双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月1日 经历苦难

10月1日

经历苦难

也要凭爱心行事，正如基督爱我们，为我们舍了自己，当作馨香的供物，和祭物，献与神……正如基督爱教会，为教会舍己。

以弗所书5:2,25

我们宇宙的核心是一位因救赎之爱而受苦的神。当我们在这罪恶的世界受苦的时候，我们会更多地感受到祂的爱。有人说，一个人如果受苦却没有成功，那么可以肯定，成功会临到别人身上。如果他没有受苦就成功了，同样可以肯定别人已为他受苦了。

喜马拉雅山脚下有一座美丽的城市，名叫科希马，它位于印度的那加兰邦。在那里我们曾帮他们庆祝基督教一百周年。二战期间，日本人向印度的进攻就是在那里被阻止的。墓地里埋葬着数百名印度人、英国人、美国人和其他国籍人的遗体，他们曾组成盟军部队，阻止了日军的进攻。墓地入口处有一座纪念碑，上面刻写着：“为了你们的今天，他们献出了自己的明天。”

大卫-利文斯通在非洲大陆度过了艰难的十六年宣教后，回到了故乡苏格兰，他在格拉斯哥大学向学生们发表演讲。宣教期间，他曾发高烧27次，身体变得瘦弱不堪。他的一只被狮子咬残的胳膊，无力地垂在身侧。他向那些年轻人传讲的核心信息是：“我想告诉你们，是什么让我在千辛万苦、背井离乡中坚持下去的呢？就是基督的应许：‘看哪，我常与你们同在，直到末了’。”

我们也能像大卫·利文斯通一样，从我们的主和救主那里得到同样的应许。祂确实与我们一起经历苦难，祂在试炼隧道的另一边等待着我们，一同进入祂荣耀的光中，与祂永远同在。

今日祷告：

天父，我们知道，为了福音的缘故，为了扩展祢的国度，我们可能会受苦；但我们欢喜，因祢将实现祢的目标。经历所有这一切，祢始终爱我们；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 1

SUFFERING

And walk in love,as Christ also hath loved us,and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor…Christ also loved the church,and gave himself for it.Ephesians 5:2,25

At the heart of our universe is a god who suffers in redemptive love.We experience more of His love when we suffer within an evil world.Someone has said that if one suffers without succeeding,he can be sure that the success will come in someone else’s life.If he succeeds without suffering,he can be equally sure that someone else has already suffered for him.

High up in the foothills of the Himalayas is a beautiful city called Kohima.It is in Nagaland,one of the states of India.We were there to help them celebrate a hundred years of Christianity.It was there that the Japanese were stopped in their thrust toward India during World War II.Buried in a cemetery are the bodies of hundreds of Indians,British,Americans,and those of other nationalities who made up the Allied force that halted the Japanese advance.At the entrance to the cemetery there is an engraved memorial which says,“They gave their tomorrow that you might have today.”

After sixteen difficult years as a missionary on the continent of Africa,David Livingstone returned to his native Scotland to address the students at Glasgow University.His body was emaciated by the ravages of some twenty-seven fevers which had coursed through his veins during the years of his service.One arm hung useless at his side,the result of being mangled by a lion.The core of his message to those young people was,“Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the toil,the hardship,and loneliness of my exile?It was Christ’s promise,‘Lo,I am with you always,even unto the end.”

We,like David Livingstone,may claim the same promise from our Savior and Lord.He does go with us through our sufferings,and He awaits us as we emerge on the other side of the tunnel of testing-into the light of His glorious presence to live with Him forever!

Pray for the Day:

Father,we know that we may suffer for the sake of the Gospel to advance Your Kingdom,but we rejoice because You will accomplish Your purpose.And through it all You love us;in Jesus’Name,Amen.