双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：5月26日 舍己跟从

5月26日

舍己跟从

“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。因为，凡要救自己生命的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得着生命。”马太福音16:24-25

主耶稣基督很坦诚地与门徒谈论未来。主对他们丝毫没有隐瞒。没人可以指责祂欺骗，也没有人可以说祂空许诺言。

主直言相告，要跟从他就必须舍己，背起十字架。主要他们严肃权衡代价，以免将来遇到磨难和贫乏的时候，退缩回头。

耶稣还告诉他们，世界要恨他们，他们将“如同羊进入狼群”。他们要被抓捕、鞭打，被送到诸侯君王面前。甚至他们的至亲都要逼迫他们。因为世界怎样恨恶逼迫他，也会这样对待他的门徒。他还警告门徒说，“人要把你们赶出会堂，并且时候将到，凡杀你们的就以为是事奉神。”(约翰福音16:2)但是耶稣真正的门徒都为信仰付上了代价。

伟大的非洲传教先驱大卫·利文斯通（David Livingstone）很明白地诠释了什么是舍己事主。他说：“人们都在谈论我在非洲度过那么长时间所做的牺牲，但是，我们欠神的债却永远无法偿还。相对于我们亏欠神的，这算是牺牲吗？如果我所做的能带来积极的活动、行善的良知、内心的平安，以及充满荣耀的光明前景，如何能算得上牺牲呢？所以我并没有做出过什么牺牲。”

那么，你是在自我牺牲，还是自我放纵呢？

今日祷告：

天父，我愿意献上自己。求祢接受我作为活祭。因着祢的恩典和圣名，愿祢帮助我加倍地为祢的国度摆上自己。奉耶稣基督的名，阿们！

May 26

SELF-DENIAL

Then said Jesus unto his disciples,if any man will come after me,let him deny himself,and take up his cross,and follow me.For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus Christ spoke frankly to His disciples concerning the future.He hid nothing from them.No one could ever accuse Him of deception.No one could ever accuse Him of securing allegiance making false promises.

In unmistakable language He told them that discipleship meant a life of self-denial,and the bearing of a cross.He asked them to count the cost carefully,lest they should turn back when they met with suffering and privation.

Jesus told His men that the world would hate them.They would be“as sheep in the midst of wolves.”They would be arrested,scourged,and brought before governors and kings.Even their loved ones would persecute them.As the world hated and persecuted Him,so it would treat His servants.He warned further,“They will put you out of the synagogues;indeed,the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God”(John 6:66 RSV).But the true disciples of Jesus all suffered for their faith.

I think the great pioneer missionary to Africa,David Livingstone,had a handle on what it means to deny self in service to Christ when he said,“People talk of the sacrifice I have made in spending so much of my life in Africa.Can that be called a sacrifice which is simply paid back as a small part of a great debt owed to God,which we can never repay?Is that a sacrifice which brings its own best reward in healthful activity,the consciousness of doing good,peace of mind,and the bright hope of a glorious destiny hereafter?I never made a sacrifice!”

Are you known primarily for self-denial or self-indulgence?

Pray for the Day:

Father,I lay down my life for You.Take my sacrifice and accept it.And multiply my efforts for Your Kingdom,by Your grace and for Your Name’s sake;in Jesus’Name,Amen.