Verse from Colossians

穿上了新人。这新人照着他的创造者的形象渐渐更新，能够充分认识主。(歌罗西书 3:10)

and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (Colossians 3:10)

In our media-saturated age, image consultants have become indispensable. Entertainers, athletes, politicians, and business leaders seem desperate to manage the way they are perceived in the eyes of the world. These high-priced consultants work to shape how their clients are viewed—even if sometimes there is a stark contrast between the public image and the real person inside.

In reality, what people need—what all of us need—is not an external makeover but an inner transformation. Our deepest flaws cannot be corrected cosmetically. They are directly related to who we are in heart and mind, and they reveal how far we have fallen from the image of God in which we were created. But such transformation is beyond any human ability to accomplish.

Only Christ offers us true transformation—not just a facelift or an outward adjustment. Paul said that those who have been raised to eternal life in Christ “have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10).

New! What a tremendous word full of hope! Christ transforms us into new people in Him—people with a new heart, not just fixed up to look good on the outside.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17

The Spirit develops in us the clear image of Christ.

Verse from Hebrews

所以，我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为的是要领受怜悯，得到恩惠，作为及时的帮助。(希伯来书 4:16)

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Technology is a blessing in so many ways. Need a bit of information about a health problem? All you have to do is access the Internet where you instantaneously get a list of options to guide your search. Need to contact a friend? Just send a text, email, or Facebook post. But technology can also be frustrating at times. Think of the times when an important conversation is cut off because of a dead cellphone battery, with no way to reconnect until you find a plug to recharge. 

The wonderful thing is that in reality when we need to access God in prayer, there are no security questions and no batteries required. We can have the assurance that John gives when he says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

God is always accessible, for He never slumbers nor sleeps! (Ps. 121:4). And thanks to His love for us, He is waiting and ready to listen.

God is always accessible in our time of need.

Verse from Matthew

耶稣上了船，门徒跟着他。(马太福音 8:23)

When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. (Matthew 8:23)

When the cruise ship pulled into port, the passengers got off as quickly as possible. They had spent the last few days enduring an outbreak of a virus, and hundreds of people had been sickened. One passenger, interviewed as he disembarked, said: “Well, I don’t mean to complain so much. I mean I know everybody was in the same boat.” His seemingly unintentional pun made the reporter smile.

In Matthew 8, we read about another trip on the water (vv.23-27). Jesus got into the boat and the disciples followed Him (v.23). Then a terrible storm arose, and Jesus’ disciples feared for their lives. They awakened a sleeping Jesus, who they assumed was unaware of the crisis.

While Jesus was literally in the same boat as His followers, He was unconcerned about the weather. As the all-powerful Creator, He had no fear of a storm. “He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (v.26).

But we are not all-powerful, and we are oh-so-prone to fear. So what are we to do when the storms of life rage around us? Whether they quickly blow over or last for a long time, we can be confident in this: We are in the same boat with the One whom even the winds and the sea obey.

Heavenly Father, this life is full of uncertainty. But You have promised us Your unfailing presence. May we see You today—especially when we are tempted to panic or to do things in our own strength.

No danger can come so near the Christian that God is not nearer.

Verse from Deuteronomy

“如果你们留心听我今日吩咐你们的诫命，爱耶和华你们的神，一心一意事奉他，(申命记 11:13)

"It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, (Deuteronomy 11:13)

Moses reminded the Israelites that producing food is hard work before they entered the promised land. While living in Egypt, they had to do the hard work of irrigating crops by hand (Deut. 11:10), but in the place where God was taking them He promised to ease their work by sending spring and autumn rains: “I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains” (v.14 niv). The only condition was that they “faithfully obey the commands” He gave them—“to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (v.13 niv). The Lord was taking His people to a place where their obedience and His blessing would make them a light to those around them.

God wants the same for us and from us: He wants our love to be displayed in our obedience so that we might be His light to people around us. The love and obedience we have to offer, though, is far less than He deserves. But He is our provider, blessing us and enabling us to be a light that the world will notice.

