Emiri:
In this week’s bible reading Mordecai writes a letter concerning Purim. They explain how it should be celebrated, on that day it should be a day of feasting and joy and giving to one another or sharing your blessing. It also says in the end that this day should always be remembered and observed so they won’t forget the blessing God gave them. Applying this to my life I learned through this the importance of not forgetting the blessings I received, and to give blessings to the people around me since I also received them. Like during kids club, to take care of the kids with sincerity since I was also taken cared of, I want to do the same for the people around me.
Tomas:
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about how loyal to God Job was no matter what. Even after Satan sent curses down on him and suffered greatly because of this. Applying this to my life, like Job, we should always be with and rely on God no matter what trials we are going through and no matter what other people say about going with God. Also, God uses hard times like what Job was going through as ways to learn, improve, and teach his ways because he disciplines those he loves like Job. For example, I have a lot of assignments currently and I now have to memorize a song for my up-coming concert. Even though these things seem hard, God will use these experiences as ways for me to improve on my learning as well as being able to play the viola.
むかい：
今回の聖書朗読ではヨブ期の1章1節の「ウツの地に、その名をヨブという人がいた。この人は誠実で直ぐな心を持ち、神を恐れて悪から遠ざかっていた。」の部分でヨブの神様への信仰の凄さについて学びました。ヨブはサタンに何をされようとも信仰を捨てることはありませんでした。これを自分の生活に当てはまると周りが自分に神様への信仰を止めさせようとしても、神様の訓練として感じこれからの生活でもっと神様への忠誠を誓います。
よしや：
ハマンが倒された後に、ハマンが倒していたユダヤ人の力が強くなることが興味深かった。神様は自分たちが困難な状況を潜り抜けたあと、必ず自分たちをさらに強くしてくださるということは明白だ。ユダヤ人たちはこれを覚えて、プリムの祭りとして祝っている。神様が窮地から助け、そしてより良くしてくださることを覚えておくべきということだと思う。ヨブは、災いが自分に降りかかっても、決して神を罵らなかった。このようなヨブの強さは、見習わなければならないと思う。
Timothy:
The last part of Esther focuses on what happened to the Jews after the execution of Haman. They went from fearing death by Haman’s edict to “a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor,” with Mordecai becoming second in rank to the king. Even after Haman’s death, Esther begged the king to put an end to Haman’s plans. What stood out to me was that she stayed very humble, despite the king always listening to her requests (he even said that he would give her half the kingdom if she wanted in chapter 7). She did not grow arrogant and kept her attitude the same. She did the right things and passed the “tests” that God gave her, she understands that she needed God to save her people. Applying this to my life, I should always be thankful, and when something good happens (such as getting a good grade on an assignment/test, etc.), I should always remember that I God helped me and I didn’t do it by myself.
Jun’s comment re: Emiri:
to give blessings to the people around me since I also received them. Like during kids club, to take care of the kids with sincerity since I was also taken cared of,
Yes, but just as the Jews gave “gifts to the poor” (rather than simply “gifts to friends and family”), who are those that are “poor” around you? Especially spiritually poor? Probably not the kids in church, but rather those outside—your friends and classmates who don’t have a relationship with God yet. That classmate in chemistry class (I don’t know what exactly she did or said to you but) she too is also spiritually poor if she acts meanly towards you—do you see that? If you can, it will change your mindset 180 degrees and you can act towards her with God’s love (not our love) and be a wonderful witness of Christ to her.
Jun’s comment re: Tomas:
Also, God uses hard times like what Job was going through as ways to learn, improve, and teach his ways because he disciplines those he loves like Job.
Yes, but it’s also important to see what the specific lesson was that God wanted Job to learn. It wasn’t just “discipline” in a general sense.
God wanted Job to do all the good deeds he was already doing and live the godly (pure) lifestyle he was already living, for a different reason (motivation) than he had at the outset of the story. Job was doing these things because he wanted to be blessed (and his family to be blessed). The flip side is that one can also say he was doing these things out of fear of punishment. God rather wanted Job to love him, and to live a good life out of love for him, and for no other reason.
This is a very important truth that is very much easier said than done (easy to understand with your head, but not easy to do, because it is a matter of the heart and not something that can be physically seen).
Jun’s comment re: Mukai:
今回の聖書朗読ではヨブ期の1章1節の「ウツの地に、その名をヨブという人がいた。この人は誠実で直ぐな心を持ち、神を恐れて悪から遠ざかっていた。」の部分でヨブの神様への信仰の凄さについて学びました。
ここはただの出だしですよ。スタートラインです。さっきトマスにも書いたように、この次のステップに神様はヨブに上がって欲しかったのです。
＊いちいち全部日英に訳す時間ないので、自分でGoogleとか使って、訳してメール読んでください。私はいつも、一人の人に対して書いていないので、自分への返事しか読まないと、だいぶ損します。
これを自分の生活に当てはまると周りが自分に神様への信仰を止めさせようとしても、神様の訓練として感じこれからの生活でもっと神様への忠誠を誓います。
神様に忠誠誓っても、「それがどうした？」と多分言われます。実際、何をするのですか？（適用はいつも、具体的に！）
Jun’s comment re: Yoshiya:
Good. クリスチャンにとって、試練はいつも、強くしてくれるものです。嫌なことが起きたり、苦手な人・ことに出会った時、頭に置いとくといいです。また、これによって、ステップアップできる！と思えば、試練も喜びになります。
エステル書を読んでる時（まぁ、話を最初から知ってる子が多いけど）、最後の方になって、ハマンが負けるなーとわかり始めた頃、、一つ思うように話が進まないところなかったですか？王様はエステルが頼むことなんでもやってあげます、と何回も言ってるし、ハマンがどんな悪いやつかと、王様も明らかに分かった時点で、最初の法令（ユダヤ人全員殺していいという法令）が取り消される（べき）かと思わなかったですか？もし自分が物語書いているとしたら、多分そういう話にするよね？でも、取り消されなかった。２番目の法令は、ただ単に、殺されるはずの日に、ユダヤ人は、自分たちを守っていい（戦ったいい）と許しを得ただけのことです。
ここから何か学びますか？私たちへの適用はなんですか？難しくないから、分かるね？
クリスチャンは、ただのいい子、優しい子、では、役に立ちません。戦うこと（挑戦することも含まれてる）を知ることは、本当に大事です。戦わないと、勝利を得ることもできません。喜びは、立ち向かって、戦い始めた時に、流れ始めます。
Jun’s comment re: TImothy:
Ok, good Timothy.
Everyone, use Google translate (or something similar) to read all the emails if you don’t understand Japanese (or vice versa). When I write replies, I am basically writing to everyone (hoping it will be helpful to all of you), so please read the emails I’ve sent to others as well.
Yakumo said he doesn’t want to do Bible reading, so please leave out his email from now on.
文雲は聖書通読やめたいと、言ってきたので、このメールグループからは抜いてください。