双语灵修（葛培理牧师）：10月6日 受苦有益

10月6日

受苦有益

因为你们蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，并要为祂受苦。

腓立比书1:29

我们可以在哀伤中找到安慰，因为神会藉苦难来教导我们，使我们成为更好的人。有时苦难让我们意识到生命的短暂，以及为基督而活的重要性。神常用苦难来成就我们生命中原本无法完成的事。

圣经简明扼要地说：“我的弟兄们，你们落在百般试炼中，都要以为大喜乐；因为知道你们的信心经过试验，就生忍耐。但忍耐也当成功，使你们成全完备，毫无缺欠。”（雅各书1:2-4）在我所认识的最虔诚的人中，有些被拣选忍受了巨大的苦难，这种情况临到他们，很可能会让他们产生苦毒怨恨来。然而，因他们认识了基督，每天活都在与祂同行的喜乐中，神赐福给他们，使他们成为彰显基督的人。我常到病房或医院去鼓励病人，但离开时却总觉得自己才是真正得到鼓励和帮助的人，因为神让这些试炼使他们更像基督。

在发明原子能之前，科学家必须想出一种方法来“粉碎”原子，原子无穷和无限能量的秘密就在于它被粉碎了。

爱德华·贾德森博士在纽约市贾德森纪念教堂的落成典礼上说：“苦难与成功相伴。如果你没有受过苦就成功了，那是因为在你之前别人已经受过苦；如果你受苦却没有成功，那是因为你之后的人可能会成功。”

今日祷告：

天父，我们知道，为基督受苦是必然的。我们祈求祢，赐给我们忍耐的力量，忠诚不渝，始终如一地爱祢；奉耶稣的名，阿们。

October 6

SUCCESS WITHOUT SUFFERING?

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ,not only to believe on him,but also to suffer for his sake.Philippians 1:29

We can find comfort in the midst of mourning because God can use our sufferings to teach us and make us better people.Sometimes it takes suffering to make us realize the brevity of life,and the importance of living for Christ.Often God uses suffering to accomplish things in our lives that would otherwise never be achieved.

The Bible puts it succinctly:“Count it all joy,my brethren,when you meet various trials,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect,that you may be perfect and complete,lacking in nothing”(James 1:2-4,RSV).Some of the godliest people I have ever known were men and women who had been called upon to endure great suffering-perhaps even grown bitter and resentful if they had faced such circumstances-and yet,because they knew Christ and walked in the joy of His presence every day,God had blessed them and turned them into people who reflected Christ.Often I have gone into a sickroom or hospital room to encourage someone and have left feeling I was the one who had been encouraged and helped,because God had used their trials to make them more like Christ.

Before the power of the atom was discovered,science had to devise a way to“smash”the atom.The secret of the atom’s immeasurable and limitless power was in its being crushed.

Dr.Edward Judson,at the dedication of the Judson Memorial Church in New York City,said,“Suffering and success go together.If you are succeeding without suffering,it is because others before you have suffered;if you are suffering without succeeding,it is that others after you may succeed.”

Pray for the Day:

Father,we know that suffering is an inevitable thing on behalf of Christ.We pray that You will give us the strength to endure and the faithfulness to be consistent and love you throughout;in Jesus’Name,Amen.