Loving God and being obedient to Him doesn’t make life effortless, but having His strength makes it easier.

Verse from Proverbs

人心计划自己的道路，他的脚步却由耶和华指引。(箴言 16:9)

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

No matter how well we plan, we will still need His guidance. Though how many of us often fail to consult Him first? Instead of consulting Him, do we only inform Him after everything's planned, just to ask for His blessings? Or worse still, when plans are heading towards failure, then we start to turn to Him for help, when He doesn't help in the way we want Him to, we start complaining to Him and about Him, but first thing first, did we consult Him in all that we do from the start? Did we place Him in the centre of all things? 

Verse from Romans

所以弟兄们，我凭着神的仁慈劝你们，要把身体献上，作圣洁而蒙　神悦纳的活祭；这是你们理所当然的事奉。(罗马书 12:1)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

During his only inaugural address as the US President, John F. Kennedy issued this challenge to Americans: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” It was a renewed call for citizens to surrender their lives in sacrifice and service to others. His words especially inspired the sons and daughters of men and women who had served their country in war.

His meaning was clear: What their parents purchased, often with their very lives, must now be protected by peaceful means. An army of volunteers arose to answer that call, and through the decades they have accomplished an immeasurable amount of humanitarian work around the globe.

Centuries earlier, the apostle Paul issued a similar call to Christians in the opening verses of Romans 12. Here he urges us to give our bodies as “living sacrifices” in service to the One who paid with His life for our sins. This spiritual sacrifice must be more than mere words; it must be an investment of our lives in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of others.

Best of all, our serving can be done right where we are.

Don’t always ask Jesus what He can do for you; ask Jesus what you can do for Him. 

Does Jesus in your life exist only for blessing purpose, when you have gotten what you want from Him, He is once again left at some corner for you to seek Him again when you want His blessings and to give you what you want?

Verse from 1 Peter

是要叫你们的信心经过试验，就比那被火炼过，仍会朽坏的金子更宝贵，可以在耶稣基督显现的时候，得着称赞、荣耀和尊贵。(彼得前书 1:7)

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7)

When unspeakable tragedy shatters people’s lives, they search for answers. Recently, a mother who had lost a teenager said to me, “I can’t figure it out. I don’t know if I can believe anymore. I try, but God doesn’t make sense to me. What does it all mean?” There are no easy answers to such big concerns. But for those who have trusted Christ, there is hope—whether we are basking in blessings or grinding through grief.

Peter spells this out in his first letter. In glowing terms, he praises God for our “new birth into a living hope” (1 Peter 1:3 niv) through our salvation. That hope can bring joy even in the middle of tragedy. He also assures us of the permanence of this hope (v.4). He then tells us of the heart-breaking reality that we may “suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (v.6 niv). Those who have suffered loss turn hopeful hearts toward Peter’s next words: These come so that “your faith . . . may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (v.7).

Trials—seemingly random and inexplicable—can be seen differently in the light of these words. In the midst of tragedy, the power and beauty of our salvation can shine through because of our great Savior. And that may be just enough light to get a troubled person through another day.

Lord, 

You assure us that the grand salvation You provided is proved genuine in our pain and that it leads to glory for You. 

Help us to begin each new day with renewed hope in You.

The light of salvation shines clearly even in the darkest night.

Verse from Exodus

现在去吧，我必赐你口才，指教你当说的。”(出埃及记 4:12)

Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12)

More than 10,000 evangelists and Christian leaders sat in a giant auditorium in Amsterdam in 1986 listening to world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham. He was narrating some of his experiences. In one of them he said, “Let me tell you: every time I stand before the congregation of God’s people to preach, I tremble and my knees wobble!”

How can such a great preacher who has enthralled millions with his powerful sermons exhibit trembling and wobbling knees? Then he went on to describe not fear and stage fright, but intense humility and meekness as he felt inadequate for the daunting task to which God had called him. He relied on God for strength, not on his own eloquence.

Moses felt inadequate when God sent him to deliver the enslaved Israelites from their 400-year captivity in Egypt. Moses pleaded with the Lord to send someone else, with the excuse that he had never been a good speaker (see Ex. 4:10,13).

