双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：4月21日 效仿耶稣

4月21日

效仿耶稣

“仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣。他因那摆在前面的喜乐，就轻看羞辱，忍受了十字架的苦难，便坐在神宝座的右边。”【希伯来书12:2】

新约圣经，在坚持耶稣受难的真正目的是为了担当我们的罪孽的同时，也告诉我们，如何效仿耶稣，忍受苦难。

因此，使徒彼得敦促做奴隶的基督徒弟兄，要顺服地忍受苦难，即便他们没有过错。“你们蒙召原是为此；因基督也为你们受过苦，给你们留下榜样，叫你们跟随他的脚踪行。他并没有犯罪，口里也没有诡诈。他被骂不还口；受害不说威吓的话，只将自己交托那按公义审判人的主。”（彼得前书2:21-23）

基督给我们留下了榜样。希腊文“榜样”一词源自于小学生学习写作模仿的范本。基督就是我们的范本。我们仰望祂，学习如何忍受苦难。

上面的经文里，使徒描述了基督苦难的四个特点：

1他的圣洁：他并没有犯罪。

2他的正直：口里也没有诡诈。

3他的忍耐：被骂不还口；受害不说威吓的话。

4他的信心：只将自己交托那按公义审判人的主。

希伯来书的作者写道：“看到那忍受罪人这样顶撞的，你们要思想，免得疲倦灰心。（希伯来书12:3）”

是的，请你思想耶稣基督。当我们面临苦难和忧患时，首先思想耶稣。我们要定睛仰望祂，那位为我们受苦的主，是我们应当效仿如何忍受苦难的榜样。

今日祷告：

父啊，当苦难临到我们时，求你用圣灵充满我们，引导我们，赐予我们忍耐的力量。让我们顺从，让我们坚持；奉耶稣的名，阿门。

April 21

CHRIST CRUCIFIED:AN EXAMPLE OF SUFFERING

Though he were a Son,yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;and being made perfect,he became the author of salvation unto all them that obey him.Hebrew 5:8-9

The New Testament,while insisting that the true purpose for which Jesus suffered was to deal with our sins,also points us to the suffering Savior as a pattern of how we,as His believing people,should endure our sufferings.

Thus the apostle Peter,when addressing Christian slaves,urges them to bear their sufferings submissively,even though they have done no wrong:“To this you were called,because Christ suffered for you,leaving you an example,that you should follow in his steps.‘He committed no sin,and no deceit was found in his mouth.’When they hurled their insults at him,he did not retaliate;when he suffered,he made no threats.Instead,he entrusted himself to him who judges justly”(1 Peter 2:21-23 NIV).

Christ has left us an example.The Greek word for example is derived from school life and refers to a pattern of writing to be copied by the child learning to write.Christ is our copybook.We look at Him and learn how suffering is to be borne.

In the passage the apostle draws attention to four things about the suffering Savior.First,His holy life:“He committed no sin”;second,His guileless speech:“no deceit was found in his mouth”;third,His patient spirit:“When they hurled their insults at him,he did not retaliate;when he suffered,he made no threats”;and fourth,His implicit faith:“he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

The author of Hebrews writes,“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men,so that you will not grow weary and lose heart”(Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV).

Yes,consider Him.In our sufferings and tribulations Jesus Himself must be our chief consideration.We must fix our eyes upon Him.He who suffered for us shows us how we are to bear our sufferings.

Pray for the Day:

Father,when suffering comes our way,fill us with Your Holy Spirit to lead us,and give us strength to endure.Keep us obedient and let us persevere;in Jesus’Name,Amen.