双语灵修（葛培理牧师） ：1月24日 香自苦寒

1月24日

香自苦寒

“上帝的众子啊，你们要将荣耀、能力归给耶和华，归给耶和华！”

诗篇29:1

上帝的确会让我们经历苦难。我最近收到一位女性的来信。她正处于癌症末期，躺在医院的病床上。她没有要求上帝拿去她的痛苦或者让她重新得力，只是要我们为她祷告，让她得到神够用的恩典，使她有能力度过这一关。

圣经告诉我们，苦楚不可避免。我们要接受这个事实。约伯说，“人为妇人所生，日子短少，多有患难；”（约伯记14:1）

我们是在母亲的痛苦中来到这个世界，生命中充满了痛苦和悲剧，我们的生命最后以死亡告终。期待脱离痛苦和失望的人，显然不懂圣经，也不懂历史和人生。音乐大师知道什么叫辛苦。没有日日夜夜的苦练、牺牲，他永远不可能站在舞台上享受掌声和荣誉。工艺大师知道什么叫辛苦。没有锲而不舍的精神，他永远做不出旷世杰作。优秀的学生也知道什么叫辛苦，梅花香自苦寒来。宇航员花费数年时间进行训练，为的只是太空飞行中的那几天。

圣经说，苦难只是人生的一部分。保罗说，“我想，现在的苦楚若比起将来要显于我们的荣耀就不足介意了。”罗马书8:18

我想对那位患癌症的女士说，仰望天堂和上帝，透过云层，你会见到将来的荣耀。我们现在所受的苦楚，就算不了什么。

今日祷告：

天父，在患难中，求你与我们同在；让我们感受并经历你的真实。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

January 24

STRENGTH THROUGH SUFFERING

Ascribe to the Lord,O heavenly beings,ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.Psalm 29:1 RSV

In the economy of God there is such a thing as the cloud of suffering.Recently I received a letter from a woman who was suffering on a hospital bed in the last stages of cancer.She did not ask that God would relieve her of suffering or raise her up,but only that we would pray that God’s grace would be sufficient though the trial of suffering.

The Bible teaches that human suffering is inescapable.We must accept it as an integral part of life.Job said,“Man that is born of a woman is of few days,and full of trouble”(Job 14:1).Our life has its beginning in suffering.Life’s span is marked by pain and tragedy,and our lives end with the enemy called death.The person who expects to escape the pangs of suffering and disappointment simply has no knowledge of the Bible,of history,or of life.

The master musician knows that suffering precedes glory and acclaim.He knows the hours,days,and months of grueling practice and self-sacrifice that precede the one hour of perfect rendition when his efforts are applauded.The master craftsman knows that years of work,sacrifice,and suffering as an apprentice precede his being promoted to the master of his trade.The student knows that years of study,self-denial,and commitment precede the triumphant day of graduation with honors.Astronauts spend years training for a flight that can be as short as a few days.

The Bible teaches that suffering is a part of life in a sinful world.Paul said,“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”(Romans 8:18).

To this dear woman on her hospital bed I would say,“Look toward heaven,look beyond the clouds,and you will see that the sufferings that we are undergoing here are nothing compared to the glory that God has prepared for you yonder.”

Pray for the day:

Father,be with us in times of trouble.Let us sense and experience Your presence,in Jesus’Name,Amen.