We may have similar fears when God calls us to do something for Him. But His encouragement to Moses can also spur us on: “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (v.12 niv).

As Billy Graham said that day, “When God calls you, do not be afraid of trembling and wobbling knees, for He will be with you!”

What task does God have for you to do today? Depend on Him by asking for His help.

Wherever God sends us, He comes alongside us.

Two things that struck me in this fast & furious 7 movie

Quotes from fast & furious 7 which linked me to Jesus and God:

U can't tell someone to love u. 

This is true, Jesus never forces us to love Him. We make the choice whether or not to love Him back. He chose to love us first without forcing us to love Him back, that's love..despite we being imperfect, He still chose to love us first. This is love. 

U can't run away from God's eye.

It's true. He is everywhere, He sees all that we do. If u think u can get away from committing a crime, or whatever thing that you think u can get away with, just because no one sees it, you are wrong. On the bright side, you are also protected 24/7 by Him as well. 

Verse from Ephesians

要互相友爱，存温柔的心，彼此饶恕，就像神在基督里饶恕了你们一样。(以弗所书 4:32)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

The Bible urges us to avoid angry outbursts by putting on the new self, “which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). And if we are the victim of anger, God asks us to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (v.32).

Restored relationships are not easy, but they are possible by the grace of God.

Lord, my temper can sometimes run hot. Grant me the grace to stop and think before I act or speak and the grace to apologize when I’ve hurt someone. Thank You for the gift of forgiveness.

Repentance and forgiveness are the glue that can repair a broken relationship.

Verse from Joshua

耶和华对约书亚说：“看，我已经把耶利哥和耶利哥的王，以及英勇的战士，都交在你的手中了。(约书亚记 6:2)

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. (Joshua 6:2)

When Joshua faced Jericho, a fortified city in lockdown, he may have felt as if he was facing an impossible situation (Josh. 5:13–6:27). But then a Man with a drawn sword appeared to him. Some theologians think the Man was Jesus Himself. Joshua anxiously asked if He would be backing the Israelites or their enemies in the forthcoming battle. “‘Neither one,’ he replied. ‘I am the commander of the Lord’s army’” (5:14 nlt). Joshua bowed in worship before he took another step. He still didn’t know how Jericho would be delivered into his hand, but he listened to God and worshiped Him. Then he obeyed the Lord’s instructions and the impossible happened.

Dear Lord, 

often when I am faced with an impossible situation I choose worry rather than trust. 

Help me to trust You and to remember that nothing is too hard for You.

Nothing is impossible for the Lord.

Verse from Luke

因为人子来，是要寻找拯救失丧的人。”(路加福音 19:10)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

Every day a father craned his neck to look toward the distant road, waiting for his son’s return. And every night he went to bed disappointed. But one day, a speck appeared. A lonesome silhouette stood against the crimson sky. Could that be my son? the father wondered. Then he caught sight of the familiar saunter. Yes, that has to be my son!

And so while the son was “still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). It is remarkable that the family patriarch did something that was considered undignified in Middle Eastern culture—he ran to meet his son. The father was full of unbridled joy at his son’s return.

The son didn’t deserve such a reception. When he had asked his father for his share of the inheritance and left home, it was as if he had wished his father dead. But despite all that the son had done to his father, he was still his son (v.24).

This parable reminds me that I’m accepted by God because of His grace, not because of my merits. It assures me that I’ll never sink so deep that God’s grace can’t reach me. Our heavenly Father is waiting to run to us with open arms.

We deserve punishment and get forgiveness; we deserve God’s wrath and get God’s love. —Philip Yancey

Verse from Proverbs

智慧的开端是求取智慧，要用你所得的一切换取哲理。(箴言 4:7)

"The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

Verse from Deuteronomy

所以你要知道耶和华你的神，他是神，是信实可靠的神；他向爱他和守他诫命的人，守约并且施慈爱，直到千代。(申命记 7:9)

Know therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments; (Deuteronomy 7:9)

Verses from Romans

所以现在，那些在耶稣基督里的人就不被定罪了；因为生命之灵的律在基督耶稣里使我自由，脱离了罪和死的律。(罗马书 8:1-2)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Many people in this world like to condemn but in Christ, there is no condemnation. U may have done wrong, spiteful, jealousy, vengeful thoughts, cursing etc, but He forgives you if you are willing to turn back to Him and repent. 

