God's Likes and Dislikes
神的喜惡
神的喜惡
文: 陳瑩
亞當犯罪後，神為何要用皮子作衣服給人穿？（創3︰21）神為何悅納亞伯的獻祭，而不悅納該隱的祭？神為何愛雅各，惡以掃？主為何不欣賞馬大的忙碌，而稱讚馬利亞的安靜？這裏可清楚知道如何為神所喜，如何為神所惡。衣服在聖經裏有兩個意思，一個遮蓋。亞當犯罪後就用葉子為自己編織裙子，遮蓋自己的醜態。另一意思是預表「行為」。人的所謂「義行」在神眼中如同污穢的衣服，人的義不外是「文過飾非」，金玉其外，敗絮其中。耶和華用皮子造衣服給人穿，預表了惟有「被殺的羔羊」基督的寶血才能為人作挽回的祭，因那裏有「皮」，那裏就有「流血」的事發生。
人若以為靠自己的「善行」可換取永生，就落入亞當「為自己編織衣服」的光景，為神所惡。人惟有披戴基督，才能在神前因信稱義。亞伯宰殺羊羣中頭生的作為獻祭，為神所悅納，乃因他作在神旨之內，知道「若不流血，罪不得赦」的真理。該隱則將自己種出的產物作獻，忽略寶血救贖之恩，作在神旨之外，雖勞無功。雅各一生雖詭詐，卻看重神的祝福，以掃則輕看神屬天的福份，祇為貪圖一碗紅豆湯而出賣了長子的名份，足以顯出他末倒置，愚昧無知。馬大「自以為是」的忙亂，殊不知忽略了「要行」必先「要知」的真理，先安靜主前，明白主的心意，然後作事，才不至徒無功。
God's Likes and Dislikes
By: Dorine Chan
After Adam had committed sin, why did God make for Adam and for his wife coats of skins for their clothing? (Genesis 3:21) Why did God accept Abel's offer, but not Cain's sacrifice? Why did God love Jacob and hate Esau? Why did God not appreciate the busy Martha but praise the quiet Mary? Here we can clearly know how to please God and what things God dislike. In the Bible clothe has two meanings. One is covering. When Adam sinned he made apron with leaves to cover his ugly body. Another meaning of clothe is a pre-showing of "behavior." Human being's so-called "righteous behavior" is like filthy rag in God's eyes, and human righteous is nothing more than "smoothing over a fault", which is apple of Sodom. The Lord made clothes with leather for us to wear, pre-showing that only the blood of the "sacrificed Christ" can give us propitiation, because where there is a "skin", there will be "bleeding" things to happen.
If people think that they can rely on their own "good deeds" to obtain eternal life, they will fall into the same situation as Adam "made clothes for himself", which God dislikes. Only by putting on Christ can people justify by faith in front of God. Abel slaughtered the firstlings of his flock as sacrifice, which pleased God. It was because that his work was within the God's will by knowing the truth of "without shedding of blood there is no remission." On the other hand, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground as an offering, neglecting the grace of redemption of precious blood, which was not within the God's will, therefore he tried hard to no avail. Although Jacob was deceit in his whole life, he valued the blessings of God. Esau underestimated the blessings of heaven and betrayed his birthright only for a bowl of pottage of lentils, which was enough to show his ignorance and putting the cart before the horse. Martha's "self-righteous" busy neglected the truth of "knowing" before "acting". To avoid that our works to no avail, we should only take action after being quiet in front of the Lord to understand his mind.