双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：6月14日 门徒代价

6月14日

门徒代价

“你们哪一个要盖一座楼，不先坐下算计花费，能盖成不能呢？”

路加福音14:28

多年前，从惠顿学院毕业的吉姆·艾略特（Jim Elliot）去厄瓜多尔的奥卡斯做传教士。在他被杀害之前，他写下一句话：“为了那不能长久保留的东西而放弃那永不能失去的东西，这才是傻瓜。”

基督信仰是要付出血汗和泪水的，这是跟随基督的代价。基督呼召我们做他的门徒。我们来到主的面前，他挪去了我们的重担：我们的罪、我们的愧疚、我们与神的隔绝、我们的无望。但是祂也呼召我们：“你们当负我的轭，学我的样式；”（太11:29）这不是我们无法背负的轭，因为基督与我们一起背负。“因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的。”（太11:30）

然而，基督要我们跟随他，不管付出怎样的代价。他从来没有应许我们的道路会一直平坦。没有哪一种生活不需要背负重担。我选择基督，不是因为他拿走我的痛苦，而是因为祂给我力量面对痛苦，并且终将战胜它。彭柯丽（Corrie ten Boom）说：“最坏的事情可能发生，但最好的已经存留。”

已故的沃尔特·威尔逊（Walter L.Wilson）博士曾经说过：“神更愿意改造我们的生命，而不是给予我们该有的东西。”

我们是这样的门徒吗？

今日祷告：

天父，我们知道要付出代价，我向你祷告，愿更多的门徒选择付上代价来跟随你，为着那摆在前面的喜乐。奉耶稣基督的圣名，阿们。

June 14

DISCIPLESHIP

For which of you,intending to build a tower,sitteth not down first,and counteth the cost…?Luke 14:28

A generation ago,Jim Elliot went from Wheaton College to become a missionary to the Aucas in Ecuador.Before he was killed,he wrote,“He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

The Christian faith brings its own“blood,sweat,and tears”to those who would follow Jesus Christ.Christ calls us to discipleship.When we come to Him,He takes away one set of burdens-the burden of sin,the burden of guilt,the burden of separation from God,the burden of hopelessness.But He also calls upon us to“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me”(Matthew 11:29).It is not a yoke that is too heavy for us to bear,for Christ bears it with us:“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”(Matthew 11:30).

Nevertheless,Christ calls us to follow Him,regardless of the cost,and He has never promised that our path will always be smooth.There is no life that is without its own set of burdens.I have chosen Christ,not because He takes away my pain,but because He gives me strength to cope with that pain,and in the long range to realize victory over it.Corrie ten Boom said,“The worst can happen,but the best remains.”

The late Dr.Walter L.Wilson once said,“God is more interested in making us what He wants us to be than giving us what we ought to have.”Is that the way I’m living my life?

Pray for the Day:

Father,as we count the cost,I pray that more and more of Your disciples will choose to pay that cost and follow You for the joy that is set before them;in Jesus’Name.