Verse from Proverbs

你不要说：“我要以恶报恶”；要等候耶和华，他必拯救你。(箴言 20:22)

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. (Proverbs 20:22)

Revenge is Satan's way of destroying both the innocent and the offender. Once vengeance becomes the motivation, the wounded party can suddenly be swept up in rage and hatred. This poison spreads to everything the vengeful person touches. On earth, we can see that we will never find perfect and complete justice, no matter the "goodness" of the judicial system in place at the time. But God will not only bring justice; he will deliver us: deliver us from the hands of the oppressor and deliver us from the poison of hatred.

Verse from Matthew

他稍往前走，把脸俯伏在地上，祷告说：“我的父啊！可能的话，求你使这杯离开我；但不要照我的意思，只要照你的旨意。”(马太福音 26:39)

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)

Jesus Himself wanted a way out of His upcoming suffering when He prayed, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. . . . O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matt. 26:38-39). Yet He willingly went through this for our salvation.

When life seems too much to bear, that’s when we throw ourselves on God’s mercy, and He holds on to us.

Jesus knows and understands what we are going through because He has been through the worst for our sake. 

Verse from 1 Peter

你们要把一切忧虑卸给神，因为他顾念你们。(彼得前书 5:7)

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

how can we keep from worrying when our lives are so uncertain, so filled with problems and needs? The apostle Peter offered this encouragement to the followers of Jesus who had been forcibly scattered across Asia during the first century: “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).

Peter’s instructions were not given to help us avoid suffering (v.9), but so we can find peace and power to stand victorious against the attacks of Satan (vv.8-10). Instead of being consumed by anxiety and worry, we are set free to enjoy God’s love for us and express it to each other.

I will never think of anything that [God, my Father,] will forget, so why should I worry? —Oswald Chambers

Verse from 1 Samuel

大卫就求问耶和华说：“我可以去击打这些非利士人吗？”耶和华对大卫说：“你可以去击打非利士人，拯救基伊拉。”(撒母耳记上 23:2)

So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go and attack these Philistines?" And the LORD said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah." (1 Samuel 23:2)

Prayer becomes a priority when we realize that we need God’s help. David needed God’s assistance in a dangerous situation as he considered fighting the Philistines in the city of Keilah. Before engaging in battle, “David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’” (1 Sam. 23:2). God gave His approval. However, David’s men admitted that the enemy forces intimidated them. Before a single sword was lifted against the Philistines, David prayed again. God promised him the victory he later claimed (v.4).

Does prayer guide our lives, or is it our last resort when trouble strikes? We sometimes fall into the habit of making plans and then asking God to bless them, or praying only in moments of desperation. God does want us to turn to Him in moments of need. But He also wants us to remember that we need Him all the time (Prov. 3:5-6).

Dear God, please guide me as I walk through this life. Help me not to act only by my own wisdom, but to seek Your will in every situation.

God wants us to pray before we do anything at all. —Oswald Chambers

Verse from Isaiah

我是耶和华，这是我的名；我必不把我的荣耀归给别人，也不把我当受的称赞归给雕刻的偶像。(以赛亚书 42:8)

"I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8)

The Nile of Africa, which spans 6,650 kilometers (more than 4,100 miles) and flows northward across several northeastern African countries, is the world’s longest river. Over the centuries, the Nile has provided sustenance and livelihood for millions of citizens in the countries it passes through. Currently, Ethiopia is building what will become Africa’s largest hydro-power dam on the Nile. It will be a great resource for the area.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, claimed to be the Nile’s owner and originator. He and all Egypt boasted, “My River is my own; I have made it for myself” (Ezek. 29:3,9). They failed to acknowledge that God alone provides natural resources. As a result, God promised to punish the nation (vv.8-9).

