双语灵修（葛培理牧师） ：1月22日 逆境奋起

1月22日

逆境奋起

“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱上帝的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。”罗马书8:28

有一首是歌这样写道：“请原谅，我从未承诺给你一座玫瑰园。”上帝确实造了一个美丽的伊甸园，一个完美的境界，让人可以无忧无虑的生活在其中。可惜人犯罪，违背上帝，被赶出园子。然而，上帝仍然应许将我们从一切逆境中拯救出来。

面对逆境，我们有两种选择：要么屈服而沮丧，要么战胜而喜乐。屈服和沮丧并不能使逆境消逝，只会变得更糟糕。战胜逆境最好的办法之一就是在动荡不安中赞美上帝，向上帝歌唱或朗读诗篇，或默想经文，保罗尤其在罗马书8:38-39里写下这样美好的确信：

“因为我深信无论是死，是生，是天使，是掌权的，是有能的，是现在的事，是将来的事，是高处的，是低处的，是别的受造之物，都不能叫我们与上帝的爱隔绝；这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的。”

【罗马书8:38-39】

请记住，我们的盼望不是建立在我们的环境之中，而是建立在耶稣的宝血和公义之上。立在基督磐石坚固，其余根基全是沙土。正如另一首歌所唱：“若我未经过患难，怎知道神为我承担；怎信在祂是无所不能？”正是在逆境中，我们学会信靠耶稣，战胜困难。把逆境当成上帝给你增加信心的机会，做他坚强、忠心的仆人。

今日祷告：

天父，当我面对逆境时，我知道祢爱我。祢的爱永远不会是我们与祢隔绝。感谢你，天父，求你常与我们同在。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

January 22

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF ADVERSITY

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,to them who are called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28

There was a popular song not too long ago which contained the lyrics,“I beg your pardon.I never promised you a rose garden.”

God,of course,did create for man a beautiful Garden of Eden,a state of perfection in which man could live free of any want.But man sinned against God and God removed him from the Garden.Yet,even now,God has promised to deliver us from all our adversities.

There are two ways to respond to adversity.We can give in and be depressed,or we can triumph over it and be joyful.The problem with giving in and being depressed is that the adversities do not go away and,indeed,seem to grow worse.

One of the best ways to overcome adversity is to praise God in the midst of your turmoil.Begin to sing to God or read the Psalms out loud.Meditate on Scripture,particularly passages like Romans 8:28-39,which includes this wonderful assurance:“For I am persuaded,that neither death,nor life,nor angels,nor principalities,nor powers,nor things present,nor things to come,nor height,nor depth,nor any creature,shall be able to separate us from the love of God,which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Remember that our hope is not based on circumstance.“Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’blood and righteousness…On Christ the solid rock I stand,all other ground is sinking sand.”

Besides,as another song says“If I never had a problem,how would I know that God could solve them?How would I know what faith in God could do?”

It is through our adversities that we learn to trust in Jesus and through trusting,to triumph over them.

Look upon adversities as opportunities from God to grow in your faith and to become a stronger servant of His.

Pray for the day:

Father,when I face adversity,I know that You love me,and that Your love will never let us be separated.Thank You,Father.I pray,always be with me,in Jesus’Name,Amen.