continued next week.

下周待续。

May we express our love for God impulsively and extravagantly, beyond intellect and duty. May we love God so much that it carries us beyond ourselves.
愿我们冲动地和奢侈地表达我们对神的爱，超越理智和义务。愿我们爱神爱到情不自禁。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9__

Ministry in Word

Love Is a Beautiful Thing – Part 1

爱是一件美事 – 第一篇

Mark 14:6-9
马可 14:6-9
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached through-out the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

耶稣说：由他罢！为甚麽难为他呢？他在我身上作的是一件美事。因为常有穷人和你们同在，要向他们行善随时都可以；只是你们不常有我。他所作的，是尽他所能的；他是为我安葬的事把香膏预先浇在我身上。我实在告诉你们，普天之下，无论在甚麽地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所作的，以为记念。

STORY OF LOVE

爱的故事

The Gospel of Mark, chapter 14, verses 1 to 9 recorded a remarkable story of a woman honoring Jesus with an expensive jar of perfume. Since today is Valentine’s Day, I thought it is appropriate to talk about this story, because it is a story about love.
马可福音第十四章一至九节记载了一个异常的故事，是关于一位妇人以一瓶贵重的香膏向耶稣表示爱戴。既然今天是情人节〔瓦伦丁日〕，我觉得讲述这故事是很恰当的，因为那是一个爱的故事。

We have heard of the expression “love is blind”, that is, when people are in love, they are blind to each other’s flaws. When in love she is always beautiful to him and he is always handsome to her. They may not be completely blind; they may know that their beloved are not perfect. But they believe love can transform their beloved into ideal perfection. When people are in love, sometimes they sure behave irrationally. This was what the people thought of the woman in today’s story. They thought that she acted irrationally. Let’s see what she did that made them think so. Here is how the story goes.
我们有听过「爱情是盲目的」这句话，意思是指当人在恋爱中他们看不见彼此的缺陷。在爱中她在他眼中永远是美丽的，而他在她眼中永远是英俊的。他们可能不是完全盲目，他们也许知道他们所爱的人并非完美。不过他们相信爱情能改变他们所爱的人进入理想的完美中。恋爱中的人有时真的表现不合理。这就是人们对今天故事中的妇人的看法，他们认为她的行动不理智。认我们看看她做了什麽使他们有此定论。故事发生如下。



It was 2 days before the Passover, Jesus and His disciples were in the town of Bethany. They were at Simon the Leper’s home for a party. Simon the Leper was probably a leper healed by Jesus, and he entertained Jesus and others at his home. All of a sudden a woman came in carrying an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She went up to Jesus, broke the jar, and poured out this expensive perfume onto Jesus’ head. The perfume made of the extract of this plant called nard must be well known for its high price, because some of the people there were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.”
再过两天就是逾越节了，耶稣与他的门徒来到伯大尼城，他们在长大麻疯的西门家坐席。西门的大麻疯可能得到耶稣的医治，他就在他家里招待耶稣和其他客人。突然间一位妇人进来，带着一玉瓶至贵的真哪哒香膏。她到耶稣跟前，打破玉瓶，把香膏浇在耶稣的头上。这从哪哒植物提链出来的香膏一定是有名的昂贵，因为有几个人心中很不喜悦，说：「何用这样枉费香膏呢？这香膏可以卖三十多两银子周济穷人。」

They rebuked her harshly because they thought she acted unwisely. Why would she use such expensive perfume on Jesus? Why used the whole jar? Why on such occasion? If she wanted to do a good deed, why not sell it and give the money to the poor? They think she acted irrationally.
他们就向那妇人生气因为他们认为她的行动不智为何她要用这般名贵的香膏在耶稣身上呢？为何要用整瓶呢？为何在此场合呢？如果她要做一件好事为何不卖了它，把钱周济穷人呢？

SHE ACTED IMPULSIVELY

她冲动地行了

Yes, the woman acted irrationally because she loved Jesus. She loved Jesus so much that she acted IMPULSIVELY that day. She loved Jesus so much that she came into Simon’s home in the midst of his party without an invitation. Not only that, according to the custom of the time there was no place for a woman at a party. Besides, she didn’t ask for Jesus’ permission to apply the perfume on Him. It was a spontaneous, lavish gift poured upon the Lord’s body out of her love for Him. When a person is in love, it must carry her beyond herself. Oswald Chambers says, “If love is always discreet, always wise, always sensible and calculating, never carried beyond itself, it is not love at all. It may be affection, it may be warmth of feeling, but it has not the true nature of love in it.” It is good and important to know Christ intellectually, but it is also necessary to know Christ emotionally. This is how one’s love for God should be!
对，这妇人无理性地做了这事因为她爱耶稣。她极爱耶稣到当天她冲动地如此行了。她极爱耶稣到她不请自来西门家中的宴会。不单如此，按当时的风俗妇女是不该在宴会中。况且她没有先得到耶稣的许可才浇上香膏。那是出于她对耶稣的爱的自发慷慨的礼物浇在主的身上。当一个人在爱中，会有情不自禁的现象。奧斯瓦爾德章伯斯说，「如果爱是完全慎重，完全智慧，完全合理和计算清楚，永不会情不自禁的话，那就一定不是爱。它可能是感情，它可能是些微感动，但它缺少爱的真缔在其中。」以理智来认识基督是好的也是重要的，但也须耍在感情上认识基督。一个人对神的爱该是如此！

To be continued next week.

下周待续。

May we experience God’s love deeply, know God both intellectually and emotionally. May we love God so much that it carries us beyond ourselves.
愿我们深深地经历神的爱，在理智上和感情上认识神。愿我们爱神爱到情不自禁。

Tom and Tehwan Tso
仲谋与德菀

“The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls.” 1Peter 1:9

“信心的果效， 就是灵魂的救恩” 彼得前书1：9