双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：7月25日 靠主喜乐

7月25日

靠主喜乐

…坚固门徒的心，劝他们恒守所信的道；又说：我们进入神的国，必须经历许多艰难。

使徒行传14:22

圣经中没有一处说到：基督徒可免于世上的患难和灾害。却明确告诉我们，基督徒可以用一种不信基督的人所无法得到的、超自然的能力，去面对患难、危机、灾难和痛苦。

成千上万的基督徒在试炼中已经学会了知足和喜乐的秘诀。我遇见过的最快乐的基督徒中，有许多人都喝过满杯的试炼和不幸，有些人甚至终身受苦。他们完全有理由叹息和抱怨，因为他们被剥夺了许多特权与快乐，却看到别人正享受着这一切；但他们比许多富裕、充满活力和强壮的人更能感恩和喜乐。因为他们学会了“凡事奉我们主耶稣基督的名，常常感谢父神”（以弗所书5:20）。

基督徒能在患难中喜乐，因为注目那永恒的价值。所以当压力来临时，他们会超越困境，仰望天家的荣耀。想到将会得到的特权和喜乐，对现在至暂至轻的试炼苦楚，就不足介意了。

早期的基督徒能在试炼、烦恼和沮丧中体验到内心的喜乐。他们看为基督受苦并非不幸，而是莫大的荣耀；他们看自己配为主的名受苦，是神的恩典而不是十字架。

今日祷告：

天父，我们爱祢。我们愿祢在我们的生命中得到荣耀，无论祢带领我们经历逆境还是顺境，都让我们充满喜乐；祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。

July 25

JOY IN TRIBULATION

…Strengthening the souls of the disciples,exhorting them to continue in the faith,and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.ACTS 14:22,RSV

Nowhere does the Bible teach that Christians are to be exempt from the tribulations and natural disasters that come upon the world.It does teach that the Christian can face tribulation,crisis,calamity,and personal suffering with a supernatural power not available to the person outside of Christ.

Thousands of Christians have learned the secret of contentment and joy in trial.Some of the happiest Christians I have met have drunk the full cup of trial and misfortune.Some have been lifelong sufferers.They have had every reason to sigh and complain,being denied so many privileges and pleasures that they see others enjoy,yet they have found greater cause for gratitude and joy than many who are prosperous,vigorous,and strong.

They have learned to give thanks“always and for everything…in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father”(Ephesians 5:20,RSV).

Christians can rejoice in tribulation because they have eternity’s values in view.When the pressures are on,they look beyond their present predicament to the glories of heaven.The thoughts of the future life with its prerogatives and joys help to make the trials of the present seem light and transient.

The early Christians were able to experience joy in their hearts in the midst of trials,troubles,and depression.They counted suffering for Christ not as a burden of misfortune but as a great honor,as evidence that Christ counted them worthy to witness for Himself that he had gone through suffering for their salvation,and to suffer for His name’s sake was regarded as a gift rather than a cross.

Pray for the Day:

Father,we love You.We pray that You will be glorified in our lives,whether You lead us through suffering or through good times.In any case,fill us with joy;in Jesus’Name,Amen.