双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：9月3日 得胜苦难

9月3日

得胜苦难

 

我们四面受敌，却不被困住；心里作难，却不至失望；遭逼迫，却不被丢弃；打倒了，却不至死亡；身上常带着耶稣的死，使耶稣的生，也显明在我们身上。

哥林多后书4：8-10

使徒保罗可以这样写道：“我们在一切患难中分外的快乐。”（哥林多后书7：4）。

保罗在一切苦难和悲伤中，经历了深切而恒久的喜乐。他写道“似乎忧愁，却是常常快乐的”（哥林多后书6：10）。他真诚地宣称，为基督的缘故，他“以软弱、凌辱、急难、逼迫、困苦，为可喜乐的”（哥林多后书12：10）。

我在旅行中发现，那些仰望天家的人在最黑暗的日子里仍能保持平静和快乐。如果天上的荣耀对我们来说更真实，如果我们少为物质而活，多为永恒和属灵事物而活，我们就不会轻易受今生困扰。

在这些黑暗、动荡不安的岁月里，那些信靠而有远见的基督徒仍能保持乐观和喜乐，因知道有一天基督必要掌权，“我们若能忍耐，也必与祂一同作王”（提摩太后书2：12）。正如有人说的，“忍耐是一种坚毅的品格，可以达到极限而不崩溃。”

我也同样确信，那些多年来在艰苦劳动或流亡中度过的基督徒，也经历过沮丧甚至绝望的时期。那些目睹亲人离世而感到痛失和深切哀伤的人，他们的得胜来之不易。但最终，神的平安和喜乐会临到他们。

今日祷告：

天父，我感谢祢赐给我们安慰。求祢赐给我勇气，让我能像保罗一样公开宣扬祢的名；祷告奉耶稣的名，阿们。

September 3

THE POSITIVE SIDE OF AFFLICTION

We are afflicted in every way,but not crushed;perplexed,but not driven to despair;persecuted,but not forsaken;struck down,but not destroyed;always carrying in the body the death of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.2 Corinthians 4:8-10,RSV

The apostle Paul could write,“With all our affliction,I am overjoyed”(2 Corinthians 7:4,RSV).

In all his sufferings and sorrows Paul experienced a deep,abiding joy.He writes of being“sorrowful,yet always rejoicing’(2 Corinthians 6:10,RSV).With sincerity he declared that for Christ’s sake he was“content with weaknesses,insults,hardships,persecutions,and calamities”(2 Corinthians 12:10,RSV).

I have found in my travels that those who keep heaven in view remain serene and cheerful in the darkest day.If the glories of heaven were more real to us,if we live less for material things and more for things eternal and spiritual,we would be less easily disturbed by this present life.

In these days of darkness and upheaval and uncertainty,the trusting and forward-looking Christian remains optimistic and joyful,knowing that Christ someday must rule,and“if we endure,we shall also reign with him”(2 Timothy 2:12,RSV).As someone has said,“Patience is that quality of endurance that can reach the breaking point and not break.”

At the same time I am equally certain that Christians who have spent years at hard labor or in exile,have passed through periods of discouragement-even despair.Those who have seen loved ones die have felt deep loss and intense suffering.Victory for them has not come easily or quickly.But eventually the peace of God does come,and with it His joy.

Pray for the Day:

Father,I thank You that You have given us comfort.Give me courage to proclaim You openly,as Paul did;in Jesus’Name,Amen.