We are to care for God’s creation, and not forget that everything we have comes from the Lord. Romans 11:36 says, “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.” He is the One who also endows humanity with the ability to manufacture and invent man-made resources. Whenever we talk about a good thing that has come to us or that we have accomplished, we need to remember where it comes from, the source of it all...Lord God.

Verse from 1 Samuel

也使这些人群都知道，耶和华拯救人不是靠刀，不是靠枪，因为战争的胜败在于耶和华，他必把你们交在我们的手里。”(撒母耳记上 17:47)

and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD ' S and He will give you into our hands." (1 Samuel 17:47)

On August 4, 1991, the MTS Oceanos cruise ship ran into a terrible storm off the coast of South Africa. When the ship began to sink, the captain decided to abandon ship and left with his officers, failing to notify those onboard of any problem. Passenger Moss Hills, a British musician, noticed that something was wrong and sent out a Mayday signal to the South African coast guard. Then, taking matters into their own hands, Moss, his wife Tracy, and other entertainers on board helped organize the evacuation of all passengers by assisting them as they were lifted into helicopters.

Sometimes those we look to for leadership can let us down. When King Saul and his officers faced the belligerent insults of the Philistine giant Goliath, they responded with fear and timidity (1 Sam. 17:11). But a young musician and shepherd boy named David had faith in God that transformed his perspective on this threat. David said to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword . . . . But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts” (v.45). David defeated the enemy and turned the tide of battle (v.50). He did not look to earthly leaders for his strength but to the living God.

When others let us down, God may be calling us to provide leadership in His strength and for His honor.

Only as we follow Christ can we lead others in the right direction.

Verse from Hebrews

你们也不要忘记行善和捐输，这样的祭是神所喜悦的。(希伯来书 13:16)

And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrews 13:16)

Lee Geysbeek of Compassion International told about a woman who had the opportunity to travel to a distant land to visit the child she sponsored. She decided to take the child, who was living in abject poverty, to a restaurant.

The boy ordered a hamburger, and the sponsor ordered a salad. When the food came to the table, the boy, who assuredly had never had such a meal in his life, surveyed the scene. He looked at his huge hamburger and over at his sponsor’s small salad. Then he took his knife and cut the burger in half, offered it to his sponsor, rubbed his tummy, and asked, “Hungry?”

A child who had next to nothing his whole life was willing to share half of what he had with someone he thought might need more. This child can be a good reminder the next time we meet someone in physical, emotional, or spiritual need. 

We encounter people in need every day. Some around the globe, some simply around the corner. Some in need of a warm meal, others a kind word. What a difference we who have experienced His love, could make by doing good and sharing (Heb. 13:16).

Verse from Psalms

谨守他的法度，全心寻求他的，都是有福的。(诗篇 119:2)

How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. (Psalms 119:2)

There was this story about a man named Ed and his little son. His son was standing in a mud puddle, so Ed told him to get out. But instead, his son began running through the puddle. “No running through it either,” he said. So the boy began walking through the water. When Ed told him, “No walking!” the boy stood with just his toes in the water, looking defiantly at his dad. The child knew what his father wanted, but he didn’t want to do it.

Sometimes we are like that stubborn little boy. We know that what we are doing isn’t pleasing to the Lord, but we do it anyway. God told the children of Israel to “fully obey the Lord your God” (Deut. 28:1 niv), but they failed repeatedly. The psalmist acknowledged his struggle in Psalm 119, “Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!” (v.5 niv).

Jealousy, hatred, rebellion—they occur all too often. But God provided for our redemption through the sacrifice of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit helps us when we are tempted (1 Cor. 10:13); and when we confess our wrongdoing, God promises to forgive us (1 John 1:9).

To master temptation, let Christ master you.

Verse from Philippians

我并不是因为缺乏才这样说：我已经学会了，无论在甚么情况之下都可以知足。(腓立比书 4:11)

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Philippians 4:11)

Verse from Matthew

“所以，凡听见我这些话又遵行的，就像聪明的人，把自己的房子盖在盘石上。(马太福音 7:24)

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24)

Earthquakes are prevalent in the Pacific Rim region known as the “Ring of Fire.” Ninety percent of the world’s earthquakes and 81 percent of the world’s largest earthquakes occur there. I learned that many buildings in the city of Hong Kong have been built on granite, which could help minimize damage in the event of an earthquake. The foundation of buildings is especially important in earthquake-prone regions of the world.

Jesus Christ told His followers that a stable foundation is critical in building lives. He said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of Jesus Christ is what will give us the stability our hearts and lives need now and into the future.

By allowing the Lord’s wisdom to guide us in our relationships, decisions, and priorities, we find that He provides the most trustworthy foundation any life could be built upon.

Verses from John

耶稣说：“我就是复活和生命；信我的人，虽然死了，也要活着。所有活着又信我的人，必定永远不死，你信这话吗？”(约翰福音 11:25-26)

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)

In here, Jesus meant the final eternal death, when He comes back to earth for the final time. 

Verse from 1 Peter

他在木头上亲身担当了我们的罪，使我们既然不活在罪中，就可以为义而活。因他受的鞭伤，你们就得了医治。(彼得前书 2:24)

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

There are a few trees listed in the bible. The first tree—the one on which hung the forbidden fruit that Adam and Eve just couldn’t resist (Gen. 3:6). God used that tree to test their loyalty and trust. Then there’s the tree in Psalm 1 that reminds us of the fruitfulness of godly living. And in Proverbs 3:18, wisdom is personified as a tree of life.

But it is a transplanted tree that is most important—the crude cross of Calvary that was hewn from a sturdy tree. There our Savior hung between heaven and earth to bear every sin of every generation on His shoulders. It stands above all trees as a symbol of love, sacrifice, and salvation.

At Calvary, God’s only Son suffered a horrible death on a cross. That’s the tree of life for us.

The cross of Christ reveals man’s sin at its worst and God’s love at its best.

Verse from 2 Corinthians

神使那无罪的替我们成为有罪的，使我们在他里面成为神的义。(哥林多后书 5:21)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Noise. Vibration. Pressure. Fireball. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield used these words to describe being launched into space. As the rocket raced toward the International Space Station, the weight of gravity increased and breathing became difficult. Just when he thought he would pass out, the rocket made a fiery breakthrough into weightlessness. Instead of lapsing into unconsciousness, he broke into laughter.

On the Friday we call “good,” something similar happened to Jesus. God placed on Him the weight of the entire world’s sin—past, present, and future—until He could no longer breathe. Then He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’ ” (Luke 23:46). After being suffocated by our sin, Jesus received back from God the life entrusted to Him and now lives where sin and death have no power. All who trust Christ will one day join Him. 

The sacrifice of Jesus points us to the joy of heaven.

Verse from Isaiah

然而他是为了我们的过犯被刺透，为了我们的罪孽被压伤；使我们得平安的惩罚加在他身上，因他受了鞭伤，我们才得医治。(以赛亚书 53:5)

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus didn't do anything to deserve any of the above treatment. He was not a criminal, He had no sin, and yet He willingly went through all these just to save us, just for us, because He loves us. Other than Lord, is there anyone else on earth who is willing to go through all these for us? Would u go through all these for the whole world? for those who might dislike u or who can't wait for something nasty to happen to u? 

Verses from Psalm

耶和华啊！求你侧耳听我的祷告，留心听我的恳求。在我遭难的日子，我要求告你，因为你必应允我。(诗篇 86:6-7)

Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me. (Psalm 86:6-7)

Sometimes there are no immediate answers. We have prayed and cried and tried and gone sleepless and mourned and shouted. Still there are no answers. The days roll by in an agonizing parade of pain. Still there are no answers we can identify. We can honest with the God of the entire universe about our pain and anticipate mercy from Him. We are convinced that in our troubles, He will not only hear us, but He will also care about what is happening in our lives.